“You never said where you were taking me,” Eden said.
Taking his eyes from the road for a second, he glanced over at her. “No, I didn't. Did I?”
Eden swallowed a laugh at the sexy, unrepentant grin. “Jordan, that's not fair. You practically kidnap me, forcing me to miss work, and now you won't even tell me where we're going.”
“That's right.”
“What about LCR? We can't just—”
“Noah is fully aware of the situation and in total support. I told him the only way I was going to keep you from working was to cart you off somewhere. Gabe's taking care of things at LCR. You've got nothing on your agenda other than to rest and relax.” He picked up her hand and kissed it softly. “Why don't you lie back in your seat like a good girl? Take a nap, if you like. It'll be at least a couple of hours before we get there.”
Eden tried for a glare, though she was pretty sure it wouldn't do any good.
She still couldn't believe he'd actually abducted her. She'd gotten up this morning, fully intending to head to the office. It had been three days since she'd been hurt. Yes, her arm still ached, but she was far from being incapacitated. When Jordan offered to drive her in, she'd jumped at the chance instead of grabbing a cab. She should have known he had something up his sleeve. Silly her, she assumed that since he hadn't mentioned again that she needed to take the entire week off, he'd changed his mind.
Eden knew from experience she should never underestimate a man like Jordan Montgomery.
She'd gotten into the car. He'd told her to buckle up and then they'd been on their way. She'd been looking out the window, daydreaming about Jordan and how she planned to seduce him tonight. It wasn't until they were almost out of the city that she realized they were miles past where they should have turned off.
After alternately laughing, yelling, silently pouting, then spewing what she'd thought were some pretty vile threats, she'd exhausted herself and Jordan hadn't relented.
Now, though she would never tell him, she was beginning to look forward to whatever he had planned. It was true she'd rarely taken a day off. She had no family and no real friends other than Noah … who also rarely took time off.
So she lay back onto her seat, watched the lush green countryside flash by, and reflected on the amazing things that had happened in the last month. After all these years of pretending she didn't care about Jordan, that he was a shadow in her past best left in the past, he had reappeared and thrown her life into turmoil. At first, she'd been so fearful he'd find out who she was, but when that fear passed, she'd just wanted to pretend any feelings for him disappeared long ago.
But then, like a blast of a furnace, she'd realized the attraction was still there and hotter than ever. She had never intended to start up a relationship with him, never intended it to go this far. And now that it had, she couldn't regret it.
The time had come to tell him the truth. She didn't know how he would take the news. Anger—that was a given. But would he be able to overcome that anger and realize what they'd created together the last few weeks?
Eden never anticipated she'd ever be able to have this kind of relationship with a man. And it wasn't just the physical, though that in itself was a miracle. A person doesn't go through the trauma she endured without having deep-seated emotional scars. While she was fortunate that she'd never been able to recall many of the things that had happened to her, she still remembered enough. Being vulnerable and intimate with a man was just something she'd come to accept as not being possible. Until Jordan, it hadn't even been desirable.
The physical pain she'd endured created almost as many emotional scars as if she'd remembered her attack. Going through numerous surgeries, counseling, physical therapy, and then months of recuperation can change a person enormously.
Eden always assumed she'd never be able to trust another person as she had before. Noah had come close, but there were still things she'd held back from him … feelings, emotions, fears.
With Jordan, she wanted to experience and share everything. She didn't … couldn't compare the feelings she'd had for him years ago to the ones she had today. That was a lifetime away and she was a different person.
So the time had come to spill her secrets. Could she tell him while they were here? Wherever they were going? She could wait till the time was right, maybe after they'd made love and were holding each other.
Surely she could make him understand. Surely to God he would forgive her deception.
He thought she was working on Devon's case, and she had been. But that file had been ready days ago. It clearly explained what happened to Devon, and detailed the last days of her life. After she admitted the truth, she would also tell him about the file and what she had planned to do. And ask for another sin to be forgiven.
“We're here.”
Eden jerked awake, startled that she'd fallen asleep. She blinked and then blinked again. She shook herself slightly, deciding she must still be woozy. What she saw through the window just didn't seem possible.
A castle … a fairy-tale castle … complete with turrets, balconies, and oh my, even a moat.
“Jordan, where in the world are we?”
“Fleurelle.” He grinned as if he knew he had surprised the daylights out of her and was delighted to have done so. “The chateau belongs to the Rousseau family. I asked a few people, did some research on the Internet.”
“But this can't be where we're staying.”
“It most certainly is … all eighty rooms and ten servants.”
Eden could feel her face flushing and her heart pounding. Pressure in the bridge of her nose and tiny prickles in her eyes told her she was in deep trouble. She bit the inside of her jaw to keep herself together. What this man had done—actually brought her to a castle. It astounded her, overwhelmed her.
A tender smile lifted his lips. He knew how touched she was and also knew her well enough to know she was embarrassed at such an emotional response. “Come on. Let's go explore.”
He jumped out of the car and walked around to open her door. Eden stepped out onto the graveled drive stunned, disoriented … and completely and wholly in love with the wonderful, handsome man in front of her.
She leaned against the car, the castle forgotten. So there … she admitted it. She loved him, had never stopped loving him. Yes, she'd known her feelings were deep … but love … the everlasting, till-the-day-I-die kind … she hadn't expected.
“Hey, you need to sit down? You look like you could pass out any minute.”
Eden blinked, bringing the present into focus. Jordan stood in front of her, concern furrowing his brow.
“No, I'm fine … just so surprised.” She glanced over her shoulder at the huge hulking castle behind him, then leaned forward and kissed him softly. “This is the sweetest thing anyone's ever done for me.”
His mouth kicking up into an “I've got a secret” grin, he held out his hand. “Just you wait. I plan to surprise you all weekend.”
Lighthearted and so in love she could barely contain herself, she let him lead her to the entrance of the castle. “I can hardly wait.”
A sigh of pure joy left her lips as Jordan led her inside the ancient, beautiful castle. All the old romantic dreams of yesterday were returning with jubilant glee. A fairy princess could never feel such enchantment.
“Do you like it?” Jordan's warm breath caressed her neck.
Eden whirled around to kiss him softly. “It's absolutely perfect.”
An odd tenderness darkened his eyes and Eden knew a curious, fleeting moment of unreality. Her heart leaped like a jester giving the performance of his life at the knowledge before her. He's in love with me. The look disappeared as quickly as it came, but couldn't erase the knowing. And in that instant, she knew everything would be all right. Later today, maybe tonight, she would tell him the truth. She would withstand his anger and she would do all she could to soothe his hurt and disappointment in her. But ultimately, things would work out.
/> He loved her … she loved him. That was the way it was meant to be.
Everything was beginning to make sense. Jordan had come back into her life when the time was right for both of them. She'd felt years ago they were meant to be together, but after the horrific events of that day, she had forced herself to accept that her dreams had been a fantasy, made up by a romantic fool. Today, here and now, that romantic fool had returned and Eden embraced her with a wondrous welcome.
“Eden?”
Jordan stood before her, grasping her forearm. Concern once again darkened his face. And no wonder. She'd been standing, gazing around her like a zombie on Valium. “I'm fine … just in awe.”
Eden caught a glimpse of Mrs. Hopkins, the middle-aged caretaker, who'd answered the door. Though her black dress and white apron looked somber and businesslike, the twinkle in her eyes told Eden she was enjoying their romantic moment.
“Could we look around a little?” Eden asked.
Mrs. Hopkins nodded. “Of course. I'll have your bags carried to your room. It's on the third floor, second door to the left.” She smiled up at Jordan and no doubt took pleasure in the view, as any sane woman would. “You're welcome to wander around on your own or I can have one of the servants take you round.”
Jordan grabbed Eden's hand and pulled her across the giant hallway toward an enormous double door. “I think we'll just wander at our own pace.” He flashed a grin Eden knew would turn Mrs. Hopkins's heart over. Lord knows it did hers. “If we get lost, we'll give a shout-out.”
Without waiting for a reply, Jordan led her inside the door and clicked it shut. Eden barely had a second to notice the room was a huge library, filled from floor to ceiling with books. Before she could speak, Jordan pulled her into his arms and slammed his mouth down on hers.
He swallowed her moan of delight, his tongue plunging in over and over as if he couldn't stop, and Eden didn't want him to stop. Cupping her hands over his head, her fingers weaved into his thick hair. When she felt him pulling her dress up over her hips and kneading her ass, she pulled slightly away. Gasping against his mouth, she whispered, “What are you doing?”
Jordan dropped his hands and though Eden knew a moment of disappointment, she knew they couldn't make love here. There was no telling who might walk in the door. Her pounding heart was slowly heading toward normal when she noticed Jordan hadn't answered her question.
Incredulous and so much in love she could hardly speak, she watched as he unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it off. “What—Jordan, what are you doing?”
Eyes glittering hot with desire and need, Jordan reached for the hem of her dress and with magician-like speed, lifted it over her head. “I rented the entire castle, sweetheart. All eighty rooms. No one, without being asked to, will interrupt us.”
Standing in heels, lavender thong, and barely there bra, in the middle of an unfamiliar location, might not be the norm for her, but Eden recovered quickly and got into the spirit of the moment. Slipping off her shoes, she shimmied out of her pan ties and then dropped her bra on the floor. She stood before him, proud of the dark, powerful hunger flashing in his eyes and prouder still of the incredible lust that swept through her body.
Going to her knees, Eden gazed adoringly up at the man who'd stolen her heart twice in a lifetime. “We've got seventy-nine rooms left… We'd better get started.” Slowly and with delicious intent, she unzipped his pants.
Curled up on a cushioned window seat, Eden gazed out over the lush green pasture below and watched a family of squirrels chase one another. She didn't want to move from this spot. The last two days had been the most glorious and fulfilling of her life. Though they hadn't made love in all eighty rooms and were due to leave tomorrow, Eden thought they'd definitely made a decent showing—or indecent, as the case may be.
They'd woken late this morning and had a leisurely breakfast. Jordan went out for a quick run, but she'd pleaded laziness. She just wanted to stay inside and pretend the world didn't exist … just for a little longer.
The days had been so idyllic, her determination that Jordan should know the truth had wavered under the incredible bubble of happiness she'd cocooned herself within. Every moment she whispered to herself, “Just one more moment.” Tomorrow, they would leave and that time would arrive no matter how much she wanted to hold it off. Jordan had done nothing to deserve the lies she'd told him. Whether he would want to still be with her after he learned the truth was up in the air, but if they were to have any kind of future together, she had to tell him.
Her cellphone jingled beside her and Eden didn't bother to look at the display as she held it to her ear.
“You all better now?”
Her mouth lifted up in a small smile at Noah's gruff concern. “Much better, thank you. Any luck on Bennett?”
“A little, but no location yet.”
“You'll find him, Noah.”
“I know it.” His hard tone indicated cold determination.
“I appreciate you letting Jordan take me away. It was exactly what I needed.”
“About damn time you took some time off. Too bad you had to get hurt to do it, though.”
“Yeah, that wasn't fun, but the rest has been marvelous.” Despite her reluctance to share her rediscovered love for Jordan with the world, Eden couldn't keep the truth from the man who'd made it all possible. “Thank you for bringing him back into my life. I owe you so much.”
There was a long pause before Noah's somewhat cautious voice asked, “So you've settled your differences?”
“If you mean, have I told him the truth yet, then no, not yet. I'm going to tell him before we leave. I've put it off far too long. If there's any hope for a future for us, I've got to come clean.”
“What do you mean, a future?”
Eden laughed softly. “Don't worry. You're not losing me as an employee. I'm almost certain Jordan will want to stay on and work for you. And I'm sure you—”
“Eden, are you—? Shit. Are you involved with Jordan?”
She jerked at the snarl in his voice. Why would he be upset about her and Jordan getting together? Hell, he was the one who'd brought him back into her life.
“What's wrong with that?”
Noah blew out a long sigh. “I need to talk to Jordan. I tried calling his cell and didn't get an answer. Is he there?”
The amusing incident from yesterday flashed into her mind. She and Jordan had gone for a canoe ride. In the middle of the lake, she'd said something that had caused him to kiss her. Before she knew it, they were both standing, locked in a passionate embrace, and then, somehow, the boat tipped. Eden had managed to hang on, but Jordan had fallen, submerging himself and his cellphone into the murky water. Eden had laughed until she cried, watching the man she loved curse a blue streak with green algae hanging from his hair. Suddenly that image no longer made her smile.
“No, he's not here and his cellphone isn't working. Now, tell me why you don't think it's a good idea that Jordan and I are together.”
“I'd rather talk to Jordan first.”
Her anger rose. “Well, you've got me instead, so deal with it. Why aren't Jordan and I a good idea?”
“Has he given you any indication that he's thinking anything permanent with you?”
“No, but …” Eden closed her eyes and took in a calming breath. Just because he hadn't said he loved her didn't mean it wasn't so. After all, she hadn't said the words, either. They'd both been hurt in the past. It was only normal they would be reticent to share their feelings. But there was obviously a reason for Noah's concern and she'd damn well dig it out of him.
“No, he hasn't. Stop being so damn evasive and tell me what's wrong.”
Another long sigh, this time sounding very ragged. “When Jordan first came to see me, he told me one of the reasons he wanted to finally come to a resolution about Devon was because he'd quit his job and was getting married. He wanted to start fresh … with nothing hanging over his head.” Noah's voice softened though his wor
ds barely registered. “I wanted you to be able to put your past behind you, not start an affair with him.”
Eden closed the phone, ending the call, uncaring that Noah continued to speak. The phone rang immediately. She ignored it. What he said couldn't be true. Jordan would have told her. He wouldn't have lied to her … led her on.
Why not? You've lied and led him on. Why shouldn't he do the same to you?
Because he's a better person than I am, her heart screamed. He wouldn't do this to me. He wouldn't… I know he wouldn't.
What promises had he made? None. They'd made love for hours, held each other, fell asleep in each other's arms. He'd had numerous opportunities to tell her he loved her, that he wanted a future with her. He'd done neither of those things. Given her no indication that his feelings went deeper than desire and maybe affection.
And Noah wouldn't lie to her. Perhaps not always the kindest person, still, he wasn't maliciously cruel.
She suddenly remembered Jordan's response when Noah asked him to take his place for a while. He said he needed to check with some people. Eden remembered wondering at the time who he would check with. Now she knew. He'd checked with his fiancée.
And he'd been passing time with her. He had a job to do here, why not make it more fun by having a fuck partner, too.
How stupid could one woman be in a lifetime?
In a flurry of mindless horror, Eden jumped up from the window seat and began to pack. They had planned on leaving tomorrow … she'd make sure they left today. She would scream at him, demand he tell her why he'd led her on. Demand to know why he didn't love her… What was wrong with her?
She was halfway through stuffing her bags, unaware that tears poured down her face, when she stopped, pulled to a standstill by a sudden thought. Did Jordan have to know how he had hurt her … humiliated her … destroyed her again?
Did she want to live that agony of seven years ago all over again? Every organ and cell within her body screamed a resounding “No!” She wouldn't survive it this time … the pain … the anguish… She wouldn't be able to live through it again.
With a calm finality, Eden unpacked what she'd packed. She'd been acting a role for most of her adult life, pretending to be someone else. She would do that with Jordan, as she had when he'd first arrived at LCR. But she would do it even more now. Nothing would make her lose her poise. She could be the cool, self-confident sophisticate he seemed to think she was. Sex for the sake of sex—yes, she could do that.
Rescue Me: A Novel Page 26
