Jordan laughed.
“Our plan had always been to give this place to Colin. When I’m ready to move, I’ll do that.”
“That’s very generous.”
I shrugged. “He’s the light of my life. I adore him, and he works very hard. He refused to let us pay off his student loans, so a mortgage-free home will help. I only hope one day he finds the right person to share it with.”
“I’m going to use some of the money from the sale and set up college funds for my grandkids. Neither Gina or Warren will take any of my money otherwise, no matter how many times I have offered. This way, I can help in a roundabout manner.” He took a sip of wine. “Not sure Warren will ever have a child, but I’ll set aside the same amount in case.”
“When will you tell your kids?”
“Right away. I want them to come and pick out anything they want from the house. I plan on donating a lot to charity and buying new furniture. Aside from some select items and personal things, I want a fresh start.”
“You’ve really thought this through.”
“I suppose I have.”
“Congratulations.” I raised my glass. “To new beginnings.”
Jordan lifted his glass. “If I can be so bold—to shared new beginnings.”
I touched my glass to his and tried not to blush.
This time, I failed.
Sandy
Jordan extended his hand, his expression one of indulgence. “Come aboard.”
“It’s a little, ah, choppier than the other night.”
He chuckled. “Only because of the breeze. Perfect for a day on the boat.”
I glanced at the sky. “You sure it won’t storm?”
“Nope. These clouds will move away, and the sun will be out within the hour.” He waggled his fingers. “Come on, Sandy. I got you.”
I let him pull me onboard, still nervous but not wanting to tell him why. Storms made me stressed enough on dry land. Never mind being pitched about in a boat. I wasn’t sure I could handle that.
He handed me the picnic basket I had packed earlier. “You store this below, and I’ll get us going. The light is brighter toward Niagara.”
“Okay.”
I went down the few steps and figured out the layout of the small galley kitchen, storing away our lunch. I felt the boat moving and grabbed the thermal carafe of coffee I had brought with me. Jordan was behind the wheel, guiding the boat from the marina. He held out his arm, and I slipped in front of him, his chest pressed to my back.
“I thought you had sails.”
“I do. I use the engine to get to open water or when there’s no wind. I’ll unfurl the sail in a while.”
“It’s pretty out here.”
“It is. I love being on the water.” He dropped his mouth to my ear. “I love being out here with you, my darling.”
My heart clenched at his endearment. I lifted my head, meeting his gaze. He lowered his, kissing me, his lips moving with mine.
Jordan Hayes could kiss. If it were an art form, he would be a master. Every time our mouths met, I never wanted it to end.
He lifted his head and smiled, drawing his fingers down my cheek. “That will have to hold me until we clear the marina. I don’t want to run into another boat.”
“Oh.”
He kept one hand on the wheel, wrapping his other arm around my waist. “But you stay right where you are. I like you here.”
I snuggled closer, feeling the way his arm tightened. I had to admit, I liked it right there as well.
The sun burst from behind the cloud, its rays skittering across the waves, reflecting on the boat. I lifted my face to its warmth, enjoying the feel of it and the breeze that blew around us. The sail snapped and filled, stretched tight as the boat raced through the water, smooth and steady. Jordan leaned back, looking satisfied. “We’ll be there in about an hour. I thought we’d tie up at the marina, rent a couple of bikes, hit those wineries we got the names of. Both of them are only about a ten-minute ride from the marina. We can go look anywhere else you want to, then we can head back to the boat, find a cove, and throw down the anchor. Have lunch and enjoy the sun before we head back.”
I was touched by his planning. “Sounds lovely.”
Soon, we docked in the marina, and once again, I marveled at the ease he had handling his boat. He moored us to the dock, then jumped onto the wooden planks, extending his hand and pulling me up with him. He tucked me into his side.
“Let’s go find an adventure, my darling.”
I reached up and cupped his face, kissing him. He was smiling when I pulled back.
“What?”
“That’s the first time you’ve kissed me.”
“Maybe I was just getting warmed up.”
His green eyes glowed, and he kissed the end of my nose. He tugged his sunglasses down, then did the same to mine. “Good to know.”
I hugged his arm. “Let’s go.”
We wandered to the bike shop, setting out using the directions they gave us. In the end, we visited three wineries, filling the large baskets on the bikes with several bottles. We’d had a few samples, argued playfully over our favorites, then bought them all. We stopped at a small roadside shop selling local honey and preserves and added a few jars to the basket as well.
We detoured back to the boat, unloading the wine, then we headed back to drop off the bikes. We discovered an outdoor market and spent some time meandering among the booths. I bought a few local crafts that caught my eye, and Jordan picked up a new windbreaker one shop was selling. He slipped it on, pulling up the zipper, and waited for my approval. I pursed my lips, then shook my head. “The navy one. The white makes you look washed out.”
“Your lady knows you well,” the shopkeeper stated. “She’s right.”
Jordan tried on the navy jacket, and I gave my approval. “Perfect.”
He flipped through the rack and held up a matching jacket in a smaller size. “Try this on.”
Frowning, I slid my arms in and let him tug up the zipper. He stood back and nodded. “Yes.”
He turned to the owner. “I’ll take both.”
“I don’t need a windbreaker, Jordan. Where on earth will I wear it?”
He smiled and leaned down to brush his mouth against mine. “On the boat, with me.”
“Oh.”
Holding hands, we strolled the busy streets, stopping to look in windows. Jordan pointed out the Christmas store, and we went inside, marveling at all the Christmas items and displays.
“Makes me want to start decorating,” I mused.
Jordan chuckled. “A bit early.”
“I suppose.”
He kissed the end of my nose playfully. “I’ll bring you back in the fall, and you can pick a bunch of things.”
“Promise?”
He wound his arm around my waist, pulling me close. He dropped a kiss to my mouth. “Promise,” he breathed against my lips, then pulled back, smiling.
I was going to ask why he was smiling so hard, then realized the reason myself. He expected us to still be together in the fall.
I had to admit, the thought of that made me smile as well.
Finally, we went back to the boat. “I’m starving,” Jordan groaned.
“We ate those treats we got at the bakery.”
The sticky buns had beckoned from the window, the aroma enticing. We went inside and bought two, eating them as we walked, then licking our fingers to get rid of the stickiness.
“That barely tided me over.”
“Do you want to eat now?”
“No. I know a great little cove we can pull into and have lunch. I’ll have us there in ten minutes.”
“Okay, I’ll get lunch ready.”
Jordan sat back, patting his stomach. “Ah, much better.”
I laughed, plucking a piece of melon from the container and popping it into my mouth. “I think you gave Aiden a run for his money today.”
“I built up an appetite with the bike rid
ing and all that walking.”
“We got some great things, though.”
He grinned, touching the sleeve of my windbreaker. “Like our matching jackets.”
I laughed. “Our boat uniforms.”
He joined in my amusement. “Yes.”
We had spread out a blanket on the deck and Jordan added a couple of pillows from below. With the sun still out and the breeze from the water, it was lovely. The little cove was deserted, the water calm, and it felt as if we were the only two people around. It was a relaxing way to pass the afternoon, and I was beginning to understand Jordan’s love of being on the water.
“Do you ever stay overnight on the boat?”
“On occasion. It’s not very big, but for a weekend, it’s fine.” He drew his legs up to his chest, wrapping his arms around his knees. “I’d love to rent a houseboat and travel through the Thousand Islands and into Quebec. Spend weeks on the water, just drifting and exploring.”
“You can do that?”
“Oh yes. I went on a short trip once and enjoyed it. Some of them are quite luxurious. Well-equipped kitchens, sun decks you can sit on and enjoy the evenings. Spacious bedrooms.” He smiled. “It’s always been a dream of mine to do a trip on my own.”
“Sounds wonderful.”
He cocked his head, studying me. “Would that interest you, Sandy? Or is that too casual a vacation for you?”
“Casual? Aren’t vacations supposed to be casual?”
He stretched out his legs, leaning back on his hands. “I suppose. To me, the houseboat represents peace. Days spent in the sun wearing my swim trunks. Maybe a T-shirt and shorts. Casual and easy. The fanciest thing I’d bring with me would be a pair of Dockers and a polo shirt to have dinner onshore on occasion.”
I stared at him, my imagination going wild. I had seen Jordan bare-chested once. He’d been down in the gym with Aiden, Van, and Maddox, playing basketball. They were all laughing and talking smack, sweating with their shirts off. I was used to seeing the boys bare-chested, but it was Jordan who had drawn my eye. He had a muscular chest, and it was obvious from the way his muscles rippled he still worked out and took good care of himself. His shorts had hung low on his hips, showing off his still flat stomach, and he stood with his hands on his hips as he jeered at Maddox. His biceps bunched as he leaned forward, ready to defend the net.
He had looked so sexy, I had to step back and clear my head before letting them know I was there. I made sure not to look in his direction when I reentered the gym and told Aiden that Bentley needed him right away.
The thought of him wandering a boat in his swimsuit made my temperature rise.
Jordan frowned. “Sandy?”
I blinked. “Sorry?”
“I lost you for a moment.”
“Oh, ah, I was thinking about your question. I imagine an extended stay on a houseboat would be quite delightful.” I improvised.
“Well then, I suppose we’ll have to discuss that at a later date.”
“Oh, um, yes.”
“What about you?” he asked, sliding a piece of melon into his mouth and chewing. “What kind of vacation do you like?”
I shrugged. “I love exploring places. England, Scotland, other countries in Europe. But I also love staying closer to home. I love the idea of jetting off for a weekend. Somewhere different but easy to get to. We did that a few times, and I loved it. Just a break away somewhere different.”
“Not for a while, though?” he guessed.
“No. Max found traveling very taxing. I went away on occasion for a weekend, but not for years. The last one I planned got canceled when he had a bad episode. I never planned another.”
“Where were you supposed to go?”
I sighed as I remembered. “Boston. With Colin. We were going to eat seafood, go to the MFA—there was a collection of Renoirs on loan I wanted to see. We were going to tour Salem, walk on Boston Commons, and see the harbor. Colin wanted to go to a baseball game in Fenway Park.” I lifted one shoulder. “One day, I will.”
“I’m certain you will,” he murmured.
We fell into a comfortable silence, simply enjoying the quiet. It was remarkable that, with Jordan, the quiet didn’t bother me the way it did when I was alone. With him sitting beside me, it was calming and peaceful.
I broke off a chunk of the dark chocolate we had picked up at the market and offered him a piece. I let it melt on my tongue and shut my eyes, enjoying the decadent, rich flavor. “This is amazing.”
“Yes, it is.”
I opened my eyes, flushing when I realized although he’d taken and eaten a piece of chocolate, he was staring at me.
I felt the heat in my cheeks. “Dammit, Jordan Hayes,” I muttered. “I keep blushing like a schoolgirl. Stop it.”
He chuckled. “I like making you blush. It’s unusual for you.”
I huffed out an exasperated noise. “Because, until you, it never happened.”
He slid closer so our knees were touching. He drifted his fingers along my cheek. “I like it even better now.”
Our gazes locked, the silence between us no longer peaceful. It bubbled and shimmered with longing. Jordan’s gaze dropped to my mouth, and he ran his tongue along his bottom lip. I tracked the sensuous gesture, my breathing picking up.
“If I come closer to kiss you, are you going to let me?”
“Yes,” I breathed out with no hesitation.
He pushed closer, lifting my legs on top of his so they rested over his hips. He tugged my waist, drawing me close until we were nose to nose, hardly any space between us. I felt his warmth, the firmness of his body as he leaned into me. The breeze lifted his thick hair, and I ran my fingers through it, settling my arm around his neck and playing with the nape of his neck. He shivered.
“I love it when you touch me, Sandy.”
I recalled his delight from earlier when I had taken the initiative and kissed him. I closed the final inches between us and pressed my mouth to his. His reaction was immediate. He wrapped his arms around me, yanking me tight to his chest, practically pulling me onto his lap. He buried his hands in my hair, slanting his mouth and taking control of the kiss. This wasn’t like our other kisses. There were no soft, languid movements. This was passion, heat, and possession. Sensations I hadn’t experienced for years. His tongue delved, stroking, seeking, exploring. He tasted of the chocolate we’d shared. Melon. Wine. Jordan. It was a heady combination.
I gasped in his mouth as he slipped his hands under the loose cotton shirt I wore. His long fingers traced my spine, sending shards of pleasure through my body. I felt him, hard between us, his desire evident.
I groaned low in my throat as he dragged his mouth to my ear, teasing the spot behind it.
“Sandy,” he whispered. “God, I want you.”
I whimpered, grasping his shirt with one hand as I clutched his neck with the other. He trailed his mouth down my neck, tasting my skin with his tongue. He nudged my collar out of the way, burying his face between my breasts. The feel of his hands moving over my rib cage, sliding up, his thumbs strumming over my hardened nipples was intense. Addictive.
Making me want more.
Until the sound of another boat entering the cove and blowing its horn broke us apart. We were both breathing hard, our eyes locked in a haze of desire. Jordan’s cheeks were flushed, his hair in disarray from my hands. My shirt was rumpled, and I knew my hair looked as if I had stood in a wind tunnel. My mouth was swollen and so was Jordan’s. His was red and wet from my tongue, and I wanted it back on mine. I knew if the boat hadn’t shown up, we would have ended up naked and writhing on the deck of the boat, the sun and breeze witness to our passion.
Then the hilarity of the moment hit me, and I giggled. I clapped a hand over my mouth, but I couldn’t stop. Jordan’s mouth quirked, and he began to laugh.
“Damn it,” he cursed. “Caught like a seventeen-year-old on my parents’ sofa.”
I kept laughing. Jordan caught me in his arms, and
I leaned on his shoulder, the entire situation too ludicrous not to enjoy. He laughed with me, muttering about better planning. Once I got myself under control, I sat up, meeting his gaze. He looked at me with such tenderness, my heart skipped a beat.
“We should head back,” he said, stroking my cheek.
I captured his hand. “Thank you for today, Jordan. It was perfect.”
I meant what I said. The boat arrived before we had crossed a line we couldn’t back away from. I was certain we would both know when the time was right to cross that boundary. After today, I certainly looked forward to it, but today was not that day, and we were both aware of it.
He smiled and kissed me fast. “Yes, it was, my darling. Yes, it was.”
Sandy
The next few days were a whirlwind.
With Van moving in to the new space, he was in and out of the office, overseeing his crews, and still working on various projects. Jordan helped him when he could, so he was often out of the building as well. Add in the fact that Jordan was preparing his house for sale, and he was a busy man. He made sure to keep in contact, though. I enjoyed his texts and phone calls on the days I didn’t see him.
The final construction was completed on the day care in the office building, and Bentley proudly brought Addi with him to work in order to show her what he had created for her.
I followed him around as he held her close, pointing out all the fun things in the nursery, talking about how she would have friends here and be near to him. He was obviously excited about her being in the building.
He lifted her in the air. “Daddy will be right down the hall and can come visit anytime. So will Mommy. Won’t that be great?”
She blinked at him, her eyes wide in her face. Before I could warn him, she opened her mouth and puked down the front of his expensive suit.
He turned his head to me, his expression all at once confused, uncertain, and slightly disturbed.
“I think she just ate,” I murmured.
Sandy: Vested Interest #7 Page 8
