Chapter 13
Forrest yanked on a pair of joggers and raced out back with Blackbeard who immediately stopped and stood screaming at Turtle who was putting the last stake in the ground for the metal wire fence.
Gator opened the small gate and carried in two rubber tubs.
“We’re almost done here. I picked up some food for him too. ”
“And I just need to put this together for a quick shelter,” Skeeter told him. “We can build on to it to turn it into a right cute goat house whenever you want.”
“Wow. Thanks guys. I must admit, I haven’t thought much about goat ownership. I’ll look into some goat shelter ideas and get back to you on that.”
Forrest connected the hose and began to fill one of the rubber tubs with water as Gator filled the other with food. As soon as Turtle finished the fence, he started working with Skeeter on the shelter. It took less than twenty minutes and Blackbeard now had food, water, and shelter.
Forrest took off the rope and Blackbeard leaped around before happily eating part of a shrub. Forrest shook the guys’ hands and made sure they knew the first round at Harper’s was on him tonight.
“Do you like your new home, Blackbeard?” Forrest asked him once the guys left.
He could have sworn Blackbeard smiled. “Good, now I need to get back to Jordana. No more screaming. Promise?” Blackbeard stared blankly at him while chewing.
Yeah, he didn’t think it would work either, but it was worth a try.
Forrest headed inside and back into his room. He stopped as soon as he entered his room. Jordana was on her side, her hands tucked under the pillow, fast asleep.
Forrest crept inside and kicked off his shoes.
He moved slowly as he got into bed and snuggled up against Jordana.
She must have felt the heat from his body when she scooted back in her sleep so he was holding her tight against him.
Forrest didn’t think sleep would come, but it came in the blink of an eye.
He woke to the feeling of warmth on his lips. He didn’t need to open his eyes to know what to do. He reached for Jordana and pulled her tight against him as he deepened the kiss.
His eyes opened when she raked her nails gently down his back and slipped them under the waistband of his joggers. “Your brother Damon stopped by while you were sleeping,” Jordana told him between kisses. “We have an hour until we’re expected at whatever Harper’s is.”
“Mmm, I can think of a way to spend an hour.” Forrest deepened the kiss and slowly moved his hand from her back to her hip. He waited for her to give approval and she did so when she squeezed his butt. Then his hands did what they’d been wanting to do—explore.
Forrest was so lost in their kisses and caresses that he didn’t hear the doorbell. It wasn’t until Blackbeard screamed and a woman screamed, “What the hell is that?” that Forrest sighed and pulled his lips from Jordana’s neck.
“Reality is about to knock.”
“Forrest! Open the door before this freaking goat eats my purse and I make shish kebabs out of him.” Blackbeard screamed again. “Scream again and I’ll start the grill. Try me, goat.”
The backyard went silent.
“Who is that?” Jordana asked in a whisper.
“That, is my sister Olivia. Sorry we were interrupted. She won’t go away. I do think we need to talk because if she hadn’t stopped us . . .”
Jordana smirked and it went straight to his balls. “I wouldn’t have stopped. Would you have?”
“Hell no. You know I like you, Jordana. I don’t want a quickie and that’s it. I don’t want a situationship. I want something real. And for that, we need to talk.”
“I swear to all that is holy,” Olivia’s voice was deadly serious, “if you don’t open the door this instant, I’m throwing the goat through the window.”
“I’m coming!” Forrest shouted. “I’m sorry. She’s actually very wonderful. This isn’t about you. It’s about me.”
Forrest pushed himself off the bed and grabbed a T-shirt as he headed out of the bedroom. Olivia was standing by the glass door leading out back. Her arms were crossed. She and Blackbeard were in a stare-off.
Forrest unlocked the door and Olivia gave one last look at Blackbeard before strutting into his living room.
“Hello, little brother. Nice of you to finally answer your door. I tried the front, but when no one came I was worried something might have happened.” She looked down at him and frowned.
“Not that Harper’s is fancy, but is that what you’re wearing? ”
Forrest’s eyes darted to the clock. Whoops. He and Jordana had been making out for almost an hour. “I’m almost ready.”
Olivia snorted.
Forrest hurried to the bedroom to find Jordana in a cute dress that had to be Maggie’s.
Even if it looked a little baggy on her, she looked great.
As soon as Miss Winnie and Miss Ruby got a look at them, they’d both be drowning in high-calorie, high-carb meals and the weight they’d lost from their jungle diet would be put back on.
“You look lovely.” Forrest kissed her neck as he shoved his joggers down and opted for jeans.
“Is your sister as scary as she sounds?”
“She can be but she also can’t be. Don’t worry, she won’t be scary to you.”
Jordana didn’t look convinced as they headed out to the living room.
Olivia smiled at Jordana, and Forrest breathed a little easier.
“Hi. I’m Olivia Townsend-Fox.” Olivia held out her hand and Jordana smiled, a little hesitantly, before shaking her hand.
“Jordana Alves.”
“It’s lovely to meet you. I’m so sorry for all you’ve been through, but so thankful you ran into my brother.
If anyone is good at outdoor survival, it’s him.
” Olivia’s eyes took in the baggy dress, the wrapped feet in the sandals, and the way his jeans and T-shirt were loose and frowned. “Are you sure you’re both okay?”
“Rowan gave me the all clear and Jordana some IV antibiotics. He’s running labs and will have the results tonight. But it’s nothing a lot of food won’t fix,” Forrest told her.
“Well,” Olivia said, turning to Jordana, “you are certainly brave. Come sit up front with me and tell me about yourself.”
“Is that a pirate ship?” Jordana asked, cutting off her story of their escape as they approached Main Street.
Forrest looked out past the marina to where Skeeter was captaining his restored pirate ship. It was filled with pirates, including one swinging on a rope during a mock swordfight.
“It’s the documentary. I love bringing history to life, but I’m ready for them all to go home and it’s only been a day.
That’s why we’re rushing to Harper’s. It’s been so packed the last several days during their rehearsals that we can’t even get a table.
Natalie has been there for an hour saving us tables. ”
“That’s nice of her,” Forrest said as they turned onto Main Street.
“Kenzie is there saving seats for the Faulkners. You know they’re good friends.”
“Why does Kenzie Faulkner have to save a table when her cousin-in-law owns the bar?”
“Harper has put out reserved signs and they mysteriously disappear. Kenzie and Natalie are not taking any chances since Stone is playing tonight and everyone wants to watch his game together.”
“Stone is your brother who plays ice hockey?” Jordana asked.
“That’s right,” Olivia told her. “Everyone is here except Penelope and Bex. She’s the youngest and is back in Europe for work and Bex is at the FBI Academy.”
Olivia parked and they all got out. “This is Harper’s,” Forrest told Jordana after opening her door.
Forrest already saw the tables full of Faulkners and Townsends.
The two families had become close since they—meaning the Townsend brothers—had learned that billionaire, Ryker Faulkner, wasn’t trying to take advantage of Olivia.
Olivia might be his attorney, but it was her husband, Sheriff Granger Fox, who had her heart.
“Here,” Damon said to Jordana as he stood up. “Take my seat.”
“Thank you,” Jordana told him, sitting between Natalie and Maggie. Waverly was across the table next to Kane. Hunter was next to Maggie. Rowan was on Natalie’s other side. Which meant, Damon and Forrest got to slide into the open bench seating next to Kane and Waverly.
Forrest didn’t even get a chance to introduce Jordana. Natalie, Maggie, and Waverly were being the great sisters-in-law that they were and introducing themselves and Hunter, whom Jordana hadn’t met yet.
“That’s my husband,” Natalie told her excitedly pointing at the large screen TV as Stone skated by during his warmup. “Now, enough about us. Tell us what happened to you and how you got to Shadows Landing. And did you really bring a goat?”
Jordana laughed and Forrest was such a goner.
“That goat isn’t mine. He’s Forrest’s,” Jordana told them before launching into her story, which was now also captivating the Faulkners along with Gator, Skeeter, and Turtle, who were standing with beers in their hands listening.
“Tell them about your work,” Forrest said proudly. “Jordana is so smart. She’s found this vine that she can make medicine from that’s better than any medicine currently on the market for sepsis.”
Rowan’s eyebrows rose as he leaned forward to better see Jordana. “That’s amazing. I’d love to hear more about that.”
“What?” Forrest asked Damon when he crossed his arms and chuckled as Jordana told them all about her work.
“I told you that you needed a woman to go with you, I didn’t realize you’d find your wife in the middle of the jungle. But, you’re right, Damon does seem to be the theme, even if none of you will say it.”
The door to the bar opened and a group of men and women dressed as pirates came flooding in. At the back of the pack was the woman with red hair who stood apart from the group.
Stephen Adkins, sorry Dr. Stephen Adkins, the head of the historical society practically circled her feet begging for attention.
Stephen never let anyone forget he had a Ph.D.
in history. His academic snobbery hadn’t endeared him to the townspeople, even though he was born and bred in Shadows Landing.
He made sure to look down on everyone, especially Skeeter, even though Skeeter could teach a Ph.D.
program given the amount of history he knew.
“Aw, man,” Skeeter whispered nervously. “She’s here.”
“Go talk to her,” Gator told him.
“I’ll show her a picture of my pecker. That usually causes Stevie to run and it’ll clear the field for you,” Turtle offered.
The poor woman was looking everywhere but at Stephen.
Stephen was in his usual khaki pants with the perfect crease, his loafers, and why on earth did he have a sweater draped over his shoulders?
Her eyes landed on Skeeter who, Forrest saw, was staring at her as if she were the Holy Grail.
Her fair skin blushed as she realized his attention.
Skeeter might be dressed in jeans with a rip here and there and a T-shirt that was well-worn T-shirt, and his brown hair might be in need of a cut and his facial hair should have been shaved that morning, but he was a good-looking guy with muscles that came from hard work instead of hours behind a desk.
Not that Stephen had any muscles Forrest could see.
Skeeter would be a great boyfriend, if you didn’t mind the whole talking to the pirate ghosts thing.
The trouble was, many women didn’t bother to look beyond the country boy stereotype.
The same could be said for Gator and Turtle too.
Truth be told, Forrest didn’t even know their real names.
The woman looked around the full bar as Stephen kept talking to her.
The tables were full, except for one spot at their table.
It was supposed to be for Olivia’s husband, Granger.
However, Liv had said Granger was stuck with the film company, discussing permits and what they were legally allowed to do at tomorrow’s shoot.
Forrest got up and walked over to where she was rolling her eyes at .
. . well, nothing. She was turned away from Stephen when she’d done it and Forrest almost thought she was rolling her eyes at him.
“Excuse me,” Forrest said, getting her attention.
“Hi. I’m Forrest Townsend and I noticed you were looking for a seat.
We have one at our table if you’d like to join us.
” Forrest indicated the empty chair at the end of the table.
Her eyes went from the empty chair to the space over his shoulder and then to him. “Are you sure? I don’t want to take someone’s seat.”
“You’re not. My brother-in-law has been held up.”
She smiled with relief but then Stephen tried to move in. “She can sit—”
“Right over here,” Skeeter said, turning to face her and cutting Stephen off.
“Someone of Dr. Halbert’s educational level doesn’t want to sit with someone named Skeeter,” Stephen huffed.
Skeeter stood tall and pulled his shoulders back. “Good thing my name is Owen Skees then, isn’t it? However, my friends do call me Skeeter.” He turned to the woman and held out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, ma’am. We would be honored if you joined us.”
Forrest saw how Dr. Halbert blushed even deeper when her hand met Skeeter’s. Or Owen’s. It blew Forrest’s mind that he had a normal name, but now that he knew his last name the nickname made sense.
“I’d love to sit with you. As long as I’m not putting anyone out. And please, call me Mary.”
This time it was Skeeter’s turn to blush. “Right this way then, Mary.” Skeeter gestured with his arm for her to join them and then quickly moved to pull out the chair for her.
“Skeeter,” Forrest said, dropping his voice, “I’m going to go hang out with Jordana and talk to Rowan. Why don’t you take my seat so you two can talk?”
A breeze rippled by them, sending a shiver down Forrest’s back and Skeeter smiled. “Thank you, Forrest. You’re a good friend and the pirates said they’ll help you keep an eye on your woman.”
“She’s not my woman,” Forrest said on a sigh.
Skeeter glanced back to where Jordana was watching them. “Are you sure about that?”
Jordana smiled at Forrest, glanced at Mary and Skeeter, then winked at Forrest. They had a whole discussion with just a look. Maybe Skeeter was right. Tonight when they got home it was time to tell Jordana how he felt and hoped like hell she felt the same.