Lake Magic (39 page)

She had called him first. That revelation still left him stunned. Not her parents or her brother or her sister. She’d call
him
. He tried to push it out of his mind, to tell himself not to read too much into it. He also tried to tamp down the memory of last night. But no matter how many times or how hard he tried, he could still feel the texture of her silky hair as it ran through his fingers, the taste of her on his mouth, her soft skin under his hand, and the hot wetness that had told him she’d wanted him just as much as he’d wanted her.

Steven hasn’t even been gone a year. I guess I’m not ready for anything beyond a working relationship
.

He stood and doused the fire.

Steven
.

In one fell swoop, his pipe dream died just like the fire below him. While he might have fanciful visions of sticking around, he knew it could never work. Jenny wanted a forever type of man, someone who could put down roots, become a part of a family. A father. Someone like Steven, who not only had wings but who also had roots. He’d seen the look of hope that had flashed in her eyes when he’d told her he was out of the military. He knew she was thinking that maybe he’d be that guy—the kind that stuck. She couldn’t be more wrong. The longest Jared had ever stayed in one place could be measured in weeks, not years. Yeah, the military had had him stationed all over the world, but he’d been anything but stationary.

While he might burn and ache for her, a business partnership was where it should begin and end. He remembered the plan he’d come up with in the bar and all but laughed. Kissing Jenny had nothing to do with a plan and everything to do with him not being able to keep his hands off her. He wanted her.
All
of her. Not just in his bed but in his life. But he knew the cold truth: every relationship he’d ever tried had ended in disaster. And he was beginning to care too damn much about her to screw up her life any more than he already had. But knowing all of that couldn’t erase the taste or feel of her from his mind. Or the thought of her upstairs in a bed big enough for two.

 

 

 

 

A few weeks after the charity ball, Anna found herself heading back to her sister’s house. Her parents had returned her car to her two days after Jenny had run off with it. Anna had been grateful. Even though she’d told her sister not to worry about getting the car back to her, driving Phillip’s car had proven too difficult. In so many ways. Since the car had sat for months, Anna had to call a mechanic to get it started. Then someone had to clean it from the inside out. Looking at the once-pristine vehicle, she couldn’t help drawing a comparison between that damn car and her marriage. The car wasn’t the only thing in their household that needed revitalization.

She glanced at Cody in the rearview mirror. As usual, he was doing his best to ignore her. She’d tried to convince him to sit up front with her, but he’d refused. Like he had been refusing every effort she made to reach out to him. Thankfully, school was out, and he’d managed to get all of his missing assignments turned in. Even though he’d only ended up missing two of his baseball games while he worked with the tutor, he still hadn’t forgiven her.

When they pulled into Jenny’s driveway, Anna nearly stomped on the brakes, sure she was at the wrong place. Four cars were in the parking lot, and a group of people were boarding the plane. But the obvious business activity wasn’t the only difference. The place looked amazing. Beautiful. The yard was in pristine condition, the cedar shingles on the house had been cleaned and were once again a soft dove gray. Fresh white paint coated the window trim and the porch railing, and the garden was in glorious full bloom.

She’d barely gotten the car parked before Cody jumped out. He headed straight for Jenny, who was exiting the hangar, a stack of folders in her hand. Always beautiful, her sister still looked gorgeous but . . . different. She wore a flowered print skirt, white lace top, and pink flip-flops. Her blonde hair was piled at the back of her head in a mass of riotous curls. But as she bent down and hugged Cody, Anna realized there was something more to her sister today than her breathtakingly good looks. There was an air of self-confidence about her that Anna had never seen.

Slowly, Anna got out of the car and grabbed Cody’s things.

“Hi, Anna.” Jenny sounded genuinely happy to see her.

“So, I guess we’re stuck with the rug rat for a couple of days.”

“Hey,” Cody said, trying to sound offended, but his smile ruined the effect.

Jenny gave him a playful bump on the shoulder. “Just kidding, kiddo.”

“I hope you don’t mind. It’s just that—”

“I know,” Jenny said with a smile. “You have to work. I understand.”

The plane started up, and they turned to watch as the pontoons parted the water and the plane taxied out toward the middle of the lake. Sunshine glistened off the water like Christmas tinsel. A few puffy, snow white clouds dotted the blue sky.

“Looks like you had a full plane today,” Anna said over the noise.

“Almost. One empty seat.”

“Only one?”

“Yeah.” Jenny’s smile was big and bright. “It’s really wonderful, Anna. I know I should have called, but I’ve been swamped. In a very, very good way.” She laughed. “Blue Sky has recently landed several new accounts, and I’m getting new bookings almost daily for the vacation packages I put together. Most of the information is on the website, but there are a few details I still need to iron out.”

“Website? Accounts? Vacation packages?”

Jenny laughed again. “I know. A bit overwhelming.”

Cody turned his eyes away from the plane. “Hey, Aunt Jenny. Guess what?”

“What?”

“My team made the playoffs. Can you come?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Anna stared at her sister. She hadn’t asked a single question. Not when, where, or what time. Without hesitation, she’d agreed, and Anna knew Jenny meant it. She would be there, no matter what.

“Cool. Grandma and Grandpa said they’d be there, too. What about Jared? Will he come?”

A shadow crossed over her sister. It was there and then gone so quickly that Anna wondered if she’d imagined it.

“You’ll have to ask him. But it’s going to be a tight fit in the stands with your mom, me, Grandma, and—”

“Mom can’t make it. She’s gonna be at work. Just like Dad.”

Jenny put her arm around Cody and gave him a hug. Cody leaned into her embrace, and Anna couldn’t help but feel a pinch of jealousy. “You know your mom and dad would be there if they could.”

Cody shrugged. “Whatever.”

Jenny looked up from Cody and gave her sister a supporting look. “Jared’s in the hangar. Why don’t you go ask him about the game?”

After Cody left, Anna turned to her sister. “Thank you.” Two little words, but for Anna, they were hard to say.

“For what?”

“For not making me out to be the bad guy.”

“No one thinks you’re the bad guy, Anna.”

Anna set Cody’s suitcase on the ground and shielded a hand across her eyes as she stared at the hangar. “My son does. He thinks my job is more important than he is.”

“He’s thirteen. Of course he does.”

“I’m really proud of you, Jenny. You went after what you wanted and got it.”

“So did you.” Jenny stared at her sister for several moments. “I owe you an apology. I never realized what it took for a woman to not only survive but thrive in this world. It’s all I can do lately to keep up with the new business demands. And I don’t have a husband and a son. How you manage everything is beyond me.”

I don’t
.
I’m not
.

Jenny wrapped her arms around her sister. For too long, Anna’s arms remained still. How long had it been since they had given each other a hug? Anna couldn’t remember the last time. As she slowly returned the embrace, she wondered what it would feel like to actually accept the support her sister offered. But she didn’t know how. For too long, she’d relied solely on herself, not even reaching out to her husband.

In an uncharacteristic burst of hot, golden sunshine, the Fourth of July arrived. While Jenny assisted the group of tourists who were headed out for a scenic tour around the San Juans, Jared helped Zeke ready the plane. Jared smiled, remembering how worried Jenny had been about Zeke having to work on the holiday. When she’d confided her concerns to Zeke, he’d only laughed and told her he couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day. Then he pointed to the brand-new Dodge Ram pickup his new raise and bonus had bought.

With the plane in the air, Jenny went into full dictator mode. She kept the commands flying until the Suburban all but overflowed with everything she insisted needed to be taken to her parents’ annual party. When Jared had first been told about the family gathering, he’d tried to get out of it. Family affairs made him uncomfortable to say the least. But Jenny had dug her heels in and insisted that he accompany her. Why she wanted him there was beyond him. Ever since that night by the fire, their relationship had been exactly as she’d wanted: strictly business. But every day he felt the undercurrents of his growing desire. From the moment he’d met her, he’d been knocked on his ass by her beauty. Now he was being flattened by her tenacity and intelligence. Daily, Blue Sky was becoming a more profitable entity. Almost nightly, they discussed new ideas to bring to the table. Those nights were killing Jared. As he sat across from her at the table or next to her on the couch, it was all he could do to keep his eyes off her left hand. Her bare left hand. And when he wasn’t thinking about the engagement ring she no longer wore and what the hell that could mean, all he could think about was stripping her naked, carrying her upstairs, and using every sexual skill he possessed to drive her beyond thinking. Beyond remembering that the only thing she wanted from him was a business relationship.

The drive to Jenny’s parents’ house took hardly any time at all. Cars packed the driveway and overflowed onto the narrow road, but a spot near the garage had been reserved for Jenny. The house was an impressive brick rambler that sat on the west side of Hidden Lake. As they walked around to the backyard with their arms full of food, lawn chairs, and fireworks, he was astounded to see how many people were at the party. An emerald green lawn stretched at least three hundred feet along the high-banked waterfront. Red and white checked plastic tablecloths covered the picnic tables spread out in clusters around the lawn. A game of croquet was in full swing as was a game of badminton. Paul lifted his racket and waved at them, missing a birdie. Jenny smiled and waved back. With his hands full, Jared nodded a greeting. Laughter mixed with the sound of music coming from the built-in speakers on the open back patio. Jared grimaced. Country, of course.

“What?” Jenny said, noticing his expression.

“Nothing,” he said, trying his damnedest to keep his gaze off her cleavage. The minute he saw her walking out of the house in a pair of Daisy Duke shorts and a bikini top, he knew he was doomed before the party had even started.

“Here,” she pointed. “Let’s put the chairs by this table.” Behind a large barbeque, Jenny’s dad was busy flipping burgers and rotating hot dogs. There were also clams steaming next to the barbeque. “Hey, Daddy,” Jenny called out. “That sure smells good.”

“Jelly Belly,” her dad said, engulfing her in a bear hug. He wore an apron that said World’s Greatest Cook.

Jenny pointed to her dad’s apron. “He taught me everything I know.”

Jared laughed as he shook her dad’s hand.

“How about a beer?” he said, opening the cooler next to him.

“Thanks.” Jared took the cold beer.

Her dad grabbed a couple of red plastic plates. “Now let me dish you up some food. How about a hamburger or hot dog? Or some clams?”

“I’m not hungry,” said Jenny. She turned to Jared. “Do you want anything?”

You
. “No, thanks. Not yet.”

“If you see your mother, tell her I need more melted butter for the clams.”

“Aunt Jenny! Jared!” Cody ran up to them, a hot dog in his hand.

“Hey, sport,” Jared said.

Jenny hugged her nephew and rubbed the top of his head. “Hi to you, too. Your mom here?”

“She’s coming later. After work. Are those fireworks?” he asked, eyeing the big bag Jared held.

“Yep.”

“Cool.”

“How about showing me where to put these until we need them tonight and then helping me grab a cooler and the other bag of fireworks out of the Suburban?”

Cody’s eyes widened. “Another bag.
Sweet
.”

They left Jenny trying to find her mom and walked back to the car. Cody chattered nonstop about his upcoming playoff game and working on his curve ball. “You gonna play in the game later today?”

“What game?”

Cody rolled his eyes like Jared should know. “The baseball game we have every year.”