by Jill Sanders
“Ugh!” Suzie threw up her hands. “Why? Why is this a Jordan thing?”
Matt laughed. “You won’t have to wait much longer.”
Blake started to get up and Matt helped her. “I’m heading up. I get worn out so quickly these days. Stay.” She held up her hand when he moved to get up. “I’m sure Matt would love to catch up.” She turned to Suzie. “Night.”
“Night.” Suzie smiled up at her. Then her eyes turned back to his and he watched as sadness overcame her. He hated that he’d done this to her. Hated seeing those sexy green eyes go dull.
“Well,” Suzie stood up. “I have a busy day tomorrow.”
He jumped up, almost knocking over his chair. “Yeah,” he agreed, only to have Suzie’s eyes narrow at him. He could tell she was daring him to follow her out, but he didn’t mind the challenge.
“I’ve got the early morning shift.” He shook Matt’s hand. “Thanks for dinner.”
“Any time,” Matt said with a smile. He followed them inside. Blake had already disappeared somewhere into the house.
“You don’t have to rush out,” Suzie said to him the moment they had stepped out the front door.
“I have an early morning anyway,” he replied with a shrug. “Besides…” He glanced back at the door. “I think your brother wanted to go check on Blake. Didn’t you see the way he kept watching the door after she went inside?”
Her eyes narrowed. “He did?”
He chuckled. “Powers of perception.” He shook his head while he headed towards his car.
“Hey, I’m perceptive,” she said, jogging to catch up with him.
He glanced at her. “Right.”
She tugged on his arm until he stopped and looked at her.
“I am.” She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him.
“Okay.” He thought about a quick test for her. “What was Blake wearing on her left hand?”
Suzie laughed and waved her hands. “That’s so obvious. She was wearing her wedding ring.”
He shook his head and smiled at her. “No, she wasn’t.”
Suzie frowned and looked back at the house. “Yes, she was.”
“No,” he said again and started walking towards his car.
“Then what was she wearing?” she asked, catching up to him again.
“Her wedding ring was on a chain around her neck. Since her fingers were swollen.” He ran his eyes over her face and could tell she was a little pissed at him, so he decided to take it a step further and reached up to touch her chin. “Instead, she was wearing a pink rubber band, which I think was a subtle hint of what sex the baby is.” He leaned a little closer until he was a breath way. He smiled when she held her breath and her eyes zoned in on his lips. “But you didn’t hear it from me.”
Chapter 11
How was she supposed to stay mad at Aiden? Especially when he was causing her knees to wobble and her palms to sweat.
Then his words struck her, and she gasped slightly. “A girl? You think they’re having a girl?” She glanced at the house and dreamed of having another niece.
“That would be my guess.” He shrugged as he moved away again.
Why hadn’t she noticed anything about Blake that evening? Oh, right, because Aiden was there. Wasn’t that how it always was? Once the man was within ten feet of her, everything and everyone else disappeared.
“I can see you’re not very pleased with that news,” he said, stopping beside her car.
“No, I mean, I’m pleased. I’m excited for them either way.” She leaned against the door of her car.
“Okay, then why the frown?” he asked smoothly.
She wanted to tell him that he was the reason for all of her emotions lately but kept those thoughts to herself.
“Is work going okay?” he asked when she didn’t answer right away.
“Yes,” she answered quickly. “The store is going wonderful. How are things with you?” She knew she had to keep him from asking too many questions about her.
“Fine.” He crossed his arms over his chest. She’d loved seeing him in a gray T-shirt and the worn tight-fitting jeans. Another reason he was very distracting. “I said it before but won’t dare say it in front of my dad.” He chuckled softly. “I never believed him when he said his job was challenging. I understand now it’s not the job but the people he has to deal with on a daily basis.”
She cocked her head slightly and smiled at him. “Are you saying the people of Pride are difficult?”
He chuckled. “No, I’m not saying that. I know better than to get that out in the rumor mill.”
She laughed. “Smart man.”
“I grew up here.” His smile slipped slightly.
“You make it sound like that was a bad thing.”
He shrugged. “Sometimes coming from a small town can be.”
She smiled up at him. “Do the other cops in the station in Portland make fun of you?” she teased.
He rolled his eyes. “There is some truth to it. After all, nothing big ever happens here.”
“I don’t know.” She shook her head. “You don’t know a lot of my family’s history. I mean, my mother was kidnapped here and taken by her ex-husband and almost killed while pregnant with Matt.” She nodded towards the house. “Then my aunt Lacey was run over by a madwoman. Not to mention what happen to my uncle Iian on his eighteenth birthday or my sister just a few years back.”
He shrugged. “Okay, your family seems to be a magnet for crazies.”
She smiled. “We all survived. So far.” She reached for her car door.
“Wasn’t your sister kidnapped a while back?” she threw over her shoulder.
“That was different,” he said to her as she started her car.
“Right.” She waved at him.
“She escaped on her own,” he called out as she started to drive away.
The more she thought about it, the more she realized that Pride had had its fair share of scary moments. Still, nothing was worse than the fear she’d experienced in the city.
It was the reason she didn’t walk alone on the beach at night. She felt a shiver race up her spine and forced the memory away.
When she parked in her spot and got out, she waved to someone who honked as they drove by.
This was why she loved living in Pride. Everyone knew her. She knew everyone. She couldn’t walk ten feet without seeing someone she’d grown up with or someone who had known her family forever.
Sure, there were a few bad apples in Pride, like Brad Rupert, but for the most part everyone was friendlier than anywhere else she’d ever been.
She walked to her freezer and pulled out the rest of the ice cream. She sat on her sofa, enjoying the cold sugary treat while she plotted how she was going to avoid Aiden Brogan for the remainder of his time in town.
He’d made it clear that all he wanted was to play with her while he was here. How had he put it? To relieve boredom. Or had that been her words?
She pulled out her phone and reread their messages. Sure enough, she’d used that term. It was strange. Since returning home, she had never really thought that she was bored. Not until she thought about not being able to see Aiden for the coming weeks had she realize just how boring things could be. Sure, her shop kept her busy but, once the doors were locked, she didn’t really have anything to fill her hours.
Tomorrow was her first official event with Sunset Weddings. She had an early morning to start prepping for the big wedding of a couple from Edgeview. Her orders had all arrived yesterday and it was just a matter of making the rest of the table arrangements, boutonnieres, and of course the bride’s bouquet.
She was looking forward to working with the different flowers the bride had picked out.
But outside of the shop, what did she really have?
Shaking off the thoughts, she jumped up, determined to find something else to fill her time.
She spent an hour on the internet looking for a fun hobby.
She didn�
�t know how she ended up on the community website but, seeing the link to the Boys and Girls Club schedule, she clicked it.
They were looking for several volunteers to help teach summer classes and one in particular caught her eye. Without thinking, she filled out the form with her information and clicked send.
Smiling, she thought about teaching young kids’ horticulture in the evenings. That would certainly keep her mind off Aiden.
The following morning, she got a call from her aunt Lacey.
“Do you really want to teach at the B&GC?” Her aunt sounded excited.
“Sure,” she said as she walked across the street and headed towards the bakery.
“That’s wonderful. Oh, I see you. Let’s have breakfast and chat.”
She glanced up and saw her aunt walking towards her, waving.
“I was meeting George here for breakfast,” Lacey said as she held the bakery’s door open for her.
They both looked up to see George standing at the counter, waiting for his mother.
“Morning.” Her cousin smiled at her.
What could Suzie say about George Nicholas Stevens? He was the younger brother to her cousin Lilly by four years. He was so much like her other two male cousins and her brother that often in her mind those lines were blurred. He was Jordan tall, which meant well over six foot. His build matched that of his father and, even though most of the Jordan men had dark hair, George took after his father Aaron and had a dark sandy blond mix that set him aside from all the other Jordan men. His eyes were another thing that set him apart. Their silver color was almost haunting.
She hugged George and then glanced up to see the morning specials on the chalkboard.
“I already ordered for you,” George told Lacey as he wrapped his arm around his mother.
“Thanks. Suzie volunteered to teach horticulture at the B&GC.”
“Better you than me,” George stated, earning him an elbow stab in the ribs from Lacey. “Hey, I agreed to continue teaching the four classes I’m already signed up for.”
“And that is the reason I didn’t pull your ear,” Lacey said with a smile. “Now, pay for our breakfast while we go have a quick chat.” She took Suzie’s hand and started pulling her towards a booth.
“I’ll have the special and coffee. You know how I like it,” she said over her shoulder.
“Right.” George waved her away.
As she and Lacey sat in the booth, her aunt leaned closer and ran her eyes over her. “You’ve got something on your mind.”
Lacey Jordan was as close to a gypsy psychic as Suzie had ever met. The woman was uncanny with reading people.
“Okay, yes. I suppose I do. After all, I did just spend all my savings on moving back home and opening a business.” She smiled at her aunt; whose eyes narrowed at her.
“It’s a man.” She glanced around and then smiled. “Your parents tell me Aiden is staying in the blue cabin.”
Suzie sighed heavily. “And?”
“And.” Lacey’s smile widened. “I heard that the two of you had dinner at Sara and Parker’s place and then the following night at Matt and Blake’s.”
“And?” she asked again, knowing her aunt was fishing for information.
“You’re going to make me speculate?” Her aunt’s eyebrows arched up.
Laughing, she finally shrugged. “We’re just friends.” She glanced up as George set their coffee in front of them.
“Thanks.” She scooted over for her cousin. “So, are you really going to school in the city?”
George shrugged. “I’ve been thinking about it.”
“My son hasn’t made up his mind about anything,” Lacey said with a chuckle. “Other than he likes to teach at the club.”
“What about getting your teaching certificate?” she asked him.
His eyebrows rose slightly. “That might be fun.” He shrugged. “I’ve been coaching at the club for a while as well. It could be fun to get my foot in the door at the school too.”
“That’s a great idea,” Lacey said cheerfully. “Your aunt still teaches art at the grade school.”
George nodded and looked like he was uncomfortable with the topic solely focused on him.
“So, you and Aiden?” he said, turning to her.
Suzie rolled her eyes and relayed once again that they were just friends.
Letting herself into the shop a half hour later, she figured she had two hours to complete the wedding order before Kate would be there and the shop doors opened.
She spent her first half hour putting together the bride’s bouquet. The boutonnieres came next and were easy enough, but her hands cramped after the twenty-fifth one.
Deciding to finish the rest of the table arrangements after cleaning up her workspace a little, she stepped out to dump the full trash can into the dumpster that sat outside her back door.
She dumped all the clippings and was just turning to head back inside when she heard a noise. Before she could spin around and see what had caused the sound, pain exploded on the base of her head and she fell forward. She landed on her hands and knees as rocks and glass from the alley pierced her skin.
She had to blink a few times for her eyes to adjust. She focused on her hands on the ground. It didn’t dawn on her to scream or run away, and when she took another blow, this one to the kidney, she realized her mistake. This time the pain was unbearable and caused her vision to gray, and she finally blacked out completely as she fell face first onto the dirty alley.
The next time her eyes opened, someone was gently shaking her.
“Come on, baby, open those eyes for me,” a deep concerned voice said. “There you are.”
She blinked a few times as Aiden’s face came into view. Blue and red lights flashed behind him. The bright lights caused her to moan.
“Aiden?” She started to reach up, but he stopped her.
“No, don’t, I’ve got pressure on the cut.”
She realized suddenly that she was practically lying in his lap as he sat in the dirty alley.
“What?” She closed her eyes on the pain and sucked air into her lungs, which caused a stabbing pain in her ribs and back.
“An ambulance is on its way,” he said softly. She felt the pressure now on the back of her head that he was talking about. It stung and she winced against it. “What happened?” he asked her. “Did you fall?”
She kept her eyes closed; the sunlight and the police lights caused her head to spin.
“No.” She stopped herself from shaking her head. “Someone attacked me.” She felt him tense.
“You sure?”
“Yes.” She rested her head against his chest. He smelled wonderful and felt so great against her. His hard pecs were a complete comfort to her as she half-heartedly listened to him relay over his radio that she’d been attacked.
She was shaken out of her stupor when he mentioned her parents.
“No, don’t call them.” She sat up slightly, dislodging his hand from her head. Wincing slightly, she looked up at him. “I’m okay. Don’t—”
“Too late,” he broke in as he frowned down at her. “Your folks are on their way here. The ambulance was halfway to Edgeview already after a fender bender on the highway. Looks like we’ll be waiting a while, so the office called your uncle.”
Suzie sighed and rested back. “Small towns.” She closed her eyes again as she waited for her family to arrive.
“Did you happen to see who attacked you?” he asked as he reapplied the pressure to her head.
“No, they hit me from behind.”
“Suzie? Aiden?” She heard her uncle call from somewhere.
“Back here,” Aiden answered, causing her to wince with pain at the loud voices. “Sorry,” he whispered to her.
“Hey there, kiddo.” Her uncle Aaron knelt beside her. “Heard you took a fall?”
“Someone hit me and then kicked me in the ribs,” she said, motioning to her side.
“What?” Aiden asked, shifting h
er slightly. “You didn’t mention that.”
She blinked a few times. “I must have forgotten.”
Aaron frowned down at her. “How do you feel about taking a car trip with me?” he asked as he looked at the cut on the back of her head.
“I have a wedding…” she started to say.
“You can marry Aiden later,” her uncle joked. “Right now, I’d like to get your head scanned and get a few X-rays.” He moved his hands over her ribs, which caused her to hiss out with pain.
“I’ll drive,” Aiden offered.
“No, you stay here and see if you can catch the SOB who did this to my niece.” Aaron’s voice turned low. She’d only heard her uncle talk with such conviction a few times in her life. She knew it was because he was pissed and trying to control his temper.
“I’m okay,” she started to say.
“Who’s the doctor here?” Aaron asked, placing a patch of tape over the cut so she wouldn’t bleed everywhere.
“You are.” She sighed. “Fine, but at least let me call Kate and tell her how to finish the floral arrangements as you drive.”
“Deal.” He glanced up at Aiden, who was still holding her. “Want to put her in my car?”
Suddenly, Suzie was floating as Aiden stood up with her in his arms. “Lead the way.”
Suzie once again relaxed into his arms as he followed her uncle to his car.
Just as he set her in the passenger seat, her parents’ car came to a stop next to them.
“We’re heading to Edgeview. You can follow along,” Aaron told her father and mother.
Her mother jumped out of her car and climbed in the back seat of Aaron’s car. “I’m riding with you.” She touched her shoulder. “How are you doing, honey?”
“Tired,” she said and closed her eyes.
“Keep me posted,” she heard Aiden say just as Aaron started the car. Then he leaned down and whispered in her ear. “If you wanted my attention, there are better ways to go about it.” He gently kissed her and then shut the door. She didn’t even have time to respond before she felt the car moving.
Chapter 12
Standing in the alley where he’d found Suzie, he took in every detail. There was a small trash bag of flower clippings sitting not far from where he’d discovered her.