Harmony Cabins (13 page)

Doreen could only hope Jack's ex-wife would show that level of sensitivity. “We can't take that chance.”

CeCe shook her head. “I'm sorry, Doreen. I, for one, vote against our telling Jack the sesquicentennial committee invited Representative Green to the Founders Day Celebration.”

There was a general murmur of agreement around the table.

The council members were wrong on this count. Luckily, Doreen didn't have to listen to them. “I'm sorry. I somehow gave you the impression this decision was open to a vote. I'm not asking for your permission. I'm keeping you informed.”

Christopher exchanged glances with the other two council members before returning his dark gaze to Doreen. “You aren't mayor yet, Doreen. You can't make decisions like this on your own.”

CeCe chuckled. “That's right. And, since Simon is petitioning to run against you, your election isn't guaranteed anymore.”

Doreen counted to ten, then drew a calming breath. “Thank you for your input. I do realize I'm not mayor. That's why I consulted with Ramona. She agreed that I should tell Jack that Representative Green may attend the event.”

“Why did you speak with Ramona before meeting with us?” There was a hint of censure in Christopher's tone.

Doreen tilted her head to the side. “She's the mayor.”

CeCe waved a hand dismissively. “But we're the council's Events Subcommittee.”

Doreen inclined her head. “Representative Green's invitation to the sesquicentennial came from the mayor's office.”

“You're quite right, Doreen.” Nessa lifted her hands, palms out. “Your group is in charge of the event. You don't need this committee's approval.”

“Thank you.” Was she imagining things or was the councilwoman's tone patronizing?

Nessa returned her hands to the table. “I just hope Jack proves to be more reasonable than his past behavior would indicate.”

Doreen dropped her gaze to the table. She dreaded her coming confrontation with Jack.

 

 

“Leo signed Simon's petition. And then he broke up with me.” Doreen sat at Books & Bakery's kitchen table with Megan, baking and drinking coffee before the store opened Tuesday morning.

Megan blinked. “I can't believe it. Why?”

Doreen lowered her mug. “Why did he break up with me, or why did he sign the petition?” Their conversation seemed surreal, as though other people were having it.

Megan covered Doreen's hand with her own. “Doreen, I know you're worried about Simon's petition, but there's no reason to be. Even if his name is added to the ballot, Simon is not a viable challenger to your campaign. Leo knows that.”

“No, he doesn't.” Doreen stared into her mug of coffee. “He signed the petition because he doesn't want me to be mayor. He wants me to be his wife.”

Megan blinked again. “Leo proposed?”

Doreen balanced her elbows on the table and propped her head in her palms. “Yes, but I told him I need more time. I need to know who I am without Paul before I can be myself with him.”

Megan came around the table to hug Doreen's shoulders. “Give Leo time, Doreen. He'll soon realize he's being an idiot. Ean didn't want you to run for office at first, either. Now he's your biggest supporter.”

Doreen met Megan's eyes. “I announced my decision to run for office seven months ago. If Leo hasn't come to his senses by now, he's not going to. Instead, he's signed Simon's petition to hurt my campaign.”

The bell chimed on the industrial oven. Doreen grabbed a mitt from the wall. She pulled out the brownie tray and set it on the counter to cool.

Megan replaced it with several trays of cookie dough. “I can't understand why you're worried about Simon. You were prepared to run against Ramona. She would have been a much stronger challenge to your campaign than Simon. So why are you concerned about him?”

Doreen crossed back to the table and sat. “I could handle losing to Ramona. I didn't agree with some of her plans for Trinity Falls, but she's a good mayor.”

Megan followed Doreen. “I agree.”

“But losing to Simon would mean that all of my hard work, all of my efforts to help improve the community, mean nothing to anyone.”

Megan's hand closed over Doreen's wrist. “You shouldn't feel that way.”

“Why not?”

“First, Simon hasn't filed his petition.”

“Yet.”

“Second, if he's allowed to campaign, you're going to defeat him, so stop worrying about Simon and let's figure out what we're going to do about Leo.”

“There isn't anything to do. He broke up with me.”

“He'll come around, Doreen. Just give him time.” Megan checked her watch. “Come on. We need to open the store.”

Doreen followed Megan out of the kitchen. “He wants me to choose between him and the mayor's office. I don't know why I can't have both.”

“This is the twenty-first century. You
can
have both.” Megan's voice was tight with indignation.

“Not in Leo's world.” Doreen peeked around Megan at the sight of a customer waiting outside. “Is that Alonzo?”

Alonzo tipped his brown felt campaign hat at them from the other side of the front door. Megan turned the lock to let him in.

“Morning, ladies.” The sheriff crossed the threshold, tucking his hat under his arm. He looked very official in his short-sleeved tan shirt, black tie, and spruce green gabardine pants.

“Good morning, Alonzo.” Doreen's worries eased under the warmth of her old friend's regard.

“Are you making Books and Bakery part of your morning routine?” Megan's tone teased him.

Alonzo nodded toward Doreen. “I could get used to Doreen's breakfasts.”

Doreen led him back to the café, while Megan went to her office. “That's nice to hear, Alonzo. But the scrambled eggs and bacon you order aren't anything fancy.”

Alonzo's husky chuckle further lightened her mood. “You haven't had my eggs and bacon, or my coffee.”

“Tired of your own cooking?”

“And my own company.” A dimple appeared at the right corner of Alonzo's mouth.

“I can understand that.” Doreen remembered those lonely mornings after Paul had died.

She continued behind the counter as Alonzo settled onto one of the stools. She poured him a mug of coffee, careful to leave room for cream this time.

“Thank you.” Alonzo's gaze was direct but wary. “I need to tell you something.”

Doreen returned the coffee to its warmer, then searched his eyes. “What is it?”

Alonzo held her gaze. “Simon again asked me to sign his petition. I—”

“I understand, Alonzo.” Doreen looked away. “If Simon wants a chance to campaign for office, we don't have the right to stand in his way.”

“I didn't sign his petition.”

Doreen's head snapped around in surprise. “What?”

“I don't want to call Simon Knight ‘Mayor.'” Alonzo stirred cream into his coffee. “But I thought you should know he's accusing you of exerting undue influence on your customers to convince them not to sign his petition.”

“Thanks for letting me know.” Doreen studied Alonzo's proud, tan features, his kind coffee eyes. “Why haven't you ever married?”

Alonzo sipped his coffee. “Never found the right woman.”

“You're only a few years older than me. Are you telling me you've never been in love?”

His gaze wavered. “I didn't say that.”

“Morning, Ms. Doreen.” Darius interrupted them.

Doreen reluctantly turned away from Alonzo. “Good morning, Darius. The usual?”

Darius settled onto the seat beside the sheriff. “Yes, ma'am.”

She filled Darius's mug with coffee. “Two orders of bacon and eggs coming up.”

Darius sensed Alonzo's tension beside him. It didn't take a mind reader to know he'd interrupted something important. “Morning, Sheriff.”

Alonzo pulled his gaze from the kitchen door through which Doreen had disappeared. “Morning. I was surprised you hadn't written the
Monitor
article about your father.”

“It would've been a conflict of interest.” Darius was satisfied with his cover story. It wasn't a lie.

“Is that right? I think you would've done a better job, though.” Alonzo drank more coffee.

Darius inclined his head. “Thanks.”

“Saw you heading out of town again Saturday. You left later than usual.”

“You don't miss much, do you?”

“Wouldn't be much of a sheriff if I did.” Alonzo met Darius's gaze. “You've visited this person every weekend for years. Must be very special.”

“Is there a question in your future?” Darius enjoyed the game of wits with the sheriff.

Alonzo shook his head. “Just an observation.”

“I have a couple of questions for you.”

“Is that right?”

“Why would a person return to his hometown after more than forty years? And why wouldn't he go after the person he'd come back for?”

To the casual observer, the sheriff appeared relaxed. But Darius noticed the tight grip with which his companion held his mug.

“You'd have to ask that person.” Alonzo's gaze flickered, but he didn't look away.

“I just did.” Darius picked up his own mug and savored his coffee. “I'm glad Quincy finally found the courage to admit his feelings to Ramona. He's a changed man now, much happier. What do you think?”

“Yes, he is.”

“They say confession is good for the soul, Sheriff.” Darius's words echoed in his own mind. Maybe confession would be good for Simon's soul as well. Should he dare force the issue?

CHAPTER 13

“Doreen invited me to Quincy and Ramona's going-away party.” Audra's delivery seemed deceptively casual.

Jack packed their breakfast dishes into the dishwasher. He watched Audra scrub the pan she'd used to cook their breakfast this Tuesday morning.

“Would you like to go together?”

“Yes, I would.” She tossed him a smile as she set the pan on the drain board.

Audra and Jack had fallen into a morning routine: a five-mile run, breakfast, then a kiss before work. He was getting used to it. Perhaps, too used to it.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” Audra dried her hands on a kitchen towel.

She'd changed into a vivid orange T-shirt and warm purple shorts after their jog. When she returned to L.A. in two weeks, he'd miss the color she'd brought into his life. He'd have to soak it in while she was here.

“For helping me talk about Zoey.” Jack turned away from her soft champagne eyes. “I'm still not comfortable talking about my feelings, but it's easier now than it's ever been.”

“I'm glad.” Audra laid her hand on his shoulder. “I'd love to hear more about her, whenever you're ready.”

Jack's skin warmed under Audra's touch. “What about you?”

“What do you mean?” She let her hand drop.

Jack resisted the urge to put her hand back. “Is there anything you'd like to share with me?”

“Like what?”

Jack held her gaze. “Wendell.”

“I've told you all there is to say about him.”

“Would you take him back?”

“He's with someone else, Jack.” She turned away from him and left the kitchen. “Do you honestly think I'd have a relationship with him when he's engaged to a woman who's having his baby?”

That wasn't an answer. “Some people wouldn't let that stop them.” Kerry hadn't.

“I'm not one of those people.” Audra curled up on the sofa. “Wendell's pregnant fiancée isn't the only reason I ended our relationship. I realized he was only dating me for my industry connections. He never cared about me.”

Jack sat beside her. “If he doesn't care about you, why is he still calling you?”

She pulled on her right earlobe. “He probably wants my help with some other scheme.”

“Would you take him back?” Jack wanted a straight answer.

“No. I don't want anything to do with him ever again.”

His muscles relaxed. “Good.”

“Why is that good?”

“Because the idea of you reuniting with him makes me want to throw up.” What had made him say those words out loud? Maybe getting in touch with his feelings hadn't been a good idea. For the first time in his life, he felt as though he'd said too much.

Audra's eyes widened. She searched his face. “We're not supposed to get attached, remember? This is only a summer romance.” Her voice was soft, uncertain.

But Jack had come too far to back off now. He drew a finger down her arm. “Whatever the season, as long as we're together, I want to be the only man on your mind.”

Jack leaned in and took her lips with his. His heart kicked when her body softened against him. He drew her onto his lap and deepened the kiss, pushing his tongue past her lips. He tasted her sigh as she let him in. Jack explored her mouth, stroking her tongue with his.

He'd told her the truth when he said he wanted to be the only man on her mind. He hadn't realized he'd felt that way until the words had fallen from his tongue. But ever since she'd sashayed into his life, wearing only a black plastic trash bag, Audra Lane had been the only woman on his mind.

With his hands, Jack feathered the soft curve of Audra's cheek, traced the graceful lines of her back. He loved the silken texture of her bare arms. If they were to have only these few short weeks, he wanted to know her everywhere. He needed to imprint her touch, taste, and scent on his mind to get through the long, lonely nights without her.

Audra's slender arms wrapped around his shoulders. Jack broke their kiss and pressed his face into the curve of her neck. He breathed deeply, filling his lungs with her scent, soft and sweet. It brought images to mind of the time they'd spent together: fishing, hiking, dancing, loving. His body throbbed. His muscles tightened. Just for now. Just for the summer. He'd have to make these memories last.

He stroked his tongue over the long, delicate arch of her neck. Jack felt a flare of possession as Audra trembled in his embrace.

“I love the way you feel.”

“I love what you do to me. You cast a spell on me.” Audra's words were breathless.

Jack sought her lips again. This time, he took the kiss deeper, moving beyond her feel and flavors, and seeking her essence. Audra moved under him. Her shallow breaths and racing pulse resounded through him. Her fingers drilled into his muscles through his shirt.

With his own breathing ragged, Jack freed her mouth and sat up. “Too many clothes.”

“Yes.” Audra stripped off his T-shirt and reached for his shorts.

“You too.” Jack's hands shook as he helped Audra remove his clothing and hers as well. “You take my breath away.”

Audra wrapped her arms around his neck. “You make my head spin.”

Jack kissed his way to her shoulders, then lower to her breasts. He drew her left nipple into his mouth as he teased her right one, rubbing it between his fingers.

Audra's body undulated beneath him. Her movements were driving him to the edge. Her breath came thin and fast, like music to Jack's ears. He smoothed his hand lower, past her waist, lingering near her hip. He used his knee to nudge her legs apart, then stroked a finger intimately between her folds.

“Jack.”
Audra gasped as her hips lifted from the sofa. She pinned him with her gaze. “I need to touch you.”

Jack's muscles almost spasmed. Her small hand pressed against his chest and he let her push him onto his back. Audra straddled him. She took his hand, trailed her tongue across his palm, then placed it on her breast. The heat in her eyes nearly melted his bones.

Jack sighed, palming her breast and caressing her soft skin. “Kiss me again.”

Audra's warm body settled over him like a sensual blanket. She covered his mouth with hers.

Jack parted his lips and let her in. His mind spun as the taste of her had a different type of tension throbbing through him. He wrapped his arms around her waist, then slid one hand down to stroke and knead her derriere.

Audra released his lips to rain kisses across his chest, licking and nipping his pecs. She strummed the muscles at his abdomen, taking an inordinate amount of time at his hips. There wasn't an inch of Jack's body that didn't feel her touch. His erection grew increasingly painful as her fingers moved closer, then farther away from his manhood.

Jack exhaled on a groan. “Audra, you're killing me.”

Her breath came closer, brushing over the part of him that strained to join with her. “I wouldn't want to do that.”

Audra covered him with her mouth. Jack's toes curled. His hips tensed. He moaned long and deep. He felt greedy that he wanted more, yet anxious to love her the same way.

She worked his breadth and licked his length, sucked his tip over and over and over again. His hips moved to the rhythm she set with her mouth and her hand. His heart pounded in his chest. Sweat broke out on his upper lip.
“Audra.”

She leaned away from him, licking her lips. “Now we need that condom.”

Audra stretched her lithe body toward the floor to claim the condom from his shorts pocket. As she rolled the rubber over his rock-solid erection, Jack reached forward to tease between her thighs. Moaning, Audra closed her eyes. Her hips pumped in response. Pleasure softened her pixie features.

Jack wanted nothing more than to join with her and give them both the release their bodies cried for. But not yet.

“It's my turn to love you.” Switching places with her, Jack raised up on his knees and hooked her legs over his shoulders.

Audra's eyes widened. “What are you doing?”

Jack cupped her hips. “Loving you.”

Audra's breath rushed from her lungs. She shut her eyes again as Jack palmed her hips, opening her to his tantalizing tongue. He focused on her most sensitive flesh, kissing her, licking her, tugging her with his lips. Blood swooshed in her ears. Her muscles trembled in his palms. Her body moved like a puppet in Jack's capable hands. She wanted to race to the finish. She wanted these sensations to go on and on. Her body was flooding with desire. She moaned and panted her pleasure.

Oh, God, this feels so good!
What he was doing to her—loving her, learning her—no one had ever made her feel this treasured, this desirable ever before.

Her skin moistened with perspiration. Her hips rocked in time with his long licks and deep kisses. Her muscles pulled tighter and tighter, deeper and deeper. Then her body went stiff. Audra screamed as she climaxed under Jack's thorough attention.

Her muscles were still shaking as Jack lowered her legs. He surged into her with one deep thrust. The sensation was achingly sweet, painfully intense. Audra pressed her head back against the sofa cushion and opened her mouth to scream again. Jack covered her lips with his. She raked his back with her short nails, feeling her body tossed under echoing waves of erotic pleasure.

Jack worked her body with a hard and fast rhythm. Audra met his demands and made her own. She'd never felt this free, this confident, this adventurous with anyone else. They rocked together as the pressure built inside her again. Audra gripped Jack's hips, urging him even deeper. Her body strained to meet his. His groan echoed in her ear. Her back arched and lights exploded behind her eyes.

Jack ripped his mouth from hers. Then he climaxed, holding her tight as their bodies shook. They shared their release, flying over the edge together and landing, wrapped in each other's arms, as one.

 

 

Quincy lowered his voice. He leaned closer to Darius as they sat beside each other at the Books & Bakery food counter Wednesday morning. “Are people signing your father's petition because they think that he'll make a good mayor, or because they want a real election?”

Darius almost lost his appetite for his half-eaten breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon. “At least you waited until Doreen went into the kitchen before you asked.”

Quincy frowned. “I know better than to ask when she's around.”

“Those doctoral studies are finally paying off, huh?”

Quincy ignored the insult. “So what do you think?”

“I think you should change the subject.”

“All right.” Quincy cut into his blueberry pancakes. “Did you do anything special this weekend?”

“No.” Darius dug into his breakfast, willing his appetite to return.

“You're not going to tell me about her, are you?” Quincy's look was chastising.

“Who?”

“Stop playing dumb. You've been visiting a woman in the next town every weekend for the past five years. All this time, I've respected your privacy. But now I'm leaving town. Are you going to tell me about her or not?”

Darius swallowed his final bite of toast. “No.”

Quincy's sigh was heavy with exasperation. “Man, I'm leaving Trinity Falls in three weeks. At least tell me the name of your mystery woman in Sequoia.”

“You make it sound as though we're never going to see each other again.” Darius eyed his childhood friend. “You're moving to Philadelphia. You're not going off planet.”

“Come on, Darius. Who is she? Your secret will be safe with me.”

“That's good to know. How's the search going for your replacement?”

“Fine.” Quincy sighed again. “I can take a hint.”

“That's a first.” Darius mumbled into his mug of coffee.

Quincy ignored him again. “The search committee offered the position to the professor from New York. She accepted.”

Darius lowered his coffee mug. Curiosity stirred in him. “Why would she leave NYU for Trinity Falls University?”

Quincy forked up the rest of his pancakes. “You can ask when you interview her for the
Monitor.
”

“What do you know about her?” Darius bit into his bacon.

“She has an impressive CV.” Quincy referred to the professor's curriculum vitae. “She graduated from Penn a couple of years after I did. But she got her Ph.D. from NYU.”

“Curiouser and curiouser.
TFU is a good school, but it's a stepping-stone. It's not a destination—unless you have ties to the area.”

Quincy finished his coffee. “I don't think she has family here.”

“What's her name?”

“Peyton Harris.”

The name didn't ring any bells for Darius, either. But he did love a good mystery, and this sounded like one. “I'm looking forward to meeting her.”

“She'll be here next Tuesday.”

“That soon?” Darius pushed away his empty plate.

“She needs to find a place to stay.” Quincy propped his forearms on the counter. “Classes start in the middle of August. That's less than a month away.”

“You're still here.” Darius drained his coffee.

Quincy's grin was smug. “Ah, but that's because Ramona loves the thrill of apartment hunting. She enjoys the exploration and stress. We're looking at a couple of places this weekend. Care to join us?”

Darius recognized the not-so-subtle trap. He stood, smiling tauntingly. “No, thanks. I've got other plans.”