Harmony Cabins (16 page)

Beneath her, she sensed Jack's increasing urgency and knew he was racing toward the fall with her. She clenched her inner muscles, squeezing him. She heard him groan, felt her desire flowing over him. Jack stroked her harder, faster. Audra's nipples tightened. Her thighs tensed. Jack surged up into her, again and again. Audra gasped as the tension exploded inside her. Jack lifted her one last time before she fell, limp, onto his chest. He gathered her close and their bodies shook with pleasure.

A long time later, Audra rolled to Jack's side. “My Prince Charming. ‘And they lived happily ever after.'”

Jack's laughter rumbled in his chest. Audra kissed his neck. She snuggled closer and went to sleep.

 

 

The next evening, Audra surveyed Trinity Falls Cuisine's beige-and-gray stone walls and wood trim. The lighting was low, creating a romantic ambience. “When you suggested we go out to eat, I thought you meant something more modest.”

“Like McDonald's?” Jack sounded dubious.

Audra's cheeks heated. “Maybe.”

“I'll pretend you didn't say that.” He opened the menu their hostess had left behind. “You must have gone to fancier restaurants in L.A.”

Audra had an unpleasant flashback to the business lunches she'd attended. “They're opportunities to see and be seen by other industry professionals. But I can't pronounce the food and I'm always hungry when I leave.”

Jack chuckled. “And I bet the meals cost a pint of blood as well.”

“You'd win that bet.” Audra was pleased to recognize several proteins and carbohydrates on the menu.

“I still don't understand why you don't sing your own songs.”

Audra considered the dinner choices. Her mouth watered as she went down the list: roasted chicken, wood-fired steak, rosemary salmon. “You've asked me that before. I don't know how else to explain it. I don't enjoy performing, especially in front of crowds.”

“Have you ever tried it?”

“In high school. Stage fright doesn't begin to describe how I felt.”

Audra gazed around the restaurant again. Ean and Megan sat at a nearby table. Quincy and Ramona were dining together at an intimate booth. The couples were absorbed in each other. Did they even remember where they were?

“This seems to be a big date spot. What are
we
doing here, Jack?”

“Having dinner.” He didn't look at her.

Audra arched a brow. “Don't get cute. Are you sure this is a good idea?”

“There's no harm in two friends going out to dinner.” Jack eased back onto his bench seating.

Audra leaned forward. Friendship. The word left her wanting more. “Is friendship all we have?”

“That was our agreement, wasn't it?”

“Yes, it was.” Audra searched Jack's onyx eyes. There was no emotion, no uncertainty.

“I've wanted to try this restaurant.” Jack allowed his gaze to travel the dining room. “It's a new place, only eighteen months old. But I didn't want to come here by myself.”

Were his choices coming alone or inviting her? That wasn't very flattering. But could she blame him? They'd agreed to a no-strings-attached relationship.

Audra swallowed a sigh. “I'm glad I could keep you company.”

“Me too.” Jack's smile didn't distract her, as it usually did. “Besides, you needed a break to help clear your mind before getting back to work.”

“Maybe.” She wasn't as sure about that.

Audra refocused on the restaurant's menu and her dinner selection. It wasn't an easy decision. The descriptions were enticing, and the entrées carried to other patrons were mouthwatering: salads piled high with colorful vegetables and well-seasoned entrées that reminded her that she was starving.

When their server returned, they accepted their drinks and ordered their entrées. Audra narrowed her selection to the roasted chicken. Jack chose the New York steak, with long-grain rice.

“How's your songwriting coming?” Jack asked the question as their server left.

Audra squeezed her lemon garnish into her iced tea. “It's going really well. I'm almost done with two of the three songs.”

“That was fast. It's only been two weeks.” Jack drank his iced tea.

Audra was momentarily distracted by another diner's dessert tray.

“I'd started one of the songs last month before my writer's block hit. Benita suggested a change of venue might help. It seems she was right.”

“Don't tell her that.” Jack chuckled. “She'll never let you forget it.”

Audra nodded. “I've heard she's always been a know-it-all.”

“Probably since birth.” He drank more iced tea. “What caused your writer's block?”

Audra's humor was forced this time. “This is a big change from the Jack I met, who wouldn't string five words together.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your curiosity has developed with a vengeance.” Audra sipped her drink. “First you wanted to know what this restaurant is like. Now you're asking about my writing progess.”

“I've been curious about you since you walked into the main cabin wearing a garbage bag.”

“You're not going to let me forget that, are you?”

“
I'm
never going to forget it.” Jack hid a grin behind his iced tea. “So tell me about your writer's block.”

Audra hesitated just a moment longer. “I guess Wendell's lies bothered me more than I'd been willing to admit.”

“That's understandable.” Jack thought of his ex-wife, Kerry, and knew how Audra felt.

“I tried to go on as though nothing had happened, but I'd introduced him to my industry contacts. That made him part of my world. Every event I'd go to, he was there. Every restaurant and nightclub, I'd have to see him.”

“You didn't stop going out, did you?”

Audra took a drink of her iced tea. “No, I wouldn't let him win. But winning isn't everything. And the strain was getting to me. He wanted to act as though we were still friends, when, in reality, I loathe him.”

Jack's eyebrows shot up his forehead. He could understand her animosity, but he'd rather she didn't feel anything at all for the other man. “So breaking up with him gave you writer's block?” He didn't like that idea, either.

“No. Being made to feel like a clueless idiot gave me writer's block. I doubted myself.”

“Why?” Jack followed the movement of Audra's right index finger as she traced the condensation on her glass.

“I'd pretty much ignored my personal life. I didn't go out much. In fact, if it wasn't career related, I didn't go out at all. I was so focused on building my career.”

Jack was beginning to see more of the woman who'd invaded his every waking and sleeping moment. “Your drive explains your success at such a young age.”

Audra laughed. “There are people who are much younger than I am in this industry, and much more successful. It's a young person's game these days.”

“That must make the competition even harder.”

“Yes. And it gave me tunnel vision to everything that wasn't related to my music. I was an easy target for Wendell.”

Jack frowned. “What do you mean?”

Audra's sigh lifted her slender shoulders clothed in a buttercup yellow blouse. “I was dazzled by the first man who pursued me. It was even easier for him, because he was interested in music, too. We were together for five months. At first, I thought I'd found my soul mate. It turns out
he'd
found an easy entrée to connections that could help build his career. I ended our relationship three months ago.”

“I'm sorry.”

“I hope I've learned from the experience. Getting away from Los Angeles helped. But I won't mention that to Benita.”

Jack's own disturbing memories brought a cloud. “I felt the same when I found out about Kerry's affair—angry and duped. Luckily, Kerry moved. But even having her almost two hundred miles away at the state capital in Columbus wasn't enough.”

“Is that when you decided to buy the cabins?” Audra braced her elbow on the table and propped her chin on her fist.

“Zoey had loved Pearl Lake. We'd have picnics and go fishing at the lake as often as we could until she got too sick.”

“Those are great memories.” Audra's voice was a whisper, as though she didn't want to intrude on his thoughts.

“Yes, they are.” Jack reached across the table to cup her hand. “Thanks for giving them back to me.”

She turned her hand to link her fingers with his. “Thank you for sharing them with me.”

Jack looked at their joined hands. Had he just made it that much harder to let go?

CHAPTER 16

What was bothering Doreen? Jack leaned back on his recliner and gulped his ice water. His guest perched on the plump sofa, catty-corner from him. She stared into her glass of water as though waiting for it to reveal her future. Her cream skirt suit, matching pumps, and pearl earrings were sure signs she'd attended church that morning. But judging by her rigid posture and the waves of tension emanating from her, the service hadn't eased her mind.

“I heard you had dinner with Audra at Trinity Falls Cuisine last night.” Doreen's words were an abrupt departure from their previous less-than-stimulating conversation.

They'd progressed from the weather to last night's dinner. He was pretty sure neither subject had compelled Doreen to his cabin straight from church.

“Was my date with Audra part of the pre-service or after-service discussion?”

There was a saying in Trinity Falls, “All roads lead to church.” It was the best place to hear the latest gossip about your neighbors.

Doreen sketched a smile. “Pre-service. You didn't think anyone could have made it through the entire sermon without sharing the news, did you?”

“I guess not.” Jack drained his glass.

“That young woman has been a healing influence on you.”

“Yes, she has.” Thanks to Audra, he was almost human once more. Zoey was back in his life, at least her memory. And he gave a damn again.

“I'm going to be sorry to see her go.”

So will I.
“She has a life in L.A.” If he repeated the words enough times, maybe he could accept them.

Doreen sipped her water. “And you have to continue rebuilding your life here.”

The conversation was getting away from him. Jack set his glass on the coaster on the table beside him. “Doreen, we've talked about Ean's practice, the weather, and now my personal life. Why don't you tell me what's really on your mind?”

Doreen tipped back her head and drained her glass of water. Not a good sign.

She squared her shoulders before meeting his gaze. “Representative Isaac Green is going to attend the Founders Day Celebration. Kerry's probably coming with him.”

Jack grew cold from the inside out. His muscles knotted. A pounding began above his right temple. Shadows reached for him. Kerry Dunn Sansbury, now Kerry Dunn Green, his ex-wife who'd had an affair while he'd sat vigil beside their daughter's deathbed.

“The hell you say.” His voice was a raspy whisper as the cold darkness threatened.

“I'm sorry, Jack.” Doreen's gaze was steady but watchful.

Jack surged from his armchair and crossed the room. He wanted space. He wanted air. He needed Audra.

“Why didn't you tell me this before?”

“I didn't know that Representative Green would be joining us. He only accepted our invitation last week.”

Not good enough.
“You could have told me you'd invited him.”

“It's the town's one hundred and fiftieth birthday, Jack. Of course, local politicians are invited. But we want the founding family to be represented, too.”

“And I want to be left alone.” Too many raw emotions ripped through him—anger, betrayal, resentment—from injuries past and present.

“I'm sorry, Jack.”

“Really? Then tell Green and my bitch ex-wife to stay home.”

“I can't do that.” Doreen's tone was flat, revealing neither regret nor resolve.

“Can't or won't?” He paced the width of the living room, trying to evade the cold darkness.

“Both.” Doreen placed her empty glass on the coaster on the coffee table. “Representative Green will participate in the Founders Day Celebration. We've asked him to say a few words.”

Jack stilled. “You want me on the stage with the bastard who screwed my wife while I watched my daughter die?”

Doreen stood. Her hands lay flat on the skirt of her cream suit. “Jack, we're not asking you to interact with him. But this is an opportunity for Trinity Falls to get the recognition we deserve from our state representatives. The attention could persuade them to direct industry our way. The town is coming out of the red, but this could help further secure our financial future.”

All Jack heard was the buzzing in his ears. All he saw was a wash of red and memories he wanted to forget. “You knew I wouldn't come if Green was there.”

“Jack, I want you to be a part—”

“You lied to me.”

Doreen looked stricken. “I wanted what was best for the town.”

“You lied to me.”

Doreen held out her hands. “I didn't know Representative Green would attend. I didn't know you'd agree to participate. You've been so reclusive for so long.”

“You thought only one of us would come?”

“That was a distinct possibility.”

“Then choose.”

“What?”

“Green or me. Choose.”

Doreen stiffened. “Jack, I can't make a choice like that.” She continued when he didn't respond. “The town wants both of you at the event for different reasons. You represent the town's founders, and he's our state representative.”

“Choose.”

“I can't. We all want you both to be there.”

“Fine. I'll choose.” He crossed his living room and pulled his front door open. “Keep Green.”

Doreen gasped. “Jack—”

“Good-bye, Doreen.”

She hesitated before crossing to the door. She stopped beside him. It was clear she wanted to say more. Jack didn't want to hear another word. She finally continued through the door. Jack closed it behind her.

He'd been a fool. He should have known the Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee would have invited every elected local, state, and federal representative Trinity Falls had. Because of his relationship with the town, Green would have topped the list. The little shit.

Jack paced away from the door to glower before the empty fireplace. What made him think he was ready to rejoin the community and have a normal life? Audra. Her warm light kept his demons at bay. How was he going to control them without her?

 

 

When Audra stood at Jack's cabin door later that afternoon, it took only one look at him for her to know something was wrong. His lips were tight. His eyes were cold.

“What's happened?”

“Nothing.” He stepped aside so she could enter.

That's a good sign, isn't it?
Audra wondered.

“I can tell something's wrong, Jack.” She locked his door.

His back muscles were stiff beneath his sage green T-shirt. “I don't want to talk about it.”

Audra followed him into his kitchen. “You might as well. We can't ignore it when it's hovering between us like a great big bulk.”

Jack stopped behind the kitchen island. He was making cold cut sandwiches. A bowl of salad stood at the other end of the counter. Audra turned to one of the cupboards and freed two salad dishes.

“Tell me what happened.” She returned to the island to serve the salad.

Jack smeared mustard on a slice of toast. “Doreen stopped by this morning. She said Kerry was coming to the Founders Day Celebration.”

Audra tensed. Now she understood Jack's mood. “She's coming back to Trinity Falls? Why?”

“The celebration committee invited her husband to make a speech during the event.” His voice was tight. He laid the toast on top of the cold cuts, then cut the sandwich in half.

Audra frowned. “Who's her husband?”

“State Representative Isaac Green.” Jack practically spat the other man's name.

Audra froze in the act of filling the second bowl with salad. She opened her mouth twice before she could voice her question. “Did Kerry cheat on you with an elected official?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, my word.” Her voice was faint.

“She married me for the prominence of my name and slept with Green for the prominence of his office.” Jack carried the sandwiches into the dining room.

Audra followed with the salads. “I'm sorry Founders Day is going to be so awkward for you.”

“What makes you say that?” He walked past her and back to the kitchen.

Audra set the salad bowls beside the plates of sandwiches and returned to the kitchen with him. “Won't you have to sit on the stage with the person who broke up your marriage?”

Jack poured two glasses of lemonade. “I'm not going to speak at the event.”

Audra paused in the act of selecting silverware from a drawer. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” He returned to the dining room.

It bothered her more than she thought it would that Kerry could still incite such strong feelings in him.

She marched back to the dining table and stood with her hands on her hips. “Jack, you have to speak at the celebration. Do you have any idea how few towns established by African Americans have survived? On August ninth, Trinity Falls will celebrate its one hundred and fiftieth birthday. This is extraordinary. As a descendent of the town's founding family, you have a responsibility to address its residents.”

“Damn it, Audra!” Jack dragged his hands over his close-cropped hair and paced into the living room.

Audra dropped her arms and followed him. She softened her tone. “I know this situation is unfair, but you'll regret it if you don't represent your family on Founders Day.”

“It's my decision to regret.” Jack stared into the cold fireplace. His words carried much less heat.

“Don't allow Kerry to continue to have power over you. She's moved on. You should, too.”

“I don't give a damn about Kerry.”

Audra closed the gap between them. She rested a gentle palm on his taut back. “All of your reasons for initially agreeing to represent your family still exist—your grandfather, your father, Zoey.”

The muscles under her palm shook as though electrically charged. Had she been unfair in evoking his daughter's name? Perhaps, but Zoey was a member of the founding family. His words would represent her as well.

“And one very good reason not to make the speech also exists.” He faced her. “I don't care anymore what Kerry did to me and our marriage. But I'll never forgive her or Green for Kerry not being there when Zoey needed her mother.”

Audra nodded, ashamed that she hadn't realized Jack wasn't holding a grudge against Kerry for himself. He was still hurting for Zoey. She could understand that. Although she'd never met mother or daughter, Audra also resented Kerry for putting her selfish pleasures above Zoey.

“I'm sorry Zoey's mother wasn't there for her. But her father was.” Audra laid her hand on his chest. “Honor her memory and the memory of the rest of your family by being there for them now.”

Audra returned Jack's tortured gaze. A battle raged within him. She never moved a muscle. But her eyes pleaded with him,
If not for the town or yourself, then for Zoey.

Slowly his tension eased. His sigh was long and heavy. Jack drew her to him, wrapping his arms around her waist. “You have a way of ripping out all the ugliness from my heart and leaving only what's good.” He whispered the words into her hair.

Audra inhaled sharply. Her body shook with shock. “You've come a long way from five words and no emotion to a declaration like that.”

“You've changed me.”

She leaned back to look up at him. “So you'll give a speech at the Founders Day event?”

His onyx eyes delved deeply into hers. “Yes.”

Audra tapped his chest. “Zoey would be proud.”

 

 

“I'm considering withdrawing from the mayoral race.” Doreen had less trouble voicing the thought than seeing Megan and Ean's shocked expressions.

They'd just finished the Sunday dinner Megan had cooked. Doreen sat on the plush red armchair, watching her son and his girlfriend, who sat together on the matching sofa to her left.

“Why?” Ean broke the stunned silence.

“You saw Leo at the party Friday with Yvette Bates.” The image still hurt two nights later. Doreen's gaze drifted to Megan and Ean's fingers intertwined and resting between them on the sofa. She felt a pinch of envy.

Megan inclined her head. “And we saw
you
dancing with the sheriff.”

Doreen dismissed the comment. “He was just being nice.”

Ean grunted. “If he'd wanted to be nice, he would've brought you a drink.”

“Don't make more of it than it was, Ean.” Doreen had enough on her mind without dwelling on Alonzo's dance—and her reaction to it. “I never intended for the campaign to come between Leo and me.”

“Why does it have to?” Ean's question was softly spoken.

“It doesn't.” Megan crossed her legs. “Leo's the one putting it between you.”

“But I was the one who decided to run. Maybe I was wrong.” Doreen was afraid. Of what? Failure, being alone, the unknown? All of the above?

“Do you love him?” Megan's question startled Doreen.

She hesitated. “I don't know.”

Leonard had proposed to her in December. She'd asked him to wait. He'd agreed to give her time to consider his proposal, but she'd had other things on her mind. Ean had come home. She was campaigning for mayor. She hadn't had the time to search her heart.

She hadn't taken the time.

“Do you want to be mayor?” Ean asked.

“I do.” Doreen didn't hesitate with that answer.

Megan frowned. “Why would you give up what you want for something you're not certain of?”