That Carolina Summer (North Carolina) by Janet Dailey Page B

saw him,” he remarked with seeming idleness.
    “She seemed to be,” Kathleen agreed.
    “Has she said anything to you about this Lord character?” For all his attempt to be casual, there was a stiffness in his words.
    “No.” Kathleen half smiled but was careful not to let Jordan see it—or suspect.
    “What do you suppose is going on between them?” he asked.
    “Assuming, of course, that something is going on between them,” Kathleen said, reminding him that they didn't know whether there was or not. “Annette said something the other day that Joshua Lord considered her to be too young."
    “That was a red herring.” Jordan dismissed it as having no significance. “Their age difference isn't any greater than ours."
    “I suppose not,” she agreed. “Then what bothers you? I'm not sure that I understand."
    “Didn't you see the way he looked at her?” he demanded. “He wants her. I saw it in his eyes."
    Her chin quivered with her effort to hold back the laughter, but she failed. It spilled softly from her throat. There was irritation in the grip of his hands as he held her away from him. His challenging look indicated he was anything but amused by her reaction.
    “Did I say something funny?” He insisted on an explanation.
    “I'm sorry, but you sounded so righteous.” She really tried to contain her amusement, but it danced in her eyes. “What do you think was in your eyes when you looked at me?"
    “That's different,” Jordan replied impatiently.
    The dimples in her cheeks deepened with her effort to hide her silent laughter. “Naturally,” she murmured. “Annette is your daughter—which makes all the difference in the world."
    For an instant he looked angry, then amused chagrin stole over his expression. “I sounded very fatherly, didn't I?"
    “Yes, you did,” Kathleen smiled widely.
    “I can't help worrying that he's too experienced for her,” he explained.
    “I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. It's probably just a holiday romance.” Kathleen shrugged her lack of concern. “We've been here—what—two weeks? And we'll be leaving in another couple of weeks. What can happen in a month's time?"
    “If you are trying to reassure me, you just failed,” Jordan smiled. “Or have you forgotten that we fell in love in less than a month?"
    “Remind me,” she invited, and Jordan gathered her into his arms.
     

 
    Chapter Six
     
    THE MOONLIGHT SHIMMERED on the glassy surface of the Atlantic Ocean while the night-lights of Wrightsville Beach faded the stars in the sky. The air was fresh and soft, washed clean by the sea breezes of the Atlantic. The languid warmth of the day clung to the night.
    On the curving edge of the beach, Annette paused and balanced on one foot to slip off a high-heeled sandal, then shifted her position to remove the other. With the champagne bottle in one hand and her shoes and glass in the other, she wandered onto the beach in her nylon-stockinged feet. The fine grains of sand were cool beneath her toes when she stopped short of the tidemark to gaze at the calm waters of the sea.
    The unhurried sound of strolling footsteps broke the stillness of the night. Turning from the waist up, Annette looked back toward the hotel. A warm run of pleasure raced through her when she recognized the shadowed male figure as Josh. His stride didn't change as he angled across the sand to her.
    A little more than a foot away, he stopped. There was a serenity about his expression, but a disturbing light burned in his eyes. Without the advantage of the added height her high-heeled sandals gave her, Annette had to tip her head back to gaze into his eyes.
    “I knew you'd be here.” His voice was quietly strong.
    “I knew you'd come,” Annette replied.
    Neither of them found it necessary to explain the source of their knowledge, some primitive recess of their minds that was purely instinct. It was enough that they had both listened to it.
    “Would you like some champagne?” She