The Maverick Who Ruled Her Heart

A red hue covered her face and by the thrust of her chin she left no doubt she was not pleased with his question.

“Kelsey, you baked a cake?” one woman asked.

“The last one you put salt in instead of sugar,” another commented with a grin.

“I thought you’d just buy one and put your name on it,” the guy helping Kelsey put chairs around a table said with a chuckle.

Kelsey took a proud stance. “Hey, look, I can bake with the best of them I just choose not to on most occasions.” She tossed her head and went back to work.

“I think we need all the cakes we can get for the auction,” another woman offered. “Maybe the fact that the winner of the cake gets to share it with the baker will make Kelsey’s the highest earner.”

“Thank you, Carolyn. You’re a true friend.” Kelsey said, then looked around at the crowd. “Unlike everyone else.” Kelsey put the last chair around the table, stalked over to Jordon and all but snatched the cake out of his hands. “Thanks,” she hissed.

“I didn’t know you were hiding it,” he said, for her ears only. “Sorry.”

“Forget it.”

Jordon had no idea her baking was such a sore point. Where she was concerned, he kept making mistakes. “Can I help with something?”

“We still need to put up the tables for the games.” She pointed toward a woman with a blue ball cap on her head. “Pam over there will tell you what to do.”

Jordon was a little disappointed she was fobbing him off on another person, but he didn’t need to be spending any more time with her than he presently had. He’d had to fight the urge to jump in and defend her baking skills. She wouldn’t have appreciated that and he was even more perplexed by the idea that he thought he should.

The hours flew by as he helped first Pam then Max and finally Roger to get the large burner and pots ready to cook the meal. At around ten, cars began arriving one after another. It was a family event, so kids showed up in all shapes and sizes. As the morning went on he only caught glimpses of Kelsey from a distance but he seemed to search her out every so often as if she was his to watch over. Which she certainly wasn’t.

One time he saw her hugging a petite woman with shoulder-length brown hair. Kelsey smiled at the tall man who had a possessive arm around the woman’s waist. Something about the interaction indicated these people were important to Kelsey. Who were they?

“Hey Jordon, how about helping us with the cooking? We need some muscle,” Roger, who Jordon had learned worked in the lab, asked.

“Sure.” Jordon knew nothing about cooking a low country boil but it was nice to be asked and included. Plus it kept his wandering mind off Kelsey.

At around twelve-thirty he, along with half a dozen people, helped pour buckets of corn, new potatoes, onions and shrimp over newspaper-covered tables. There were plenty of paper towel rolls available and everyone took their places at the picnic tables and dug in. With his job done, he looked for Kelsey. She was sandwiched between Josh and some other guy Jordon hadn’t seen before.

One of the nurses from the E.R. called to him and moved down enough that he could join her table. The food was excellent and the conversation lively. He was glad he’d attended.

Before the first table could finish their meal and leave, the CEO stood and said through a bullhorn, “I’m glad you all could make it today. I’d like to say thanks to the picnic committee headed by Kelsey Davis for this fine event.”

Kelsey had said nothing about being in charge. She’d implied she was only helping.

The CEO continued, “The games are about to begin. Please don’t forget to go by and check out the silent cake auction. As an added bonus you get to share the cake with the cook. And the money goes to a good cause.”

Jordon spent the next half hour making a circle around the area to see what was happening. There was apple bobbing, bingo and three-legged racing through the sand that brought smiles and laughter from everyone. A beach volleyball game was beginning when he walked up.

One of the nurses from the geriatric unit called his name and waved him over. “Come on, Jordon, we need another player.”

“Sure.” He took his place on her side of the net. He’d played some volleyball in the early years of high school and had been pretty good at it but his skills were rusty. What he might lack in ability he more than made up with height. Two volleys later he was able to return the ball over the net for a point, which built his confidence.