Gerri Hill - Pelican's Landing

“You’re not fat.”

“Uh-huh.” Annie motioned to the table. “So enjoy the rest of your meal and please don’t gossip about me.”

“Nothing to gossip about,” Brandon said. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

She sat down again and Suzanne nudged her. “That wasn’t so bad.”

“Am I getting fat?” she whispered.

“No. She was being petty. You know she always had a crush on Matt.”

“I know.” She picked up her fajita again. Even Staci’s comment didn’t curb her appetite.

* * *

Annie put the last of the leftovers in the fridge and wiped down the counter. Suzanne had stayed late and helped them clean up but she, too, had taken her leave. It was quiet in the house, and she found Jordan sitting out on the deck in the dark, sipping from her wineglass. She was about to flip on the porch light, then decided not to.

“So you survived?” she asked as she sat down beside her.

“Glad it’s over with,” Jordan said. “They seemed to have fun though.”

“Yes, they did.”

“Did you?”

“It was okay. But things like this remind you that even though you work together, it doesn’t always mean that you’re friends,” she said.

“True.”

Annie leaned closer. “You’re being awful quiet. Is everything okay?”

Jordan turned toward her, but it was too dark to read her eyes.

“Fine. I just wanted some peace.”

“Oh. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

Jordan reached out and wrapped her fingers around Annie’s arm. “Not from you, Annie.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Stay.”

Annie felt Jordan’s fingers slip away from her, and she had to resist reaching out and taking her hand. Instead, she folded her hands together and rested them on her stomach. She let the quiet wash over her, listening to the sound of the water as it lapped against the retaining wall. The breeze rustled her hair, but before she could tame it, Jordan gently moved it from her face and tucked it behind her ear.

Annie turned, again wishing she could see Jordan’s eyes. She swallowed, imagining what she might find there. She looked back over the dark bay, enjoying the closeness she felt with Jordan, even in their silence.

They sat there for the longest time, the only sound to break the quiet the occasional bark of a dog and the constant waves hitting the pier. She was relaxed and mellow and felt her eyelids getting heavy.

“I think I’m going to bed,” she said finally.

Jordan turned. “I’ll be in soon.”

Annie stood, then leaned over, kissing Jordan lightly on the cheek. “Thank you. It was a nice day.”

Jordan smiled. “It was a nicer evening.”

Annie smiled too, squeezing Jordan’s shoulder as she left.

Chapter Twenty-Six

It was a rare rainy evening and instead of their normal routine of sitting on the deck after dinner, they were inside. Annie was on the sofa, legs curled under her, reading a book. Jordan was in the recliner, aimlessly flipping through TV channels, not finding anything to hold her attention. When her phone rang, she was thankful for the distraction. However, she was surprised by the caller.

“It’s Peter,” she said.

Annie raised her eyebrows.

“My boss,” she clarified before answering. “Hello, Peter.”

“Ah, Jordan. I was afraid you weren’t going to answer. You’ve been a bit of a stranger this summer.”

She went out to the deck, standing under the porch to keep from getting wet from the light rain that was still falling. “I assumed Antonio was handling things,” she said. “He hasn’t called for help.”

“Yes, he’s handling things. He just doesn’t do them your way,” he said. “I expected you back by now.”

“I told you it would probably be September. Is there a problem?”

“Tokyo.”

“Tokyo? I thought that deal was wrapped up,” she said.

“All but the fine print. But Mr. Hashimoto refuses to deal with Antonio.”

Jordan smiled. Mr. Hashimoto was brutal in negotiations, but she’d managed to soften him up. It had taken six months, but he’d finally agreed to her terms. She could imagine him and Antonio butting heads.

“And you want me to run interference?”

“I need you back here, Jordan. We can’t let this deal fall through. He’s threatening to pull out.”

“I can’t come back now, Peter,” she said. She looked through the window, finding Annie watching her. “Perhaps I can handle it from here.”

“No,” he said. “I need you here in the office. Can you at least come back for a few days? Help Antonio through this? Mr. Hashimoto respects you. You were on the team that put this deal together.”

She let out a heavy sigh. “When?”

“Now.”

She knew she didn’t really have a choice. “Okay.”

“Thanks, Jordan. I knew I could count on you. I was so sure of it, I’ve already booked your flight. Check your email.”

“Does that mean I’m leaving tomorrow?”

“Yes. Don’t sleep in.”

She slipped the phone into her shorts pocket. She didn’t want to leave, not even for a few days. What the hell was she going to do when September got here?

The rain had turned into nothing more than a fine mist, and she walked out in it, leaning on the railing. No, she didn’t want to leave. She would miss it here. She would miss…Annie. Hell, she would even miss Fat Larry.

She looked out over the bay, the light on the pier surrounded by fog. God, what was wrong with her? It was only for a few days. Then she’d come back, she’d tie things up, she’d hire someone to take over the store…then she’d be gone for good. She closed her eyes to that thought. Not for good. Not this time. She wouldn’t disappear this time. She wouldn’t do that to her parents again.

She turned when she heard the door open. Annie was watching her. She moved closer, close enough for their shoulders to touch as they leaned on the railing together.

“You’re leaving?” The question was asked quietly, almost as if she didn’t want to hear the answer.

“Yes.”

Annie turned to face her. “Will you come back?” This time, the question was little more than a whisper.

Jordan turned too, leaving them face-to-face. She nodded. “Yes. I’m only going for a couple of days.”

The relief in Annie’s eyes was palpable. “I’m not…ready for you to leave yet, Jordan.”

Jordan nodded. “No, I’m not ready to leave either.”

“Is there a problem or something?”

“Yeah, a client in Tokyo. He doesn’t want to work with my assistant. It’s just wrapping up a deal that I worked on in the spring,” she said.

“Oh.”

“It should only take a couple of days,” she said again.

Annie nodded, but Jordan still saw doubt in her eyes. Without thinking, she pulled Annie closer. Annie didn’t hesitate and her arms snaked around Jordan’s waist. As soon as Annie was pressed against her, Jordan knew it was a mistake. They had hugged before, of course. But never quite with the intimacy of this hug. She wondered if Annie could feel the energy between them.

“We really need to stop doing this,” she said, her eyes still closed as Annie’s face was buried against her neck.

“Why?” Annie murmured.

“I think you know why.”

Annie pulled back but only enough to meet her eyes. “Do I?”

“We’re awfully close to that line, Annie.”

Annie’s smile was slow, sweet. “I think we’ve already crossed the line, Jordan.”

Jordan smiled too. “Mentally, yes.”

Annie pulled away a little more but didn’t completely untangle from her. Her eyes were open and honest, and Jordan tried to decipher what she saw there.

“Something’s…happening to me,” Annie said. “I feel…different.”