I swallowed. “At times, I worry it’s too soon.”
“What you and Max shared was special and rare. But with a heart as big as yours, you can love again.” Bentley tilted his head. “Loving again isn’t a betrayal to Max, Sandy. It’s a tribute. It shows how well he loved you.”
“When did you get so smart?” I asked.
He bent close and kissed my cheek. “I learned from you.”
* * *
I sat at my table, staring into the glass of wine I had poured. I pushed away my plate, the sandwich I had made not tempting me at all. But I didn’t feel like cooking. Or eating.
I picked up the wine and headed toward the living room. My doorbell echoing in the emptiness of the house startled me. I looked at the screen of my phone, surprised, but pleased, to see Jordan on my doorstep.
I opened the door, smiling. “Hello. I didn’t expect to see you tonight.”
He hesitated. “Is it all right that I came over? I know I said I would call—”
I cut him off with a wave of my hand. “Of course. Come in.”
He strode in, stopping to kiss my cheek, his lips brushing my skin, leaving a trail of warmth.
I took his coat, got him a glass of wine, and sat next to him on the sofa. “Did you have dinner?” I asked.
“I had a sandwich.”
I laughed. “Me too.” I indicated the file in his hand. “What’s that?”
“This is what I came here to talk about.” He faced me fully on the sofa. “I need your unbiased advice, Sandy.”
I tilted my head to the side. “I’m not sure how unbiased I can be about you anymore, Jordan,” I confessed.
He smiled and closed the space between us to drop a kiss on my mouth. “I like hearing that, but I think you can be in this case.”
I squared my shoulders. “Okay, hit me.”
He opened the file and spread out the documents. “This is the asking price the real estate agent has suggested.”
I read the large number. “Given the market, that seems right.”
He chuckled. “I bought the house for less than two hundred grand thirty years ago. I never imagined it would be valued at over ten times that price one day.”
“Toronto is hot. And it’s a large house with a yard in a great neighborhood. It’s hardly surprising.”
He set another document on top. “This is the price Bentley gave me for the condo.”
I glanced at the amount, noting he had chosen the larger one with three bedrooms. It had been my favorite as well. “That’s in line with what he gave to Maddox and Reid.”
“But they’re partners, Sandy. I’m not a partner. This is well below market value.”
“Bentley believes in rewarding staff, Jordan. To him, you are as valuable as Reid and Maddox. As any of his staff.” I smiled as I teased him. “If you’re worried about Bentley’s bottom line, I assure you he made millions on this project. And the way Maddox structured and invested the holdings, he’ll make many more.”
He chuckled, then rested his chin on his hand as he studied the papers. “He also told me I could have the condo whenever I wanted it if I decided to go ahead with this. The agent said she would help me thin out the house and put things in storage if needed.” He was silent for a moment. “One signature—one stroke on a pen, and my entire life as I know it will change.”
“Are you ready for that?” I asked.
He pushed at the papers with his finger. Back and forth, he moved them in a repeated restless pattern.
“There’s no smoking gun here, Jordan. You don’t have to decide tonight, or even this week. Maybe you should talk to your kids about it. Look at the condo again.”
He met my gaze. “That’s the odd thing. I’m not conflicted or worried. I really liked the condo, and the thought of not having to deal with all the outside stuff and being alone in the house, filled with nothing but recollections of what my life was like before, is actually a relief. I want to sign the papers. Move ahead.”
“And that worries you.”
One corner of his mouth lifted in a lopsided grin. “Yes. It’s not like me. I’m usually a very methodical decision-maker.”
“Perhaps there’s another way to think of this then, Jordan.”
“Tell me.”
“Maybe you had already thought it through. You told me when Gina brought it up two years ago, you weren’t ready. That when Gina questioned you again at Christmas, you had already begun to change your mind. You said you’ve been thinking about it ever since. As for the condo, they say you know if the place is right for you ten seconds after you walk in the door.”
He stared at the documents, deep in thought. He turned his head, a smile ghosting his lips. “You are a very clever woman, Sandy Preston.”
I laughed. “I try.” Then I became serious. “Do what it is you want to do—for you, Jordan. Nobody else.” I exhaled. “Don’t factor me into your decision.”
“Are you breaking up with me already?” he asked lightly, although his eyes were worried.
“No, but we’re still so new. Make this decision as if this happened two weeks ago, not now. Can you do that?”
“It would still be the same.”
“Then do it.”
He relaxed back into the sofa, and I handed him the glass of wine. He sipped it.
“Have you ever thought of selling?” he asked.
I glanced around the room, its familiarity comforting and safe. “Not yet,” I admitted. “One day, maybe.”
“Did you and Max buy this together?”
“No, actually, he bought it after his divorce. I didn’t meet him for almost ten years afterward. He told me we could move, but I liked the character of the house and he was settled here, and I saw no point in doing so. He’d never shared it with his wife, so there were no memories to compete with. He gave me free rein, and I decorated it to suit us. It was rather, ah, masculine when I moved in. And he’d never touched the kids’ rooms, so they were a little dated.”
“Did you ever meet his first wife?”
I nodded. “We got on quite well. She was a little shocked at the age difference, as most people were, but she was cordial. We were all adults.” She winked. “Some of them more adult-y than I was.”
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 riding 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 ha
ve 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.”
Vested Interest Box Set Books 4-7 Page 80
