Page 21 of Jordan
Settling on the porch swing, Jordan took out the packet of cigars and selected one carefully. Images of her body slicked with water and soap flashed across his mind. Hissing out a breath, he lighted the cigar and inhaled smoke. He did not remember what her brother looked like. They had never run in the same circles, because neither he nor his sisters had attended the local schools. They had come home for all the holidays of course and had mingled with the local kids.
He vaguely recalled some story about the stepbrother running off when he turned sixteen or seventeen, because his stepfather had been abusive. He was a cop now and probably saw himself as his sister's protector. He was going to have to be persuaded that there was no need for that.
*****
The place had not changed much, or it had just a little bit. Driving from the airport, Caleb could see new buildings that had not been there before. He had returned only once and that was to bury his mother.
Had there been a tug of regret that he had left and shaken off the dust from his shoes? Yes, there had been. Especially the fact that he had not seen his mother for years. She had made several visits to see both him and Jules. When they graduated from college and when he had graduated from the academy. He had seen the tears in her eyes and the regrets, something they had never discussed. She had stood by and allowed her husband to abuse them both. It took a long time for him to move past that.
He wasn't planning on staying very long. Just long enough to talk some sense into that girl's head. What the hell was she thinking? Marriage to the enemy? A complete stranger? He was taking her back with him, even if he had to tie her down. He was certainly not going to stand by and have her make a mistake as big as the one she was contemplating.
Lifting his hand from the console, he passed it at the back of his neck. The plane ride from JFK had been easy and almost turbulent free, but the connecting flight in the little plane had jarred his stomach and left him feeling queasy.
Merging into the afternoon traffic, he objectively admired the quaint buildings, the wild beauty of flowers blooming and the sleepy serenity of the town.
He had been born here and probably would have spent his life here, if things had worked out differently. Spotting a familiar building, he turned off the main road and into a narrow dirt road that led to Bob's bar and burger joint. A grin split his face as he pulled to a stop in front of what was little more than a shanty. It looked the same, he mused as he hopped out and slammed the door shut. Reaming out his sister would have to wait while he caught up on old gossip and had a bite and a beer. Nobody does flame broiled burger like Bob.
Stepping into the smoky interior, the scent of meat charring and onions grilling hit him like a ton of bricks. And Bob himself, rotund and heavy around the waist, with a stained apron hanging from his neck was arguing with a customer, a fat cigar clamped at the side of his mouth. The game was going on in the background, while several men nursing beers had their eyes and ears trained on the large screen television that took up an entire wall.
It took Bob a minute to realize who had just walked into his establishment. And when he did, dark brown eyes squinting and then widening in recognition.
"Well son of a bitch!" His gravelly voice had everyone turning around. "If it isn't himself. The prodigal son returning. Hey everybody, this here is Mr. Fancy Cop himself." His broad face splitting in a grin, he marched right over and practically lifted Caleb off the floor.
"You look like a criminal and not one who wears a badge! How the hell are you?"
"About to pass out from your choke hold."
With a guffaw, Bob let go and slapped him hard enough on the back to make him stumble.
"Come and have a drink or two. I am going to prepare you the heftiest burger this side of town."
"Now you're talking."
*****
He was mellowed enough from the potent booze and fully loaded burger to have a very pleasant buzz going on, but that only lasted until he reached the street where his sister was staying. It took a complete nosedive when he saw the snazzy convertible at the gate and realized that Wainwright was present.
Slowing down enough to give the glossy black vehicle a once over, he drove into the driveway. She was obviously looking out for him, because as soon as he drove in and parked, she flew out onto the porch and bounded down the steps.
"You took your time," she murmured as she flung her arms around his neck and latched on.
"I made a stop. Bob's burger."
He wrapped his arms around her reluctantly, determined to keep the fury dead center.
"What is he doing here?"
"Caleb, please."
"I intend to have my say." Putting her away from him, he turned in the direction of the house, a gleam in his eyes.
"I am not a child." She had been trying to be calm and had told herself that she was halfway there after her quick shower and the sandwiches she had made, but that was a blatant lie, and seeing him here now, seeing the look on his face, she felt her heart sinking. Snagging his arm, she forced him to stop.
"I am going into this with my eyes wide open."
"Obviously not, or you would not be going into something as ridiculous as marrying a man you don't know." His eyes glittered. "And a Wainwright at that."
"I know what I am doing," she insisted. "And I would appreciate you not taking out your anger on Jordan."
