Harmony Cabins (15 page)

“Good.” Ms. Helen nodded once with decision. “Enjoy Trinity Falls. You know what they say, ‘You only live once. But if you do it right, once is all you'll ever need.'”

Ms. Helen excused herself to join the buffet line. Audra, Jack, and his friends followed her. There were chicken dishes in a variety of spices, vegetables, salads, fruits, and carbohydrates. The desserts looked to have come from Books & Bakery. Audra hadn't realized how hungry she was until all of that food was laid out in front of her. The music changed three times while she was filling her plate. The songs were all popular club anthems, Ne-Yo, Beyoncé, Pink, and Alicia Keys. She wiggled her shoulders during a particularly engaging bridge.

Jack leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “Do you need more room so you can dance your way through the buffet line?”

“I can't help it. Reflex.” She glanced toward the open floor behind them. “Will there be dancing later?”

“I don't know.” He shrugged the broad shoulders she intended to wrap in her arms later.

After filling her plate, Audra followed Jack, weaving her way around other hungry guests with loaded dishes. She stopped frequently to observe neighbors who greeted Jack with stunned pleasure. Some people she recognized as Books & Bakery regulars. Many others she hadn't seen before. Either way, she'd never remember all of their names.

Jack finally guided Audra to a table toward the front of the room, where Quincy and Ramona already sat with Ean, Megan, Darius, and Ms. Helen.

Doreen sat on Audra's other side. She leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “You've been here just two weeks. In that time, Jack has cut his hair, shaved his beard, and bought new clothes. You've brought him back to the community.”

“I didn't have anything to do with his coming tonight,” Audra whispered back. “He wanted to be here.”

“And he wanted to be here because of you.”

Across the table, a young woman stopped to say hello to Ms. Helen, then lingered over Darius. There was a lot of hair twirling and even more giggling before she moved on.

Audra returned her attention to Doreen. “I don't deserve any credit. This is all Jack.”

Another attractive woman came to pay her respects to Ms. Helen before exchanging words with Darius. This visitor found a number of times and various ways to touch the reporter. Ms. Helen eventually shooed the young woman away.

Audra speared her mac and cheese as she looked around the room. Several people turned away as though embarrassed to be caught staring. Others smiled and nodded their approval. Of what?

“You're good for him.” Doreen picked up her silverware, then froze as something across the room surprised her.

Audra followed Doreen's gaze. Leonard was in the buffet line, laughing with another woman. Audra hadn't met his companion. She was attractive, tall, and thin. She appeared to be around Leonard's age, though her bright pink summer dress and flirtatious manner made her seem much younger.

Audra's gaze skipped back to their table and the empty seat between Ms. Helen and Doreen. She'd assumed it was for Leonard. “Isn't Leo joining us?”

“Apparently not.” Doreen dug into her food with jerky movements.

“Who's he with?” Not that Audra had the right to ask. She watched Doreen stuff a forkful of green beans into her mouth and chew. Could she even taste it?

Doreen washed down her food with ice water before answering. “Yvette Bates. She's one of Heritage High's English teachers.”

Audra glanced toward the food line again, then turned back to Doreen. There was hurt in the woman's warm brown eyes. “Did the two of you break up?”

Doreen lowered her gaze. “A week ago tomorrow.”

Audra's jaw dropped. “And he's already dating?”

“He's looking for a wife. I guess there's no time to waste.”

“I'm sorry.” Audra watched Doreen move her food around her plate.

Across the table, Quincy, Ean, and Darius exchanged brotherly banter. Even Jack joined in the reminiscences from their high school escapades. Laughter rose from their table, seemingly oblivious to Doreen's dampened spirits.

“Is this seat taken?” A warm drawl interrupted their conversation.

Audra glanced up. She hadn't noticed Alonzo's approach. He was a handsome man with warm olive skin, wavy black hair, and laughing coffee eyes. He stood behind the empty chair next to Doreen, waiting to hear whether someone else had a prior claim to the seat. A chorus of “no” answered him. Audra wondered at the pleased expressions around the table. Perhaps she'd been wrong. Perhaps the others had noticed Leonard and his date at the buffet line.

As the sheriff and Doreen engaged in conversation, Audra turned her attention to Jack. His hot onyx gaze was waiting for her.

He leaned in close. “Are you having a good time?”

Audra could feel his body heat, smell his skin. She sipped her ice water before answering. “Yes, I am. Are you?”

“Better than I thought I would. I'm glad you're here with me.” His husky tone was foreplay.

“People are still staring at us.”

“Does it bother you?” Jack folded her hand in his.

“A little.”

“Don't let it. Ignore them.”

Easier said than done. Audra looked around the table. Ean and Megan, Quincy and Ramona, neither couple seemed hungry, at least not for food. A steady stream of women continued to visit with Ms. Helen and flirt with Darius.

Belinda appeared, nudging the latest female visitor to the side. “Darius, say something for the camera.”

Darius shook his head with a sigh. “Belinda, go bother Quincy.”

Ms. Helen threw back her head with a laugh.

“Everyone, may I have your attention, please?” Councilwoman CeCe Roben interrupted the festivities, looking very professional in a navy blue dress and pearls.

Audra shifted on her seat to face the podium in the front of the room. Her knees grazed Jack's thighs. His heated gaze caused the breath to lodge in her throat. He gently squeezed her hand, then turned his attention to the councilwoman.

Able to breathe again, Audra tried to ignore the streams of electricity that coursed from Jack's palm up her arm to her breasts.

CeCe gestured toward their table. “We're here to bid farewell to two of our most prominent and well-regarded residents, Ramona McCloud and Doctor Quincy Spates.” She waited for the applause to die down before continuing. “Quincy is leaving after Founders Day, and Ramona will serve out her term as mayor, which ends in January. But before we celebrated our sesquicentennial, we wanted to celebrate our citizens. Quincy and Ramona, you've meant a lot to Trinity Falls. Come back and visit. Often.”

Applause and choruses of “Hear, hear!” followed CeCe from the microphone. There were Grammy Award winners who could benefit from the council president's speechwriting abilities—succinct and from the heart.

Doreen pushed away from their table and stood behind the podium.

“Don't make us cry!” Darius begged from his seat.

Doreen brushed aside his comment with a chastising wave. Laughter echoed around the gym. Audra watched Jack's enjoyment. His white teeth flashed in a grin. His broad shoulders shook in a silent chuckle. Her heart tripped when she thought of Doreen's words:
“You've brought him back to the community.”
That wasn't true. Jack had made the choice to rejoin his friends and neighbors. She was glad she'd been here to witness it.

Doreen spoke over the fading chuckles. “Quincy, you've always been such a good friend to my son, Ean. I felt like a second mother to you, all the time you spent at our house, eating our food.” More laughter halted Doreen's words. “Ramona, you put your dreams on hold because the town needed you. Trinity Falls is a better place because of your dedication and efforts.”

The applause was even more thunderous as Doreen returned to her seat.

Darius leaned toward the older woman and raised his voice. “I asked you not to make us cry.”

Ms. Helen patted his shoulder. “It's almost over.”

An expression of horror crossed Darius's face as he turned toward the podium. “What is he doing?”

CHAPTER 15

Simon stepped behind the microphone in the front of the gymnasium. “Good evening, everybody. How's everybody doing?”

A harsh expletive jerked Audra's attention from the podium. On the other side of the table, Darius shoved back his chair and rushed to the back of the room.

Simon continued speaking. “I wanted to say a couple of words, too, since Doreen Fever spoke. Equal time and all that, since we're going to be competing against each other for the mayor's spot.” His laughter bounced out of the mic and circled the room.

Behind her, Audra watched Darius exchange words with Wesley Hayes, the part-time bookstore clerk, part-time disc jockey, and full-time high school student-athlete. Wesley stood between a flat control panel and a tall compact disc player. He seemed surprised by Darius's appearance. The young man's braids swung as he shook his head. Darius gestured adamantly at the audiovisual controls, then toward the podium.

Oblivious to the drama in the back of the room, Simon kept on talking. “Quincy, I applaud you for going after your dream. You were in love with Ramona for a long time, even while she was dating Ean, your best friend. The whole town knew it. Even Ramona knew it. The only person who didn't know it was Ean. And he's a lawyer.”

Silence exploded in the gym. Audra stiffened. The tension in the room was oppressive. She shot a look at the nearby guests. They seemed equally stunned. Quincy, Ramona, Ean, and Megan were frozen.

Simon was either unaware or uncaring of his audience's discomfort. “I think everyone in this room is thinking the same thing. Why'd it take you fourteen years to tell her, son? Fourteen years. Really? It only takes nine months to have a baby.” He chuckled at his own wit. “And another thing I was wondering—”

The microphone went mercifully quiet, cutting off Simon's failed amateur comedy hour. Instead, Kelly Clarkson's “What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)” blared over the sound system.

Audra strained to locate Darius across the room. He shook Wesley's hand before marching to the podium. He jerked his startled parent away from the microphone and practically dragged him from the gym.

Shocked, Audra looked at the other dazed expressions around the table. “That was horrible.”

Ms. Helen shook her head. Her eyes were glued to the exit through which Darius had hauled Simon. “How did an idiot like Simon Knight manage to have a son like Darius?”

Jack shook his head. “That's a good question.”

Ms. Helen scowled at Doreen. “You'd better not let that jackass win the election.”

Audra considered Quincy, Ramona, Ean, and Megan. “Are you all right?” She could only imagine how mortified they were by the experience.

A muscle flexed in Ean's jaw. “Consider the source.”

Quincy shrugged, but the movement seemed stiff. “Yeah. That's just Simon being Simon.”

Ramona had blood in her ebony eyes. “I'm going to kill him.”

Megan leaned over to rub her cousin's forearm. “No, you won't. You don't want murdering a constituent to be one of your last acts as mayor of Trinity Falls.”

Ramona frowned. “I don't?”

Jack sat back on his seat. “I'm glad Darius had the presence of mind to ask Wesley to shut off the mic.”

Ms. Helen pressed a thin hand to her small chest. “Oh yes. It could have been much worse.”

Doreen rubbed her forehead. Her eyes were shadowed with concern. “I had no idea Simon would think he had to have equal time at the podium after I spoke. I'm so sorry.”

Alonzo covered Doreen's hand with his. “That wasn't your fault. You weren't making a political speech.”

Others in the group voiced their agreement.

Several minutes later, Darius returned to their table. Color stained his sharp cheekbones. His classic features were stiff. He folded himself onto his chair before looking at Quincy, Ramona, Ean, and Megan. “I apologize to everyone, but especially to you. That was—”

“Knock it off,” Quincy interrupted him. “We're not so simple that we're going to hold you responsible for what your father does and says.”

“Ask me to dance.” Ms. Helen demanded Darius's attention.

Darius stood again. “Ms. Helen, would you give me the honor of this dance?” His grateful smile was close but not quite up to his usual wattage.

Ms. Helen put her hand in Darius's and let him escort her to the makeshift dance floor. The music changed again. Beyoncé's “Angel” was taking a turn on the CD player. The dance floor grew more crowded as people—young, old, and otherwise—joined Ms. Helen and Darius.

Alonzo stood. He offered his hand to Doreen. “May I have this dance?”

Doreen smiled her surprise. “I'd love to.”

Ramona and Megan both tugged their grudging partners from the table. Audra looked at Jack.

He gave her a bashful smile that oozed sex appeal. “I suppose you want to dance.”

“Yes, I do.” She returned his smile.

“It's been quite a few years since I even attempted it.”

“I remember a night not so long ago.”

His onyx eyes twinkled. “It's coming back to me.”

Audra placed both hands on the hard muscles of his left thigh. They flexed beneath her palms. Her body reacted. She dropped her voice. “Consider it foreplay.”

“In that case . . .” Jack stood.

They found a spot on the edge of the dance floor. Jack wrapped his arms around her waist and she twined hers behind his neck. His heat seeped into her wine-red dress. Audra felt safe and warm in his embrace. She could stay like this forever.

In fact, tonight everyone seemed under a spell in Trinity Falls: Ean and Megan. Quincy and Ramona. The expression on Alonzo's face as he held Doreen in his arms revealed more of his feelings than he'd probably intended.

Nearby, Leonard's mask of dislike as he glared at the couple startled Audra. She sensed Doreen's ex-lover knew he'd made a mistake in bringing a date to the party.

“Are you having a good time?” Jack whispered in her ear.

Audra shivered at the sensation, promptly forgetting Leonard. “I am. This is one of many nights I'll always remember.”

Jack drew her closer. “And the night's not over yet.”

 

 

Hours later, Jack pulled onto the graveled driveway in front of Audra's garage, then followed her to her cabin. If someone had told him two weeks ago, he'd spend the night dancing—and enjoy it—he would have had that person drug tested. But that's what had happened tonight. It hadn't been as much fun as dancing on Audra's patio, though.

Audra let him inside. “I've been to a lot of functions, but Quincy and Ramona's going-away party tonight was definitely my favorite.”

Her cell phone rang before he could agree.

“Who would be calling you this late?” Jack closed and locked the door behind them.

“It may be ten
P.M.
here, but it's only seven in California.” Audra dug her cell phone from her purse. A look of annoyance creased her forehead before she tossed her phone onto her sofa. It stopped ringing.

“Who was it?” Jack knew the answer.

“Wendell.” Audra drew her fingers through her thick dark hair.

“He's still calling you?” That sounded like jealousy threatening to darken his mood.

“I've told him to stop.”

The thought of another man pursuing Audra didn't sit well with Jack. It made him feel like that fairy-tale beast Audra had compared him to weeks ago. His reaction was a problem. He was falling deeper under her magic, and that scared him to death. Jack fisted his hands. What would he do when it was time to say good-bye?

He took a deep breath, then another.
Let tomorrow worry about tomorrow.
He wanted to love Audra tonight. He wanted to give her so much pleasure that she wouldn't remember any lover before him or imagine any after him. Wasn't that how he felt? He couldn't imagine any other woman in his arms. Ever. He was falling deep. He was falling hard.

Jack closed the distance between them. “I don't want to think about Wendell.”

“Neither do I.” Audra spoke on a sigh that went straight to his blood.

Jack lowered his head to kiss her. Once again, her taste shot through his system like pure alcohol, making his head spin. He held her loosely in his arms. Audra's palms rested on his chest. Still kissing her, Jack walked her backward toward her bedroom, shedding their clothes as they went.

Audra smiled against his lips as she unbuttoned his shirt. “I love a man who can multitask.”

Jack chuckled as he helped her take off his shirt. There was something sexy about teasing each other while making love.

He unzipped her dress. “You haven't seen anything yet.”

Audra kicked off her shoes on her way into her bedroom. She shimmied out of her underwear. Jack watched her movements as he stripped off the rest of his clothes. He could watch her anywhere, all the time. In a crowded room or when it was just the two of them. Reading the paper or making love.

Jack pulled a condom from his wallet and tossed it toward her nightstand. It slid to a stop on the table's surface.

Naked, he went to her, stopping only a breath away. With his fingertips, he traced her lips and touched her hair. “Do you know how beautiful you are?”

Her smile was soft. Her skin was flushed. “You make me feel sexy and beautiful.”

His hand followed where his gaze traveled over her body—breasts, waist, hips, arms. “It's not just the way you look. It's the way you move.” He bent his head to nuzzle her neck. “The way you smell. It's who you are. You drive me crazy.”

Audra crawled onto her bed, tugging Jack with her. “You're my Prince Charming. I was sleeping before I met you.” Her gaze dipped to his mouth. “You woke me with a kiss.”

Jack shook his head as he followed her onto the mattress. “I'm no one's idea of Prince Charming. But you make me feel as though I could be.”

Audra drew his head down for another soul-searing kiss. He pulled her closer into his embrace. Her lips were sweet beneath his. Her breasts were soft against his chest. Her hands smoothed down his back, stopping just above his hips.

They were a contradiction, the feelings building in him with her touch. He wanted to take her fast and hard. At the same time, he wanted to be gentle and move slowly. He'd never been with a woman who touched so many parts of him. Audra challenged his mind, healed his heart, and made his body throb and ache.

Jack drew her down to the mattress beside him. He kissed her longer, his tongue playing with hers. With his fingertips, he traced her side, from the swell of her breast to the curve of her hip. He wanted her to burn for him, just as she was making him burn.

He raised his head. “Tell me what you like.”

Audra searched his eyes. “With you, everything.”

“Good answer.” He smoothed his hand over her breast, gently pinching her puckered nipple. “Do you like that?”

“Yes.” Audra's breath was short.

He drew his fingertips down her body to her navel. Audra's stomach muscles quivered. “And that?”

“Very much.” Her voice shook.

“And this?” He laid his hand on her nest of curls. He kissed her mouth, quick and hard, before he moved down her body.

Jack kissed and suckled her breasts until their nipples pebbled in his mouth. He licked his way down her torso, stopping to tease her navel and nip at her waist. Her skin was sweet and scented, smooth and soft. She was his fantasy with the power to draw him from the cold cave in which he'd been sleeping and back to the land of the living. He surged back up and over her.

Breathing hard, Audra shoved against him, causing them to roll across the bed until she lay on top of him.

“Tell me what you like,” Audra whispered into his ear.

Jack grinned up at her. “Everything you've ever done to me.”

Audra smiled back. “Good answer.”

She straddled him, leaning closer to kiss his neck. A cool breeze from the air-conditioning brushed over her heated skin. She feathered her lips over his molded pecs and six-pack abs. The man was a work of art. She took her time, exploring his clean lines and fine angles.

Her ministrations left him with a thin sheen of perspiration and a great deal of heavy breathing. She did that to him. He gave her the courage to be the woman she wanted to be: assertive, strong, confident. Unafraid to give pleasure—or to take it.

Audra sat up. She met Jack's heavy-lidded gaze and knew he was feeling as hot and restless as she was. She stretched toward the nightstand for the condom. Her fingers shook as she tried to tear open the packet.

Jack covered her hands with his. “Let me.” He took the packet from her, opened the foil, and offered her the condom.

Audra sheathed him, smoothing the latex over his length. Jack throbbed in her hold. Audra slowly lowered herself onto his erection. His length and breadth stretched her deliciously. She closed her eyes and gave herself up to the sensation.

She controlled their rhythm, rolling her hips, loving the feel of Jack deep inside her. His hands gripped her thighs. His hips flexed and lifted as he matched her movements.

Audra arched her spine, letting her head fall back. Jack's hands covered her breasts, molding and shaping them. His fingers teased her nipples, causing the pulse between her thighs to deepen.

His hand slipped down her torso to the juncture of her thighs. He touched her there, pressing, rubbing, moving against her. Audra's body burned. Her hips sped up. The muscles in her thighs tightened.