Gotta Get Next To You Page 4

  “Yes, I’m the boss. I look forward to setting things straight and keeping them that way.” Andrea folded her arms and stared at him.

  Jamal did not lose his smile. “I’m with you on that, ma’am.”

  “Exactly what I was saying just a minute ago,” Gran jumped in. “Having good workers is key. Andrea is darned lucky to have a man like you.”

  Andrea ground her teeth. She tossed a sharp glance at her grandmother. “Gran …” She hoped her tone would say it all.

  Gran ignored her attempt and made a show of serving Jamal. “Here you go, darlin’. A nice helping of Louisiana-style red beans.”

  Andrea moved close to her uncle. “When did he show up?” she mumbled in his ear.

  “While you were outside,” Uncle Curtis said in a low voice.

  Andrea watched Gran’s performance and fumed. “Gran is unbelievable.” She spoke more to herself than to Uncle Curtis.

  “Some of this, Andrea cooked.” Gran served him a helping of cornbread. “She’s mighty handy in the kitchen when she wants to be.”

  “Which I rarely do,” Andrea called out. “Hate cooking. Eat out every chance I get at the finest restaurants. I don’t do windows either.”

  Gran chuckled. “Lordy, these single girls. Of course, things change once you get to be a couple.”

  “My grandmother used to say the same thing,” Jamal chimed in. He shot a sideways glance at Andrea.

  “There now! Didn’t I say he had southern roots?” Gran patted his back. “Doesn’t matter where you grew up, you’re one of us.”

  “Oh, please,” Andrea whispered.

  Uncle Curtis cleared his throat. “I’m goin’ to go back to the game and give y’all more room.” He darted off.

  “Me, too,” Leonard added. He seemed unaware of anything amiss. “You comin’, bro? You can bring your plate. Right, Gran?”

  “Nah, I’ll stay here and finish. Wouldn’t want to make a mess,” Jamal said, glancing at Andrea.

  “Gran ain’t fussy like some. Man, that game is—”

  “Don’t rush him out, Leonard. We’re talking with your cousin,” Gran cut in sharply, and tilted her head to Andrea.

  The light came on in Leonard’s eyes after a few seconds. “Oh, yeah, yeah. Y’all talk.” He winked at Andrea, and then loped out.

  Andrea wanted to scream with frustration. Her uncle had abandoned her, and now Leonard assumed she was a willing participant in this scenario. She could imagine the story that would shortly be told to the rest of the family. By tomorrow morning, all of Bayou Blue would be buzzing about her love life. Andrea’s hands formed fists.

  “Gran, you have a short memory,” Andrea said.

  “What, baby?” Gran wore a guileless expression. “Oh, you’re right!” She slapped the table. “I forgot to tell your cousin Pam about the church fair.”

  “I haven’t heard anything about a church fair,” Andrea said. “Wait a minute.”

  “You oughta include a booth about the clinic. Great way to tell a whole bunch of folks about all the improvements you’re making,” Gran said.

  Jamal pushed away the now empty plate. He glanced at Andrea, then at Gran. “You know, Miss Mavis, you’ve got an idea there.”

  “Good.” Gran beamed at him. “Y’all talk about it. Matter of fact, go on outside. It’s too nice to be stuck in the kitchen.”

  “I’m sure Jamal wants to watch the game,” Andrea said. “And I’m going to do the dishes.”

  “That hungry pack in there is gonna dirty up more dishes in a few minutes. Go on out and enjoy the weather.”

  Gran pulled Andrea by one arm and beckoned to Jamal at the same time. She cut off the exit toward the house and propelled them to the back door. Jamal went willingly.

  “Nice breeze blowing today, too. Get Andrea to show you that old oak out there. Planted by her great-great-granddaddy. I don’t need y’all in here crowding me when I clean up.”

  “But you just said there was no point to washing dishes,” Andrea protested.

  “This is my kitchen and I decide when to clean it. Quit contradicting me, for goodness’ sakes! Go on.” Gran gave Andrea one last shove onto the back porch.

  Jamal followed soon after. “This is a wild guess, but I think she wants you to show me around.” He wore a crooked smile as the door shut firmly.

  Andrea glared at her grandmother’s retreating back. “If she wanted you to take in the sights, she could have done it herself.”

  “And leave her hostess duties? She obviously takes those seriously.” Jamal grinned.

  “Yeah, right,” Andrea said with a grimace.

  “I could wander around the swamp on my own. Just call out the bloodhounds if I’m not back in an hour.” Jamal cocked his head to one side and gazed at her.

  Andrea looked into a pair of dark eyes deep enough to get lost in. They were the color of strong Louisiana coffee. Andrea tried to remember what it was that irritated her so, but couldn’t when he looked at her that way.

  “I don’t think that will be necessary,” she heard herself say.

  “Does that mean I’ll get the guided tour?” Jamal swept out a muscular arm.

  Andrea watched the fluid motion in fascination. She imagined him lifting weights, or wrapping his arms around someone in a solid embrace. Hard muscles, smooth skin. A crazy urge to touch him took hold of her again. She hurried down the steps to put distance between them.

  “It won’t be much of a tour. Just trees, grass, and muddy water.”

  “Hey, it beats concrete and traffic jams any day.” Jamal caught up to her.

  Andrea concentrated on her surroundings and not looking at him again. At least until she’d regain her senses. “So how long have you been in Louisiana?”

  “About three years.”

  “You don’t seem like the small-town type.” Andrea led him toward the massive oak tree.

  “I moved to New Orleans to get away from big cities. I got tired of the crowds and hassle.”

  “I see. Still, it must have been an adjustment.”

  “I got used to it. I needed to get away from Los Angeles.” There was a hint of tension in his voice.

  “Life gets tough sometimes. That’s the way it is.” Andrea made an opening to find out more about him. He looked pensive for a moment, and then smiled.

  “You were in the big city, too. What made you come home?” he asked, deftly changing the focus to her again.

  “When Gran told me about the clinic, I couldn’t resist. This parish has needed preventative health care for poor people since forever,” Andrea said. As they approached the wide trunk, she plucked a wisp of Spanish moss from a branch that curved to the ground.

  “You didn’t have any ties to keep you in Chicago?” Jamal turned to her. The question in his eyes was clear.

  “There’s nothing in Chicago for me now. I’m divorced,” she said. Andrea blushed and looked away.

  “I see,” he said. “Seems we’ve got a lot in common.”

  Andrea looked up at him. He smiled and her breath caught, his smoky eyes pulling her in so deep she felt consumed by their warmth. She wanted to pull back, turn away from that hypnotic gaze. She’d been here before, her mind fogged by romantic fantasy. Then she remembered that pain had followed that particular pleasure. Andrea blinked and pulled herself back from the edge.

  “Well, that’s about all there is to see,” Andrea said, her voice brusque. “Let’s go back inside and catch that game.”

  She spun around and started to march off. He grabbed her arm, and Andrea felt a jolt, as if an electric charge raced up her arm. As she’d imagined only moments before, his skin was warm and a bit rough. She did not pull away. Every muscle vibrated with a hunger for more.

  “I’m not into baseball,” Jamal said in a quiet voice. “And I expected us to go much farther.”

  Andrea tugged free of his hold. “We won’t,” she said, and faced him with a controlled smile.

  “Okay, later then.” Jamal shrugged casu
ally. He seemed confident there would be a next time.

  “I don’t think so,” Andrea said in a clipped tone. “Let’s get something straight. I don’t date employees. And I wouldn’t date you even if you weren’t an employee.”

  “I was just talking about a walk in the woods, Nurse Noble. You’re safe from me.” He strolled off with an un-hurried stride.

  Andrea glared at his back. Okay, so she had jumped all over that conclusion, but he didn’t have to gloat about it. Worse, he was walking off with the last word.

  Andrea spluttered frantically and searched for a come-back.

  “Let’s just stay clear of each other as much as possible.”

  “That will be hard. The clinic isn’t all that big.” Jamal’s mouth lifted at one comer, causing one dimple to appear.

  “Then we’ll have to make the best of it. Remember, I’m in charge. Just do your work and we’ll get along fine.” Andrea brushed back her hair and walked past him.

  “I can see we’ll have so much fun.”

  Andrea kept going and did not look back. “You’re not there for fun.”

  “Good thing, too,” was his droll response.

  She increased her pace and reached the back porch in record time. Andrea stomped cross the wooden planks and through the kitchen door. Gran met her with an expectant smile.

  “Bet y’all had a nice walk, eh? That boy is too good to be true.” Gran’s smile faded when Andrea continued to frown at her.

  “Never again,” Andrea burst out. “No more trying to fix me up, Gran! I mean it!”

  “Some gratitude! Here I give you a perfect chance to be alone with one of the finest young men for two hundred miles and what do you do?” Gran put both fists on her wide hips.

  “I didn’t ask you to invite him! Jamal Turner is not the kind of man I need right now.” Andrea rubbed her forehead in exasperation.

  “Don’t talk trash, child. He’s smart, hardworking, and comes from a good family. Women for miles around want him.”

  “He’s already got a hot love affair going, with himself!” Andrea waved her hand. “The man’s got ‘dog’ written across his forehead. He—”

  “Hush,” Gran said, waving frantically for her to be quiet. “Here he comes.”

  “Miss Mavis, that view is everything you said it was.” Jamal ignored Andrea and gave Gran his full attention.

  “Have some dessert, sugar. Guess you need some refreshment right about now.” Gran shot a look of reproach at Andrea. She patted his shoulder as though to comfort him. “Go on in the living room and I’ll bring you some pie and cold milk.”

  “No, thanks, Miss Mavis. I’m full. I’ll be going now. Bye-bye.” Jamal grinned at Andrea as he headed out.

  “Shame on you,” Gran said within seconds of him disappearing.

  Andrea pushed down another acid comment and counted to ten. “Gran, I know you’re trying to help me, but don’t. I’m not attracted to that kind of man.”

  “So you don’t like sexy, tall, intelligent men?” “Looks aren’t everything. Besides, I’ve got my hands full right now. I’ve got a lot of responsibility.”

  Gran did not budge from her position. “You need more than a job, Drea.”

  “I’m not ready. It’s too soon. Please try to understand, Granna.”

  It was the name Andrea had called her grandmother when she was little. It usually melted her grandmother’s rock-hard will. Gran’s fierce expression eased.

  “I know you’ve been hurt, sugar. I shouldn’t be rushing you like this. But I want you to be happy.” Gran crossed to Andrea, hugged her, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “There now, you go on with the rest of ’em and I’ll bring you a slice of pie.”

  Andrea planted a kiss on Gran’s plump cheek. “Thanks, Gran. Really.”

  She went out the door and down the short hall past the formal dining room that led to the den. Andrea knew this wasn’t the end of her grandmother’s matchmaking efforts. It would take at least three times before Gran would accept that she was not interested in Jamal. Period. No way.

  She paused and checked her appearance in a mirror hanging on the wall. The woman who looked back was cool, collected, and definitely not interested in Jamal Turner. Andrea practiced several facial expressions of haughtiness and disdain. Satisfied, Andrea sashayed into the room with her shoulders back and chin up. She would let Mr. Wonderful know he wasn’t the center of the universe. However, when she walked into the living room, she found herself glancing around for a glimpse of him. He really wasn’t there. She told herself she was glad he was gone as her fingers caressed the arm he had touched.

  Chapter 4

  A musical female laugh accompanied by a lower, deeper one jabbed a hole in Andrea’s gratified mood. She rolled her eyes. Jamal again. He caused a minor sensation among female staff and patients just walking down the hall. To Andrea it was a source of constant irritation. Another round of laughter set her teeth on edge. What was so dam funny anyway? There was a knock on her door and Katy came in. As clinic manager, Katy was responsible for the day-to-day operation of the clinic.

  “How you doin’ in here, boss?” Katy’s Cajun accent was slight, but distinct nonetheless. Her long black hair was pulled up in a twist.

  ‘Tine. I’m just finishing up the paperwork for the new nutritional program.” Andrea tapped a stack of forms in triplicate. “Between state and federal red tape, it could take another two weeks.”

  “Yeah, but at least we’ll be able to give out those

  WIC coupons again.” Katy sat down in one of three chairs facing Andrea’s desk.

  “It took me three hours of hard talking to get us back in. But I can’t blame them. Four hundred dollars worth of coupons missing.” Andrea shook her head. “Did I say talking? I meant begging!”

  “I know. You think they’ll do more than question the former employees?” Katy said just above a whisper.

  “Probably not. But I’ll bet they were either selling those things or giving them to their buddies.” Andrea was still angry. Daily she found more evidence that confirmed her decision to fire so many of the former staff and start fresh.

  There was now laughter from both of the young student nurses. Andrea frowned at her closed office door.

  “Lisa and Troylyn sure don’t mind coming to work these days.” Katy grinned and winked. “Can’t say I blame ’em. Mr. Turner is one good-looking man.”

  “They’d best keep their minds on why they’re here,” Andrea said peevishly. “Fortunately he’s only hired on a temporary basis.”

  “Oh, Mr. Turner, you’re so funny!” a delighted Lisa giggled.

  “That’s it!” Andrea said.

  She sprang from her chair, marched out of her office and down the hall to the records room. Lisa and Troylyn stood on either side of Jamal. Both batted their eyelashes at him, hanging on every word. Naturally his so-called charm would work on females barely out of their teens. When Lisa giggled and put a hand on his arm, Andrea clenched her teeth.

  “Excuse me.”

  Lisa started. “Oh, Nurse Noble. I was just looking for a file.” She darted to the tall metal cabinet.

  “Er, I, er..Troylyn was lost for words. The best she could produce was a jittery smile.

  “You’re supposed to be out front at the reception desk. Right?” Andrea asked with a stony expression.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Troylyn rushed past Andrea, and then turned to smile at Jamal. “’Bye Mr. Turner.” She waved her fingertips at him.

  “’Bye now. And don’t worry; you’ll do fine on that test.” Jamal gave her a thumbs-up sign. Then he aimed his dimpled smile at Andrea. “Hi, boss.”

  Andrea bit back the urge to toss out something flippant. “How is it going?”

  “Well, Sally Ranger wants me to get you guys hooked up to the health department’s mainframe. A guy from their information systems unit has already called me.” Jamal glanced at her, then down at the computer again. “I’ll be around here awhile.”

  “Gr
eat!” Lisa burst out. She turned pink when Andrea looked at her. “I mean, it will really improve how we can serve the patients.”

  “I’m happy you’re so excited about advancing health care.” Andrea gave her a pointed look.

  “Um, I’ll bet Troy needs some help.” Lisa made her getaway.

  “She’s right, you know. You’ll be able to access health stats, get E-mail, and communicate faster with the department.” Jamal beckoned to her. “Let me show you what I’ve done so far.”

  Andrea reluctantly walked over to where he sat. As she leaned down to see the screen, she caught the scent of his cologne. It was a delicate but enticing blend of wood and spice. She had the sudden urge to brush his strong jaw with her own cheek. She froze. Too many months of celibacy, that’s all, she told herself. A biological itch that had not been scratched in … She did not want to think about how long. Ignore it and it will go away.

  “I should be able to configure this program soon. Then it’s on to the big hookup.” He looked up at her. “You’re not paying attention.”

  Andrea yanked her attention back to the computer monitor. “Of course I am.”

  “Pop quiz then. What did I just say?”

  “That you’re very pleased with yourself, as usual,” Andrea retorted, standing up.

  “Stop trying so hard not to like me.” He tilted his head to one side. “I’m not Jack the Ripper.”

  Stung by guilt, Andrea relented. “I’m sorry. You’ve helped us out a lot. Now we can track appointments.” “See, even you think I have a good reason to be conceited.” He grinned.

  Andrea stepped back. Maybe distance would help clear her head. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

  “Seriously, though, you’re the one with a reason to feel proud. The place was a mess. But you cleaned house.”

  Andrea felt a flush of pleasure at his compliment. “We’re taking baby steps in the right direction.”

  “Lots of rumors about theft.” He raised an eyebrow at her.

  “Gossip is worth about what you pay for it, nothing.” Andrea leaned against a table and crossed her arms. “Record keeping was sloppy, so that could just be it.” “Really? How bad was it?”