Southern Romantic-Suspense Boxed Set (Southern Romantic-Suspense Novel Book 0) Page 17

  How much easier it would be if she died now. Not uncommon in these types of situations, she’d been in a coma for almost two days.

  The man followed a nurse down the hall. By the look in his eyes, he’d be gone for a while. Jordan had left with Pat to get something to eat, so they’d be gone about fifteen minutes.

  It would only take a few seconds to inject an air bubble into her veins, a simple method that would cause an aneurysm and go undetected if done carefully ... 50cc’s was all it would take.

  Jordan’s death would be easy. Police officers ended up murdered all the time from wayward bullets, potential gang members attempting to prove their worth. Or, a construction job gone wrong could get him killed.

  Simply a matter of time, and then everything would be right again. The elevator chimed, indicating its arrival. Not today, but soon, it was how it had to end.

  ***

  Jordan waited for the elevator doors to open, practically climbing over an older couple entering.

  He rushed down the hallway toward Jaynee’s room, only stopping for a breath once he was in her doorway. She was all right ... thank God. He wouldn’t leave again until she was out of this coma. His mother would just have to deliver food. He gently pulled loose the covers someone had tucked in again before he sat down next to her.

  “I’m here, Jaynee,” he whispered in her ear. “I know why you were upset, but you don’t need to worry anymore. I’ll protect you, I swear. No one will ever come near you again. I failed the first time, but I won’t fail twice. I promise. I love you, Jaynee — forever.”

  Jaynee could hear Jordan’s voice, soft and deep, sensual as always. He loved her; he’d always loved her.

  She had to tell him about Brian. Why couldn’t she open her eyes so she could see his face? Her mind launched back into pitch darkness, unable to remain with him.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Five years ago ...

  The last two days of their honeymoon passed swiftly, and now, Jaynee was boarding a plane with Jordan, heading toward her new residence.

  She felt comfortable with Jordan, as if she’d already known him for years, not days. She discovered some of his likes, anything outdoors. His dislikes, such as his passionate hatred for innocent tomatoes. And his quirks, the strange noise he made when he brushed his teeth. She thought it might annoy her at first, but she found herself laughing every time she heard him.

  And though they didn’t allow much time for television, several times when she was in the bathroom, he’d clicked it on. She could hear him from the other room laughing all by himself, with no one to share in the humor.

  Jaynee loved to watch funny shows, movies, and comedians but realized she rarely laughed aloud. Her father had made her laugh. He’d made everyone laugh. He’d be in a roomful of strangers and could have them laughing within minutes, forever the comedian. His wives had never laughed at him, though. She remembered telling his last wife, if you like him the way he is now, fishing, playing, and humor, you’ll succeed, if not, your marriage will never last. The woman had told Jaynee she loved all of those things. Afterward, Jaynee had learned otherwise. Not only did she despise fishing, she couldn’t even swim; she was terrified of the water. Her dad had longed for retirement, so he could move onto a houseboat and become a charter fishing boat captain. When he realized his dream would never come to fruition, shackled by a woman who didn’t love him, knowing if he divorced her, she’d take half his money and retirement, he took his own life.

  Jaynee found all the characteristics in Jordan that she’d loved about her father. He was funny, charming, and above all, giving. Jordan was the kind of man who would give the shirt off his back to a stranger on the street if he needed it.

  It had terrified her when she’d learned that her father had killed himself, especially after growing up with the knowledge that her mother had been suicidal.

  She’d questioned her aunt about her concerns. How did she stand a chance of being normal when both her parents were crazy? Her aunt had chastised her lovingly, reminding her that Gram was her mentor and telling her that she thought she was the sweetest and strongest young lady she’d ever known, and that she was proud she hadn’t used her past as a crutch.

  Jaynee was thankful for her aunt and grandmother and even her three older cousins who had all treated her like a daughter. But it would never be the same; she would always wonder what it would be like to have a real mother — a family. An alive father and a mother who wasn’t always one step away from committing suicide.

  She felt reprehensible for not allowing them the opportunity to participate in her wedding. She just hadn’t wanted to burden them. Gram would have notified everyone. She would have to call her family next week and explain her actions, but right now, she was with Jordan.

  And on Jordan’s arm, she felt as though she were finally going home.

  She wasn’t sure if she even knew what home was supposed to feel like. She’d been unloved and abused most of her adolescence and had never felt wanted.

  Living on her own this past year had been as close to a home as she’d ever known, but she was lonely. She did the same thing every day, ate the same foods, read the same things, and went to the same places. It wasn’t a life; it was an existence.

  Jordan was her home now. He was offering her love and a life. As they stood to board the plane, she wrapped her hands tightly around his arm.

  Jordan looked down into her eyes, kissed her on the forehead, and draped his other arm across the front of her, pulling her closer. He didn’t say anything but seemed to comprehend.

  Jaynee reached up on her tippy toes. He tilted his head to kiss her gently on the lips. Not a long kiss, but it was warm and loving as his lips parted and melted into hers.

  He pulled back to look at her face, searching her eyes, seemingly trying to discern her thoughts. “Are you nervous?”

  “Not really. I was just thinking about how much I love you,” she said, resting her head against his upper arm.

  “I love you too.” He pulled in a deep breath, then let it out, as if her words had provided him life-sustaining oxygen. She knew just his presence ... the warmth of his love filled her senses. “We’ll be home soon. Are you ready to see your new house?”

  “I am ...” The truth of her statement hit her hard. She was ready to begin her new life with Jordan. “Won’t you tell me anything about the house or the pets?”

  “Nope,” he said, directing her to their seat on the plane. He stored their luggage in the overhead compartment before continuing. “You know how I like my surprises. And since I can’t make any alterations without consulting you first, I’ll enjoy this final opportunity to surprise you.”

  She playfully slapped his arm. “Jordan, you know that’s not what I meant, and you have managed to drop many surprises on me anyway.” She looked at him under her lashes, an attempt to be seductive, whispering, “Besides, I rather like your surprises.”

  ***

  Melissa showed up early to ready Jordan’s house for his return. Rachael too, but she hadn’t stopped moaning since they’d arrived.

  Jordan had asked Melissa to bring home Boomer, his boxer, who had been staying with her and Bobby while he was away. Melissa never minded. Boomer was like one of the family; everyone loved him. Boomer had seemed despondent the last couple of days, though. Even playing with the kids, he’d looked depressed. He kept looking toward the front door, anticipating Jordan to walk in, she suspected.

  When she loaded him in the truck this morning, he was as happy as she’d seen him in weeks.

  Jordan had requested Melissa and Rachael freshen up his residence. And if it wasn’t too much trouble, to purchase two dozen red roses and have them sitting in the foyer so his new wife would see them when they arrived.

  Rachael, as always, had complained. She grumbled about everything. Melissa had never understood why. Jordan was a fantastic brother. He was five years younger than Melissa and two years younger than Rachael was, but he’d never b
een a nuisance as some of her girlfriends’ little brothers had been. She loved taking him places when he was little. Everyone loved Jordan, especially her husband, Bobby.

  Melissa had missed Jordan when he’d enlisted. That time of their life had been difficult for everyone. They all had returned to their parents’ hometown when Daddy retired for medical reasons, but Daddy and Jordan always argued. It wasn’t Jordan’s fault; Daddy just never let up on him. He’d tried to push him toward a career that Jordan had never wanted. Jordan had always wanted to be a cop and had been extremely talented with his hands. He hadn’t wanted the life Daddy had made for their family. Jordan had never had the desire to live in a different city every two years or be away from his family six months at a time. Even when he was young, Jordan had wanted a real family. He’d wanted a wife and kids, something unusual to hear from a teenage boy. And he’d always been great with her children. So it hadn’t surprised Melissa when he called and said he was getting married and asked her to freshen up the house and prepare a cookout tomorrow.

  She owed him big, and so did Rachael. If it weren’t for Jordan, neither of them would be enjoying their current lifestyle. Jordan had started his business modestly, doing odd jobs at night and on weekends, and then larger opportunities had started pouring in, so he offered employment to both of their husbands. Next thing they knew, the three of them were building mansions on Lake Norman.

  Of course, Jordan was the sole proprietor of the company, but both Bobby and Ronny did extremely well working with him. Ronny had attempted to venture out on his own, but when that failed, Jordan had welcomed him back, no hard feelings. Rachael could just get over herself. She always wanted more than she had ... always afraid she’d mess up her perfect manicure.

  It wasn’t as though there was anything to clean anyway. Jordan never left junk around, always picked up after himself. More than she could say about Bobby, but Bobby was a wonderful husband. He worked hard, and when he finished, he was home with her and their children.

  Melissa wondered what Jaynee would look like. Always one for surprises, Jordan had refused to divulge anything. Bobby thought she’d look like a beach bunny with long platinum hair and dark tanned skin. But that didn’t sound like Jordan; he’d always preferred brunettes. She didn’t care what Jaynee looked like, providing she treated her baby brother well; that was all that mattered to Melissa.

  While Rachael finished vacuuming, Melissa pulled out the chocolate-chip cookies she’d baked and brewed a pot of vanilla coffee. The weather was perfect, a beautiful autumn day, so she opened the windows to allow the fragrance of the fallen leaves and cut grass to drift through the house.

  After flipping on the water-heater fuse, she locked Boomer in the garage with his stuffed animal. The toy was missing both of its eyes and nose, had only three legs, and its tail was barely hanging on, but he lunged for it, happily throwing it in the air, and then proceeded to pounce on it once it landed. He loved his lion, and every year Jordan purchased him a new one for Christmas. It was a good thing Christmas was close, as Simba was looking rather ragged.

  “So, tomorrow night around six,” Melissa reminded Rachael as they exited the front door, locking it behind them. They all had keys to one another’s houses in case any of them needed help. One big happy family or at least Melissa had always thought so. “I’ll prepare the barbecue, Mom’s bringing dessert, and you’ll make all the side dishes, right?”

  “Sure, Sissy,” Rachael grumbled. “Anything for our baby brother ...”

  “Rachael, why are you always so negative?” Melissa asked, suppressing a growl. “You of all people should be thankful to Jordan for everything he’s done for you and Ronny.”

  Rachael dropped her shoulders in surrender. “I know, and I am,” she admitted. “I just think this is irresponsible of Jordan, marrying without the family knowing her, don’t you agree?”

  Melissa shook her head, suppressing a laugh at her sister’s ridiculous comment. “When has Jordan ever done anything irresponsible? He’s one of the most responsible men I know. We need to support him and make her feel welcome. Do you hear me? You need to be pleasant. Jordan deserves that.” Melissa walked off, leaving Rachael standing on the porch.

  Melissa was right, Rachael realized, but it still irritated her. Really, her husband had her worried, since she knew he was incapable of supporting her current lifestyle.

  Ronny had been such a bear Saturday and had been worried sick all week that this woman would change everything. She was probably after his money, Ronny had said. She’d ruin Jordan and his business ... maybe even fire his brothers.

  But now that Rachael considered his concerns, they did sound juvenile. Why had Ronny been so upset? Why was he worried? Even when they had lost almost everything, Jordan had helped them get back on their feet. He’d given Ronny his position back and an advance to catch-up on their mortgage payments.

  Rachael would demonstrate southern hospitality to Jordan’s bride. She could pretend to be sweet.

  ***

  Lorraine watched from a driveway down the street as the two women left Jordan’s house. She wondered what his sisters were doing, but then again, knowing Jordan, she could imagine.

  She’d left work early in the pretense she was working on the reception for Jordan, but instead decided to come here. She needed to see them when they arrived; she needed to witness with her own eyes that Jordan had really married someone else. Maybe his bride-to-be had developed cold feet and had changed her mind after taking advantage of Jordan and his complimentary vacation to Vegas.

  Jordan had called only once since Saturday. The conversation had lasted mere minutes, long enough to double-check that all arrangements for the reception were going smoothly and that she’d invited everyone from his precinct along with his other friends, neighbors, and associates they did regular business with.

  He hadn’t even inquired about their latest project. Would he allow the business to suffer because of this woman? Lorraine held a stake in the company too. When the company did well, she received her share of compensation. She couldn’t afford to relinquish that part of Jordan too.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Jordan’s vehicle was in the airport parking area, ticket on the dash. After unlocking the door with the keypad on the door, he reached under the seat and pulled out the keys. It dumbfounded Jaynee how much he could accomplish with just a few phone calls.

  Who was this man? she wondered silently. Every time she thought she knew, something caused her to question her sanity of marrying so quickly. Would the love she felt for him conquer any issue that might creep up?

  Evidently, it was a long drive from the airport to Jordan’s home — their home. Jordan pointed out Charlotte in the distance but then headed in the opposite direction, traveling the outer loop of Charlotte’s 485 beltway. The city was enormous. Jaynee could travel from one side of Pinellas County to the other in about half an hour depending on traffic, but Mecklenburg would take twice as long and that was if a thruway crossed the county; it didn’t look as if one did. The roads didn’t run straight north and south and east and west as Florida’s roads. Instead, they seemed to ramble whichever direction they wanted.

  They drove for forty-five minutes before Jordan exited the highway. She attempted to catalog the surrounding businesses, hoping to become familiar with the area. Jordan traveled along two more stretches of road before he finally turned onto one that had a no-outlet sign.

  This had to be it. Her heart thumped loudly, nerves and excitement beating like one loud, rapid drum. The road turned to gravel, and they passed several large homes before a line of trees indicated that it was a dead-end. Jordan finally pulled into a driveway with brick pillars on each side and a white split-rail fence that seemed to go on forever.

  The house was a two-story Victorian home. The front porch wrapped around the left side of the home, continuing its path around the back, separated by a small gate on the deck. A three-car attached garage was on the opposite side, and she not
iced a large structure set off in the distance with four stalls.

  Jaynee waited as Jordan walked around to her side of the pickup. This was really happening. She was a new bride, entering her new home ... her new life.

  She bit down on her lip as he opened her door.

  He held his arms out for her. “I’ll install running boards this week.”

  Jaynee sucked in a deep breath and happily scooted into his waiting arms. “I already told you, I don’t have a problem with our current arrangement.”

  He smiled and pulled her to his chest as he lifted her out of the truck but didn’t set her down. Instead, he carried her up the front steps to an impressive entryway of solid-wood doors, approximately eight-foot tall.

  Jordan unlocked the door while still carrying her, then pulled it open so he could enter sideways while kissing her as he stepped over the threshold. “Welcome home, Jaynee.”

  She looked around, attempting to absorb everything. He held her in what looked like a formal area with a stone fireplace off to the left. “It’s amazing, Jordan!”

  The room, decorated with such warm style and grace, was nothing like she’d imagined. The furniture was soft tan leather. The pictures on the wall were of western motif with ranches, horses, and sunsets over rolling hills. In the middle of the room, a coffee table held a vase overflowing with a couple dozen long-stemmed red roses, and in the air, she smelled fresh baked cookies and coffee.

  Jordan continued to carry her through a short hall with a formal dining room off to the side, and at the end, an enormous kitchen with soaring maple cabinets and contrasting dark granite countertops waited. In the middle of the kitchen sat an island that would seat at least eight people. At the rear of the room, the sink was inlaid into a deep counter with a pass-through to the wraparound porch. A dinette area off the kitchen transitioned into a family room.