Southern Nights: Florida by Janet Dailey

Author:Janet Dailey [Dailey, Janet]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2012-04-30T15:29:45+00:00

Chapter Six

WHEN THEY RETURNED to the house after church, Jock wasn't anywhere around. The three of them had Sunday dinner without him. That afternoon Todd and Barbara walked to the foaling barns. Jock wasn't there, but they saw the mare and her hours-old foal, all legs and head.

Sunday seemed to set a precedent. With a ranch the size of Sandoval there was always something happening, something needing to be done, and a major or minor crisis cropping up that demanded Jock's presence. Except in the evenings, Barbara saw very little of him.

It was Todd who took her riding and introduced her to some of the foremen and their families who lived on the property. He showed her around and kept her entertained. This two-week vacation seemed to be going just the way they had planned it before she arrived and found Jock in residence.

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday had passed without incident. Jock's threat to win her back was proving to be an idle one. Since that meeting on the stairs, Barbara hadn't spoken to him alone. And in the evenings he had made no attempt to maneuver her out of Todd's company.

She was…disappointed, Barbara realized. She had wanted Jock to pursue her and attempt to win her back. Not that she was admitting that she wanted him to succeed. Irritated, Barbara struck out across the pool in a vigorous crawl. When her outstretched hand struck the concrete side, she stopped to catch her breath, holding onto the edge while she pushed the wet black curls out of her face.

"Who are you racing against?" Todd laughed.

Barbara looked up in surprise. He stood near the side, fully clothed. "I thought you were going to change into your swim trunks and join me. Or do you intend to come in like that?" she accused, half in jest.

"No such luck. Mother has this long list of things she absolutely has to have for the party tomorrow night and I have been deputized to fill it. Instead of swimming, would you want to go into town with me?" he invited.

Barbara hesitated. It was a hot, sticky day, which was why she opted to swim after lunch. The prospect of leaving the cool waters of the pool to ride into town and walk up and down store aisles did not appeal to her.

"I'd rather stay here," she admitted.

"I don't blame you." Bending down, Todd cupped the back of her head with his hand and pulled her halfway to meet his descending mouth. His kiss was hard and long—passionate if she had been so inclined to respond. Barbara simply couldn't fake that desire, so she settled for not resisting his. Todd didn't appear disappointed by the kiss when he straightened. "I won't be gone long."

"Hurry back."

He disappeared through the arches into the courtyard. A few minutes later she heard a car going down the private lane.

She splashed and lazed around in the pool for a while longer until she finally tired and climbed out. She wiped the

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