How Sweet It Is Read Online Free PDF Page A

them on the sidewalk, stopped in front of Jordan, and took her in. “Wow. The water in Chicago is to be commended. Bottled even. You look great.”
    Jordan rolled her eyes. “Come on.”
    “When did you drop back into town, and more importantly, how long are you staying?”
    “Today and I’m not sure. A little while, at least. No exact plans on that.”
    Summer nodded, still drinking her in blatantly. It was actually kind of amusing. They’d gone to school together. Summer had been two grades ahead, and into boys for only the first half of her time in high school. Kind of like Jordan. “You look good. Even better than the last time I saw you, which says a lot.”
    “You’re sweet.”
    “Prove it and buy me a drink. We should catch up.” But she didn’t wait for answer and was already tugging Jordan in the direction of the bar.
    “Actually, I was just heading home. Long day.”
    Summer turned back, her heavily made up face fell dramatically. “If you humiliate me now, I may never recover.”
    She held Summer’s gaze and contemplated her next move. A little distraction couldn’t hurt. She could unwind a bit from the day, shoot the breeze with Summer, see who else she might run into from the old days.
    She slid Summer an easy smile. “Why not?
    Except an hour later, when she had to peel Summer off of her like a fruit roll-up, she could have easily answered that question.
    “What did you think of me in high school, Jordan?”
    “Uh, quite honestly, you terrified me in high school. I watched you chase after my sister like it was your job.”
    Summer laughed. “We were just kids back then. If I had known you were an option, I might have chased after you. Everyone kind of thought you were just trying to be like your sister when it came to dating girls.”
    “Yeah, including my parents. Fun times. It took them years to believe this is actually who I am.” Taking a last swallow of her beer, Jordan turned to Summer, whose chin now rested on her shoulder while her hand wandered a bit too boldly inside Jordan’s jacket. “You know what? It’s getting late. I think I’m going to call it a night.”
    Summer refocused her attention on Jordan’s ear and purred softly into it. “I live a block from here.”
    Any other day, Jordan would have accepted such an obvious invitation, but for whatever reason, tonight just wasn’t the night for it. Summer was nice enough, attractive too. Probably it was the drive, or the head trip being back in Applewood brought on, but she’d much rather just head home and curl up in bed. Forget the way her parents had once again marginalized her career and her life choices.
    She caught Summer’s hand and pulled it from its audacious placement on her stomach and kissed the back of it. “Another time. But thank you for the company.” She dropped a twenty on the bar to cover their drinks.
    “Sweet dreams, Jordan Tuscana. We’ll talk soon.”
    “I bet we do. Thanks for the company.”

Chapter Three
     
    Flour Child was fairly peaceful when Jordan rolled in just before eleven that next morning. There was an elderly couple at the table in the corner, but the rest of the place sat empty. Molly was occupied in the back, but after hugging her to pieces, Louise set her up with breakfast and some coffee on the house. It wasn’t long though before Molly appeared, half covered in flour, but smiling as if she’d had the best morning. She easily warmed up a room. “Morning, sleepy head.”
    Jordan leaned back in her chair, jumping right past morning greetings to the heart of the matter. “Who made this?” The cinnamon roll she was currently inhaling was unreal, beyond that even. “I need to look this person in the eye.”
    Molly beamed and snapped Jordan playfully with the towel she carried. “I did. Who did you think made it?”
    She rubbed her arm. “Ouch. Mean. For real?”
    “Yes, for real. Why do you doubt me?” She pointed to the little girl on the logo above the counter and then