Holiday at Magnolia Bay (Southern Born Christmas Book 1) by Tracy Solheim Read Free Book Online Page B

feet.
    “Drew?” His name came out on what sounded like a sob that the night wind wasn’t strong enough to carry away and he felt like an even bigger ass.
    “Go now, Jenna,” he commanded, the words rough in his throat. “Before we do something you’ll regret later.” He headed toward the surf and began walking toward the north. Drew listened until he heard the sound of the Jeep’s engine fire up before it disappeared in the other direction. Then, he pulled his T-shirt and sweatshirt off in one swift move, toeing off his sneakers before he climbed out of his underwear and jeans. Thankfully, the beach was dark and deserted, with no one to witness his striptease.
    He shouldn’t have kissed her. He’d already resolved not to fool around with anyone in Magnolia Bay so as not to embarrass his godmother. And if the rest of the women in town were off limits, Jenna Huntley would be even more so given Aunt Evie’s fondness for her. Not to mention Jenna’s tender heart for all things, including, apparently, messed-up Navy SEALS. But he had kissed her and his body was screaming at him for ending it when he did. So he did the only thing he could think of; he waded up to his knees before diving into the ocean for a mind-numbing swim.

Chapter Four
    ‡
    J enna sipped her coffee as Miss Evie scanned the prospectus Dr. Scott had brought with her from Melbourne. The turtle hatchery was still Jenna’s top priority and nothing—not her boss, his stealthy fiancée or a sexy military man—was going to divert her from seeing it to fruition. Besides being an asset to a species facing extinction, the hatchery would bring business and notoriety to Magnolia Bay, her adopted home. It would also finally garner her some respect from her parents.
    When she arrived for work earlier that morning Perry had been camped out in Jenna’s office. She hadn’t been surprised to see him, since the hatchery was obviously just as important to him that he’d lie and use people to get the funding for it. What she didn’t want was to listen to his groveling.
    “Look, Jenna…” he’d begun before she’d cut him off.
    “Don’t.” She’d held up her hand to deter whatever lame excuse he was about to offer. After the roller-coaster that she’d been on for the previous twenty-four hours, it took every ounce of self-confidence Jenna had to maintain her composure. “I made a serious lapse in judgment where you are concerned. It’s never wise to get involved with a colleague. My bad. But I want this hatchery as much as you do, so let’s just agree to maintain a respectful and professional distance and get this project rolling. Give me whatever it was you wanted to present to Miss Evie yesterday and I’ll take it over to her this morning.”
    “It isn’t what you think.” Apparently, Perry was intent on groveling.
    Jenna arched an eyebrow at him. “So, you’re not engaged?”
    Perry rubbed the back of his neck. “No, technically, I am engaged—”
    “Then ‘technically’ you were just messing with me to get an introduction to Evie Song?”
    “I could have gotten ten different introductions to Ms. Song,” he said, his voice rising in the small office. “That is not why I pursued you.”
    “So it was just because you’re a jerk?” Jenna had to grip the corner of the desk to keep from hitting something, quite possibly Perry.
    His hand moved from his neck to his hair as he scrubbed his fingers through it. “Yes, but not quite as big of a jerk as you might think.”
    Jenna didn’t bother responding; instead she wrapped her arms around her middle and waited.
    “My relationship with Imogene has always been a bit…rocky. We’re extremely compatible where science is involved, but not so much in real life. We’ve been test driving our engagement for nearly two years.”
    “Ahh, so you’ve also been ‘test driving’ multiple candidates?”
    “No! Up until I came here and met you, I was faithful to Imogene. But then I met you…”