Rescued (Flowers of the Bayou) Read Free Page A

those—they were lovely, and to make matters worse, the man had the nerve to have eyelashes so long she was sure that any woman would fancy them her own.
    “Can I Amelia?”
    Snapping back to the present she managed a slight smile and a nod. “I think you should be asking your brother for permission not me Georgia.” She told the girl. “Besides you wanted to help before you knew your brother was home. I know you miss him.” Watching as she agreed she smiled down at the small girl and found those odd eyes on her once more and just like before she went back to examining her fingers
    “Alright but I’ll be back.” Georgia promised. Bye Mademoiselle Amelia.” Georgia smirked proudly. “See I learned something today.”
    “Bye Georgia.” Amelia laughed, if Georgia was anything it was smart.
    “Don’t forget to say goodbye to Amelia, Jordan.” Georgia chirped already at her brother’s side
    “Why of course.” Jordan looked down at the unfamiliar girl who, for the thousandth time, was fiddling with the napkin in her hands. “L'adieu dame stupéfiante.”
    “Goodbye Mr. Bradford,” she managed to croak. When they had been long gone, she was left to wonder why her heart wouldn’t stop its persistent pounding.
     
     

 
    CHAPTER TWO
     
    Jordan looked out of the window quietly when he felt the familiar arms of a woman come up behind him. Snubbing out the cigar he was using to blow circles into the air in a glass of bourbon he turned into the figure.
    “Come back to bed.” Whispering in his ear playfully Melanie pulled him toward her. “It’s not even morning yet.” Draping her arms over his shoulder dark red curls fell across Jordan’s shoulders like a waterfall.
    “I would love to take you up on your invitation, nonetheless pressing matters await.” Rubbing his hands up the vixen’s arms he kissed her palm.
    Melanie ignored; him his visits were few and far between and she didn’t want to admit it but Jordan was more than a patron, much more. “Give me half a chance and I can change your mind.”
    “You can’t, I will be come by to see you tomorrow.”
    Sighing heavily Melanie conceded. “I suppose I will have to settle then, but I sure wish you would change your mind, considering how much I love you.” She asked, a smile on her lips.
    Jordan watched lazily as she stretched her naked form on the bed like a cat. She was beautiful, and one of the few women that he truly could say he cared about, but he didn’t love her. He’d given the silly notion of loving any woman up years ago after Regina, but Jordan didn’t want to hurt Melanie and elected to call her bluff. “I seriously doubt you do.” He chuckled.
    Melanie let a smirk cover up her disappointment in his response, surprised a little at the sting in her heart, noting at the same time that it hadn’t shocked her in the least. Kissing his cheek she rose from the bed and grabbed her robe slipping it on. Jordan wouldn’t admit it even if he did have the slightest inclination toward her.
    He hid it well, but the man harbored deep scars that had been inflicted by a woman who had one time called herself his wife. Of the years she had known him, Melanie had never known him ever to utter a word about her not even her name. She had gathered her facts from hearsay and hushed gossip. His wife had been Regina Riley an English socialite eleven years his senior. Jordan had only been eighteen when he married her.
    Melanie didn’t make it a common practice to be a visitor at Jordan’s home but on one occasion that she had been, she inquired upon a portrait of a beautiful woman that hung over the fireplace in his study. It was as if he’d seen a ghost when he’d glanced at it and with forced passion he’d nearly carried her up to his bed where he ravished her until dawn as if trying to prove something or forget. The next time she was in the large mansion the picture had vanished.
    She never asked questions of Jordan, knowing that if she did he