9 1/2 Days

by Mia Zachary

  Danny suppressed a sigh. This was familiar territory. She was about to ask for something he just couldn’t give her. Wanting to put it off as long as possible, he turned in the direction of the kitchen. “Are you sure I can’t get you something to drink?”

  “The deal is off, Danny. I’m ending our agreement.”

  Her voice was stronger now, decisive. He heard the words, but they didn’t register at first. Jordan was breaking up with him? She was ending it? Her eyes searched his, waiting for a response. He just stared at her, uncomprehending. Then her expression cleared and she offered him a polite smile.

  “Okay. Well, I’ll be going. Take care of yourself.”

  This was what he’d wanted. Sort of. But now he wasn’t so sure. A chill danced over his skin and his heart slammed against his chest at the thought of her walking out the door. He caught her arm to keep her from leaving.

  “Wait a—just wait!”

  “Why, Danny?” Her tone was gentle, with just a trace of huskiness.

  He dropped her arm, feeling as if a pit had opened up beneath him. If he took one step, he’d be trapped. But he wouldn’t go back on what he’d promised. “What about your grandparents’ party?”

  “I’ll go alone. Everybody is used to my fiancé having to work odd hours or suddenly go out of town.” She sighed and he suddenly realized the strain her lies had caused. “Or I’ll tell them we broke our engagement. Or… I don’t know. I’ll tell them something.”

  “You don’t have to do that. I’ll still take you.”

  “Listen, it’s obvious you’re not interested in playing the part anymore. And I’d rather be spared the public embarrassment of having to watch you romance my cousin. All I ask is that you wait until we’ve ‘officially broken up’ before you call her, okay?”

  Danny rubbed his forehead. Christ, what a jerk he’d been. He’d only intended to put some distance between them—he honestly hadn’t meant to hurt her. “I’m not going to call her at all. Come on, sit down and tell me what this is about.”

  Jordan reluctantly allowed him lead her over to the sofa. She dropped onto the nearest cushion, clenching her hands in her lap. He sat down beside her and lightly touched her hand. “Now, tell me, what makes you think I would choose Keisha over you?”

  Her laugh was devoid of humor. “Why wouldn’t you? She’s slim and beautiful, easygoing and uncomplicated. Exactly the kind of woman your brother said you always date.”

  That was true enough. He tended to gravitate to independent women who didn’t mind a casual relationship. But since he’d met Jordan, his tastes had changed without him realizing it. Keisha did absolutely nothing for him. “No man in his right mind would prefer your cousin.”

  She shrugged and wouldn’t look at him. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

  “Will you tell me about it?”

  She didn’t want to. She hated to even remember. It had been the worst moment in a long history of tricks Keisha had played on her. Danny took her hand and she felt the warmth travel all the way to her heart. Maybe this was a turning point. Maybe, if she shared something personal and painful, the way he had, maybe he would open himself to her.

  “His name was Aaron Lawrence. He was the most popular boy in school. All of the girls had a crush on him.” Including Jordan, who never would have dreamed he’d look twice at her. “I guess I should have questioned a guy like him asking me to the Senior Prom.”

  “He didn’t take you?”

  “No, he took me…” She paused, then went on. “My mom bought me a beautiful evening gown. She had it tailored so it fit me perfectly…so it hid my belly and thighs. Aunt Celeste owned a salon and she treated me like a princess. She styled my hair and did my nails and makeup. I was so excited because this was my first dance.”

  “What happened?”

  “Aaron was really nice at first. He was attentive and seemed like he was really interested in me.” Jordan laughed bitterly. “Halfway through the night I was entertaining fairy tales about him, stupidly thinking that this could lead to something, that he saw who I was inside of my big, fat body.”

  “Jordan—”

  “You saw the photos, Danny. You know what I looked like then. Would you have asked me to a dance?” She didn’t wait for an answer, because she knew he wouldn’t admit the truth. “He led me outside the gymnasium and kissed me. My first kiss at my first dance. It was sweet initially, but then he got more aggressive and I tried to pull away.”

  Danny’s hand tightened around hers. “Please tell me he didn’t…”

  “No, it didn’t go that far. He just— He just put his hand inside my dress and squeezed my breast. I pushed him away just as some of his friends came out and asked if he’d gotten anywhere with me yet. Aaron laughed and told them, not yet but he’d get lucky later.”

  Danny shook his head. “What a bastard.”

  “I just stared at him. Then I finally got the courage to ask why he thought I would have sex with him. He said…” She cleared her throat. “He said, ‘everyone knows fat girls are easy.’ Keisha wouldn’t date him unless he asked me to the prom as a favor.”

  Danny slipped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her to his side. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry she did that to you.”

  “I was devastated. I knew Keisha didn’t like me, but I never thought she’d do anything like that. And, by the time I got back inside, all of Aaron’s friends were laughing about it. Everyone was laughing at me. I’ve never felt so horrible in my life.”

  Danny held her for a moment, slowly rocking from side to side. Then he stood up and held out his hand to her. When she took it, he pulled her to her feet.

  “Come with me.”

  When he led her across hall toward the bathroom, she stopped in confusion. “What are we going to do in here?”

  He tugged her hand until she stepped inside. “Turn around, Jordan.”

  She did so automatically, but then realized she was fully exposed to the mirror above the sink. Damn it, what was he trying to do? She attempted to turn away, but Danny moved behind her, his hands on her shoulders to hold her in place. “Look.”

  “I don’t want to play.”

  “This isn’t a game, not for you.”

  The slight pressure of his grip implied that he wasn’t going to let it drop, so she did as he asked. Defiant, unhappy and irritated, her expression clearly indicated what she was thinking—Let’s get this over with. The image in the mirror changed and there she was. The heavyset, ugly duckling she used to be. She averted her eyes.

  “Do you know what I see, Jordan?”

  “What?” Her tone was curt.

  Placing his fingertips under her chin, Danny tilted her head up until their eyes met in the glass. “I see one of the most beautiful women in the world.”

  “Don’t—”

  “I see an intelligent mind and a sharp wit. Eyes that notice the best in people. A mouth that smiles easily and is quick to laugh. When I look at you, I see a heart that’s compassionate and kind. An enchanting spirit. I see a woman who is beautiful on the inside, and always has been.”

  His deep, rich voice soothed her. The sincerity of his words touched her, breaking through her fragile control. Hot tears welled in her eyes and spilled over. Danny wrapped his arms around her, resting his cheek against her temple. She raised her hands to clutch his forearms as she cried.

  For so long, she’d believed she had to be perfect to be loved. She’d wished for someone to accept her, thinking that would make her feel whole. But in fact what she needed was to accept herself, to realize she was worthy of affection no matter what she weighed or how she looked. Danny had shown her that.

  “And on the outside you’re beautiful, too. Except for your flushed cheeks and runny nose.” He placed a kiss on her brow.

  Embarrassed, she reached for a tissue and wiped her face. Danny caressed her upper arms, smiling at her in the mirror. “Your eyes gleam like the brightest stars. Your hair shimmers with fire and light, ju
st like in the shampoo commercials.”

  Jordan burst out laughing.

  “What? I’m praising your gorgeousness. Where was I?” He pretended to contemplate her features. “Your skin is as soft as a baby’s butt. Your lips are like the petals of a rose.”

  He leaned forward and she turned her head to meet him. His hot mouth covered hers in a kiss that was both tender and demanding. When they came up for air, Danny grinned at her. “And they sure can kiss.”

  Their eyes met in the mirror and her heart turned over in response. She watched as he cupped the fullness of her breasts in his palms. He slowly circled his thumbs around her nipples and she gasped softly at both the sight and the sensation. As his hands glided down her torso, she leaned her head back against his shoulder. Her eyes drifted shut and she smoothed her palms along the hard sinews of his thighs. Desire danced along her nerves as his hands moved over her hips.

  Danny bent his head to nuzzle the side of her neck and she felt the hard ridge of his erection against her bottom. “You’ve got a great body. Real women have curves. You’re like a fantasy come true.”

  And with those words, Jordan was reminded of the true nature of their relationship. She opened her eyes and her hands dropped away from him. Disappointment washed over her and she felt an acute sense of loss. Fun and games were all she could ever expect from him. She broke out of his embrace and turned to face him.

  “Fantasy number forty-two. Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, isn’t it?”

  His dark brown eyes widened and he stepped back, bumping the edge of the tub. He looked as if he’d been slapped. For a second there was such vulnerability in his expression it broke her heart. “This isn’t one of your fantasies, Jordan…”

  Danny startled, as if he hadn’t realized the impact of what he’d said. Then the shutters came down and she watched him completely withdraw. “I’ve been honest with you from the start. We can’t put on costumes or take on roles and make any of this real.”

  Resignation settled on her shoulders. She offered him a gentle smile, her voice soft as she spoke. “I know we can’t.”

  She turned out of the bathroom. Her chest ached under the weight of melancholy and pain and regret. But she was strong, stronger than she’d ever realized, strong enough to walk away.

  Danny followed her into the hall. “What about Saturday?”

  He was trying to put the decision of where they went from here on her. If he didn’t know by now how she felt, then he never would. She loved him. But the next move was his. Jordan opened the front door. “It’s late. I’ve got to go.”

  14

  DANNY GRABBED his gift off the passenger seat, locked the Jeep and strode across the parking garage to the stairs. Last night had been one of the longest of his life. He doubted he’d slept for more than an hour or two, tossing and turning and trying to figure out what he’d done wrong. He’d finally gotten up to sit out on the fire escape and watch the sun rise.

  He’d always been in control of his relationships before, always been the one to set the boundaries. Jordan was the first woman who’d ever walked out on him. He knew he was in trouble because her rejection hurt. Not only had it been a blow to his ego, but he’d also felt in danger of losing something special. There was something about Jordan that both attracted and scared the hell out of him.

  As he walked into the building where Chase, Behr & Lily was located, he pictured her face, her disappointed expression. He’d wanted to comfort her last night, to show her how desirable she was. Instead, she thought he wanted to try out another fantasy when he’d actually wanted to make love.

  But was he in love? Or was it just the novelty of the situation? They’d known each other for less than two weeks. They’d seen each other six times and had sex three. He couldn’t possibly have fallen for her. Could he? No, more likely he was responding to the challenge. Women liked to be chased. They liked to believe they had the upper hand. So he would pour on the charm, add an element of romance.

  This wasn’t love. It was all part of the ultimate game. And he played to win.

  “MMM, MMM, MMM.” Charlie, the law firm receptionist, hummed into the phone. “You should see what’s waiting up here for you.”

  Jordan tucked the handset between her shoulder and chin as she sorted the papers on her desk. “More chocolates from that one court reporter?”

  “Well, he does look rich and delicious and I’d nibble him in a heartbeat.” Charlie hummed some more. “Where has David been hiding this brother?”

  Danny was here? Her brow crinkled in confusion. What was he doing here? “I’ll be right up.”

  Jordan smoothed her hands over her plum-colored suit and combed her fingers through her hair, suddenly questioning her choice to leave it loose. She started to reach for the compact in her desk drawer then stopped herself. It didn’t matter how she looked. She looked just fine. Jordan left her office and walked down the hallway to the lobby.

  Wow. Danny did look good enough to nibble. It was the first time she’d seen him wearing something other than jeans or his uniform. He had on a pair of khakis, a button-down shirt, a summer blazer and a hesitant expression. And flowers. Which fantasy was that move from? Stop it. That isn’t nice.

  “Hi, Danny.”

  He greeted her with a wide smile. “How are you, pretty lady?”

  “I’m fine. And you?”

  “Good.”

  They sounded like two strangers on a bus. Well aware of the awkwardness beneath the pleasantries, she nodded. “Good.”

  Danny held out the flowers. “I saw these and immediately thought of you.”

  That was a line if ever she’d heard one. But she loved romantic gestures and these really were lovely. She accepted the bouquet, breathing in the scent of bright pink lilies, orange snapdragons and Shasta daisies. “Thank you very much.”

  “I was wondering if you were free for lunch? I’m in the mood for seafood myself.”

  “Oh. I’m sorry.” She touched his arm with genuine regret. “I can’t today. I have a client meeting in twenty minutes.”

  “That’s okay. I guess I should have called first.” He offered her a little smile. “How about dinner then? I’ll let you pick the beer.”

  Jordan winced. “We’ve got an important trial coming up. I’m going to be working late for the next week or so.”

  A perplexed expression crossed his face, as if he didn’t know what to do next. She thought she heard him sigh in frustration. Danny took his hand out of his pocket and scratched his temple. “So, um, what time is your grandparents’ party?”

  Jordan’s brows rose in surprise. She thought he’d be thrilled to have his freedom. But he acted as though there’d never been any question of his taking her. Men. There was just no figuring them out.

  “It starts at six-thirty for a seven-o’clock dinner.”

  “I’ll be at your house around six, then.”

  She cradled the flowers in her arm and shifted uncomfortably. He’d probably think she was making up excuses. “I’m going to change at the hotel. I’ve got to be there early to help with the place cards and the thank-you bags.”

  His jaw clenched and this time he did sigh. Then he recovered with another winning smile. “Okay. See you there.”

  Danny leaned in to kiss her and she offered her cheek. He barely managed to hide his exasperation. She watched him walk to the elevator before she allowed the smile of delight to spread across her face. He’d asked her to lunch, an encounter that didn’t involve either her family or sex. A date. A rendezvous.

  A sign of hope?

  As she walked past the reception desk, Charlie made a tsking sound. “Hard-to-get does not become you, honey.”

  Jordan laughed and pulled one of the lilies from the bouquet. She handed it to Charlie. “Buzz me when my eleven-thirty gets here.”

  JORDAN WALKED into the conference room after Susan Brandywine and closed the door behind them. She set her notes and files on the table and drew a deep breath. “Before we get
started, I owe you an apology.”

  Susan frowned in confusion as she took a seat at the conference table. “For what?”

  “I allowed my personal opinions to cloud my professionalism and I’m very sorry for that.” Jordan clenched and unclenched her hands together but willed herself to maintain eye contact. “You see, I’m as guilty of judging you as any skinny person. More guilty, in fact, because I know what you’ve been through.” Her voice caught. “I felt that if I could lose weight, so should you.”

  “I understand, Jordan. I really do.” Susan looked at her with a blend of sadness and sympathy. “I struggled with my weight for years, making myself sick with one fad diet after another. But now, I’m very proud of who I am and what I’ve accomplished in my life. This is my body, and I like it just the way it is.”

  Jordan sat down next to Susan and took her hand. “I admire your courage. Despite losing weight, I’m a long way from acceptance. It’s only recently that I’ve begun to face my issues. I’m still working on it.”

  “I appreciate your honesty.” Susan briefly squeezed Jordan’s fingers, then reached into her briefcase for a notepad and pen. “All right. Where do we go from here?”

  “I can try to get a settlement. The station may be willing to spend make-it-go-away money in order to avoid the expense of going to trial. And that way you’d have something to tide you over until you can get another job.”

  Susan scoffed. “This lawsuit may keep me from ever getting another anchor job, but I want to see it through.” She rested her elbows on the table and laced her fingers. “Regardless of how many ways women are discriminated against, obesity is the worst because it’s the most accepted and the least questioned. I want to fight for my self-respect and maybe set a precedent for other women in entertainment.”

  Jordan pulled several sheets of paper from the file. “Okay, then. I did find supporting case law. Television anchor Holly Bertram filed a discrimination and breach-of-contract suit against WMTU-TV.

  “She contended that middle age forced her out and that because of her weight she didn’t get the anchor positions she sought.” Jordan shuffled the papers until she found the one she wanted. “Now, Bertram did lose her age claim, but she won on the injury and retaliation claims. A federal jury awarded…are you ready? Five million dollars.”