Charleston Harbor Novels 1-3

by White, Debbie

Annie nodded.

  “Families. We don’t get to choose them, and they make us angry and crazy sometimes, but at least they’re ours, and no one can deny us that.” Jack took a sip of his wine.

  Annie put the wine glass to her mouth and drew in a taste. “True,” she said, holding the glass in her hands.

  “I’m always looking for extra help … maybe I could help?”

  “No, this is a family matter. We’ll work it out.”

  Jack scooted a little closer to her. “Hey, what about that thing you said earlier on the phone.” He nuzzled her neck, giving her a fluttering feeling in her tummy.

  She leaned forward, putting her glass down again. She sat back and turned slightly toward him. They gazed into each other’s eyes and then at the very same moment, leaned in for a kiss. Annie closed her eyes tightly as she savored his warm mouth. She clung to his broad shoulders as he deepened the kiss, his sweet warm breath with a hint of wine lingering on her lips. She followed his lead and teased him with her tongue.

  After a few moments, he pulled back. “You can thank me anytime you want.” He winked.

  She blushed. “Jack, I really do owe you a debt of gratitude for helping me spread the word about Sweet Indulgence.” She reached out and took his hands in hers.

  “Nonsense. Your cupcakes are the best. People need to know about them. ” He gave her a quick kiss on the mouth.

  “Thank you for saying that.”

  “What about those dishes?” Jack said, breaking the mood.

  Annie followed him with her eyes as he made his way to the kitchen. She sighed, and then picking up her wine glass, headed to the kitchen where the dirty dishes waited.

  “Is there anything you don’t like to do?” Annie asked as she dried and stacked the clean dishes.

  “Not really. But then again, I haven’t done everything.” He winked, then dipped his hands back into the sudsy water.

  “Is there any kind of food you don’t like?” She wanted to know for future dinners.

  “Brussel sprouts.”

  “Me, too!” she said.

  Once all the dishes were washed, dried, and put away, Jack announced he thought he now had room for dessert.

  Annie uncovered the dish and brought it to the table where he waited with a fork in hand.

  She laughed. “You have a bottomless pit.”

  “I love to eat,” he teased, eyeing the mini cheesecakes.

  * * *

  Jack leaned in and gave Annie a good night kiss she’d remember for a long time. She followed him with her eyes as he moved down the hall toward the steps that would take him out of the building.

  “Wait.” She closed the door behind her.

  Jack stopped and turned. She traveled toward him quickly, and he swept her into his arms. She smoothed over his strong protective arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. She leaned back, her heart stumbling before finding its rhythm once again.

  “I don’t know where this is going, if it’s going anywhere, actually.” She studied his face. “But I do like you, Jack Powell.”

  He pulled her closer, his lips brushing against hers. “I like you, too, Annie McPherson.” He raised her hand to his mouth and kissed it.

  “Good night, Jack.”

  Annie watched as he made his way to the stairs. He glanced back at her just before he took the first step. Her face lit up with happiness when she witnessed the broad smile that crossed his face. Thrilled with how the evening ended, she moved down the hall to her front door and slowly entered the apartment.

  Chapter 11

  “Okay, just hear me out, Mary.” Annie paced the room with one hand on her hip as she held the phone. “You can’t just move out without money. Grandmother and Auntie paid for your very generous graduation present to Europe, but you don’t really expect them to fund your new place, too, do you?”

  “It’s just a loan,” Mary said.

  “Mary, don’t be ridiculous. What’s your hurry?” Annie said.

  “I need my own space,” she replied.

  “Space for what? To crash in your bed at night after being out with your friends?” Annie said, now reeling with anger.

  “You wouldn’t understand. You have your own place.”

  “Okay, Mary, listen up. I’m twenty-six years old. I lived with Grandma and Auntie Patty until I was twenty-five. You’re twenty-two. I’d say you have a few more years. And besides, I opened up my business and earned my own money. You’re asking them to finance your apartment. That’s not fair.”

  “They have more than they need. And, I know our parents left us a boatload of cash.”

  “Mary! I can’t believe you said that. Is something else going on? I’ve never known you to be this outspoken or uncaring, especially when it involved Grandma and Auntie Patty.”

  “Sort of.”

  “Okay, wait. Don’t say another word. This calls for drinks around a table with music playing in the background, and where we can let our hair down and talk.”

  “And be sisters,” Mary whispered.

  “Yes. I’ll pick you up at eight.” Annie hung up the phone before letting Mary answer. She tossed the phone on the table and stared at it. “What is going on with you?”

  * * *

  “You look cute in that outfit,” Annie said to Mary as she hopped into the car.

  “I bought it in Paris,” she said as if she were singing a song.

  Annie raised a brow. “Any questions or concerns from the old ladies who live there?” she asked, pointing toward the house with her chin.

  Mary laughed. “Just the usual kind. Where are you going, who are you going with, and what time will you be home?” Mary twisted her mouth to the side.

  Annie pulled up to the nightclub. “I’ll park the car. You go grab us a table.”

  The place was dark, and the smell of old alcohol permeated the air along with some flowery spray the owners used to cover up the old alcohol smell. Annie spotted Mary and crossed the room toward the table. She hung her purse on the back of the chair and sat down. Picking up the drink menu, she scanned the exotic drinks listed.

  “I think I’ll just have a vodka Collins,” Annie said, putting down the menu.

  Mary caught the eye of the wandering server and waved. “I’ll have a margarita on the rocks with salt, and she’ll have a vodka Collins. Thank you.”

  “Sure, no problem. I’ll be back with those drinks in a minute.” He walked off.

  “He’s cute,” Mary said, leaning in toward Annie.

  Annie nodded. “Okay, so do we want to start talking before the drinks come?” Annie asked.

  “No, let’s wait.”

  They listened to the music and chatter from other club goers, and just as the server had said, he brought the drinks back quickly.

  “Can we run a tab, please?” Annie smiled.

  The cute server smiled back. “Sure, anything for the pretty ladies.” He winked, causing Annie to blush.

  Annie pulled her chair closer to the table. She drew in a taste of her drink with the straw and sighed. “Ooh la la, that’s a tasty drink. Now, tell me what is going on.”

  “I met a guy.”

  Annie slumped back in her chair. She lowered her chin and stared at her drink. She raised her head and focused on Mary’s eyes. “I see. Where?”

  “Italy.”

  “And he’s coming here?”

  Mary nodded.

  “That’s why you think you need your own place?”

  Mary nodded.

  “That’s exactly why you don’t need your own place, Mary!” Annie said causing a few people to look over at them.

  “I want some privacy.”

  “You have that with Grandma and Auntie Patty. You don’t need your own place.”

  Mary picked up her drink and began to lick the salted rim.

  “Once you have a good job, a little more life experience and money, then you can get your own place, and I’ll support you one hundred percent. Let the guy come over if he wants to. L
et him get his own place. Of course, I don’t want to know any details if he does, but I’m just saying, it’s not up to you. Who does he think he is, asking you to do this, anyway?”

  “He didn’t ask me, but it’s hard to resist him.” The corners of Mary’s mouth turned up in a half smile.

  “Resist him you shall. I mean it, Mary. Don’t do anything you’ll regret.”

  “You aren’t my mother, Annie.”

  “No, but I’m your big sister, and I know if Mom or Dad were here, they’d tell you the same thing. You aren’t ready for your own place. Once you have a good job and some money, then we’ll talk. Otherwise, get used to it—you, Grandma, and Auntie will be roommates a bit longer.”

  Mary made a humph sound and then drew in a taste of her drink.

  “I love you, little Sister, I do. This is tough love talking right here. I hope you would do the same for me if it were reversed.”

  “I guess.” Mary kicked the pole that held the tabletop on. The metal sound resonated for a second.

  Annie peered at Mary through half-closed lids. “Let’s start tomorrow by looking for jobs you can apply for. That’s the first step.”

  “Okay. Thank you for helping me. I guess I’m trying to grow up too fast.”

  “Well, you’re not really growing up too fast.” Annie dropped her shoulders. She felt awful for chastising Mary. “You just want to spread your wings. There’s a difference. I’ll help you, I promise.” She winked at her sister. “So, this Italian guy is really going to come all the way to the U.S. to see you?”

  “Who said he was Italian?” Mary winked and then whirled around.

  Chapter 12

  “Mary has some good news to share,” Grandmother Lilly said.

  Annie put her fork down and gave Mary her full attention.

  Mary flashed a smile to the group and then made her announcement. “I got a job!”

  Annie clapped. “Yay! Where at?”

  “Powell Vacation Rentals.”

  Annie’s smile quickly turned to a frown. “Powell Vacation Rentals?”

  Mary nodded.

  Annie turned her attention to her grandmother. “You knew about this and didn’t tell me?”

  “What’s wrong with her working there? They offered her the job.”

  “I feel as if you went behind my back,” Annie said.

  “That’s ridiculous. We did no such thing. Jack contacted Mary.”

  Annie locked eyes with Mary. “Is that true? He called you?”

  “Well, he didn’t actually call me. He came by.”

  “Here? He came by here?”

  Mary nodded. “Listen, Annie. He’s a great guy. Don’t be upset with him. He’s just trying to help. I’m really excited about working with Diane.”

  Annie pushed her chair back and folded her hands in her lap. “I see. Well, I only met her once, but she seemed like a lovely person,” Annie said. “Please don’t do anything to embarrass the family or me.”

  “And, since we’re dropping bombs here today, we might as well tell her the rest,” Auntie Patty said.

  Annie slumped in the chair, sighing as she did. “There’s more?”

  “We purchased a car for Mary.”

  Annie gasped.

  “She needed reliable transportation to get to her new job,” Grandmother Lilly said.

  “Next you’ll tell me you bought her a house or rented her an apartment,” Annie said, snapping.

  “Now, dear, don’t get overdramatic here. It’s a car for Pete’s sake. A used one at that,” Grandmother Lilly said.

  Annie shook her head rapidly. “I give up. You guys win. I wish you the best, Mary, I really do. But, please don’t think that now because you’re working with the Powells that I’m going to continue to see Jack or that anything will come of our relationship. You’re on your own,” Annie said. She rose from her seat, picking up her plate with unfinished food. “There are no guarantees in life. Isn’t that what you always said?” Annie said, smirking toward her grandmother and auntie. She moved to the kitchen before they could answer.

  “She’ll soften her stance. Just give her time,” Auntie Patty said.

  “What I can’t figure out is why she is behaving like Jack doesn’t mean anything to her. You should have seen how fast she tried to get rid of me the other night when he was coming over for dinner. You don’t light candles for a friend,” Mary said.

  Grandmother Lilly glanced over to Patty. “I’d say our girl is smitten with Jack but doesn’t quite know how to massage the relationship.”

  “Grandmother, let her do it on her own. She’d never forgive any of us if we meddle. She’s upset with us as it is because of the job thing. I really thought she’d be happy for me.”

  “She is happy for you. I guess she thought we blindsided her. She’ll come around.” Grandmother Lilly picked up her wine glass. “To a new job.”

  “And to a new car,” Patty added.

  “Cheers!” Mary said. Mary’s smile quickly faded when she saw Annie standing in the threshold with her hands on her hips. “What?” Mary asked.

  “Oh, so now I’m excluded from the family toasts?”

  Mary pushed her chair back and ran across the room and hugged Annie. “You’re not mad, are you?”

  “Not at all.” She said, squeezing her tightly.

  “Come over here, Annie. Raise your glass to your sister’s new beginnings,” Auntie Patty said.

  Annie pushed away from Mary’s embrace and crossed over to her drink. “Here’s to your success, Mary. I hope you learn a lot, live a lot more—and be safe while doing it,” Annie said, crinkling up her face.

  Laughter broke out around the table and then Annie moved in between her grandmother and Patty. She motioned for Mary to join them. “Grab your glass.”

  The women held up their glasses and began tapping each other. Cheering broke out, and then Mary announced, “Bottoms up!”

  After they’d downed their wine, Annie turned toward Mary. “Help me clear these dishes.”

  Once they were together in the kitchen, Annie took advantage of them being alone. “Listen, I really am happy for you. I want you to know that.”

  Mary nodded.

  “It’s just that I don’t know where things are going with Jack, exactly.”

  “Annie, stop it. Stop it right now. You know you like him.”

  “I do, very much, but I haven’t had the best track record when it comes to relationships and the length of them.” She lowered her head.

  “It’s a two-way street when it comes to relationships. Those guys … well, they are to blame just as much as you for it not working out. I’d say even more.”

  “Thank you for saying that. I’m always asking myself what I could have done better.”

  Mary grabbed Annie by the shoulders. “Nothing. You couldn’t have done a thing better. They were either immature, or … immature.” The girls broke out in laughter.

  “It’s great to have you home,” Annie said with just a hint of watery eyes.

  “It’s great to be home,” Mary said, nodding as she raised her brows.

  “When do you report to work?”

  “Tomorrow!”

  “Show me what you’re going to wear.” She grabbed Mary by the hand and off they went to Mary’s bedroom.

  * * *

  Annie kicked off her shoes into the closet and then proceeded to take off her jewelry. A nice hot shower was in order. As the stream of water ran over her head and down her body, Annie thought about how she’d approach the subject with Jack. She towel dried her body, slipped on a nightgown, and then pulled down the covers to her bed, slipping in between the crisp sheets. She picked up her cell phone and stared at it. It began to vibrate in her hand! It was Jack.

  “How’d Sunday night dinner go?”

  “It went great. Lots of sharing,” she replied.

  “Was Mary there?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did she have any news to share?”

  “Yes.�
�

  “Annie? What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” She wondered how long the one-word answers would go. “It was a great dinner, and yes, Mary had lots of good news. Seems she got a new car.”

  “Ahh. A new car is always fun. What kind?”

  “I’m not sure. We really didn’t get to discuss that because we were celebrating so much over her other good news.”

  “Other good news?”

  “Jack Powell, stop playing with me.”

  Jack laughed into the phone. “Who’s playing with who?”

  “I know she’s going to be working with Diane,” Annie said.

  “You’re not mad about that, are you?”

  “I was at first, but I think the experience will be good for her, and if Diane can put up with my crazy sister, more power to her.”

  Jack laughed again. “I tried to hint around that I might have something for her but you cut me off, saying it was a family matter. I wasn’t sure how to approach it. I stopped by the other day while you were at work and just asked a simple question. She loves to travel, so what better place to work at than a travel agency of sorts?”

  “Travel agency?”

  “Well, it’s more vacation rentals, but you are essentially helping to plan someone’s vacation.”

  Annie smiled. “True. Yes, she’s perfect for the job.”

  “And listen, no pressure about us. If it doesn’t work out between us, we’ll remain friends. Just ask all of my former girlfriends. I’m always their friend afterward.”

  Annie bobbed her head side to side. “All your former girlfriends?”

  Jack dug his hands deep into his pockets. A light hearted laugh escaped his mouth. “Yeah, all two of them. Now, when can I see you again?” Jack said in a low tone that made the hair on her arms stand up.

  “I’m interviewing help tomorrow and the next day. How about dinner midweek?”

  “I’d like to take you on a boat ride again. I have the perfect place for us to go.”

  “A boat ride?”

  “Yes, you can dress casual, but I’ll be taking you to the best seafood restaurant that can be accessed by car or boat!”