Chapter 14
Jordana couldn’t take her eyes off Forrest. It wasn’t because she didn’t feel comfortable as she sat with his family. It was because of an invisible string that seemed to connect them.
The entire table had watched Forrest play wingman for Skeeter and it was the sweetest thing she’d ever seen. Forrest came to stand behind her shoulder as Skeeter took his seat next to the red-haired woman. They talked for a moment and then Skeeter turned to the table and cleared his throat.
“Um, y’all, this is Professor Mary Halbert.
She is an expert in piracy and is the narrator and historian for the documentary that’s being filmed here.
Dr. Halbert,” Skeeter said, turning to her and then back to the table.
“These are my friends.” Skeeter went around the table and introduced everyone, which now included the entire table of Faulkners, Gator, Turtle, and half the bar.
Mary seemed a little overwhelmed, and since Jordana got lumped into the introductions with the Townsends and other locals, she too understood that feeling. “Please, call me Mary. Thank you so much for welcoming me, especially since we’ve taken over your town.”
Mary’s smile slipped a little and Skeeter instantly saw it. “Is everything okay, Mary? Can I help in any way?”
Mary’s smile turned back up. “That’s so nice of you. It’s nothing. Just work.”
“The documentary? I know I don’t have a Ph.D., but I do know quite a lot about our town. Even some stories that have never made it into the history books.”
“Skeeter knows more about the history of Shadows Landing and the pirates who lived here than any book could ever teach you,” Gator told her as everyone at both tables nodded in agreement.
“Have you learned from oral history? Has your family been here long?” Mary asked.
“Yes, my family was among the founders,” Skeeter answered becoming a little uncomfortable. Forrest had told her that Skeeter talked to ghosts and if that were true, then someone like Mary would have a hard time respecting that answer.
Mary smiled largely and with a look akin to relief.
“Oh, good. Then maybe you can help me. I’m trying to tell the director and producers they’re getting the history wrong, but they won’t listen.
They say the story isn’t dramatic enough.
How is a town who taught its women to fight not dramatic enough?
But some of my sources . . . um, aren’t citable.
Maybe if you’ve heard these stories too, you’d be able to back me up? ”
“I can tell you if they’re true or not. No problem. Give me one of them.” Skeeter suddenly looked very serious as he leaned forward, ready to listen.
“There was one about Black Law hiding an emerald somewhere in town, and then there was one about Anne Bonny and Mary Reed staying here one summer where they challenged the men to a sword fight in the middle of Main Street in a battle of the sexes followed by an epic party after they won.”
Jordana smiled largely as she pictured it.
She loved badass women and while she didn’t know much about Anne Bonny or Mary Reed, they certainly sounded fun.
A breeze blew through the bar and Jordana rubbed the goosebumps that popped up on her arms. She noticed that both Skeeter and Mary looked off to the side.
She, and everyone else, turned to look too.
Nothing. She expected to see a person or a fan or something, but it was just empty space.
“What are you both lookin’ at?” Gator asked, his eyes narrowing and Jordana could see his mind working overtime.
“Nothing,” they both said quickly and avoided looking at each other.
“No, that’s not nothing,” Harper Faulkner Reigns, the owner of the bar, said, setting pitchers of beer on the table. “You both . . .” Everyone turned to look at Mary and she turned bright red. “Oh my God. I know how you know those stories.”
Mary frantically shook her head. “It’s just something I read online, that’s all.”
“It can’t be,” Skeeter mumbled, but then another breeze sent shivers down Jordana’s back. Both Mary and Skeeter turned their heads again. Then Skeeter turned to Mary, his eyes wide. “Can you talk to ghosts?”
Mary laughed uncomfortably. “Of course not. Ghosts aren’t real.”
The breeze turned downright cold and several of the women around the table shivered.
Skeeter reached out and placed his hand over Mary’s and waited until she made eye contact with him. “Anne loves to talk, doesn’t she? Black Law is a bit gruff, but if you get a good rum for him to smell he’ll lighten up and tell you some of his better stories.”
Mary’s eyes went from scared to wide as her head snapped to the side and she quickly turned to look at Skeeter with astonishment. “You talk to ghosts?”
“Yes. I have my whole life.” Skeeter held her gaze and refused to be embarrassed.
Mary looked at the tables filled with people watching them and not even hiding the fact that they were eavesdropping. “And you all don’t make fun of him for that?”
Damon shivered. “I thought about it when I first got here, but that Anne has some wandering hands. After you’ve had your ass pinched by a ghost, you stop questioning it.”
“The ghosts look out for us here,” Harper explained. “And the story about Black Law and the emerald is true. I found it.”
A delighted smile covered Mary’s face as she almost fell from her chair. “I’ve never met anyone else who talks to ghosts. Tell me everything!”
Jordana listened to an hour of ghost stories before Rowan opened his medical bag and pulled out a paper bag.
“You need a round of antibiotics and there’s a cream for your feet in there.
There are also some electrolyte and mineral packets in there to add to water.
I need you to drink two a day for a week.
Then I think you’ll be good to go after getting your nutrition back up, too.
” Rowan looked down at the giant burger in front of her.
“That’s a good start. You need protein.”
“Thank you, Rowan. This is very kind of you to look out for me.”
Rowan gave her an easy smile that reminded her of Forrest’s before he left, having an early day at the hospital tomorrow.
“One story they’re telling is more than a story,” Maggie told her as all the women smirked.
“The pirates did teach the women of the town how to defend themselves. The reverend of the church was in charge of their training and led any attacks against the British. But what makes the story still relevant is that we still have the women’s group every week at church, led by Reverend Winston. You should come to the next class.”
“Is it a self-defense class?” Jordana asked, interested in getting a workout in.
“A very old-school defense class,” Maggie smirked. “Will you come?”
“Yes. I’d love to. Provided I’m still here.”
“If Brazilian politics are anything like the politics here, you’ll still be around,” a woman named Edie told her. “Investigations always take forever. I’m hoping to get back to class soon myself.” Edie looked down at the baby sound asleep in the carrier next to her on the bench and smiled.
Jordana felt a faint pang of longing. She wanted to be a mother, but she really wanted the love that was clear between Edie and her husband, Tristian. And it wasn’t only them. The married Townsends all had found it and so had the Faulkners.
“Well, you can take my place in class,” Skye Jessamine Faulkner said with a happy smile.
“Will you be off shooting a new movie?” Jordana asked.
Jordana had been stunned when she’d met Skye Jessamine, one of the world’s most recognizable actresses, here in little Shadows Landing. She was nothing like Jordana had expected. She was so normal.
“No movies for a while. I decided to take some time off,” Skye told them. “About nine months at least.”
“Shut the front door!” Tinsley, at least Jordana was pretty sure that was her name, screamed.
Jordana looked to the door. “It is closed.”
The girls at both tables laughed before explaining it was an expression.
“Are you pregnant?” Natalie asked Skye, and everything then made sense to Jordana.
“I am,” Skye told them. The smile on her face was one of pure love and happiness and Jordana found herself looking up to see Forrest’s reaction. He squeezed her shoulder and smiled down at her as the women were all buzzing in their excitement and the men congratulated Skye and her husband, Trent.
“Family is so important,” Olivia said with a faraway look that caused Damon to groan. “What?” she snapped.
“I’m too young to be an uncle,” Damon muttered. “And I know how babies are made.”
“Too young? You’re closer to forty than thirty!”
Jordana couldn’t stop smiling as she watched all the interactions around her.
Was Shadows Landing anything like Brazil?
No, not at all. However, was their small town similar to the small towns there?
Yes, completely. The way they all knew each other’s business.
The way they supported each other and had great pride in their town was universal and somehow made her feel at home.
Not the home in the capital, but the home where she’d grown up before her father went into politics.
Forrest noticed the second her shoulders slumped and she struggled to stifle one yawn after another. She’d told everyone what had led to her being in Shadows Landing and all questions had been answered, but when the conversation around them turned melodic to her, she began to feel the exhaustion.
“Ready to go home?” Forrest whispered into her ear.
Home. She had to admit that Shadows Landing felt like home. She had more friends, even if they were all new, sitting around these tables than she had in Brazil.
“Yes. I’m ready for bed.”
Olivia jumped up from her seat. “I’ll take you home!”
Jordana noticed that Forrest groaned and his family snickered. But she was too tired to care. A ride was a ride.
Forrest escorted her out after they all exchanged good-byes and into Olivia’s car. “You didn’t need to give us a ride home. Kane lives closer to me than you do.”
“Oh no. I learned from Stone, Kane and Wilder—anytime one of you brings a woman home to protect, you marry her. Tonight is going to be no Rio Carnival,” Olivia told them as she drove them away from the bar.
“Carnival?” Jordana whispered with sleepy confusion to Forrest. “Marriage? We’re not even dating.”
Olivia snorted. “Right. We all saw how you two looked at each other tonight. You’re both completely in love, whether you realize it or not.”
“Liv!” Forrest admonished. Jordana turned to look out the window, slightly embarrassed by how upset Forrest was about the possibility of them being in love.
“I’d appreciate it if you’d let me talk to Jordana about the future I hope to have with her before you do.
Come on, I was too young to be a big hassle to you when you were dating for you to pull this. ”
Jordana turned to Forrest, ignoring Olivia as she reminded Forrest of the first boyfriend she had after college and what he and Rowan did when they visited for the weekend. “You want to have a future with me?”
Forrest reached over and took her hand in his. “Of course, I do. We can talk about it when we get home.”
“Talking is good,” Olivia said with a rather pleased grin. “Because that’s all you’ll be doing. I’m pulling a tapioca blocka.”
Jordana felt her brow furrow in confusion. “Are you talking about tapioca, our street food?”
“The pudding?” Forrest asked, similarly confused.
Olivia rolled her eyes. “In Brazil, it’s a flat pancake they can stuff with food. Kind of like a taco.”
“Yes, but what is this blocka?” Jordana did not understand this at all.
“It’s a taco blocko, but for you it’s a tapioca blocka.” Olivia glanced at them in the rearview mirror and saw their confusion. “His bridageiros are no longer bouncing.”
“Why would bonbons bounce?” Jordana was clearly missing something.
“I’m wrapping your pamonha up tight.”
“I am so confused. Why are you talking about a corn snack that’s wrapped up in a fresh corn husk and tied with a string?”
“No pinto and beans tonight,” Liv giggled.
“Why would she want pinto beans?” Forrest asked.
Suddenly Jordana got what Olivia was saying. She snorted and wondered if Olivia knew what she’d actually said.
“Pinto is a dick. She’s saying no dick and beans. Oh, and brigageiors are bonbons—they’re balls. So, basically no playing with your balls. And as for the pamonha, she’s saying we’re wrapped up tight—we’re off limits.”
“Olivia,” Forrest said slowly. “Are you cockblocking me in Portuguese?”
“I thought it only fair so Jordana could understand.”
Jordana was struggling to keep her laughter in, but it wasn’t working. Tears were almost spilling from her eyes. “It’s horrible Portuguese and sayings that make very little sense, but you’re trying very hard.”
“Yes, but my brother won’t be. See, my brothers each chased off the men in my life.
Some more than others. Damon the most. Forrest and Rowan did the least, but they still participated.
So, this is my revenge. One night where they’d love nothing more than to be with a woman they actually care about and instead, they get me.
” Olivia laughed dramatically, which made Jordana lose her battle as she burst out giggling.
“This is not funny,” Forrest said with a frown as they pulled into his driveway.
“It kind of is,” Jordana laughed.
Forrest escorted them inside and the exhaustion that had temporarily left her by Olivia’s funny sayings, hit her once again. She wasn’t going to tell Olivia that her grand plan of making sure nothing happened between them was going to fizzle out due to jet lag, kidnapping, and being on the run.
Jordana had her pajamas on and was in bed before Forrest tossed his sister a pillow and blanket for the couch after declaring the guest rooms upstairs were “broken.”
Jordana felt his strong arms wrap around her and pull her against him as he spooned her. “Sorry for my sister.”
“It’s okay. It’s funny.”
“I know we’re both exhausted, but I didn’t want you to go to sleep without knowing that I care about you and I’m glad you’re here. I want a future with you and if you do too, then we’ll find a way to make it work.”
All the reasons to say no ran through her head, but instead she spoke from the heart. “I’m falling in love with you, Forrest. It’s so quick, but it feels so right to me. There’s nothing more I want than to find a way to make it work.”
Forrest released a breath and placed a kiss on her neck. “I’ve already fallen for you, Jordana. I love you. Now, get some sleep. We can talk about this tomorrow.”
Jordana smiled, her heart and mind full of love as she drifted off to sleep in Forrest’s arms.