“Come on, Annie. One dinner.”
There was movement behind him and Annie saw that Jordan had returned. She shook her head again. “No, Derrick.”
He stepped closer and she noticed his dirty clothes. A flash from the past came back to her and she remembered how she’d used to make him strip off his clothes before coming in the house. The first few months of their marriage, it had become a game that turned into sex. Ten days apart, he would want to spend the first two back making love. She quickly learned not to be quite as strict with her laundry rules. Even then, a few months after their marriage, she had been searching for excuses not to have sex with him. God, why had it taken her nearly six years to divorce him?
“Are you afraid, Annie? Afraid that old attraction will still be there?”
At that, she laughed, unable to contain it. “I can assure you…no.”
“I think you are afraid.”
“Let’s don’t play this game, Derrick. I’m not going out with you. I’m sorry you’re in between girlfriends right now, but I’m not your fallback.” She looked past Derrick, seeing Jordan standing there, blatantly listening. “Now, my boss is here. You really need to go.”
“Boss?” He spun around. “Who are you?”
Jordan stepped into the office, still holding the two sandwiches. “No, actually, the question is…who are you and why are you in my office?”
Annie was surprised that Derrick seemed to actually bristle at the question.
“I’m Derrick Dockery. Annie’s husband.”
“Oh, Derrick…please,” Annie murmured.
“Annie’s last name is Thomas, and I’m quite certain she told me she was not married.”
Derrick gave a quick laugh. “Actually, I’m trying to win her back,” he said.
Annie stood up. “Okay. Enough.” She pointed to the door. “Out.”
But Derrick’s gaze was still focused on Jordan. “You look familiar.”
“Jordan Sims. Matt’s sister.”
Derrick nodded. “Right. I remember you from high school.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t remember you.”
“Matt and I were friends. I was a year ahead of him in school. I used to see you out at the beach house sometimes,” he continued.
Annie gave an apologetic look at Jordan before pushing by her and grabbing Derrick by the arm.
“Time to go,” she said pointedly. “I have work to do.”
He nodded. “Okay, well maybe some other time. I really want to get together.”
She ushered him out into the store. “Goodbye, Derrick.”
“What about over the weekend?”
“Really, Derrick…no.”
She spun on her heels, leaving him standing there. He had some nerve, she’d give him that. Did he really think she’d have dinner with him? God, she hated when he wasn’t dating anyone. For some reason, he thought he still had a claim to her.
Jordan was unwrapping her sandwich when she got back. Annie touched her shoulder as she passed by, resuming her seat behind the desk.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “Derrick has no sense of proper divorce etiquette.”
Jordan laughed. “So that’s the ex, huh?”
“In all his glory, yes,” she said as she unwrapped her own sandwich. “Thanks for this.”
“Sure.” Jordan took a bite from her sandwich, then stood, going out to the fridge. She returned with two water bottles. “I’m surprised he remembered me. I have absolutely no recollection of him.”
“Derrick is forgettable that way,” she said without thinking.
“So he’s trying to win you back?”
“God, he’s out of his mind,” she said. “He got back on shore and only now found out about Matt’s accident,” she explained. “He’s not dating anyone right now so he thinks I’m fair game.”
Jordan stared at her for a moment. “I can’t see you two together.”
Annie nodded. “I know. I was young and stupid. And my mother loved Derrick. Still does. Derrick’s parents and mine get together for dinner all the time.” She took a bite of the sandwich, chewing quickly. “Considering how volatile the divorce was, it’s very strange. I can picture the four of them plotting how to get me and Derrick back together.”
“So your parents weren’t in favor of the divorce?”
“No. Not at all. I had no support from them. In fact, at first, they refused to let me move back in with them, thinking I would stay with Derrick.” She laughed. “Only the fear of the whole town knowing that I was living out at the Surf Court Motel changed their minds.”
“Surf Court? Is that thing still standing?”
“No. It was condemned a few years ago. They tore it down. The city bought the lot and there’s a park there now with a fishing pier.”
Jordan nodded. “Quite a bit has changed around town.”
“How long has it been since you’ve been back?”
“Six years.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah. Time kinda got away from me.”
Annie nodded but didn’t comment. She liked Jordan. Even though she didn’t know much about her, Matt had mentioned her name frequently. She couldn’t imagine being away for six years. Even though she had…well, issues with her own parents, she still wouldn’t stay away.
Her gaze slid to the sofa and she looked away quickly. She wondered if she could talk Jordan into replacing the sofa. She couldn’t look at it without remembering…that night.
“What?”
Annie looked up. “What?”
Jordan raised one eyebrow. “You looked at the sofa, you blushed, you frowned and then you looked away.”
Annie felt her face turn red. “Are you always this observant?”
“Yes.”
Annie gave her a fake smile, then took a large bite from her sandwich.
Chapter Seven
“Your mother says you’ve hired Annie Thomas as office manager.”
Jordan handed her father a cold bottle of beer, then twisted the top on her own. Her mother was inside putting together a salad for their dinner.
“Yes. That’s okay, isn’t it?”
He nodded. “The store is yours to run,” he said. “I don’t have time for it.”
Jordan pulled the string on the ceiling fan, then sat down beside her father. It had been a warm day, but the evening breeze had picked up and it was pleasant out on the deck. She loved it out here. She guessed that even during the brutal days of July and August, she’d prefer to have her meals outside.
She glanced over at her father. He rarely took the time to relax and was at the restaurant seven days a week. Over the years, he’d assembled a good staff and she wondered why he didn’t slow down more. Maybe she got her work ethic from him. But he was relaxed now, she noted. His floral shorts were a bit gaudy and the Fat Larry T-shirt was snug against his ample stomach, but he had a peaceful look on his face.
“How’s Mom been?” she asked.
He didn’t pretend not to know what she meant. “She still cries at night,” he said. “I know it takes time, but…I worry she won’t get over this.”
“And what about you?” she asked gently.
“What about me?”
“You’ve been so…so strong these past few weeks. You didn’t hardly miss a day at the restaurant,” she said.
“It’s our livelihood. I can’t just walk away because—”
“Because your son died?”
He looked at her sharply. “I have responsibilities, Jordan.”
“At least Mom is letting her grief out. Have you even shed a tear?”
He stood up quickly, going to the railing. Was she out of line? Perhaps. But she’d not seen him shed a single tear, not even at the funeral. He was going on about his business as if Matt was coming back some day.
“My son died.”
Jordan went to stand beside him. “Yes. Your son died. My brother died.”
“I keep expecting him to barge into the kitchen at the restaurant and steal a fish fillet off a plate we’re about to serve,” he said with a shaky laugh. “Wearing one of those tie-dyed T-shirts he liked so.” He turned to her. “Or him out there,” he said, motioning to the bay. “Buzzing around on those Jet Skis while your mother and I entertained whatever gal he’d invited over for dinner.”