What she had planned for today was to make the challenging drive over to Hana, the beautiful but isolated town on the east coast of Maui. Since the drive would take several hours, including a number of stops along the way to enjoy the scenic outlooks, they had decided to stay overnight before returning to this side of the island tomorrow. At her recommendation, Jordan had booked a room for them at the Travaasa Resort, the most luxurious accommodations in Hana. He had also reserved an outrigger canoe excursion for them, asking jokingly if lifejackets were provided since the last time he’d been in a canoe had been as an adolescent at the summer camp his parents had forced him to attend.
And despite Aubrey’s protests, Jordan had also arranged for both of them to have a massage at the resort’s highly rated spa.
“You’ve hardly let me do anything for you,” he’d pointed out. “Every time we walk by a boutique or gift shop it’s like you have blinders on or something, the way you avoid even glancing in the window, or like you’re terrified I’m going to march you inside and buy the place out. And don’t think I haven’t noticed how you almost always order one of the least expensive items on the menu when we eat out, or insist you’re too full to eat a whole dessert by yourself so that we can share one.” Jordan had tilted her chin up to meet his amused gray gaze. “I can easily afford to buy you a steak or your own serving of crème Brule, so stop being so frugal, okay? And before you say it, darlin’, I’m way too young to be anyone’s sugar daddy.”
She’d laughed and hadn’t argued with him further, realizing with a sigh of resignation that Jordan simply enjoyed spoiling her. And given that he was only here for a few more precious days, she had decided to let him indulge her as he wished.
As she quickly changed into a pair of shorts and one of her favorite T-shirts, Aubrey wondered what it would be like to take him up on his offer of visiting him in San Francisco. He’d have to work, of course, especially after having just taken a two week vacation, leaving her on her own during the day. But that prospect didn’t bother her in the least, as she was both adventurous and curious, and well used to taking care of herself. Her parents had encouraged all of their children to become independent and self-sufficient from a young age, but had also instilled principles of common sense and responsibility in them. Aubrey didn’t remember a whole lot about her previous trips to San Francisco, but she knew it was a fairly easy city to navigate and that she would have no problem keeping herself busy while Jordan had to work.
But even if she did decide to take him up on his offer, it couldn’t be for very long. She had some money saved but that wouldn’t last indefinitely, and she wasn’t about to freeload off of either Jordan or her parents. She would need to return to work sooner than later, and would have to start considering her options within the next month or two. Problem was, she admitted as she pulled her long hair back into a loose braid, those options didn’t seem quite as attractive now as they had to the idealistic twenty-two year old fresh out of college she had been three years ago. She missed her family, missed the conveniences of living on the mainland, and was admittedly suffering a bit from the “island fever” that she’d been cautioned about when accepting this assignment.
But she didn’t have to think about her future right at the moment, decided Aubrey as she picked up her bag and walked into the main room of the house to wait for Jordan. All she had to do for the next four days was enjoy herself, and savor every minute she would get to spend with Jordan before he had to return home. Everything else would resolve itself in due course - at least that’s what she told herself as she bid her roommates good-bye.
“Hana, huh?” mused Jenna, sounding decidedly unimpressed. “Meh, been there done that. At least he’s springing for a room at the priciest place on that side of the island. But please tell me he isn’t planning to make that death defying drive in the Porsche he’s been tooling around in.”
Aubrey shook her head. “After he dropped me off a little while ago he was going to the rental agency to exchange the Porsche for some sort of SUV with four wheel drive. He should be back any minute now.”
“Have a great time,” offered Melanie, giving Aubrey a hug. “We’ll miss you, especially since we won’t have a whole lot more time together before you head back to the mainland.”
“We still have a few weeks,” consoled Aubrey. “And I know I’ve been neglecting you guys lately but I promise I’ll make it up to you after Jordan goes home. We’ll have one of our DIY spa days, go to Surf’s Up a couple of times, maybe have a little going away party here.”
“You haven’t been neglecting us,” replied Melanie softly. “Jenna and I would be doing the exact same thing if we were in your shoes - not that someone as gorgeous as Jordan would ever give me a second look.”
“Me, either,” chimed in Jenna. “I think the doctor definitely prefers blondes. But Mel’s right, Blondie. We totally get it about wanting to spend as much time with Doctor Hotstuff as possible. So have fun these next few days, relax, and make sure he keeps giving you at least three or four orgasms a day.”
Aubrey blushed, even though her roommate’s estimate was pretty darned accurate. She swiftly steered the subject in a different direction, asking if Jenna had started looking for a new roommate yet.
Jenna made a horrible face. “No. And I’m really not looking forward to the whole vetting process. Do you know how many weirdos answer ads on Craig’s List? We lucked out with you, Blondie, but we had to weed through about a dozen roommate from hell candidates before that.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t use Craig’s List then,” advised Aubrey. “I can tack up a notice in the employee lounge at the hotel instead.”
“It’s worth thinking about,” agreed Jenna. “Though once my mother learned you were leaving she started putting the pressure on me to let one of my cousins move in. The only reason I haven’t agreed is because I can’t remember anything about this girl, even what she looks like. And my mother swears we were inseparable as children. That’s what happens when you’ve got too many family members to keep track of.”
“That’s not such a bad problem to have,” remarked Melanie somberly.
Jenna gave her a hug. “Hey, cookie, you’re one of the family, too, you know. In fact, while Blondie here is off shagging Doctor Hotstuff for the next few days, you and I get to attend my great-aunt’s ninetieth birthday party. A big luau, complete with a roasted pig and hula dancers. And best of all, my cousin Ronnie’s killer rum punch, which is the only way I’ll be able to make it through the party.”
“Speaking of Doctor Hotstuff - I mean, Jordan - I think that’s his Jeep pulling into the driveway,” said Melanie. “Time for you to head out, Aubrey.”
Aubrey gave both of her roommates a good-bye hug, promising to send them regular texts, and telling them to have a good time at the birthday party.
As Jenna held open the door for her, she whispered in Aubrey’s ear, “If he asks you again, don’t be an idiot this time, okay? Just say yes, for God’s sake.”
***
“Here you go.”
Aubrey smiled her thanks as Jordan handed her a flute of sparkling wine. She had gone along with his suggestion to order a bottle of champagne this evening instead of a cocktail, given that it was his last night in Hawaii. But, no, she told herself sternly as they clinked glasses together. She wasn’t going to think about that, much less begin counting down the hours until he had to fly out tomorrow afternoon. What she was going to do was enjoy every single minute they still had together, including tonight’s dinner.
They had agreed to order room service again, not wanting to spend their last night together in a busy, crowded restaurant. Aubrey was wearing the gorgeous blue and purple floral print silk dress he’d bought her, along with the sexy high-heeled sandals. She’d taken some pains with her makeup, and used some sort of product in her hair that made it shimmer. Beneath the slip-style dress she wore one of the sets of couture lingerie he had bought for her that first morning
she’d woken up in this same suite at the Gregson resort. She felt glamorous and feminine and desirable, especially since Jordan couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off of her.
The feeling, however, was very, very mutual, she thought, gazing at him appreciatively. He was wearing the same suit he’d had on the night of their first date, though tonight he wasn’t wearing a tie. He’d left several buttons of his white dress shirt open, revealing the lean, strong column of his throat and the bare skin of his upper chest. His tan had deepened considerably in the two weeks since he’d arrived, giving him a dark and dangerous look that she found irresistible. His black hair was a bit longer, too, though he’d combed back the one errant lock that frequently fell across his forehead. And even though she’d watched him shave this morning, by this time of the day his cheeks and chin were lightly stubbled. He was so handsome, so effortlessly sexy, that she felt like an adolescent girl with a crush on a rock star as she gazed at him now.
“I know what that look means,” he told her, chuckling. He brushed his knuckles over her flushed cheek. “Impatient, are we?”
Aubrey nodded, not bothering to disguise the expression of lusty eagerness she knew he must have seen in her eyes. “Uh, huh,” she breathed. “I mean, it’s been a whole eight hours or so after all since - well, since the last time. How long will dinner keep?”
Jordan’s palm opened over her cheek, holding her head still as he kissed her lightly on the lips. “Nowhere near long enough,” he whispered, sliding an arm around her waist as he pulled her flush against his body. “I’m not about to rush a single minute of my last night in paradise with you. And since I finally convinced you to order the most expensive entrée on the menu, we shouldn’t let it go to waste.” He gave her earlobe an erotic little nibble that caused her to shiver in reaction, before adding, “Believe me, darlin’, I’m as anxious as you are. But being with you isn’t just about sex, Aubrey. So let’s enjoy our champagne, hmm? Not to mention this sunset.”
“I arranged for it, you know,” she murmured jokingly, resting her head against his shoulder. “The sunset, that is. I made sure that it didn’t rain or that it wasn’t too windy tonight. So that everything would be perfect for your last night on Maui.”
He rested his chin on the top of her head. “You know, we have pretty spectacular sunsets in San Francisco, too. It isn’t always foggy and cold there like the skeptics would have you believe. As you’ll find out for yourself when you come to stay with me in a few weeks.”
“Jordan.” Aubrey lifted her head to look up at him reproachfully, expecting to see a teasing gleam in his eyes. But she was taken aback to find that he was gazing at her with all seriousness in his expression. “I - you know I haven’t decided yet. Haven’t told you yes.”
“But you will,” he replied cheerfully. “I know you’re tempted, Aubrey. What I don’t know is why you’re still fighting me on this. Unless, of course, you’re tired of me already and have another hot Australian surfer lined up to take my place.”
He was obviously joking but, at the same time, she detected a hint of worry in his words, and was quick to reassure him. “I think it would take a very long time for any woman to get tired of you,” she told him earnestly. “And I’m no exception. And I can’t imagine meeting anyone who could possibly take your place. I guess I’m a little hesitant about saying yes because I’ve never lived with a guy before. Well, unless you count the week the surfer bum crashed on our couch until Jenna got two of her cousins to come over and throw him out. Her big cousins, the ones who were offensive linemen at the University of Hawaii. And I know you’re not inviting me to live with you per se, just visit for a little while, but I’m afraid you’ll regret extending the invitation sooner than later. And that you’d be too much of a gentleman to tell me and then things would get - ”
Jordan cut off whatever she was going to say next by covering her mouth with his, kissing her long and slow and very, very thoroughly. She slid her arms around his neck as he tightened his own about her waist.
“Now that I’ve managed to stop your babbling for a couple of minutes, it’s my turn to say a few things,” he said sternly when he finally stopped kissing her. “So please listen carefully, okay?”
At her nod, he continued, his arms still holding her tightly. “This vacation was something of a last minute thing for me. I was dealing with an issue back in San Francisco, and thought that a change of scenery would help me to stop thinking about it for awhile. And I also figured that banging a different woman each night during my stay would further distract me from my troubles.” He ran a forefinger tenderly across her lips. “But on my very first day here - hell, I hadn’t even managed to get my swim trunks wet - I saw this beautiful goddess emerging from the waves, and suddenly she was all I could think about. I forgot about my issues back at home, forgot about my plans to entertain a revolving door of women, forgot about anything else except meeting you and making sure you didn’t get away before agreeing to see me again.”
Aubrey hung on every word he spoke, her blue-eyed gaze locked intently with his gray one, and tried very hard to remember to breathe right about now. “Go - go on,” she urged in a husky voice.
He smiled, that sexy, panty-melting smile that always made her feel a little weak in the knees. “I told you that night at Surf’s Up that I’d never lived with a woman, had never even considered inviting one to stay with me for a short time. So I’m just as much in the dark as you are about how it all works. But we’ve been doing great these past two weeks, haven’t we? I mean, this probably doesn’t qualify as officially cohabitating, but we’ve spent every free minute you’ve had together. You don’t mind that I’m sort of a slob, while I’ve been overlooking the fact that you snore a little.”
She gasped, swatting him playfully on the bicep. “Omigod, I do not snore!”
Jordan grinned, sliding a hand down to caress her buttock. “Sorry to break the news, darlin’, but you do. Just a little. Though it’s really more of a snuffle. It’s cute. But in all seriousness, the point I was trying to make is that having a woman live with me is something I’m a rank novice at. Rather than me being the one to regret issuing the invitation, it’s way more likely that you’ll be storming out of my place after the first couple of days. But we’ll never know unless we give it a try. So are you ready to say yes?”
She hesitated, still not sure of what she was afraid of. She’d done a lot of outlandish things in her twenty-five years - diving off cliffs in Mexico, deep sea diving here in Hawaii, mountain climbing in Alaska, not to mention all of the sports she’d participated in throughout the years, and the community service trips to third world countries she had made in high school. But for some reason she couldn’t quite put her finger on, agreeing to stay with Jordan at his home in San Francisco for a few weeks intimidated the hell out of her.
“I - not quite yet,” she admitted. “I’m sorry, it’s just not something I’ve ever done before, you know? And I know I promised you an answer, but I’m not ready to make a decision right now. Are - are you angry?”
“Baby.” He wrapped her up in his arms, pressing a kiss to her temple. “I could never be angry with you, Aubrey. And I don’t want you to feel like I’m pressuring you into this. Hey, even though we’ve been nearly inseparable this past two weeks, there’s still a hell of a lot we need to learn about each other. And I admittedly have a lousy track record when it comes to women and relationships, so I don’t blame you for being careful. Just - keep thinking about it, okay? There’s no deadline to give me an answer, and the offer will continue to stand. Now, let’s have another glass or two of this champagne and then eat that very expensive dinner we ordered. I have a feeling you’d never forgive yourself if you let it go to waste.”
She gave him a grateful smile, relieved that she didn’t have to give him an answer this evening, and let him lead her over to the patio table that had been set with beautiful linens, china, and crystal for their dinner.
The food was
delicious, as she’d known it would be after having eaten numerous meals here at the hotel over these past couple of weeks. The steak was as tender as butter, the vegetables perfectly done, the tiny roast potatoes virtually melting in her mouth. Jordan kept their wine glasses filled with the rich Cabernet he’d ordered, but it wasn’t the alcohol that was making her feel slightly dazed. No, it was the way he kept looking at her from across the table, the unmistakable gleam of desire in his dark gray eyes, as well as all the subtle little ways he found to touch her throughout the meal - his fingers brushing over hers as he refilled her wine glass; his knee rubbing against hers under the table; the sensuous slide of his hand along her thigh and beneath the hem of her dress. By the time they had finished their main course, Aubrey was trembling all over in reaction, so aroused and needy that she could barely set her wine glass down without spilling the ruby liquid.
“More wine?” asked Jordan in a deceptively casual voice. “Or are you ready to move on to dessert?”
She got to her feet a bit unsteadily, holding onto the edge of the table for support, then carefully walked around to where he sat. “No wine,” she whispered unevenly. “And the only thing I want to move onto right now is you.”
His eyes widened in surprise as she very unexpectedly straddled his lap, the close fitting skirt of her dress riding high up on her thighs as she did so. She cupped his face between her palms, then bent low to kiss him, her tongue parting his lips easily. Jordan groaned unresistingly, his hands sliding from her hips to her ass as she began a slow bump and grind on his lap. She leaned forward until her breasts were crushed against his chest, the hard points of her nipples straining against the lace of the bra that suddenly felt far too tight and restrictive. Impatiently, and without lifting her mouth from his, she reached behind her back and fumbled with the zipper of the dress, lowering it all the way down. Blindly, she pushed the top half of the dress to her waist, then just as frantically unhooked her bra. She urged his hands to her naked breasts, whispering against his lips, “Please. Oh, God, please. I need…”
The Girl of His Dreams (Bachelor #1) Page 14
