Georgia Pine (Southern Promises Book 3)

by K. G. Fletcher

  “Stay low!” he yelled over the angry sounds of nature. “And cover your ears with your hands!”

  She nodded quickly, feeling the mud ooze around her bare legs as she knelt low. Tim sheltered her body with his own, and she could feel him breathing heavily as the storm intensified. Each time the lightning cracked, she jumped, and he embraced her tighter. Every nook and cranny of her body was saturated, the small gully pooling with water that trickled downhill. The temperature had dropped considerably, and the cool rain stung her exposed skin as it fell in hard sheets.

  As quickly as the storm descended, it let up, the thunder rumbles dissipating and rolling through. The overcast sky immediately started to lighten up, and the birds started to chirp. Pulling back from Tim in the muddy puddle, she couldn’t help but smile. Splatters of earth dotted his face, and his hair was soaked against his scalp. He had been her protector in the storm, his enormous frame sheltering her like the wings of an eagle.

  “That could have quickly become a serious emergency with all that lightning.”

  His eyes were dark saucers staring back at her as she wiped the mud from his beard with her fingertips. They stood, and he helped her out of the ditch, her shoes soaked through.

  “My house isn’t too far from here. I know it’s not ideal to hike in wet shoes, but we have no choice. Come on.” Grabbing the backpack and slinging it over his shoulder, he waited for her on the trail. Their lower extremities were covered in mud, and the heaviness of her wet shoes felt like weights. They didn’t say anything for several minutes before Jessica shattered the silence with a squeal of delight.

  “Look, Tim! A rainbow!” She pointed toward the east where the refraction and reflection of sunlight through droplets of moisture in the air caused the striking phenomena. The colorful arch was intense with primary colors reaching opposite the sun. She was in awe of the spectrum of light, feeling as if this were a positive sign that things with Tim were headed in the right direction.

  “God, I’ve never seen one this close! That’s so cool!” A boyish grin had taken over his former broodiness as he tilted his head back to stare at the colorful sky.

  When they arrived back at his house, Tim motioned for her to sit on the back-porch stairs and pulled off her wet shoes and socks, tossing them to the side. She wiggled her feet, shocked to see mud between her toes. Tim dragged a garden hose out of a contraption on the side of the house, making Jessica scowl.

  “What are you doing?”

  Not saying a word, he grinned at her before stripping down to his birthday suit in front of her, making her jaw drop. Quickly, he turned the knob, and clean water poured out the end of the hose. He stood under the shower of water, his tall, muscular physique flexing and bending as he washed off the remnants of the trail. His tattoo shimmered under a sheet of water, the wings of the Phoenix appearing to flutter with each movement he made. His focus turned to her as he shook his glorious mane like a wild animal.

  “Take off your clothes,” he instructed while licking his wet mouth.

  Jessica sharply inhaled before she stood and did what he asked. Crossing her arms in front of her bare chest, she timidly approached him.

  “I’m not gonna bite you,” he chuckled. “But you better be prepared. The water’s freezing.” He lifted the green hose above her head, the shocking temperature of the water making her tense.

  “Tim!” She inhaled, her nipples hardening in an instant. He kept a steady grip on her arm as she flailed and shut her eyes tightly against the freezing torrent, his hearty laugh echoing in her ears. When he finished, the two of them faced each other, dripping from head to toe, all remnants of the trail washed away.

  “I have a right mind to take you out in the open again,” Tim admitted, his voice rumbled with desire. He dragged his fingers down Jessica’s mouth. “But I’d be just as happy in my shower. Whadyasay? Do you feel okay? Would you be up for it?”

  Smiling, Jessica nodded. “I’d be up for that.”

  She followed him up the stairs of the porch where he stopped and opened the door, palming it to allow her to enter first. Her hip bone grazed the tip of his penis that was already in a hard salute as she passed, and a rush of warmth pooled in her belly. Elizabeth was right—Tim Ryan was an “over-the-top scrumptious specimen of a real man,” and she was about to have her way with him.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Thank you for lunch, Mama. And the mani-pedi.” Jessica lounged in the oversized spa-chair and blew on her wet nails. Her hands looked much better after the pampering, and the lunch at her favorite French bistro near her neighborhood—divine.

  “I’m glad you enjoyed it, dear. We don’t often get to spend one-on-one time together anymore.” Mrs. Southers looked on as the nail technician applied a top coat to her coral-colored nails that matched her lipstick.

  It had been a few weeks since her mother had walked in to see Tim in Jessica’s house, the anticipation of a stern talking-to at the forefront of her mind. Her mother made small talk during lunch and at the nail place but never mentioned the incident, until now.

  “I’ve heard some rumors—”

  “Here we go,” Jessica interrupted.

  “Jessica Lynn, I heard your gardener’s truck has been parked in front of your house every night for the past couple of weeks. You need to know what people are saying about you.”

  Jessica turned to her mother abruptly. “Why, Mama? Why should I care what people are sayin’ about me? They’ve been talking behind my back ever since Stephen started up with that no-good tramp from work. Everybody knew what he was up to but me! Do you think anyone let me know when he was a hound dog in my own home when I wasn’t around? You think I trust anyone anymore? Do you think I care?”

  “Keep your voice down,” Mrs. Southers shushed.

  Jessica pouted like a chastised child, the mother-daughter day ruined, as expected. “Mama, I know what you’re getting at. But you need to trust me for once in your life, okay?” She shifted in her seat and pleaded. “Mama, my friend Tim is a very good guy. I promise you.”

  “Jessica, you have no idea what you’re doin’. I know Stephen disappointed you with the divorce—”

  “Disappointed me?” she interrupted again, her voice high-pitched with Southern fury. “Stephen has nothing to do with this. You just don’t like the fact that I’ve moved on and I’ve made friends with someone you disapprove of.”

  Mrs. Southers offered the nail tech an uncomfortable, pinched smile before responding through gritted teeth. “I did not teach my only daughter to talk to me this way in public. You are embarrassin’ me in front of these nice workers.”

  Jessica sighed. “I’m sorry, Mama. But I’m gonna stick up for myself. I haven’t done anything wrong.”

  The two women took a break from the heated conversation, each one retreating into their thoughts. Jessica had hired Mr. Hernandez’s daughter, Luanna, to sit for the entire day and evening so she could help the decorating committee with last-minute preparations in the grand ballroom for the charity Gala and get ready for the night ahead. Tim had been instrumental in helping her find a trustworthy, kind sitter she could count on so they could spend more one-on-one time together doing things like the memorable hike. The plus side was the girls took to Luanna immediately, the twenty-year-old showering them with her undivided attention. She was a regular addition to the Kaufman girls’ schedule, and Jessica was grateful.

  It had been a busy couple of weeks with her daughters starting Vacation Bible School at one of the local churches while Jessica and Elizabeth spent time mapping out the elaborate festivities for the annual Gala. Their budget was massive, and they had carte blanche of all the top-notch vendors who queried for the event. Of course, Jessica also spent every available minute with the new man in her life. Having lunch with her mom was a last-minute addition to her packed schedule.

  Tim would come over every morning after Luanna picked up the girls to take them to the church, their love trysts sinful and decadent. He would go
off to work and they would reconvene in the evenings, her daughters coveting the special pasta and grilled dinners he would make for them. The past few weeks had been heavenly, and Jessica nervously wondered when the ball was going to drop. Stephen was gloriously absent, and she hadn’t heard a peep from him in weeks, although she had heard through the neighborhood grapevine that he had asked Traci to marry him. Perhaps that could account for his noticeable absence. With Stephen out of her life, things were going way too well, and she was unbelievably happy, which left her slightly on edge.

  Tim’s massive wealth still left her reeling, the high-tech house with its elaborate alarm systems and iron gates on acres and acres of land a stark contrast to where she lived. As impressive as it was, Jessica couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sadness, knowing Tim had been living a lonely life of solitude for the past two years in the empty rooms. His loneliness carried over into his living space as there were no pictures or art on the walls. The house only had a few pieces of necessary, expensive furniture and an elaborate entertainment system in it. Tim chalked it up to never being at home except to sleep. Most of his time he spent outdoors or in his state-of-the-art home gym where he worked out incessantly. No matter how much money the man had, it couldn’t buy back his once-thriving career. When he told her the night before how happy she made him, all was right in the world. She hoped her bubble of contentment wasn’t about to burst.

  “I’m taking him to the Gala tonight,” she whispered confidently to her mother.

  “Oh, Jessica,” she hissed, shaking her head. The look of contempt on her mother’s wrinkled face caused Jessica’s stomach to fall. She hated disappointing her mother. And what would her father think about this? If they only knew who Tim really was, things would be much different. But he wasn’t ready to reveal his true identity. Not yet.

  “You’re gonna have to trust me, Mama. That’s all I’m asking.” Standing, she swiftly gave her mother a peck on the cheek before she ran out the door. “I’m late for the setup. I’ll see you tonight!”

  ***

  Tim ran full throttle through the woods, traversing the well-worn path on his property with intensity. He was anxious. The country club Gala was hours away, and his freshly dry-cleaned tux hung dramatically in his walk-in closet. When Jessica had asked him to be her date, he didn’t hesitate, happily accepting her offer. But as the event drew closer, he wasn’t so sure it was a good idea anymore.

  Theirs was a whirlwind romance, the two of them coming together after life-altering events in each of their worlds. The ink was barely dry on Jessica’s divorce papers before he had claimed her for his own, and now she wanted to bring him out in the open as her date at the Gala fundraiser. How would her neighbors feel about seeing him there on her arm? After all, many were Mr. Hernandez’s clients. They would recognize him immediately. Her parents were going to be there too. The cherry on top was her ex-husband and his new fiancé would be in attendance, parading around like a couple of entitled assholes. Jessica explained that Stephen Kaufman was still on the board of the country club and had made the comment, “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” It was a shame the stupid prick would always be involved in Jessica’s life, the deadbeat dad only calling to see his kids one time since Tim had been seeing her. Between the family, the ex and the neighbors, it was sure to be an interesting evening.

  Sweat poured from his half-naked body as he pushed himself harder, the rocky incline unforgiving on his expensive athletic shoes. The sunlight became fractured throughout the dense understory of the trees, yet intentional with its touch of light on the natural vegetation of the plants. The evergreen forest gently subdued the intense heat of the summer sun, and he was grateful for the shady respite during his run. There wasn’t a soul around for miles, just him and his labored breathing and the crunch of leaves and twigs under his feet. He was due at the club in an hour as part of the Hernandez Landscape team assembled to work on the grounds, making them as perfect as possible for the big event. His workout would have to be cut short if he was to make it on time.

  The club was a buzz of activity by the time he pulled up to the main entrance, Martin Hernandez and the team already in full work mode, wearing the familiar landscape uniforms. Tim couldn’t help but smile, knowing Martin was in total command, navigating the busy workday ahead. A couple of guys were replanting massive containers with colorful pink and red begonias, the planters standing regally near the drive-under columns of the fancy club. Another guy was on a stand-up mower, trimming the perfect Bermuda grass, the steady rumble of the machine resonating through the air.

  “Hola! Tim!” Martin yelled, getting Tim’s attention.

  He trotted over to the small man. “Hey. How’s it going? Where do you want me?”

  Mr. Hernandez motioned with his head toward a panel van. “Mrs. McDonald is assembling the flower arrangements with her team. Can you take the buckets of flowers to the back patio and help out? She was asking for you.” The man’s chocolate eyes twinkled.

  “Sure thing.”

  Tim jogged to the van and pulled out two industrial size buckets overflowing with different colors of lilies, lisianthus, and roses. When he turned the corner to the back patio, he couldn’t help but smile seeing Mrs. McDonald at the helm of a table, carefully instructing a small group of ladies how to arrange the large centerpieces.

  “Tim!” she greeted exuberantly.

  “Hey! I’ve got a whole van out front full of flowers. Where do you want them?”

  She pointed to an area by a brick wall. “Over there is fine.”

  Tim hoisted the heavy buckets full of water and flowers and set them against the wall. “I know some of these have to be roses from your garden. Am I right?”

  Mrs. McDonald’s face was flushed from the heat, her gray hair blowing in the breeze from a box fan set up on the end of the table. “Maybe a few here and there.” She winked.

  Mesmerized, he watched her gnarled hands lovingly prepare and fill the gaps of an arrangement of larger flowers with sweet peas and a few leaves of greenery. Each finished vase was a beautiful sight to behold. She definitely had a knack for flowers.

  “Lookin’ good Mrs. McDonald. I’ll get the rest.”

  “Thanks, Tim.”

  As he rounded the corner, he nearly collided with Jessica.

  “Oh!” she squealed, her eyes wide before crinkling into a smile when she realized who he was. “Hey!”

  “Hey yourself.” He pulled her in for a quick hug, glancing quickly around to make sure no one saw them. “Are you working hard, or hardly working?”

  Jessica giggled, the sound in her throat sweet and heartwarming. “I’m waiting on Elizabeth to get back. We have a few more things to take care of before it’s time to get ready for the ball.”

  “The ball, huh? I thought this was a Gala?” he teased.

  Blushing, Jessica looked away. “It is, but I still feel like I’m a princess having you as my date.” When her eyes met his, he could feel his breath catch in his chest.

  “I can’t wait to see you in your tux.” She straightened the collar of his landscape uniform before splaying her hand on his broad chest. “You’re going to blow everyone away.”

  Tim shook his head. “No. You’re going to blow everyone away.” He watched her stifle a wide grin and kissed her quickly on the head. “I better get back to work before someone catches us.”

  The look on her face softened. “I can’t wait for tonight.”

  *

  “Yes, that’s right. The silent auction tables will go on the right side of the room. We don’t want to obscure the fantastic view of the golf course by having them against the wall of windows now, do we?”

  Elizabeth Rich was in her element, conducting a symphony of people at her beck and call. Overly dressed in white Capri pants, silk shirt, and solid gold bangles, her Louboutin heels clicked on the marble floors of the magnificent foyer as she pointed and instructed the workers where she wanted tables placed for the Gala.

 
They were in a time crunch, vendors scurrying on the property, putting the finishing touches on the big event. Jessica carried a clipboard, marking off last minute items as she followed her friend from behind like her little puppy dog, Mulligan. Tim inadvertently walked by on several occasions making her gasp each time, Elizabeth elbowing her knowingly. In a few short hours, she’d be on the arm of one of the most handsome, kindest gentlemen she had ever met. She was ready to share her happiness with her family and neighbors, regardless of how they felt about who he was. She knew the truth. And that’s all that mattered. When Tim McGill was ready to become Tim Ryan publicly again, he’d have her full support. Secretly, she hoped it would happen soon.

  “God, I need a drink,” Elizabeth lamented, collapsing on the overstuffed couch in a lounge area.

  “Don’t start too early or you’ll never make it through the night,” Jessica warned.

  Sighing, Elizabeth peered at her red nails. “I think we covered all the bases. Let’s hope the employees of the club aren’t complete morons and can get things done before seven-thirty.”

  “They will,” Jessica reassured.

  Elizabeth sighed. “Now if the weather will just hold out. They’re forecasting some pretty big storms tonight. Although, they always get it wrong. We could get lucky.”

  Jessica peered out the window at the sun shining in all its glory on the manicured golf course. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. “Hmmm. Hey, what did you decide to wear tonight?”

  Elizabeth’s eyes shone brightly as she sat up. “I’m wearing the Marchesa.”

  “Oh! The floral blush gown?”

  “Yes. Jacque is wearing an ascot that matches it perfectly. All he needs is a top hat and cane to complete his royal fantasy.” Elizabeth tittered with giggles. “Do we need to stop by and pick you up? Or is your lovely ‘Neanderthal’ picking you up in his truck?”