A Taste of Honey (18 page)

Bitch.

Great, it was high school all over again.

“Hello, Stacey.”

“Oh, Jordan! It
is
you!” Stacey batted her eyelashes, and Jordan wanted to punch her…hard. “I almost didn’t recognize you. Why, don’t you look…like you’ve been driving?”

Yep, even after all these years, Jordan wanted to smack-a-bitch. But, apparently, law enforcement frowned upon that, especially when said bitch was the daughter of the most prominent family in town. Well, other than the Coopers, of course, although Matt and his family had always been warm to her.

And now thoughts of just
how
warm Matt had been with her flooded her mind. Her cheeks heated, and she coughed. Enough of that.

“Well, I drove here all the way from Denver, so, yes; I suppose it would look like that.”

“How long are you staying?” Matt asked as he extricated himself from Stacey’s clutches.

“As long as it takes to clean out the house and sell it.” Jordan couldn’t stay any longer than that; she wouldn’t make it.

Could that be disappointment in his gaze? No, it had been too long. He couldn’t possibly care if she came or went. It had been eleven years. Besides, she’d left without a world. He didn’t owe her anything beyond this brief encounter, while she owed him everything.

She hated being in debt to anyone.

Mr. Clancy finally took her purchase, and she slid over some cash before the older man had a chance to speak. Good thing since he looked like he’d seen a ghost—
ha, funny
.

“Have you seen the house yet?” Matt asked, his brows furrowed.

She shook her head and took her Coke and gum back with a small smile to Mr. Clancy. “Not yet. I was on my way over there. I just wanted to stop by for a drink.” She squared her shoulders and started toward the exit.

“You might find more than you bargained for if you want to get out quick.”

Jordan stopped and pivoted toward him. “Why? It should only take a few days to clean it out then slap on some paint, right?”

Matt shook his head and put his thumbs in his belt loops—too sexy. “Your grandmother got real sick at the end, and none of us knew.” Sadness washed over his face, and Jordan held back any similar feelings. “It may take more than you anticipated to get it ready.”

She let out a sigh and closed her eyes, counting to ten. “Then I’ll just have to deal with it, won’t I? I’m here for the duration in any case.” After all, she’d quit her PR job, a job that she hated, so she could
find
herself. God, how pathetic did that sound?

“Well, if you need anything, I’m here. And I bet my brothers would help out in a second.”

Jordan nodded, a smile forming. Damn those helpful, sexy Cooper brothers. “Thanks, if I need anything, I’ll holler. But I hope to do most of it on my own.”

Matt nodded, a knowing look on his face. Damn, he could always tell her emotions and he knew she was out of sorts. She hated their connection now. “Of course. Well, I need to head back to work, but it’s good to see you, Jor.” He reached out then looked like he’d thought better of it.

She bit her tongue to keep herself from saying anything, or worse, touching him.

“Good to see you too, Matt.”

Matt turned, stopped suddenly, and turned back. “And I’m an idiot.” He grabbed a pen from the counter and jotted something on a piece of scrap paper near the register. “Here’s my number. Call if you need anything.”

“Thanks.” She took it from him and watched him walk away, his muscular legs encased is snug jeans. Yum. She stuffed the number in her back pocket and walked toward the door. “Thanks, Mr. Clancy.”

He winked. “Good to see you, Miss Jordan. Stay out of trouble.”

She gave a huge grin. “You know me.”

“That’s why I said it, hon.”

Jordan laughed and walked past a fuming Stacey and through the exit. The sun beat down on her though the wind chilled the atmosphere quickly.

“Just so you know, I’m going to marry Matt. So keep your claws out of him.”

Jordan stopped at her car and turned, her body aching at the thought of Matt marrying that shrew. “Good luck.” What else could she say? I hope you break a nail and die, you bleach blonde bitch?

Stacey sniffed. “And you better be on your way out of town as soon as you’re done. Because no one wants you here.” Jordan held back a flinch, but remembered the look of compassion on Mr. Clancy’s face. Maybe not everyone hated her. Maybe. “No one did before, and nothing has changed. So you can get your witchy butt back in that old clunker of yours and leave.”

Jordan put her Coke on the hood of her car and forced herself not to retaliate, at least not physically. Oh sure, she could use magic or cast a spell on her, but Stacey wasn’t worth stirring up trouble. “I don’t know what I ever did to you, Stacey.”

“Don’t you?” she spat.

“I honestly don’t.”

“Do my eyes deceive me? Is that Jordan Cross in
my
town?” A too-smooth voice broke the tension between them, and Jordan wanted to vomit.

“Hello, Prescott, your sister was just welcoming me to the town.” She clenched her keys in her fist, ready to escape. God, she didn’t want to be here, not with
him
.

“Ah, Stacey is quite the helper, isn’t she?” He wrapped an arm around his sister’s shoulders and gave a perfectly fake, megawatt smile.

“As always. Well, if that’s all, I’m going to go. Thanks for the welcome.” She opened her car door and slid inside. A hand caught the doorframe before she could close the door, and Jordan inwardly cursed.

“Now that you’re back, just know that I’m the mayor of this town,” Prescott sneered. “And we don’t need any of
your
kind here. So watch our step, and I’ll be sure to watch it as well. You aren’t welcome here, Jordan Cross. And if you
cross
me or my town, I’ll stick Sherriff Tyler Cooper on your ass so fast you won’t be able to hex anyone this time.”

Jordan bit her tongue. She didn’t hex people. It was a moral rule of hers. But damn Prescott and his insults anyway.

“If that’s all…” She tugged on her door, and Prescott pulled away, his fake smile back on his face. “Welcome to Holiday, Jordan.”

She slammed the door closed, revved her engine, and pulled away. Jesus, what had she been thinking coming back?

Holiday wasn’t her home, not anymore. She’d do her job and leave. She had to because, if she didn’t, no amount of spells would protect her heart or her sanity.

Find out more in Charmed Spirits by Carrie Ann Ryan

www.carrieannryan.com