The Summer Wedding: Groom Wanted / The Man You'll Marry

He was staring pointedly at her door.

“Um, would you like to come inside?” she asked, unlatching the door with fumbling fingers. “I’ll make some tea if you like. Or coffee …” She hadn’t expected this, nor was she emotionally prepared for seeing him. She’d figured he’d read the card and then drop it in his wastebasket.

“Tea sounds fine.”

“I’ll just be a minute,” she said as she hurried into the kitchen. Her heart was rampaging, pounding against her ribs. “Make yourself at home,” she called out, holding the teakettle under the faucet.

“You have a nice place,” he said, standing in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room.

“Thank you. I’ve lived here for three years.” She didn’t know why she’d told him that. It didn’t matter to him how long she’d lived there.

“Why’d you send me the card?” he asked while she was setting out cups and saucers.

She didn’t feel comfortable using her everyday mugs; she had a couple of lovely china cups her mother had given her and decided on those instead. She paused at his question, frowning slightly. “To congratulate you.”

“The real reason.”

“That was the real reason. This shopping mall was important to you and I was happy to read that everything came together. I knew you worked hard to make it happen. That was the only reason I sent you the note.” Her cheeks heated at his implication. He seemed to believe something she hadn’t intended—or had she?

“Andrew Howard decided to invest in the project at the last minute. It was his support that made the difference.”

Jill nodded. “I was hoping he would.”

“I have you to thank for that.”

Nothing in his expression suggested he was grateful for any assistance she might unwittingly have given him. His features remained cold and hard. The man who’d spent that day on the beach with her wasn’t the harsh, unrelenting businessman who stood before her now.

“If I played any part in Mr. Howard’s decision, I’m sure it was small.”

“He seemed quite taken with you.”

“I was quite taken with him, too.”

A flicker of emotion passed through Jordan’s eyes, one so fleeting, so transitory, she was sure she’d imagined it.

“I’d like to thank you, if you’d let me,” he said.

She was dropping tea bags into her best ceramic teapot. “Thank me? You already have.”

“I was thinking more along the lines of dinner.”

Jill’s first thought was that she didn’t have anything appropriate to wear. Not to an elegant restaurant, and of course she couldn’t imagine Jordan dining anywhere else. He wasn’t the kind of man who ate in a burger joint.

“Unless you already have plans …”

He was offering her an escape, and his eyes seemed to challenge her to take it.

“No,” she said, almost gasping. Jill wasn’t sure why she accepted so readily, why she didn’t even consider declining. “I don’t have anything planned for tonight.”

“Is there a particular place you’d like to go?”

She shook her head. “You choose.”

Jill felt suddenly light-headed with happiness and anticipation. Trying to keep her voice steady, she added, “I’ll need to change clothes, but that shouldn’t take long.”

He looked at her skirt and blouse as if he hadn’t noticed them before. “You look fine just the way you are,” he said, dismissing her concern.

The kettle whistled and Jill removed it from the burner, pouring the scalding water into the teapot. “This should steep for a few minutes.” She backed out of the kitchen, irrationally fearing that he’d disappear if she let him out of her sight.

She chose the same outfit she’d worn on the trip home—the Hawaiian print shirt with the hot pink flowers. Narrow black pants set it off nicely, as did the shell lei she’d purchased the first day she’d gone touring. Then she freshened her makeup and brushed her hair.

Jordan had poured the tea and was adding sugar to his cup when she entered the kitchen. His gaze didn’t waver or change in any way, yet she could tell he liked her choice.

The phone rang. Jill darted a look at it, willing it to stop. She sighed and went over to check call display.

Shelly.

“Hello, Shelly.” She hoped her voice didn’t convey her lack of enthusiasm.

“How are you? I haven’t heard a word from you since you got home. Are you all right? I’ve been worried. You generally phone once or twice a week, and it’s not like you to—”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive.”

“You seem preoccupied. Am I catching you at a bad time? Is Ralph there? Maybe he’ll take the hint and go home. Honestly, Jill, I don’t know why you continue to see that guy. I mean, he’s nice, but he’s about as romantic as mold.”

“Uh, I have company.”

“Company,” Shelly echoed. “Who? No, let me guess. Jordan Wilcox!”

“You got it.”

“Talk to you later. Bye.” The drone of the disconnected line sounded in her ear so fast that Jill was left holding the receiver for several seconds before she realized her friend had hung up.

No sooner had Jill replaced it than the phone rang again. She looked at call display, cast an apologetic glance toward Jordan and snatched up the receiver. “Hello, Shelly.”

“I want it understood that you’re to give me a full report later.”

“Shelly!”

“And don’t you dare try to return that wedding dress. He’s the one, Jill. Quit fighting it. I’ll let you go now, but just remember, I want details, so be prepared.” She hung up as quickly as she had the first time.

“That was my best friend.”

“Shelly?”