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Jennifer comes home to Georgia, divorced. The last thing she expects is loving again. |
| “Jennifer? Are you okay?” Jennifer grimaced as she struggled to stand up straight. She met Ma's concerned look and forced a smile. “Sure. I think I'm still a bit drunk.” Ma's mouth turned down. “How much did you drink young lady?” Jennifer harrumphed. “Two margaritas. I didn't even finish the second one before Jordan made me leave.” The older woman shook her head and patted her hair, which hadn't moved a bit. “You'll feel like crap tomorrow. Make sure you sleep in.” Jennifer tried to step around the bar. Her stomach cramped and she gasped as she doubled over. Ma was at her side in an instant. “Drinking doesn't cause pain like that. You tell me the truth right now young lady.” Jennifer began to hyperventilate. She tried to suck breath into her tight lungs. Her knees went weak and she slumped to the floor. “I'm fine Ma. I'm just dizzy and my head hurts a bit.” Ma gripped her arms like a steel vice. “You never could get away with lying to me Jennifer. Do I need to go get your Pa?” She groaned. “No ma'am.” She had no other choice. “Promise me you won't tell anyone else. Not even Momma or Pa.” She looked through the curtain of her hair. Ma's face showed her internal struggle. Jennifer tried to calm her nerves. Finally, Ma nodded, her mouth pinched into a tight line. “I have stomach ulcers. They're not severe, but I get painful flare-ups whenever I get stressed. Drinking probably didn't help. I didn't want any of you worrying about me.” Ma sat on the tile floor in front of Jennifer and bit her lip. “Oh my. I should have warned you years ago that it runs in the family. Your momma had them and so have I and Pa. I'm sorry Jennifer. We didn't want you to worry either.” Jennifer sat back against the island and sighed. One of these days, they would all quit keeping secrets. “You need to get back in the bed. Being out there isn't good for you.” Jennifer struggled to get to her feet. Ma stood up with an ease belying her age and held out a hand. Jennifer allowed Ma to help her stand up and tested her legs. They felt stronger now. She smiled and Ma moved away. “Ma, I can't stay in here. I'll go crazy. I need to be able to see what's happening so I don't worry.” She shook her head. “Just as stubborn as your grandpa. It's pointless arguing with you but I'm warning ya now. I see you starting to feel bad, I'll haul your butt right back to bed, even if it means everyone finds out what's wrong.” Jennifer grumbled. “You'll have to beat Jordan to me.” Ma smirked as she poured lemonade into a collection of glasses she'd placed on a wooden serving tray. “Ah, he's taking care of you too huh? He's a good man.” “More like bullying me. But yeah, he's trying to help me. I'm going out. I love you Ma.” She pressed a kiss to Ma's cheek before shuffling out the back door. She ran into Jordan as she reached the corner of the house. He glared down at her, his hands wrapped around her waist. “What are you doing up? It hasn't been an hour.” Jennifer shoved hair out her face. “Jordan, I feel better.” He shook his head and tried to pull her towards the door. “I don't care. We agreed that you'd wait an hour. Now go back to bed.” Jennifer jerked away and put her hands on her hips. “Look, I appreciate you helping me and I know you're just trying to take care of me, but you're not my boss. If I want to come out here, I can. You can't do anything about it.” Jordan cocked his head to the side and lifted his lip in a smug smile. “I'll get Ma.” She shrugged. “Go ahead. Ma knows. You have nothing to hold over me.” “Expect your daughter.” “Chloe wouldn't care.” Jordan's expression softened. “You don't mean that. She loves you and would never want anything to happen to you.” He pulled his hat off and shoved his hands through his hair. “I'm sorry. I should back off and let you do what you want.” He started to walk away. Jennifer grabbed his arm, not wanting them to part on such an uneasy vibe. “Jordan, I have you to thank for my quick recovery. I'm too stubborn and I wouldn’t have went inside. I would have collapsed in front of everyone.” He smiled. “Glad I could help. Look, this may be a bad time, but I have something to ask you. It's going to make you angry but it's my job to ask.” Jennifer hugged herself. She didn't like the sound of that. “Okay.” “Does Chloe smoke?” She gasped and stepped away. She looked up at him, hurt that he would think so low of her. “I can't believe you'd think I'd let my daughter do something like that.” He raised his hands, palms out. “No, that's not what I'm implying. I know you'd never permit her to do it, but kids in the city are on a faster pace than the kids out here. The fire was caused by a cigarette, and the careless manner implies it was a teenager.” “So you automatically assumed my child, right? Well I can assure you it's not her. She dumped one of her boyfriends because she found out he smoked.” Jordan stalked towards her. “You let her date? She's too young. I better not catch a boy near her while she's here or I'll beat them.” Jennifer lifted an eyebrow. “Isn't that against the law?” “Fine. I'll arrest them.” Jennifer giggled. “I don’t' think you have anything to worry about. Country boys aren't her type. And for the record, no she wasn't allowed to date. It was the typical teenager thing. Find a person you like that you go to school with, and see them during school hours. I don't even think she's had her first kiss.” Jordan sighed. “Thank God for that.” Jennifer's insides did a funny dance. He seemed to truly care. A lot more than her own father had. He hadn't seen a problem with letting her go out on dates unchaperoned. Yet another thing they constantly fought about. “Do you think it could be one of the other kids? I know it wouldn't be Skylar.” “Jason's next. It won't be Brandon. He's been against smoking since his grandma died of lung cancer three years ago.” Jennifer grabbed Jordan's hand. She tried to ignore the calloused palm scraping against her fingers. “Not Ashleigh's mom.” “No. Brad's.” “Ashleigh never told me about it.” Jordan narrowed his eyes. “What would you have done? It's not like you would have come back for the funeral. You haven't showed your face since you ran away.” His accusation soured her stomach. “Don't judge me. You don't know what I went through after you moved away.” He tilted his head in a quick bob. “I guess you're right on that.” Jordan shifted his weight to his right leg. He doesn't want to walk away either. Jennifer knew she was in dangerous territory. Her breath started to come a little faster. Jordan's eyes dropped to the tight fabric of her tank top, which hugged her breasts. She licked her lips. He stepped closer. She held out a hand, whether to stop him or pull him closer, she wasn't sure. “Can I talk to Chloe? I know you're adamant that she doesn't smoke, but maybe she'll be able to help me figure out who is.” Jennifer frowned. “You want to use my daughter as a spy?” “You want to know who burnt down the barn, don't you?” Jennifer leaned against the back of the house. “Of course. But I don't like it. What if the kids realize what she's up to? They'll shun her. She just started making friends.” Jordan stepped closer. He brushed a strand of hair from her cheek and let his finger linger against her skin. “She'll be fine. You don't give her enough credit.” His head began to descend towards hers. She closed her eyes. Push him away. His mouth settled over hers, demanding she return his kiss. With a groan, she opened to him. Her hands settled on his broad chest, roaming over his muscled pecs, his thick shoulders and down to his thick biceps. It was a direct contrast to Rick's toned but thin body. This was a real man; the body of a man who worked for his muscles. She doubted he'd ever been to a gym. Jordan's hands settled around her waist, his fingers dancing along the hem of her shirt. When he dipped his fingers beneath and started a path up her ribs, she felt her heart lurch. He pressed against her, his erection settling against the juncture of her thighs. She rubbed against him. Her hand inched down his arm, towards his waist. She stretched, grabbing his butt through the tight khakis. He tore his mouth away from hers and feathered kisses along her jaw. When he reached the pulse point at her throat, she thought she would die. “You taste so good.” Jennifer murmured something in response. She felt his hand teasing the flesh of her breast before he shoved the fabric up and dipped his head. His mouth closed over one pebbled nipple. She felt her panties grow wet. When he used his teeth to nip at the aching tip, she almost screamed with pleasure. His hands dropped to the waistband of her jeans. He tugged at the button without disturbing the attention he lavished on her right breast. With one last lick, he switched to the left. “Has anyone seen my mom?” Jennifer's eyes popped open. Jordan froze. He jerked away at the same time as she started to push him. She jerked her shirt down and tried to smooth the wrinkles out. She felt her face flame. She searched Jordan's expression in the dark. His eyes were glazed with passion and the evidence of his desire pressed against his pants. She panicked. If Chloe spotted that, she'd know what they'd been up to. Jordan followed her gaze and grimaced. He reached down and adjusted himself so that his erection was less obvious. “Thank you.” He shrugged. “No need embarrassing all three of us.” Jordan clenched his hands as he waited for the teenager to find them. His dick pressed against his waistband painfully. He needed a cold shower. Or to bury himself in Jennifer's wet core. In a way, he was glad Chloe interrupted them when she did. He wasn't sure he'd have stopped otherwise. He would have taken Jennifer right there against the wall, like a sex-crazed teenager. Her gratitude bothered him. He hated that she thought he would ever do anything to put her in a bad light with her daughter. Maybe if he told her how important it was for Chloe to approve of him, she'd be more open to giving them a chance. He almost snorted aloud at that thought. Jennifer'd been through a lot with her ex, and he knew she wasn't ready for anything yet. He'd realized at the bar that he didn't want a casual fling with her. He wanted something else; possibly more than she'd ever be willing to give. Chloe was the key. If he could get her approval, he just knew Jennifer would be less likely to fight what was developing between them. He heard footsteps a second before he spotted a shadow coming towards the back of the house. He shot Jennifer a reassuring grin and waited. “What the hell are you two doing?” Jordan jerked back. “Chloe Rachelle, what have I told you about that kind of language?” She snorted. “Don't preach to me. I'm not the one hiding in the dark with some strange man. I hope I didn't interrupt y'all having sex.” Her tone of voice said she'd have liked nothing better. He used his peripheral to check on Jennifer. Her hand was on her stomach again. She looked at a lost for what to say. He stepped in. “Young lady, do not disrespect your mother like that. She's not that type of female and I refuse to stand by and let you imply otherwise.” Chloe rolled her eyes. “You put my mother in a compromising position then have the nerve to tell me to have respect. That's classic.” Jordan put his hand on his jaw and pushed. His neck popped in the heavy silence. “You kids sure are different than when we grew up. I'd be missing some teeth right now if I'd talked to my parents like that.” He froze in surprise. He prayed she wouldn’t continue that line of discussion. He couldn't handle the painful thoughts of his past. “Oh poor you. I bet you use that abusive parent line to sucker vulnerable women like my mom all the time don't you? Too bad it doesn't work on me.” Jennifer jumped in between the two. She glared at Chloe. “Young lady, you apologize right now. There's a lot you don't know about Jordan, including the fact that his father really did beat him, as well as his sister and mom.” Chloe's eyes flashed with sympathy before she masked it. “Sorry then.” He shrugged. “It's in the past and I try not to think about it. But you should know if it wasn't for your mom and her family, it would have been a lot worse for me. They let me hang out here a lot so I wouldn’t have to stay home with him. There were times my mom stood up to him so he would beat on her instead of me. It almost broke her.” Chloe flinched. “I guess that's why you don't like me acting like this to her huh?” She nodded at Jennifer. He nodded. “People often take their moms for granted and never know the extent of what they do for their children.” Chloe turned towards her mom. “Is that true?” Jennifer glared at Jordan before returning her attention to her daughter. “Yes baby, it is.” “Will you tell me about the things you've done for me?” Jordan saw Jennifer tense. He wanted to kick himself in the ass for putting her in this position. If she swung at him, he would deserve every second of the pain. “Maybe when you're a bit older. Some of it's a bit hard to understand.” Chloe chewed on her lip as she thought it over. “Deal. So, what were you two doing?” Jordan stepped around Jennifer and knelt towards Chloe's ear. “If I tell you, you have to keep it a secret.” Her eyes widened. “Eww, gross. Maybe I don't want to know.” He laughed. “It's not that.” Her mouth rounded. “Then what?” “I found out that the fire started from a cigarette. Jennifer was trying to help me figure out who it could have been.” Chloe poked him in the chest with her index finger. “My mom doesn't smoke, and neither do I. You better not be trying to blame us or I'll pop you.” Jordan straightened and tossed his head back. His laugh echoed through the night. “Boy, you are just like your momma. No, I think it was one of the other teenagers, but I know if I ask around, they'll deny it and I'll never catch them.” Chloe bounced up and down. “Can I help? Please?” He pretended to think about that. “I don't know. Aren't you worried they might think you're a snitch?” “Hel-ck, no. Someone destroyed my family's property and almost killed an innocent animal. I want to see them pay for it.” “Then I guess you're my right hand man.” She beamed up at him. “As long as I don't have to wear a badge. I doubt that gaudy star would go with my outfit.” Jordan winked at Jennifer as Chloe walked back around front. He didn't know if he'd ever get used to Chloe's swift mood swings. |
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