And just like that, an invisible weight lifted off his shoulders and he stood taller. “I would never give up the time we had together.”
A satisfied gleam entered his brother’s gaze as he squeezed Cole’s shoulder. “Then, little brother, how could it possibly be any different with Jordan?”
In the stock room at Comets, Jordan and Kerri checked their inventory and were making the regular Sunday list for the weekly order she’d place later that day. A task Jordan normally handled herself but Cole’s haunting had gotten stronger and she didn’t want to be alone. She needed someone to keep her mind occupied so she dragged her sister out of bed to help…and because she had this strange feeling she needed Kerri with her today.
“I can hardly believe Thanksgiving is only four days away,” Kerri said with a slight shake to her head. “Where in the world did the year go?”
“Got me,” Jordan replied, not wanting to think about any of the upcoming holidays. “Are you sure you have everything you need?”
“I’m sure,” Kerri replied.
Bullet’s incessant barking burst through the silence of the restaurant from his perch out back. What’s with him today? In all the time she’d had him, he’d never barked this much.
“Jordan, why exactly did you bring Bullet with you?”
She tossed her hand with the list in the air and stared at her sister. “I didn’t have a choice. He’s acting so weird this morning. He wouldn’t let me leave without him.”
When they’d arrived, she’d chained him to the fence behind the restaurant—his usual spot, and expected him to put nose to pavement in search of invisible trails as always. He had a long lead, was away from traffic and loved to explore as well as guard the back door. But not even his favorite stomping ground had satisfied his restless, unsettled behavior today.
When he began to howl, they both turned their heads toward the back of the restaurant. “See what I mean?”
Suddenly, the room started to shake and a deep rumbling filled their ears. Cans danced across shelves and clattered to the floor. The smashing of glasses and dishes echoed from the dining room.
“Earthquake!” Jordan sank her fingers around her sister’s arm and yanked her toward the hall, as their stock rained down on them.
Bullet’s behavior suddenly made a lot of sense.
Chapter Seventeen
The ground pitched beneath Jordan as they scramble from the stockroom off the kitchen. Falling utensils and culinary objects made it far too dangerous for them to remain in the doorway. Pots and pans bounced off the floor and into their path as they ran with staggered steps through the kitchen and out the back to a barking Bullet.
Moving as far away from the building as possible, they tried to catch their breath. The shaking stopped. Alarms blared throughout the street, including their restaurant. Other dogs joined in Bullet’s howls.
Jordan eyed Kerri with concern. “Are you alright?”
“Yes, I think so. How about you? You’re bleeding!”
Kerry pointed to Jordan’s temple and she fingered her aching head. “It’s just a scratch.”
Turning her attention to Bullet, she bent down. “It’s okay, boy. This is what you were trying to warn me about, huh?” She received a bark and a few kisses as his ears twitched.
She unlocked the handcuffs and unhooked his long leash. He stayed close as they made their way around to the front of the restaurant.
Confusion greeted them. People crowded the streets and parking lots. Some walked around in a daze while others ran about helping. Busted water mains gushed into the air. Hissing and sirens sounded in the distance while a haze hung like a cloud as dust tried to settle. Small fires burned, and when the hissing noise became more apparent, Jordan’s heart stopped.
“Hold Bullet for me, Kerri.” She thrust the leash at her sister and turned toward the building.
“Where are you going? Jordan! You can’t go in there. It’s not safe,” Kerri yelled.
“I’m not. I have to shut off the gas in the back,” she shouted over her shoulder, running as fast as she could.
“Jordan, no,” Kerri screamed while Bullet barked.
A second later, the strong hissing and pungent odor exploded with a terrible boom. The powerful blast hurt her ears while the percussion knocked her to the ground—hard. I’m too late, her mind cried as the area shook and what was left of the windows flew out followed by a cloud of fire that engulfed her restaurant and headed straight toward her wounded body.
The Expo was in full swing. Cole could always count on the convention to grab his interest. The place was crowded with the industries leaders and up-and-comers. Booth after booth held the latest innovations in technology and software. His life’s work. Which would be great except…work no longer was his life.…and he suddenly wondered what the hell he was doing there.
He didn’t want to be in Japan.
He wanted to be with Jordan.
It all became so clear.
Everything his brother and Kevin had said was true. Taking a chance, opening his heart and life to Jordan didn’t guarantee eternal happiness. Life was too unpredictable. But it did guarantee right now happiness. No one knew what was around the corner, and unless he came out from behind the protective wall he’d built around his heart, he wasn’t really living. He didn’t regret loving then losing Bess and it would certainly be no different with Jordan. The regret would be to do nothing at all. It would be a mistake not taking a chance on Jordan, to not let her into his life. Hell, she was his life.
How could he have been so stupid?
He couldn’t control the actions of others, but he sure as hell could control his own. Starting right now. He strode through the crowd, straight to the McCall Enterprises booth where several of his employees were dulling out demonstrations and a smiling Kevin who was surrounded by three identical Japanese women.
Cole’s lips twitched. Leave it to his friend. Even in the middle of a convention, in a foreign country, surrounded by technology, his buddy managed to attract female attention.
“Until later, darlins’,” Kevin drawled, tipping his hat with a slight bow and received three soft giggles before the beauties disappeared into the crowd. He turned his gaze to Cole. “Before you say anything. I can assure you we were talking shop…mostly.”
“No need,” he reassured, stepping past him and through the blue curtain behind their booth. Kevin followed. “I get it. They’re interested in your software.”
His buddy flinched. “See? Now that’s just plain mean. My hardware, man. They’re interested in my hardware. And I’ve got a date with them tonight…all three of them, for a private presentation to show them exactly how it works.”
Cole slapped him on the shoulder and smiled. “Good for you.”
A startled blue gaze narrowed on him. “Who are you and what the hell have you done with my friend? He’s six foot, dark hair, brown eyes, looks suspiciously like you but walks around with a pole stuck up his ass.”
Cole threw his head back and laughed. “I gave him the boot.”
“Good.”
“And now I’m giving you the booth. “I’m leaving,” he said, packing his laptop. Kevin had his own with the same presentation and all the information he needed to represent McCall Enterprises.
“Leaving?” Kevin stepped closer and frowned. “Look, if it’s because of the triplets—”
“No.” He shook his head, cupping his friend’s shoulder. “It’s not about you. It’s about me, not only removing the pole you mentioned, but my head as well.”
Kevin cocked his head and narrowed his eyes again. “You’re not going to Texas, are you?”
“Nope. California to grovel at Jordan’s feet and beg her forgiveness.”
Kevin let out a whoop, grasped Cole’s shoulders and smiled. “Bout damn time!”
“I know. Thanks, man.”
“For what?”
“For riding my ass and making me realize I can’t control other people’s actions
and that I need to take a chance before it’s too late.” His heart suddenly stopped as the deep foreboding that had been plaguing him the past twenty-four hours returned. “At least, I hope I’m not too late.”
“Nah, man,” his friend said. “That girl loves you and would wait forever for you. Hell, she’s already waited ten years.”
Thirteen hours later, Cole continued to glance at his watch as if that would make time go faster. He’d spent most of those hours in the air. Now that he’d finally made up his mind, he wanted to get to Jordan, make amends and start their new life together. He pulled out the jewelers box from his pocket and stared at the diamond ring he’d purchased while his pilot had readied the jet.
The store, though popular and exclusive, housing only the world’s top diamonds, didn’t have one big enough to represent all the feelings he had for Jordan. But he didn’t go for the biggest or the prettiest. That wasn’t Jordan’s style.
The ring he’d given Bess was simple and elegant. It had suited her. Not at all the right fit for Jordan. He had no idea what kind of ring Eric had given her, he just wanted to choose something different. Something to represent the woman and how he felt. He eventually decided on a unique, one-of-a-kind ring with an interwoven band to form a love knot with a heart-shaped diamond in the middle. A three karat diamond. Okay, so he went a little ornate. He wanted people to know she was taken, dammit.
He certainly was.
The pilot announced their decent. Thank, Christ. He was going nuts.
Slipping the ring back in his pocket he contemplated calling her for the tenth time, but then vetoed the idea. Again. He wanted to surprise her. Besides, what he had to say needed to be said face-to-face. If she wasn’t home, he’d try Comets’, Kerri’s, even Megan’s if he had to. He’d stored all their addresses and phone numbers in his phone a few months back, not ever intending to use them, but now, he was glad he had. He just hoped he wasn’t too late and that she would find it in her heart to forgive him.
Opting to rent a car instead of hailing a taxi since he didn’t know how long he’d be staying, Cole punched in Jordan’s address on the GPS and headed through L.A., his pulse beating erratic in his chest. God, he couldn’t wait to see her and wished he hadn’t waited this damn long.
Those same thoughts raged in his head a half hour later as he drove through streets, around road blocks, passed houses devastated as if a bomb had gone off. Cole parked in Jordan’s driveway and vaulted from the car, staring at the yellow caution tape blocking her door. Her house was one of the few intact, with only a busted window or two, which were now boarded up. But the others…Jesus, they were leveled, tilted, one had even slid half off its stilts and was perched, ready to crumble with the slightest breeze.
He drew out his phone and called Jordan, willing her to pick up. Nothing. He dialed her house and got her machine. Next he called, Kerri. Nothing. Comets. Still nothing. Christ.
“Cole?”
He spun around, noting two officers getting out of a police cruiser, one with a familiar face. “Shawn. What the hell happened?”
“Earthquake. Almost two days ago. Where’ve you been?”
Cole slumped against the car as Shawn’s words knocked the strength from his legs. Heart stopping mid-beat, he inhaled sharply while blood drained to his feet as if sucked by a vacuum. The foreboding hovering over the past thirty some hours, suddenly became clear.
“Japan,” he vaguely replied, checking his phone. Sure enough, he had several missed calls from Connor. Cole always kept it on silent during conventions. Hell he hadn’t even checked his emails.
“That would explain it.” Shawn nodded.
Didn’t explain why Jordan hadn’t answered her phone…unless... I’m too late.
Fear took root and propelled him forward. He grasped Shawn by the shoulders and studied his face. “Jordan, where is she? Is she okay?”
“Relax. Yes, she’s okay,” Shawn reassured.
Cole released him with a nod, doing his best to hold onto his dwindling control.
“So is Kerri. Thankfully she was with Jordan at Comets when the quake struck. That’s her house there. Or, what’s left of it.” The other officer pointed to the house half off the stilts.
“Jesus.”
“Yeah. Although, Comets is completely gone, too. Gas main busted and leveled the place.” Shawn held up his hand when Cole opened his mouth, his heart back in his throat. “They weren’t inside, but did get hit with flying debris. Jordan suffered a slight concussion and they both had cuts and bruises. Still, it could’ve been much worse.”
Cole’s chest was so tight he could hardly breath as Shawn’s words sunk in and painted a horrid picture. “Where is she? At your place? I take it you and Megan and the baby are okay.”
“We’re fine. We happened to be up north visiting my mother-in-law when the quake hit Sunday morning. Our house is good. Only a few broken pictures and lamps. As for Jordan, she’s not here.”
He reeled back. “Not here? What do you mean?”
“Her parents flew in on one of your father’s private jets this morning and took Jordan and Kerri back to Texas with them about two hours ago.”
Jordan wasn’t there.
He flew to California for nothing.
Jordan was in Texas.
He let out a laugh. Fucking fate. “It was nice seeing you, Shawn. Give my best to Megan and the baby. I’ve got to run?”
A knowing smile spread across the cop’s face. “I take it you’ve come to your senses then?”
“Yes,” Cole replied, opening the car door before he repeated what he’d told Kevin the day before. “I’m going to grovel at Jordan’s feet and beg her forgiveness.”
Chapter Eighteen
Jordan stood on the bluff overlooking the gulf, wind whipping her hair in her face and sending a chill through her bones. She shoved her hands deep in the pocket of the coat she’d borrowed from her mother. Her own clothes weren’t exactly fit for a Texas winter. Although, half of the chill had nothing to do with the weather.
God, she couldn’t believe she was in Harland County again.
Oh, she wanted to come back, just not under these circumstances. No. She’d wanted Cole to come get her. To profess his undying love and beg her to come home. Her chest tightened with a painful ripple. At least he was in Japan until the end of the week and not there to glower. She couldn’t have handled that at the moment. And if he was miserable when he returned, she’d already made up her mind to go stay at her parents’ house. She’d sleep in a damn sleeping bag on the floor amongst the renovations if she had to. No way could she stay at the McCall’s with Cole so close yet untouchable. She just couldn’t.
Unable to stand near the tree, yet unwilling to go back to the ranch just yet, she made her way down to the beach and stared at the waves crashing into the shore. Turbulent. Like her life at the moment. She had no job, be it the force or Comets. But, at least she had her house, although she still had to wait for it to be deemed safe. Unlike poor Kerri. Man, she felt so bad for her sister. The business she loved, poured everything into, had been reduced to ash. Then there was her house. Gone. Collapsed.
Fate sucked sometimes. Took everything away…
Wait a minute.
She straightened and even let out a laugh. No. My God, she had it all wrong. How could she not see this before? All the pain, Cole’s rebuff, her going back to California…it all made sense.
“Jordan.”
Cole?
She stilled. That couldn’t have been him. He was in Japan. Great, now she was hearing things she wanted to hear. But it did suddenly feel like he was behind her.
“Jordan, please turn around.”
She closed her eyes, heart instantly pounding right out of her tight chest. He was there. But how? She opened her eyes and slowly turned around. A hiccup escaped her throat at the sight of him standing on the beach in Armani, arms full of roses and chocolate.
“My God!” His gifts hit the sand as he rushed forward, c
oncern darkening his eyes. “Are you okay?” he asked in a rough voice, lightly touching the bandage on her forehead.
She nodded. “Yes, I’m fine.”
A second later, a strangled sound ripped from his throat as he drew her into his arms and held tight. Strong, warm, wonderful arms she wanted around her for the rest of her life. God, she didn’t know why he was there or how, but she burrowed in and took what he gave. It didn’t matter. He was here. That’s all that mattered. And even if it was just her imagination. She didn’t care. Right now, she was happy.
“I’m sorry, Jordan. I’m so damn sorry. I never should have let you go,” he said near her ear, head buried against her neck. “Now you’re hurt because of me. If I would’ve listened to you and asked you to stay in Texas, then you wouldn’t have almost…” his voice trailed off and she felt him swallow.
“Hey, no.” She drew back to cup his face and held his tortured gaze. “You did not cause the earthquake, Cole. Don’t you dare try to take the blame for my injuries.”
“But, if I hadn’t sent you away…”
She placed a finger on his lips and smiled. “I’m so glad you did.”
“You’re glad?”
Eyebrows disappearing under his hair, he looked thoroughly confused and utterly adorable. Her hand dropped to his shoulder but she didn’t leave his arms.
“I was right where I was supposed to be. Believe it or not, fate had actually been helping this time. If you hadn’t sent me away, then I wouldn’t have been in California last Sunday to insist Kerri come help me out at Comets.” She stopped to draw in a breath as the full force of her realization hit hard. “Kerri’s house…” That was all she could get out as emotions clogged her throat.
“I know,” he said quietly, catching a tear on his thumb. “I saw it.”
She blinked up at him. “You did? How? When?”
“A few hours ago. I flew to California to beg your forgiveness and found devastation instead.”
Her Fated Cowboy (Harland County Series) Page 25
