Charleston Harbor Novels: Books 1 - 3

by Debbie White

  Jack cleared his throat. “I have a sister, Diane. She’s older by a few years. Her husband, my brother-in-law, Richard also works for the company.”

  “They must be the parents of your birthday girl?”

  “Yes, Crystal.”

  “And your folks?”

  “I have my mom and dad, both sets of grandparents, three uncles and their wives, and several cousins. We have a huge family.”

  Annie relaxed her shoulders and dropped her gaze.

  “Hey, I didn’t make you sad, did I?”

  Annie shrugged. “A little. I always wished I had more brothers and sisters. The holidays are the worst.”

  “Well, you can come to my house whenever you want loud and obnoxious. You’ll get your fill of family life pretty quickly.” He smiled, and instantly she felt better.

  “You have beautiful skin,” Annie said, changing the subject.

  Jack studied his forearm as he rolled it back and forth. “Indian blood.”

  “Oh? How fascinating,” Annie said.

  “My great-great-grandmother belonged to the Kiawah tribe.”

  “I love the Kiawah River area,” Annie stated cheerfully.

  “You probably lather on the sunscreen?” He laughed.

  “Guilty, but I do love the warmth of the sun. I just have to be careful how long I stay in it.”

  “That green blouse plays up your pretty eyes.” He put the wine glass to his lips.

  She drew in a deep breath through her nostrils before answering. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Annie caught a glimpse of the waitress carrying a wooden serving tray. In her free hand, she balanced the round serving tray that held their dinners. She placed the white dish in front of Annie. The wonderful smells wafted up her nostrils. “And for you, sir,” she said, setting down the second plate. “Be careful it’s hot. Would either of you care for some ground pepper?”

  Jack nodded toward Annie.

  “Please.”

  The waitress held up the pepper mill for Jack to see.

  “Yes, please.”

  “Can I get you anything else?”

  Jack nodded again toward Annie.

  “No, I’m good.”

  “Me, too,” Jack echoed.

  “Great. Enjoy your dinner.”

  They dined on the shrimp and grits, and in between bites, got more acquainted and learned that they both had a few things in common besides loving sugar.

  “One of these days I’d love to take you out on my boat.”

  Jack focused on her mouth, making her squirm a bit. His sexiness working its way into her and making her feel anxious. She shook her head, trying to clear the uncertainty of what might be playing out before her.

  “No? You wouldn’t want to ride on my boat?” He cocked his head to the left.

  “No, I didn’t mean that. I was just thinking about something else. Of course, a boat ride sounds delightful.” She took a bite of the grits covered in a rich, savory gravy.

  “How about Saturday?” His excitement bursting at the seams caused her to giggle.

  “Saturdays are busy for me at the bakery.”

  “Of course, I should have thought of that. Let’s see, how about Friday? I can take the afternoon off. The boat isn’t far from here. I could pick you up at around noon.”

  Annie drew in a big breath, exhaling quickly. Her heart was pumping fast and hard. “Okay. I usually close up by two o’clock. Let me see if Morgan can stay and close up. It really depends on her schedule.”

  “You’re going to need to hire more people soon.”

  Annie tilted her head. “Oh, why?”

  Jack chuckled. “Those cupcakes are the best I’ve ever had. My niece’s birthday party was a hit because of them. You wait. Your doors will be swinging back and forth nonstop pretty soon.” He winked, and Annie could feel herself blush.

  She reached up and pulled her hair back, straightening her shoulders. “I see. You can tell the future, can you?” She smiled.

  “I can’t eat another bite. I’m stuffed.” He pushed his plate to the side.

  “No dessert, then.” She smiled coyly.

  “I already had mine today at Sweet Indulgence, with you.”

  She nodded. “True.”

  The waitress brought the check, and before Annie could get a look at it, Jack took his wallet out, handing her his credit card. “All of it on me.” He winked.

  “Thank you, Jack. I didn’t expect that.”

  “I know you didn’t. That’s what makes it so nice.” He reached across the table and patted her hand that had been resting on the table. She slowly drew it back.

  “It’s getting late. I should be going.”

  “Let me walk you home.”

  A typical spring evening, the warm air had people out and about, and the sounds of chatter echoed the streets. It would have been totally safe for her to walk home alone. She did it all the time, but it was nice to have Jack by her side.

  “Here we are.” Annie stopped in front of the cigar shop.

  Jack gazed upward. “Is your apartment up there?”

  Annie took a few more steps, which brought them to the corner where the cobblestone alley was located. She motioned with her chin down the alley. “My door is down there.”

  Jack extended his arm out. “After you,” he said, having her take the lead.

  “Here we are.” Annie pulled out her key and put it in the lock. She turned and gazed at him over her shoulder. “Thanks again for dinner and for walking me home. I had a great time.”

  “I mean it about the boat ride.” He reached into his pocket, drew out a card, and handed it to her. “My cell number is on here. Please call. It should be a nice day out on the inlet.”

  Turning to face him she said, “Okay, I’ll try to work it out.”

  “Fair enough.” He reached his hand out, resting it on her arm.

  His touch sent a wave of emotions running through her body, causing the hair on her arms to stand. She pulled up her shoulders and trembled. “Good night, Jack.”

  She shut the door and climbed the several steps that led up to her apartment. She unlocked the second door and entered the living room where Buffy waited patiently, wagging her tail. Annie tossed her purse onto the table and leaned over, petting her on the head. “You won’t believe who I ran into.” She brushed her hand down Buffy’s ears and scratched the inside, causing Buffy to itch her hind end with her back feet. Annie laughed. “Yup, Jack, and boy did he look handsome tonight. He even paid for my dinner.” Buffy followed her into the bedroom.

  She took out the business card he’d handed her and started to toss it on the dresser when something caught her eye.

  Jack Powell – Driver

  Powell Limousine Services

  She read the card again as the words sank in. He was a chauffeur?

  Her mind raced back to their conversation over cupcakes and coffee. He never really mentioned what he did for a living nor did she ask. So what if he was a chauffeur or a professional driver. It was honest work and who said it always has to be about the money? Annie gasped. Grandmother Lilly—that’s who.

  Chapter 3

  “Hi. I think I can manage that boat ride,” she whispered. It’d only taken her an hour to get the nerve to dial his number.

  “Great. You made my day. I don’t get a lot of days off either, but my family is stepping in today for me. I’ll pick you up at around noon.”

  “That’s great. Hey, so … you’re a limo driver?” She might as well get it out in the open. You know, just so she could come up with a story if the time ever came. For Grandmother Lilly, she told herself.

  “Yup, well, mostly. I drive, my brother-in-law drives, and my dad occasionally drives when he wants to get away from my mother,” he said. “And during peak times, we have other family members help out when they can.”

  “Oh, that’s great. Charleston is visited by many so I’m sure you keep busy.”

  “My sister Diane runs the vacatio
n rentals, and Mom helps by decorating them and all that nonsense.”

  “Oh, you have quite a setup, then, not just a transportation service.” A smile crossed her face. This would be much easier to sell to Grandmother.

  Annie smiled at the beautiful scenery as they drove to the dock where Jack’s boat was moored. She had her bathing suit on under a cover-up. She grabbed her beach bag and followed him down the pier, her flip-flops slapping the wooden planks.

  “Here she is.” He smiled as he pointed.

  “She’s beautiful. What’s her name?”

  “She’s in between names right now.” He jumped in the boat and held out his hand.

  Annie took his hand and lowered herself into the boat. He leaned over the side and untied the one rope that held her securely to the dock, and soon they were on their way, motoring quietly and slowly at first, then opening up wide and hard as they rode the open waters. Annie sat in the back, but after several minutes of sea spray slapping her in the face and her hair whipping in the wind, she moved toward the open seat up front near him and under the protection of the canopy.

  “I think I got enough sun.” She smoothed her hand over her fair arms.

  “Be careful. You can really get burned out here and not know it. I have refreshments in the cooler. Help yourself.”

  Annie retrieved two bottles of ice cold water. She handed Jack one. “Why is the boat in between names?” She took a sip of the water. It felt great on her parched lips, and the cool water quenched her dry throat.

  “That’s a long story.” He peered out into the water before them.

  She took another gulp of water. It really tasted good. He was right. The heat could really sneak up on you when you’re riding in a boat.

  “Well, we have time for long stories, don’t we?” She batted her lashes. She wasn’t letting him off the hook that easy.

  “I had a girlfriend.”

  “You named your boat after a girlfriend?” Annie frowned.

  “She was more than a girlfriend. We were engaged to be married.” His eyes never left the water.

  “A fiancée, we call people we are engaged to be married to fiancés.” She giggled.

  He turned quickly with furrowed brows then he resumed with eyes steady on the water.

  “I’m kidding.” She touched his arm and withdrew it quickly. “Anyway, you named the boat after your fiancée and now you two are no longer a couple, so the boat is nameless,” Annie spoke freely.

  “That’s about the size of it.”

  “How about you give the boat a name that means something to you that would never change?”

  Jack looked back over his shoulder and then turned back around toward the front of the boat. All of a sudden, he cut the engine and they began to drift. He turned and sat down, bringing his bottle of water to his lips and drew in a drink. “I thought about that. But I’m terrible at naming things.”

  “Let’s see. I named my dog Buffy because of her color.” Annie searched the boat with her eyes for clues. “How about Lady Luck?”

  “I’ve seen a few named that. I want something more original.”

  Annie lowered her gaze and stared at her bright pink toe polish. She raised her head quickly. “I know. How about Lady Powell?”

  Jack snapped his fingers. “I like that.” He laughed. “Hey, are you getting hungry?”

  “Getting there.”

  “I brought sandwiches from the deli. I know of a place we can tie the boat and have lunch.”

  “Sounds great, Jack.”

  He put the boat in gear and headed toward their destination. She had no idea where he was taking her. They’d only motored for about fifteen more minutes when he dropped back the speed. In the distance she saw a boat dock.

  Jack pushed up the throttle, and the boat idled as he drifted to the spot he wanted. He cut the motor off and jumped out of the boat, grabbing the coiled rope on the deck. “I know it looks bad, but it’s safe. I’ve reinforced the planks a few times, especially after hurricanes.” Jack stood on the pier and helped Annie out.

  “What is this, some private island?” Annie asked.

  “Sort of.”

  Annie stood on the dock and looked around, trying to get her bearings. “Is this Kiawah?”

  “Yes, it is. Remember I told you my great-great-grandmother was from the Kiawah Indians? Well, legend has it that her ancestors lived on this land. It was near water for growing crops and to drink, and it was beautiful.” Jack looked off into the distance.

  “You can say that again. It’s absolutely gorgeous out here. So peaceful.”

  “When my mom’s grandparents passed away, my grandparents inherited the land.”

  “You’re very lucky, Jack.”

  He tilted his head. “Why do you say that?”

  “Not only do you have a family, but you have history and this beautiful parcel.”

  They made their way to solid ground, and soon a picnic table came into view. The weather-beaten benches and table had seen better days, too. Jack brushed off twigs and other things that had fallen on the benches and top. He tossed the soft bag he’d retrieved from the cooler on top. He unzipped the thermal bag and handed her the white deli paper wrapped sandwich. “I hope you like turkey.”

  “I do. I like food, period.” She laughed.

  Annie turned her head and began searching the area with her eyes. She saw movement out of the corner of her eye and focused. It was a squirrel. She looked up at the huge branches of the oak tree draped in moss that gave their table shade.

  “So many beautiful oaks.” She took a bite of her sandwich.

  “Yes, and we have some dogwoods further back and the grandmother or daddy of all trees, a beautiful magnolia. After lunch, we can explore.”

  Annie swallowed her bite down and took a sip of her water.

  The two explored the entire area. The lot his family owned was a slice of paradise, also known as Kiawah Island. A barrier island known for beautiful beaches, golf courses, and resorts, its proximity to Charleston made it a perfect getaway for locals and attracted tourists by the thousands.

  “This little one-way bridge makes it feel like we are a separate island from the mainland,” Jack said as they strolled over the weather-beaten wooden bridge.

  “I love it. The marsh is so pretty this time of year,” Annie said, pointing to the wispy reeds and the snowy white egrets that probed the muddy waters of the wetlands. “It’s like your own little piece of heaven.”

  “We used to camp out here when we were teens. We had a blast,” Jack said as he reminisced.

  “It wasn’t scary? It’s pretty dark out here at night,” Annie said.

  “We had flashlights and lanterns. And we also had a fire going down at the beach.”

  “I know … right … your own private beach,” Annie said smiling. “This would be a beautiful spot to build a home on. Why haven’t you built on it?”

  “Well …”

  Annie realized quickly what she’d stepped into. “It’s the fiancée, isn’t it? I’m sorry, really I am. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  He reached his arms, out placing one hand on each of her arms. “No, it’s okay. I have to start talking about it eventually. Yes. My grandparents were giving us this as a wedding present. I was going to build a house on it.” He turned his head and looked over his shoulder slightly. When he turned back around to face Annie, she swore she saw moisture in his eyes.

  She swallowed hard. “Listen, I know what it’s like having a broken heart. It doesn’t matter if it’s a boyfriend, girlfriend, parents or whomever.”

  He removed his hands from her arms and laced his fingers of one with hers, gently squeezing her hand. She could feel the blood run straight to her cheeks. She drew in her bottom lip between her teeth.

  “I say I’m over her, and sometimes I really am. Then I see her with her new guy laughing and kissing him, and it brings the memories back.” He lowered his head.

  She sighed. “I know, memories ca
n be brutal. I have a few of my own to deal with as well.”

  He jerked his head up, searching her eyes for answers. “What do you mean?”

  “Let’s save that for the next boat ride and picnic, shall we?”

  Chapter 4

  “But, Grandma Lilly, I don’t want to go on another date that you’ve set up. All of yours and Auntie Patty’s have been major disasters. I met a guy I’d like you to meet. His name is Jack.” Annie held out the phone from her ear as she heard Grandma Lilly chattering about how it was their responsibility to help her find a good man.

  “You two need a hobby—ceramics, painting, anything but me.” Annie could feel her blood boiling, her Irish blood.

  “Oh, child, don’t be silly. We’re very busy. We play cards once a week, we attend charity events and church. Don’t forget our participation at Our Lady of the Lake Church.”

  “Well, it’s apparently not enough to keep you busy because you both insist on making my life a—”

  “Be careful, Annie. You can’t take it back once you say it,” Lilly said with a tone of warning.

  “Oh, Grandmother! I just want to find my own dates.”

  “You’ve had three broken hearts within the last eighteen months. You clearly are choosing the wrong type of men.”

  “That’s not true.” Annie didn’t want to admit that maybe it was.

  “And, because you’re so resistant to our choices, you’ll never know if we even came close to selecting the right mate for you.”

  “Selecting the right mate? Do you hear yourself talking? This is not the days of arranged marriages. I’m free to pick my own guy, failure or not,” Annie said, raising her voice a tad.

  “There’s more involved here than just your failures, Annie. You are to inherit a lot of money someday. Your future husband must not be a money-grubbing individual and must be able to hold his own in terms of financial success.”

  “Okay, now you just sound paranoid. I can’t talk to you about this any longer. I’ll be over for dinner tonight. See you then.” She lowered her head in defeat. She looked over to find Buffy staring up at her with big brown eyes. “They’ll never leave me alone until I marry the man of their dreams.”