Oh God!
He began to pray as he searched for a way into the house. Taking a chance, he tried the front door and found it locked. Good girl, he thought, thankful she was safe from intruders. Remembering that there was a spare key above the door, nestled on top of the trim, he reached up and pulled the silver key down and opened the door.
“Jordan?” he called out hesitantly. No reply. Closing the door behind him, he walked softly into the bungalow and looked around before calling out to her again. “Jordan?”
“Rob?” Jordan’s voice was weak and it took a moment for him to locate where she was calling him from. He found her sitting on the floor outside the bathroom door.
White-hot fear gripped him. “Oh God! Jordan? What happened? Are you okay?” He knelt before her and scanned her body, looking for any obvious signs of injury and yet afraid to touch her.
“I’m fine, really,” she lied. “I was coming down the hall to take a shower when everything began to tilt and spin again. I eased myself down to the floor in hopes of it passing.”
“How long have you been sitting here?”
“I have no idea,” she said quietly, her head in her hands. Rob lowered himself to the floor to sit beside her. He cautiously put an arm around her and pulled her close. She was tiny and fragile, and he could feel her body tremble with both fear and relief that someone was there now with her. She let him hold her close as she steadied herself.
“You’re fine now,” he murmured into her hair. “I’m here. You don’t have to worry.”
“What are you doing here?” she asked finally, finding some strength to put into her voice but unwilling to raise her head from the comfort and warmth of his shoulder.
“Didn’t Laura call you?”
“I heard the phone ring, but I couldn’t get to it. Is everything all right? Are the boys okay?” Panic laced her voice and he hugged her tight for comfort.
“The boys are fine. They’re just running your poor sister ragged,” he teased. “When they showed up for dinner, she looked like she’d run a marathon, and when she mentioned she had forgotten to bring your prescription to you, I offered to bring it instead. I hope that’s okay.” Sure, he was fishing for some comfort of his own, but pride had long since been tossed out the window. While he wanted to know she was glad he was there, he also knew he wasn’t going to leave anytime soon, no matter what she said. His dark eyes fixed on her face, willing her to look at him.
“Yes, that’s fine. Thank you.” Slowly, Jordan lifted her head from its resting place on Rob’s shoulder, looked at him, and smiled. His brown eyes were tender and comforting. Everything was going to be just fine, she assured herself.
“How’s that head?” he asked softly, one hand gently caressing her nape.
“Better. Not so bad right now,” she whispered back. Their lips were mere inches apart and Jordan wanted nothing more than for him to kiss her. His breath warmed her face and she inhaled its minty scent.
Would she be so bold as to lean forward and initiate a kiss?
Before she could, Rob removed his arms from around her and slowly rose to his feet, reaching a hand down to her.
“Come on. Let’s get you up off the floor so you can take your shower and get some rest.” It was a far cry from what he truly wanted to say and do, but he couldn’t possibly take advantage of her in this condition, no matter how badly he wanted her.
Jordan reached for his hand and allowed him to carefully pull her to her feet, where she landed flush against the solid wall of his chest with a soft thud. Feeling bold, she rested one hand over his heart and felt its erratic beat that matched her own.
Through thick lashes, she met his serious gaze and felt certain he would kiss her. Surely now he would put an end to one of the longest weeks of her life and tell her he still wanted her.
But he didn’t.
He released her carefully and turned her toward the open doorway. “You go on in and do what you’ve got to do while I make you something to eat. Have you had dinner yet?”
Speechless, she shook her head. “I was planning on making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Nothing major.”
“Not to worry. I’ll whip something up. Now go.” Rob gently shoved her into the bathroom, turned on his heel, and walked purposefully toward the kitchen, willing himself not to look back at her, because otherwise, he would take advantage of her condition and make love to her right there on the bathroom floor. The image caused him to smile as he opened the refrigerator. Mmm…Jordan in the shower, all soft and soapy. He shook his head and refocused on dinner.
He frowned, however, as he took in the contents before him. If he was smart, he’d just pick up dinner from the restaurant, but after finding Jordan on the floor when he’d gotten there, there was no way he was going to leave her alone again.
Rob thought of calling Laura and informing her of what he had found when he arrived, but then thought better of it. If he alarmed her, she would possibly come home with the boys and that would not only upset them, but it would also ruin his chance of being alone with Jordan and working things out.
In his more rational thinking, he also knew this could be the best, and maybe last, opportunity for him to prove to Jordan that he was here for her, that he would take care of her.
Laura might get mad at him for not being told of Jordan’s condition, but in the end, Rob was sure she would understand. Was it just a coincidence that she had made herself scarce and needed him to come here and help Jordan? Could Laura be that devious?
God, he hoped so. And if she was, he would buy her the biggest drink, the largest bouquet of flowers, whatever she wanted, to thank her.
Resigning himself to a less-than-spectacular dinner, Rob decided on making western omelets and toast for them both. As he chopped up the ingredients, he was keenly aware of the sounds coming from the bathroom. He nicked his finger with a paring knife as the image of Jordan naked in the shower with hot, soapy water streaming down her body played through his mind.
Reaching for a bandage, Rob lectured himself on having some self-control and not pouncing on her. He shouldn’t allow himself to picture her naked, or to remember how smooth her skin felt next to his. Cracking the eggs into a large metal bowl, he scolded himself for thinking about her silky heat when he was inside her or the sounds she made when she climaxed.
Wiping the cold sweat from his brow with a nearby dish towel, Rob heard the bathroom door open, Jordan’s light footsteps, and then her bedroom door closing. Thank the Lord he hadn’t seen her wrapped in a towel right now or all his recriminations would have been for nothing! He knew the last thing she needed was for him to be putting the moves on her, but he was holding on to his self-control by a thread; it was better if he didn’t see her in anything but full covering from head to toe right now.
Popping the bread down into the toaster, he focused his attention on flipping his omelets and getting the table set for a casual dinner. He hoped Jordan didn’t mind that he had invited himself to stay and eat with her. Too bad if she did. He’d kept his distance long enough. He’d kept his silence long enough, too—a fact he planned on changing after they ate.
As he’d driven around town tonight before coming here, Rob realized he wasn’t willing to let Jordan or her sons go. The thought of never seeing them again wasn’t an option. He’d stay here all night and talk some sense into her if he had to. He’d plead his case, tell her how much he loved her—hell, he’d beg if that’s what it took for her to understand how much she meant to him.
Rob wanted a life with Jordan and was willing to talk through any concerns she had until their future was set.
With any luck, they would not spend the night merely talking.
Chapter 13
Jordan was a bundle of nerves as she paced in her bedroom. Rob was here.
Again.
Rob was taking care of her.
Again.
In all her alone time in the hospital the previous night and during her few hours alone today, she’d realized she had to fight for him. The thought of moving forward without him was no longer an option. He may very well still be angry and hurt, but she’d do her best to apologize and make him see what a fool she’d been. She knew she was going to have to be strong so they could talk about all her fears. It was important that Rob realize it wasn’t him she was struggling with but herself. With any luck, Rob would forgive her and they could have the future together that should have started so many years ago.
Her damp hair began to curl seductively around her face and Jordan opted to let it dry naturally. The thought of the noise from the blow-dryer was just too darn much to deal with now that the dull ache in her head had finally started to subside.
Opening her bureau drawer, she pulled out something to wear and slipped it on. She smiled at her own reflection and said a quick prayer that Rob would appreciate her pitiful attempt at being sexy. Seduction had not been in her initial plans to make Rob know how much he meant to her, but right now it seemed like a damn good idea. They were here alone, and desperate times called for desperate measures. Who knew when an opportunity like this would present itself again?
Jordan stopped for a moment. Could she possibly pull off being sexy after the last twenty-four hours? Would she end up making a complete fool out of herself? Silently she hoped she wouldn’t and pushed all negative thoughts aside. She was a woman on a mission and finally going after the man she loved.
The last thing she did before leaving the room was to use a touch of lip gloss; it was the only makeup she’d use tonight. Taking a final look around her room, Jordan felt at peace. For the first time in years, she trusted herself to make everything all right.
Walking into the kitchen, she smiled as Rob placed two steaming plates on the table. She saw him swallow hard when he spotted her and he quickly turned away and busied himself with buttering their toast.
“Something smells wonderful,” she said as she inhaled the wonderful aroma of the meal and slowly walked over to the table, where she sat herself in a chair.
“You didn’t have much to work with, so I hope you like omelets.”
“I was letting the food run out since we’re leaving.” The words came out without conscious thought and she noticed the stunned look on Rob’s face before he looked away and went about getting them drinks. Cursing herself for not thinking before she spoke, Jordan tried to think up a change of subject to get Rob to relax.
Soon he was sitting beside her and there was a fine sheen of perspiration on his brow. They ate in silence for a long time before Jordan could think of a neutral topic, something that was safe, and spoke.
“So,” she began, “the boys were running Laura ragged, huh?”
Rob laughed and repeated the story of how her sister looked when she had walked into the restaurant. “She sent the boys to play video games, but I think it was just a ploy to get some quiet time for herself.” They both laughed, knowing full well how energetic Jordan’s sons were. “She seems to think the beach air has given them more energy than they had before.”
“I can’t believe she came all the way down here and then took them away for the night to help me out,” Jordan said, searching desperately for something to say and then found herself rambling. “I think secretly she’s trying for a weekend getaway; unfortunately, my sons are along for the ride.”
“She was clearly concerned for you and loves you and the boys a lot. You’re lucky to have her,” Rob agreed.
“Oh, believe me, I know I’m lucky. Not many people have someone who’d be willing to drop everything on a moment’s notice to come and help out in a crisis.” She let the words hang there, hoping Rob would realize it wasn’t just Laura she was talking about. Though there was silence again while they finished their meals, it wasn’t the awkward kind they’d been sharing of late.
When he stood to clear the table, Rob remembered Jordan’s prescriptions. “Oh, I almost forgot.” He handed the bottles to her. “One of those is for the pain and the other is the antibiotic for the ear infection. You really need to take them with food so maybe you should take them now.”
Jordan looked at the bottles and frowned. She’d take the antibiotic now, but she didn’t want to take the pain pill in case it put her to sleep. She needed to be fully awake to settle things with Rob. If she waited much longer, however, she’d run the risk of falling asleep on her own. The lack of sleep from the night before was catching up with her—that and the fact that she had taken a relaxing hot shower and filled her tummy.
Watching him work in her kitchen made Jordan realize her love for Rob all the more. He would always be like this, she thought. He would always take care of her and her sons. That thought brought a faint smile to her lips. She knew she could get used to the idea of having a man—this man—in her life again permanently. Why had she ever thought otherwise?
Rob seemed to be going out of his way to keep his distance, and she didn’t like it. Taking a deep breath for courage, Jordan rose from her seat at the kitchen table, walked into the living room, and sat down on the sofa. Waiting a moment to see if he’d take her cue, Jordan finally asked him to stop cleaning and invited him to sit with her.
Reluctantly, he accepted and gave the kitchen one last look to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything. Once the kitchen light was turned off, he realized the only other light came from a small lamp next to Jordan. The room had a very soft, very romantic glow. Jordan had a very soft, romantic glow as well, and he swallowed hard at the sight of her.
Sitting on the sofa, Jordan observed Rob as he walked over. If she didn’t know better, she would have sworn he was nervous. In all the years she’d known him, she would never have called him that. Rob was always confident and secure; seeing him now made her realize there was more to this man than she’d ever known, and she wanted to know all of him.
In a pair of well-worn jeans and yet another snug-fitting navy T-shirt, he was ruggedly sexy. She loved that he kept his wardrobe simple, casual, and very masculine. His dark hair was in disarray from raking his hands through it too many times, no doubt in frustration over her and this wild ride of a weekend. The stubble darkening his jaw only enhanced his ruggedly sexy look. He sat on the opposite side of the room and played with a loose thread on his shoelace, clearly uncomfortable.
Jordan felt a little disheartened. “Are you going to talk to me at all?” she asked softly with exasperation.
“What do you mean? We’ve been talking.”
“Not really,” she said quietly. “We’ve been talking without really talking. We’ve talked about the kids and Laura and anything safe and mundane; the only thing we’ve skipped is the weather.”
“What do you mean?”
The man was completely obtuse, Jordan decided. Either that or he was going out of his way to make her squirm. He still wouldn’t fully look at her, and Jordan felt all the wind go out of her sails.
Maybe she had misread the signals; maybe she had seen only what she wanted to see and things really were over. She wouldn’t grovel, and if there was one thing Jordan was coming to realize about herself, it was that she was a survivor. She had been through hell and back and she was still here, finally willing to try to make her life better for her and her sons. Clearly that life just wasn’t meant to include Rob.
“Oh, just forget it.” She sighed. “Thank you for bringing my prescriptions over and for making dinner. You don’t have to stay and babysit. I’m going to take my pills and go to sleep, so you can go now. There’s nothing left for you to do here. You’ve done your good deed for the day.” Her annoyance was beginning to show and it took Rob completely by surprise.
Jordan was always in control of her emotions. To see this side of her now was a completely new experience, and as much as he was annoyed that all her anger was seemingly directed at him
, he enjoyed seeing this kind of fire in her.
When Rob made no comment after her little speech, she decided to move things along and get him out the door so she could put this whole stupid night behind her. Standing a little too quickly, Jordan had to catch herself and brace her hand on the arm of the sofa.
“What on earth is the matter with you, Jordan?” Rob snapped as he jumped up and snaked an arm around her waist to steady her.
“What do you mean?” she mimicked snidely.
“What the hell did that comment mean? You’ve done your good deed for the day. What’s that about?”
“It’s nothing. Really. I’m just tired and cranky. I didn’t sleep much last night in the hospital with all their poking and prodding. My head is starting to hurt, and I would really like for this day just to end.” And for the floor to open up and just swallow me now. “Just go. Please.” She headed for the kitchen, deciding it would be a good idea to take that pain pill and pass out before she made matters worse and embarrassed herself any further.
“Oh no, you don’t,” Rob said as he stalked over and grabbed the medication from her hands. Jordan made to grab the bottles back but he held her off. In the blink of an eye, she found herself semi-wrestling with him before the bottles fell to the floor and Rob had her by the shoulders.
“You’re not getting out of this that easily. You want us to talk, so talk. I want to know what you meant by that.” He wasn’t yelling, but his tone left no doubt he was equally annoyed.
“Look,” she said wearily with a sigh, “I just meant… Oh, I don’t know! I can’t do this anymore, Rob. Please just go.” Tears welled in her eyes as she turned out of his grasp. Rob took one step closer, placing his hands on her shoulders again and turning her toward him, his face full of tenderness.
“What can’t you do anymore?” he asked softly.
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