by Taylor Lee
It might have been the serious look on his face that surprised her. But that wasn’t what she saw first. The tall, dark-haired man strode into the pub and literally turned heads. He was a Justice, after all. Like his brothers, he was tall and obviously fit. Unlike Jude, who wore jeans and a black t-shirt every time she saw him, Jorden was wearing an open-collared dress shirt and creased trousers. He looked like the successful public official that he was.
Remembering him studying her from across the pub, Mac felt the same flood of sensation that had hit her when she met his gaze. His carefully coifed black hair was streaked with gray at the temples. Unlike Jude’s and Jared’s emerald green eyes, Jorden’s eyes were gray, the color of marbled slate. Every woman she knew would envy his dark, arched brows and visible lashes. His firm jaw and high cheekbones emphasized his generous mouth. Mac had almost sighed aloud at the perfection in front of her. He was simply one of the most handsome, distinguished-looking men she’d ever seen. It was when he met her gaze and narrowed his eyes in response that she acknowledged he was also one of the sexiest.
Mac wished she could hold onto that image. She wished she could go back to those opening moments when they were discussing basketball and her father’s determination to make her a star. It was normal, expected information sharing between two strangers who were testing their interest in each other. The mood changed when he’d referred off-handedly to his parent’s murder as if it were part of any normal conversation. She wished she could forget his obvious embarrassment at the stark way he’d referred to “murder and mayhem”. She’d been surprised at her desire to reach out, maybe even hold his hand to let him know she’d heard the pain underlying his bland recital.
And then the bomb hit. She’d only been with Chloe four or five times at practice and didn’t know her well. Like many of the privileged girls at Wildwood, she was serious and intense. Particularly about basketball. In the short time that Mac had worked with the young woman, she saw her potential and determination. She also saw her lack of confidence and fear that she might not make the grade on the varsity team. These were all common traits among privileged young people who had excelled at everything they did and whose expectations for themselves were high.
What Mac didn’t see in the shy, lovely girl were signs of a childhood filled with deep and lasting trauma. She also didn’t see a girl who would lie to her adoring father and casually mention to Mac that she was going dress shopping with a mother who’d been forbidden to see her. Given her extensive background in child psychology, Mac could only conclude that Chloe was a much more complicated young woman then her hovering father knew. It only added to her professional unease that Mac was as concerned about Chloe’s father as she was about Chloe. She swallowed a large fortifying gulp of the potent alcohol in her glass and chided herself. Dear God, was it any wonder that she hadn’t been able to go to sleep?
Chapter 4
“Okay, princess. I think I’ve let you beat me enough times. I concede.”
Jorden laughed at Chloe’s outraged shriek. He loped over to her and put his arm around her. “I’m kidding. You beat me fair and square two out of three. I’m impressed, Chloe. I know you can handle the ball, but those were some sensational shots you made from half court.”
Chloe looked down, a frown darkening her expression. She hesitated as if she wasn’t going to say anything, then blurted, “Yes, they were. I wish I could make them in a game, not just in practice.”
Jorden pulled her closer to him. “You need to get your confidence up, honey. Don’t forget you’re now playing in a different league. It’s understandable that you’re going to miss some shots that you know how to make. Comes with the territory when you’re moving up a level, or in your case, a couple of levels.”
Chloe nodded. “That’s what Coach Durant says. She said she is going to work with me this week one-on-one. I’m really glad, since I’m the worst girl on the team.”
Jorden was surprised at her assessment, but knew her well enough not to dismiss her feelings. “I can imagine why you might feel that way. Let’s face it, you’re playing with a team that has played together for at least a year. You need to work yourself into the group, find your special niche.”
Chloe laughed. “You sound just like Coach Durant. She said the same thing to me last Friday.”
Chloe’s references to her coach hit him in the gut. Jorden was glad Mac was having the impact that she was on his daughter. Chloe was going to need a good coach if her basketball career was going to be successful. But he didn’t need any more reminders of the redheaded coach. Mac’s startled response to his angry outburst had been a self-repeating loop in his brain since he’d stormed out of the Shipwreck. In his nearly three-hour telephone conversation with Jude after he got home, he’d managed to tamp down his anger and stop shouting at his brother.
He’d been horrified that Jude had told Mac the sordid tale of his ugly relationship with his daughters’ mother. When he had gotten control of his emotions, he agreed with Jude that Mac would soon know all of the details of his traumatized family. He’d even agreed that it was important that Mac understand what Chloe was going through. It was clear his daughter admired her new coach. Coach Durant, being the school psychologist, would no doubt soon be privy to all the wretched elements of his family’s life.
Forcing himself to deal with the conversation he needed to have with his daughter, Jude packed up his gear and smiled at Chloe, hoping that his Oakleys hid the turmoil he was feeling. He’d spent the night deciding how he was going to deal with the hard fact that not only had his ex-wife connected with Chloe, but even worse, Chloe hadn’t told him she was planning a shopping trip with Francine. A trip Jorden would not allow.
“How about we go to the Big Bear and grab a smoothie and some of those power bars you like?”
Chloe quickly agreed. Within minutes they had ordered their multilayered protein shakes, agreed that the oatmeal raisin vegan cookies looked better than the power bars, and settled into a booth in the back of the crowded restaurant. Long ago, Jorden had given into what at the time seemed to be Chloe’s weird eating habits. Now he admitted that she’d been ahead of her time. She got into the health craze earlier than most. To his surprise, Jorden had discovered that he liked health food as much as she did. It was another interest among many that they shared. It was their strong relationship that had convinced him after a sleepless night that he and his daughter could get through this latest crisis.
“Honey, we need to talk about your mother.” Jorden opened the conversation directly. There was no use in hedging or tiptoeing around the seriousness of what they needed to discuss.
Chloe looked surprised, but not guilty or ashamed. She frowned and asked, “What about Mom?”
“Well, honey, as we both know, she’s back in town and you’ve seen her.”
Chloe’s frown deepened. “I know, Dad, but Mom said that it was okay. She said that you told her I could meet with her. She came in for my birthday party and said she wanted to buy me a dress for it.”
Seeing Jorden’s serious expression, Chloe hesitated. “Is…isn’t that okay? I didn’t think you would mind unless you’ve already bought me a dress. If you did, and wanted it to be a surprise—”
Jorden interrupted. “Princess, this isn’t about a dress. And no, I hadn’t bought you one, but obviously intended that you would have a beautiful dress for your party.”
He put up his hand when she started to speak. “Chloe, your mother did not ask me if she could contact you. If she had, I would have told her no.” Seeing the consternation on his daughter’s face, he continued, “Honey, you also know that your mother can’t see you or Emma without supervision.”
“But, Dad, she said that was over. That things had changed.”
Jorden took a deep breath and spoke as calmly as he could. “No, Chloe, they haven’t changed. Your mother knows that and she was wrong to tell you that they had. The court has made it clear that your mother needs permission to see you girls
. Specifically, my permission. And only in supervised visits.”
To his surprise, Chloe blurted, “She said the court didn’t do that. You did. She said that you were angry with her because she divorced you and that you were making Emma and me pay for it.”
Jorden managed to quell his shocked outrage enough to answer quietly, “You know that isn’t true, don’t you, Chloe?”
Tears flooded Chloe’s lovely eyes and threatened to spill down her cheeks.
Jorden reached for her hand and held it tightly. He repeated, “You do know that, don’t you?”
She nodded and said in a tremulous voice. “Yes, but I thought… I hoped that maybe I could start seeing her again. I think she’s better, Dad. She said that she’s doing great and wants to see me and Emma again.”
Jorden wasn’t sure how he kept his voice even, controlled. “That’s a big decision, Chloe. One that we need to make carefully. Your mom knows that and so do you. Most importantly, it’s a decision that I need to be part of. You understand that, right?”
When she nodded and swiped at the tear that had strayed down her cheek, Chloe asked in a choked voice, “What about my dress? Are you going to buy me one?”
Under other circumstances, Jorden might have laughed. That they could be facing such a momentous crisis and his bright, intuitive daughter’s main concern was her party dress should have relieved him. As it was, he was glad that in his marathon therapy session with Jude last night, fueled by too much Scotch, Jude had actually brought up the dress. Apparently, Skylar had seen through Francine’s strategy to hook her daughter and made a recommendation.
“I have a suggestion, honey. You know that Skylar used to live in New York and knows a lot about the latest fashions. I mentioned to her that you needed to get a very special dress for your birthday bash, and she offered to take you shopping.”
To his relief, Chloe’s expression lit up. “Really, Dad? Would she do that? I know she always wears funny clothes, but when you went to DC and Emma and I stayed with her and Hailey, she showed us some of the fancy dresses she had. Did you know that Skylar went to the Inaugural Ball? Isn’t that amazing? And she showed me one dress that she said Uncle Jude loved. It was gorgeous, Dad. I’d never seen anything like it.”
Knowing the story of the dress that was primarily responsible for his determined brother getting the stick out of his ass and admitting that he was madly in love with the “sprite” as he called her, Jorden began to breathe more normally. He realized that he’d been living on half as much air as he needed since Mac had casually mentioned that Francine had approached his daughter.
Sucking in another grateful lung full of air, he asked, “How about it, Chloe? Would you like to go shopping with Skylar?”
His relief spread when she nodded enthusiastically. “Oh yes, Dad. I love Skylar. She really understands me.” She quickly added, “Not that you don’t, Dad. It’s just that she’s a girl.”
“That’s okay, honey. You need women in your life. Skylar and Hailey are great role models.”
Chloe added, “And Coach Durant. She’s great. I know you’ll really like her. Did you know that she competed in the Olympics? Can you imagine that, Dad? And I get to have her as a coach.” A shadow crossed Chloe’s sweet face. “But what about Mom? She’s going to be upset.”
Jorden shook his head. “Chloe, it’s important that you understand that your mother shouldn’t have approached you without talking to me. That doesn’t work, honey.”
When Chloe nodded halfheartedly, Jorden added, “I’ll talk to her today and explain that we need to discuss a number of things before she can see you and your sister.”
Chloe pressed her lips together, then asked in a shaky voice, “Do you think it would be okay if she comes to my birthday party?”
****
Four hours later, after a long conversation with Jude, Jorden did what his brother suggested. Forcing himself not to rethink the decision any further, he punched in the number Jude had given him. All it took was hearing her melodious voice saying hello to confirm that he’d made the right decision.
“Hi Mac. This is Jorden. Do you have a minute? I need some advice. I’ve got a feeling that you might know more about adolescent girls than their fathers do.”
Her voice and words were blessedly matter-of-fact. “Not more, Jorden. Just different things. How can I help?”
Chapter 5
Mac drove up the long cobblestone driveway to the Justice Mansion. She wished she had a horse-drawn carriage and a liveried driver to bring her to what was sure to be one of the social events of the year in the port city on the Great Lakes. Duluth was a fascinating city with a remarkable past, an interesting present, and a questionable future. The Justice Mansion was truly a door to its illustrious past. The Queen Anne style mansion was on the historic register, and had been home to a nineteenth-century lumber baron who had gone on to become one of the wealthiest Americans ever. The Judge’s great-grandfather had bought the stunning showcase mansion at the turn of the twentieth century, and succeeding generations had maintained the estate.
The Judge, the current owner, had grown up in the mansion with all the perks of being one of the leading families in the upper Midwest. When their parents were tragically killed, the Judge swept all four of his grandsons, the Justice brothers, into the impressive mansion as if he could protect them from a violent world. It had proved to be a vain hope, but like the mansion, the family had survived.
Mac gratefully turned over the keys to her modest Toyota Camry to one of the eager valets who were having the night of their lives parking upscale cars for the makers and shakers of this bustling city. Mac was certain that hers was the most pedestrian car they would park that evening. According to Skylar, all the brothers had expensive, high-end cars, as did Sky, who owned a three hundred thousand dollar plus Ferrari Spider. Walking up the curving walkway to the magnificent front entrance, Mac squashed her feelings of inferiority. She reminded herself that the Judge himself sent her an invitation, and that Jared, Jake, Jude, and Skylar had all called to make sure she was attending. The most important invitations had come from Chloe—in whose honor the birthday bash was being thrown—and from her father, Jorden.
Entering the gardens of the famous landmark, Mac felt as though she was entering a bygone era. The beautiful patio was decorated with strings of multi-colored lights that rivaled the starlit night. Tittering women were wearing designer dresses, confirming their elite status. If anything, the men in their fashion-forward evening wear were even more impressive.
Determined not to be overwhelmed by the opulence, Mac accepted a glass of champagne from one of the numerous tuxedo-clad servers and stood off to the side of the patio. After a moment, she heard a voice calling her name.
“Mac! You’re here. We’ve been watching for you. You look wonderful!”
Mac looked up to see Skylar and Jude coming toward her. It was hard to decide who was the more gorgeous of the pair: Jude Justice, who was the epitome of sex on a stick, or the spiky-haired sprite, Skylar. Sky was wearing a stunning Ana Sui original designer dress. The panoply of colors could have been chosen to match Sky’s remarkable tanzanite colored eyes. According to the story both Jude and Skylar had laughingly told her, that dress was the impetus for Jude declaring what everyone else already knew—that he was madly in love with the sprite.
Jude looked Mac up and down and whistled softly. “May I say, Coach Durant, you should consider wearing that dress to your next basketball game. If the referees are male, your team is a shoe-in to win even if they never make a shot.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “By the way, I could care less about the referees. I just want that big brother of mine to get a taste of what he’s been missing.”
Mac laughed. “At the risk of hearing an answer I don’t like, what might that be, Detective Justice?”
Jude grinned. “A gorgeous woman who might actually be good for him.”
Skylar agreed. “Jude is right, Mac. You truly do look lovely.”
“Not to be redundant, but my brother and his beautiful lover are not exaggerating, Coach Durant. You look stunning.”
Mac didn’t have to hear his voice or look up at the tall man to know it was Jorden standing behind her. His alluring scent alone confirmed his presence. Mac was glad that she did look, because the sight of him was more than worth seeing. Jorden was wearing a Marc Jacobs jacket and trousers that looked as though it had been created for him. It was the epitome of casual elegance, and his insouciant grace stole her breath. She was so taken by his appearance and nearness that she stumbled.
He caught her arm and said with a soft chuckle, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Mac quickly regained her composure and returned his smile. “Come now, Mr. Justice. You must be accustomed to women falling over you.”
He gave a genuine laugh. “No, you must be thinking about my brothers. They’re the lady-killers of the gang. Them, and my grandfather.”
Jorden turned to the gray-haired gentleman who’d joined them. “Judge, I’d like you to meet Ms. Durant. Amongst her many aliases, she’s the newest faculty member at Wildwood Academy and is coaching Chloe’s basketball team. She also happens to be the daughter of Lucky Liam Durant, whose genes may have contributed to her playing for the USA women’s basketball team in the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics.”
The Judge glanced from Jude to Jorden, and nodded. “Ah, yes. The coach who’s taken this town and my grandsons by storm. You forgot to mention how lovely she is, Jorden. But then, her beauty speaks for itself.”