Rescued (Flowers of the Bayou) (10 page)

“You act as if you don’t want me here.” Jordan teased. “No matter, I was invited by the host himself.”

“I don’t believe either one of you, you both hate parties, dancing and everything else. “What is the real reason?”

“I just wanted to give this city something to talk about.” Flicking her on the nose Jordan reached for one of the punch glasses near him, avoiding his cousin’s disapproving stare.

“This city already knows you as a womanizing scoundrel, reckless and self-serving, do you need to add more to your already blackened list?” Raising an eyebrow at him she awaited his answer.

“Are you of all people pointing fingers—the woman who’s known for stealing Jasper from Bernadette Walker? Also known as a trouble making colored advocate, you dear lady should keep your mouth shut. What do I care what they think anyway.”

“Ugh sometimes I wonder how I survived growing up with Bradford men around” Margaret huffed

“Well I came for a good reason.” Turning to his wife Jasper asked. “Where’s Jackson.”

Jordan now all but ignored his cousin’s falsely heated words, and went back to nursing his drink and taking in the scenery. Nearly seventy people were packed into the small house with its white walls and oak furnishings, but it didn’t take him long to spot the man in question and point his friend in his direction.

Glen was quite the craftsman. Jasper had asked him if he would want to invest in the venture but Jordan declined. His passion had always been the sea which was why he started building his own vessels and also the very reason he was so often called away.

No, he didn’t need any more ventures. With Bradford S.B. and his half of B&M lumber Co. it was not necessary.

“How is Georgia?” Margaret asked, snapping Jordan out of his thoughts.

“Well, climbing trees, smart as ever, reminds me of you.”

“So she’s doing more than well.” Margaret took the drink out from her cousin’s hand and placed it back on the table becoming serious. “She’s a growing girl Jordan and you are gone for months at a time. She would be better off with Jasper and I than up in that big house by herself.”

Looking down at his cousin he let her know it was not a subject that he wanted to discuss any further.

“All I’m trying to tell you is that Vivian is not her mother sometimes you need family not friends.”

Grunting, Jordan retrieved his drink. She was right; but he couldn’t admit it. When he was gone the guilt from the realization that she was by herself was maddening. This alone was reason enough for him to push around the idea of bringing her aboard the ship with him when he left New Orleans. She would love traveling all around the world from New Orleans and into Europe and Asia.

As if reading his mind Margaret spoke. “Life on the high sea is not the right life for a little girl, and I can guarantee Vivian won’t go with you.”

“What about the other one.” Jordan laughed revealing those deep dimple’s.

“Amelia? Jordan Bradford you can’t be serious.”

“She would brighten up the seas with that smile of hers.”

Margaret let a scowl mar her flawless face. “You shouldn’t be noticing much of anything about Amelia, least of all her smile.”

“Don’t overreact.”

“I know you Bradford.” Margaret said.

Jordan smirked at her. “She’s too young for me.” He said teasingly and laughed as her scowl deepened.

“And that shouldn’t be the only thing stopping you.” Margaret warned though she relented some, noticing the teasing nature in his voice. “You leave that woman alone she’s a good woman and friend to me.”

“Hush Margaret.” Was all he said.

“I’ll be watching you.” Margaret assured him.

“I’m sure she has masses of men vying for her attention so no need…” Jordan stopped at seeing his cousin quirk an eyebrow up at him.

“Amelia’s soon to be engaged to the colored miller Morgan.”

Jordan felt the smack on his shoulder, but continued his fit of laughter. “He has to be at least sixty-nine years old.”

“Sixty-one.” Margaret corrected.

“She’ll never be acquainted with the pleasures of the flesh.” Jordan laughed.

“Don’t be crude.” Margaret scolded but hid a slight smile of her own behind her hand

“He is a good catch. And he’s member of the Advancement of Negros Committee”

“He’s not a good catch for anyone, not even if he was a member of a thousand committees.” Jordan said sobering some.

“She’s right pretty to me but the colored men in this city don’t seem to notice. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard her described as plain, or meatier than the other girls, but there is something in her smile that just warms you. She’s here you know… and we shouldn’t be discussing her like this.”

“You are right.” Jordan agreed. He didn’t care much for hearing all about Amelia’s faults.

“I need to find my husband care to escort me?”

Taking her arm in his, Jordan guided her through the crowded corridor and into the main room before turning and leaving her alone with Jasper who was leaning against a wall.

He needed some fresh air, all the people packed together made it too damn hot in that house for anyone to function properly. Stepping out he basked in the feeling of the cool night air touching his skin. He knew there was a reason he didn’t like damn tea parties, balls, and galas.

Sitting on the porch step he stretched his legs and arms out before leaning back and shutting his eyes. Pulling a cigar from his pocket he lit the tip and inhaled, enjoying his time alone. Nevertheless it wasn’t long before he heard footsteps approaching.

Lifting one eyelid lazily he let it focus on the approaching figure and found himself smirking in the dark, as the woman he’d just been speaking about appeared quite ironically. She hadn’t noticed him and he was sure she was always lost in thought because it happened often enough in his own home, usually resulting in some kind calamity. He watched as she took a seat on the swing bench on the step above him.

“Now I have to ask myself? Why you aren’t dancing in there all flushed and fluttery with all the other girls?”

Amelia started but stayed in her seat. She had come outside expecting to find some time by herself for the remainder of the night. The night was not as she expected she had gone hadn’t gone unnoticed still she’d spent more than half of the night against a wall.

“Excuse me.” Turning she searched for a face, form, something.

“Here.” Jordan stood now, noticing her looking about.

Amelia nearly tripped over the second step as she tried to find her way down in the dim moonlight and blindly reached out for anything to grab hold of.

“Are you alright?” Reaching out to her Jordan steadied her quickly

Amelia pulled her hand back at the realization of who the voice belonged to. Why in the world would he be at this party? “We are going to have to stop doing this Mr. Bradford.” She poked fun. “I’m sorry I’m so clumsy.”

“I won’t argue with you there but I wouldn’t be sorry for it. It’s unique unto you.” Jordan teased. “And there are worse things to be.”

“In a thousand years I would never have expected to see you here.” She blurted out. She could have hit herself in the head, ‘Caught your foot in your mouth Amelia,’ she thought.

“Fine society expects me to go against them every so often so I had to figure out a way to add to my already dilapidated reputation. As you know they cannot abide mixing of the races or classes of any kind.” Jordan grinned at the shy smile that spread across her face. “What’s your excuse?”

“I was invited.”

“Fair enough.”

Gazing down at her fingers Amelia started twirling her thumbs around each other searching for something to say. “How’s…” She stumbled. “How is Georgia? It’s strange not seeing her in the morning or at night before bed. Does Vivian read to her now that I can’t?”

“I don’t know if Vivian reads to her but she is fine.” Jordan said taking another puff of his cigar. “Have a seat I don’t bite.”

Looking down at the step and then up to the bench she determined it would probably be rude to take the bench and against her gut took the seat beside him.

“See, now I don’t feel like I’m talking to myself.”

Amelia stared at him in the glow of the moonlight. He was a very handsome man, very tall—she had to stop herself. She was practically a married woman.

Jordan caught her eyes on him but continued to puff away on his cigar blowing soft circles into the air, which seemed to amuse her he discovered. “Go on, try it.” Jordan teased getting a shy smile from her and a shake the head.

“There it is again.”

“What?” Amelia looked around her.

“That smile.” He said, the reward being an even deeper one. “You haven’t answered my question though.”

“Question?” Knitting her eyebrows together in a frown Amelia looked up at the man in front of her. She didn’t remember any question.

“You’re not dancing, why?”

“No one asked me.” She said in a matter of fact type tone.

“Why is that?” he asked quietly awaiting for her response.

Amelia thought for a second before answering. “I assume because no one likes me well enough to ask. It seems the pretty, petite ladies are the women young men want waltzing in their arms. I’m neither. No matter anyhow, I don’t know how to dance.” There was no reason to lie.

Jordan would have laughed if not for the serious look on her face.

She was indeed pretty with rich crème chocolate caramel skin. Her glossy black hair hung past her shoulders with slight ringlets gathered all to one side that brought out the golden color of her eyes, which harbored long and thick coal lashes and her eyebrows which were neither thick nor thin, arched ever so slightly and her full lips looked as if they had been kissed by the color crimson and were luscious and inviting.

She wasn’t short but wasn’t overly tall, probably standing a proud five feet six inches and though she was not thin she fit her body, every welcoming curve accentuated in her red dress and it didn’t seem to bother him at all.

He hadn’t acknowledged it before, but now he had to admit she was more than a pretty girl, she was a gorgeous woman. “Well that is a pity, you not knowing how to dance I mean. Every woman knows but you. I could teach you right now if you want.” Reaching his hand out to her Jordan pulled her closer to him. “Would you like to dance?”

Smiling Amelia softly swatted his hand away. “Stop it Mr. Bradford.” Amelia backed away slightly, he was serious. “I don’t know how.”

“No time like the present to learn.” Grinning, Jordan took her hand in his. The moment his hand touched hers, her pulse quickened and her breathing became sharp. That heavenly feeling was back and she reveled in it. When he pulled her closer it felt so good she could scarcely believe it. “This is silly; you shouldn’t be out here with me dancing.”

“It’s a cotillion isn’t it? “Jordan countered but peering down at Amelia let her go. “I never liked dancing anyway.” Spotting the bench behind him Jordan took a seat in it.

“Well I don’t think I would either.” Amelia blushed.

Flicking the butt of his cigar to the floor Jordan stepped on it making sure the heated tip was out. “You should say that to whatever man you marry, you’ll make him happy.”

Amelia’s smile vanished quickly from her face. She didn’t want to think of marriage anymore than she had to.

Her actions didn’t go undetected but Jordan didn’t ask why she was now frowning he needed to get back inside anyway. “If you would excuse me,” he started and then stopped noting again just how striking Amelia was. Leaning closer to her he knew he was to close but could not help himself leaning down on impulse he kissed her forehead as he would Margaret’s or Georgia’s but somehow the meaning was different.

Pulling away Jordan looked down at her as her eyes seemed to be drifting closed, tilting her head up Jordan said her name which caused her to open them.

Amelia knew she must have looked like a spooked deer and felt her mouth slightly drop open to form some words to explain herself but heard nothing come out. All she could do was stare up into those eyes of his.

Jordan told himself no but felt himself leaning in and pulling her closer to him, lifting her up slightly, his body seemingly took on a will of its own and before he could stop it his lips crashed down upon hers.

He was gentle at first leaving a few feathery soft pecks here and there. And amazingly enough she let him, not pulling back as he had expected. He let his arms circle around her waist to aid him in lifting her for better access.

Amelia felt her feet now barely touching the ground and knew that at any moment her heart would leap out from her chest or she would fall out in a dead faint, and that’s when it happened. Her legs nearly gave out on her; surely it had to be a sin for anything to feel so good.

Jordan tightened his grip on her not wanting her to slip, but didn’t stop his sweet assault—he had barely begun! Gently he tried prodding her mouth open but she kept it shut firmly, there were ways around that, slowly Jordan sucked and pulled at her bottom lip and by and by she let herself forget, clenching her teeth together.

Dipping his tongue in slowly he proceeded with his intoxicating torture coaxing her to try her own exploration and little by little she did.

Amelia felt herself control start to fade and let a soft moan she had been trying desperately to stifle escape her body. Morgan’s slovenly attempts at kisses were nothing like this.

Jordan was the first to pull away breathless. What the hell was he doing? Looking down at her in the moonlight he had to stop himself from kissing her again her soft lips now swollen.

Amelia nearly gasped, the whole world seemed to be spinning, who knew a kiss could be so good? “I…I…” She felt herself stammer she couldn’t even speak.

Jordan let her go gradually and ran his hands through his hair, and for the first time in his life he seemed to be at a loss for words.

“I…I think I better go in.” Amelia managed to mutter before sweeping past him.

Taking out another cigar Jordan lit it. But he still could feel her lips upon his. Hell his heart was racing as if it was his first time. He assumed no one had ever kissed her like he had or at least to that extent and for some reason he felt proud to be the first one to make her melt away like she had. Checking himself mentally Jordan had to dismiss the thought immediately. He needed to see Melanie.