Pelican's Landing

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.”

“Does that frighten you?”

“No…yes…maybe a little,” she said with a smile.

Jordan reached out, brushing her fingers across Annie’s cheek, then lower, caressing her lips with the barest of touches.

“You know you never, ever have to be afraid of me,” she said.

Annie swallowed. “It’s hardly you I’m afraid of, Jordan.” She smiled slightly. “Maybe you should be afraid of me.”

Jordan smiled too. “Oh, that, I definitely am.”

Annie took another step away from her, breaking their contact.

“So? You’re leaving. When?”

Jordan sighed. “Tomorrow. He already had my flight booked.”

“And you’ll be back home when?”

Home? Yes, this did feel like home. When had that happened?

“Hopefully on Saturday,” she said.

“Well, you don’t have to worry about the store. I’ll take care of it.”

“I’m not worried,” she said.

Annie nodded, then motioned to the house. “I think I’m going to shower and get to bed early.”

Jordan nodded. “Sure.”

Annie made it to the door, then stopped. Jordan held her breath as Annie walked back over to her. She leaned closer, kissing Jordan…not on the cheek, like she usually did. Not on the lips, either. No, on the corner of her mouth, just enough to let Jordan know that they had indeed crossed over the line.

“Goodnight, Jordan.”

“Goodnight.”

Jordan stood still, watching as Annie went back inside. She turned around to the bay again. What was happening? Her pulse was racing, her heart was pounding and she had a difficult time catching her breath. Oh, she knew exactly what was happening.

Did Annie?