Read Online Love's Paradise by Celeste O. Norfleet - Free Book Online

unsuccessfully to scrape away some of the caked-on mud. “Okay, get Tamika to order the part. And better get a spare. We’ll hold up digging around this area until the replacement part is in.”
    Leroy nodded. “All right.”
    Jordan turned and headed back to the trailer. As soon he sat down at his desk the phone rang. He pulled it out and, seeing the caller ID, answered. “Hi, bro, what’s up?”
    â€œWow, you answered, I’m surprised. I’ve been calling you all day. I assumed your phone was sitting at the bottom of a cement mixer,” his brother said in his usual sarcastic manner.
    Jordan chuckled. “Yeah, yeah, I know. I meant to call you back earlier. So what’s up?” Jordan asked.
    â€œNothing much, how’s everything there?” Darius said.
    Jordan looked around the office thinking about Sheri. A slow easy smile tipped his full lips. Hepicked up and toyed with the business card her assistant had given him. “Not bad at all.”
    â€œGood, listen, what are your plans this evening?”
    â€œI’m just headed home, why?”
    â€œGood, I need a favor.”
    â€œSure, what kind of favor?” Jordan asked as he typed in a web address, pressed the enter key and waited a second as the Crescent Island Museum website came up.
    â€œI need you to pick something up for me. It’s on the way.”
    â€œOkay, what and where?” Jordan said.
    â€œIt’s right there on Crescent Island.”
    â€œHere?”
    â€œYes, it’s at Gates Manor, Louise Gates’s home. She called me earlier this afternoon. She has some paperwork for me.”
    Jordan stopped pressing keys and just sat there. “You’re kidding, right? Louise Gates has something for you.”
    Darius started chuckling.
    â€œYou know what she’s like. She’s a self-professed matchmaker,” Jordan said. “She was practically taking notes at Dillon’s fourth birthday party last year.”
    â€œActually, she was taking notes,” Darius corrected him, still chuckling.
    â€œThis isn’t funny,” Jordan declared. “I thought Aunt Ellen was bad, she’s nothing compared toMamma Lou. The people on this island adore her. You should hear them. They think she’s magical with her matchmaking.” Darius continued laughing. “And it’s not funny.”
    â€œCome on, man, since when are you afraid of an eighty-year-old woman? You can handle her.”
    â€œThat’s not the point. Why put myself on her radar?”
    â€œTruthfully, bro, you and I already are.”
    â€œYeah, I know. So why tempt fate? I gotta steer clear.”
    â€œCan’t do that,” Darius said. “I need that paperwork tonight.”
    â€œShe can email or fax it to you.”
    â€œI need the originals.”
    â€œFine, she can send it overnight express. They’ll get to the office first thing in the morning. Better yet, I’ll pay for a door-to-door courier.”
    â€œNope, I need them tonight.”
    Jordan sighed deeply. “Come on man, you’re killing me.”
    â€œI wouldn’t ask if they weren’t important.”
    â€œAll right, I’ll do it. But you owe me big-time for this one.”
    â€œI know. I’ll see you later.”
    Jordan closed his cell phone and sat back in his chair. He shook his head. The thought of being anywhere near Louise Gates made him nervous. He had no idea how his brother Julian did it. Butnow he supposed Julian had nothing to fear, being married to Dena. It wasn’t until after the wedding that they found out Louise Gates had played matchmaker all along. But to her credit she’d certainly gotten it right. He’d never seen his brother so happy. Still he had no intention of being her next target. Fine, he’d go and pick up the paperwork for his brother. But as far as getting caught up in Mamma Lou’s matchmaking schemes, he would definitely