Finding Jordie: Things aren't always what they seem. (The Love Lies Bleeding Series Book 1)

by Harley, HJ

  “Yeah, I feel great, just tired. You, fine sir, exhaust me.” I grinned.

  “And I plan on exhausting you some more once I get you downstairs.” He flashed that sexy-as-all-hell grin my way that sent my tummy into the famous flip-flops. I loved that feeling.

  “Well, when you go to work, that expression and the nut job smile stay home. Got it?” I demanded playfully as we headed down the fire escape.

  “Deal.” He laughed.

  Nathan helped me finish cleaning up from dinner and before I dragged my tired ass upstairs, I checked on Emma. It was nine o’clock and the kid was out cold. I slowly drudged up to the bedroom. I grabbed a t-shirt and a pair of shorts and climbed into bed. I had grown accustomed to the television being on before I fell asleep. Believe it or not I even appreciated it. I could see much more with the dim light it gave off. Then again, before Nathan, I didn’t have much to see so I hadn’t really needed it on. He climbed into bed right after me and pulled me tight. He ran his long fingers up my arm to the back of my neck as I played with the little patch of hair on his chest then traced my finger along his torso, skimmed his neck, and up to his lips.

  “These bad boys are mine.” I looked up at him and he grabbed a fistful of my hair at the nape of my neck, guiding me up to kiss him.

  “All yours forever, babe,” he whispered as I climbed up to straddle him. I felt him against me as soon as I brought my body down on his. He pulled me in as close as possible as he grasped my behind and grinded into me. His mouth possessed mine, passionately, lovingly, and savagely all at the same time.

  “Marry me,” he breathed into my mouth between kisses.

  I pulled back and sat straight up. “What?” I was panting. He didn’t say what I think he said, did he?

  I heard the tug of the chain from the light on the nightstand. The soft glow made me squint until my eyes had adjusted.

  “Marry me, Jordan,” he said again.

  His words sent my belly into that blissful turmoil, and as my eyes finally adjusted, his blue eyes burned straight through my green.

  “I love you. Marry me, please?” He sat up so our foreheads touched.

  “Yes,” was all I managed to say as I felt the sting of the tears burn my nose and eyes.

  He lifted me off of him and headed to the closet in a hurry. I heard what sounded like a few of my shoeboxes falling down followed by a cuss or two. He fumbled around for another moment and emerged from the closet with what I assumed was his victory face. I let out a small giggle as he made his way back over to the bed and sat next to me. In one hand he held a little blue box and with his free hand he took mine. Our eyes never strayed from one another’s. Oh, those eyes. I heard the box pop open.

  “Jordan Marie Spagnato, will you be my wife? Will you marry me?” He held the ring up, but I still hadn’t taken my eyes off of him. That did it though, the burn in my eyes turned into free-flowing tears as they fell past the biggest smile I had ever smiled.

  “Yes, yes, yes, I’ll marry you. Of course I’ll marry you!” I just about screamed the words and tackled him, bringing us down on the bed.

  He laughed as he took my hand and slid the ring onto my left ring finger. I looked down and through my watery eyes I saw the single most gorgeous ring I had ever laid eyes on. It was a princess-cut solitaire diamond set on a thick white gold band. It wasn’t huge or gaudy. It was perfect. It was more than perfect. It was heaven. He grabbed my face and kissed me, and we picked up right where we’d left off before we were engaged.

  The alarm clock started blaring at four A.M. I slapped my hand over it and felt around for the snooze button.

  “Looks like I’ll have to put that on my side of the bed.” Nathan chuckled when he shut it off and brushed his fingers across my cheek. As I dozed back off into la la land I heard the shower turn on.

  Ugh. Why is the bed moving? Is there an earthquake? Oh well, too tired.

  “You need to get up, and I need to go,” Nathan said while he nudged the bed with his knee causing it to shake.

  “No, stay home,” I grumbled, struggling to open my eyes.

  “I love you.” He bent down and gave me a soft, lingering kiss.

  “I love you, too.” I rolled out of bed. The first thing I noticed was the ring on my finger and I stretched out my arm to admire it. “This is beautiful, Nathan. Thank you.”

  “No, thank you for saying yes. And I can’t take all the credit; Rachel did help me pick it out. I swear, though, if I didn’t rein her in you would’ve had the Hope friggin’ Diamond sitting there instead.” He laughed.

  “That’s why she’s been avoiding me?” I shrieked. Sneaky bitch.

  “Oh yeah. You should see all the texts I’ve gotten from her. I swear she has multiple personalities.” He shook his head as he pulled his phone from his pocket.

  “One text she’s giddy and gushing, the next cursing at me for asking her to keep this a secret. Every day for the last week, ‘Did you do it yet? I’m dying. She will eventually figure out something is up, doofus. You need to do it like N O W.’“ He chuckled as he read her last text out loud. “What is it with women? So dramatic.”

  “Says the man who makes a living by being dramatic?” I smirked.

  He grinned as he fixed the cuff on his shirt and then reached for his watch on top of the dresser. His eyebrows mashed together while he struggled to see what he was doing. It was still pretty dark in there so I switched the light on.

  “Come here. Let me help.” I motioned with my hand. My eyes were fixated on his wrist as I fastened his watch.

  “So when I leave the house do you want me to, like, take this off or hide it?” I peered up at him and lifted up my ring.

  “Do you want to hide it?” His wounded expression made my stomach sink.

  “No,” I blurted out immediately. “I didn’t know how all this worked is all. You know, photogs, image, all that fun celebrity stuff?” I perked up the best I could for four fifty-six in the morning.

  “How all what works, Jordie? We love each other, we’re engaged. What comes next?”

  “Listen to you. You have it all figured out, don’t ya? Making it all sound so... simple.” I quirked my lip up and gave a bewildered shrug. “One thing you didn’t consider with this well-thought-out plan of yours. Your mother. Maybe you should tell your parents before they find out from the tabloids again? I’d imagine your mom would be pretty upset if that were to happen twice.”

  He blinked a few times and took in a quick sharp breath. “Yeeeeaaaaah, I’m going to call her when I get in the car.”

  “Nathan, it’s like two A.M. there.”

  “I hope she answers the phone, then.” He moved his eyebrows up and down. His phone beeped and he went to the dresser to check it.

  “Frank’s here. I have to leave. As far as this goes...” He took my hand and kissed it. “You can go out there and wave it in the world’s face.”

  “I love you.” I smiled.

  “Love you too, baby. I’ll see you later. Text me if you need anything.” He walked out of the bedroom.

  I hopped in the shower hoping there was some hot water left. Emma had showered the night before so I could take the last of it guilt-free. By the time I got downstairs, Emma was at the table eating breakfast.

  “Morning, angel face.” I walked past her to the kitchen and poured myself a cup of coffee.

  “I don’t have practice today. Ms. Varnett has to leave early.” She garbled the words, her mouth full of cereal.

  “Good morning, Mom. How did you sleep, Mom? Great, thank you, Emma, and stop talking with your mouth full. You weren’t raised by cows. Also, all right, I’ll be outside for you at two thirty then.” I sat down and took a sip of coffee and stared at her.

  “Sorry. Good morning, Mom. How did—” Suddenly her spoon clanked against the bowl and milk splashed everywhere.

  “Emma!” I put down my cup but then I noticed the look on her face. “What, honey?”

  “What is that!?” she shrieked as s
he jumped out of her seat and grabbed my hand in one swift motion. “Mom!” She threw her arms around me. “When? How? When? O.M.G!”

  “Last night, very sweetly, and yes, O.M.G!” I couldn’t contain my enthusiasm either.

  “It’s soooo pretty! Can I tell my friends?”

  “Let’s just keep this under wraps for a few days. Nathan needs to tell his parents first.”

  “Does Aunt Rachel know yet?”

  “She knew about the ring. Nathan and she went shopping for it together last week.”

  “O.M.G. OH. EM. GEEEE.” She half skipped to put her bowl in the sink.

  “Go get ready.” I laughed, shaking my head.

  My phone beeped. It was a text from Nathan.

  *Spoke with my mom and dad. Feel free to show it to the world. <3 I love you.*

  My cheeks hurt from smiling.

  *Oh, btw expect a call from her later. I said I LOVE YOU.*

  *Emma saw it while eating her breakfast, milk everywhere, expect a call from your mom? I LOVE YOU TOO!*

  *Yes, my mom. Did you get Emma off to school yet?*

  *Nope, walking out the door now. I’m going to get coffee and go see Rachel. “Working hard?”*

  *Not my scene. Have some time to sit in my trailer and...*

  *And what?*

  *Wish you were here.*

  *I miss you too.*

  *Love you.*

  *Love you too.*

  “Love you, honey. I’ll see you at two thirty.” I kissed Emma before she hopped in the car.

  “Love you too, Mom.”

  As I left the Starbucks Nathan’s mom called me. We talked for almost an hour. Surprisingly enough I actually looked forward to meeting her. She was everything Nathan had described, very forthright, sweet, and had absolutely zero boundaries. She bombarded me with questions, which I was more than happy to answer. Well, most of them anyhow. She expressed how worried they were that Nathan would never fall in love because he was so skeptical of people, especially since he became famous. We talked a bit about Emma, and she asked me about Jason as well. She was sympathetic, but I wasn’t very comfortable talking about him with her. Not yet, anyhow. Perhaps after I met her I’d feel differently.

  After I hung up with her my phone beeped.

  *Hey, when you’re done at Rachel’s want to come have lunch with me?*

  *I can do that? And uh where?*

  *Yes you can. Frank will pick you up at Rachel’s @ 11:30J*

  *Oki doki.*

  *Oki doki? LOL. Oki doki! Say hello to Rachel & Tyler for me please. Love you.*

  *Yes, oki doki. Problem? I will tell them. Love you too.*

  Rachel absolutely flipped her shit when she saw the ring on my finger. She screamed so loud Tyler came running out of the bedroom in a tizzy asking what was wrong. That is, until he saw me. Then he ran right back in. It was safe to assume it was due to his lack of pants. A few minutes later he emerged, fully clothed, to congratulate me.

  “Did you know Isobel is dating that pap guy, Todd?” Rachel was a true gossip queen.

  “No, really? When did that happen?”

  “I don’t know, I guess just over the past few weeks they have been hanging out and whatever. He comes in to see her all the time. He’s a really nice guy. He has a regular job over at NBC studios doing editing and stuff. The only reason he paps is for extra cash to pay for his mom’s private nursing home. She was hit by a drunk driver three years ago, totally paralyzed. Her place was too small to accommodate her needs, not to mention on the third floor with no elevator. So he offered to move out of his place and get a bigger one with her, but she insisted on going into a home. She said she didn’t want to burden him like that. The guy works all the time to pay for private care. Isobel says the place she’s shacked up in is pretty swanky. They treat everyone like royalty.” Her hands were flailing everywhere along with her story.

  “Hmm. Maybe I’ll give him a call and break the news to him. He can get an exclusive and not have to work as much for a while. I mean, after all he did go out of his way to follow that suspicious guy and get pics for us. Besides, as soon as they see this ring on my finger rumors will start flying everywhere.”

  “I’d better be mentioned as the maid of honor, biotch.”

  “Yes, you are my ‘maid of biotch.’ I mean, ‘whore-her.’ Oh shit, sorry, ‘honor’!” I collected my belongings.

  “Call me what you want, sticks and stones. But if you put me in some cockamamie, peach taffeta rhinestone-infested dress, I’ll cut you, slut face.” She smiled sweetly before giving me a hug.

  “Hollerrrr,” I managed to say through my burst of laughter. “Okay, I need to go. I’m meeting Nathan for lunch, his first day on set. Have you seen the chicks he’s working with?” I made a disgusted face.

  “Noooo! Do tell.” She propped her elbows up on the counter, rested her head on her hands, and gave me her undivided attention.

  Yup, gossip queen. “Leena Thompson and something DeSimone.” I snapped my fingers; I couldn’t remember the other chick’s name.

  “Rena?” Her face scrunched up.

  “Yep, that’s it.”

  Her lips formed a little “O” and she shook her head. “She’s known to chase her leading men.”

  “Rach, please. Reading US Weekly much lately?” I eyed her suspiciously.

  “Not me.” She pointed to Tyler.

  “What? I like to stay in the know. Is that a crime?” He laughed.

  “No, it’s not a crime but it definitely strips you of your man card,” I teased him. “I’m not worried about it. Besides, I don’t need a reason to be more jealous.” I gave her a hug and walked out the door. Frank was already waiting for me out front of Rachel’s. We drove a few miles to some studio. As Frank and I rounded the corner, I saw Nathan waiting for me outside his trailer.

  “Thanks, Frank,” I said.

  “I have about an hour. Lunch is inside.” Nathan put his hand on the small of my back and led me in.

  “Nice digs,” I said while I checked the place out. It was small, had a sink, counter, and fridge on the right side and a table, which I think turned into some sort of torturous sleeping device, on the left. Behind the table was a couch and a flat screen along the wall and next to the fridge there was a table that had more makeup and hair products on it than I had ever had in my entire existence. Next to that I could see the bathroom and shower stall through the open door. If you headed straight back, there was a doorway with a bed just past it. I don’t think much else could fit in there though. Ugh. A bed.

  “Hungry?” Nathan distracted me from my scrupulous inspection of his work quarters.

  “Yeah, sure, thanks.” I managed a weak smile. I wasn’t hungry though. I wanted to throw up, in fact. I guessed the bed made me feel sicker than it should have. I pushed past the nausea, though, with some water and a kickass turkey wrap.

  “Hey, before I forget. Do you still have that guy Todd’s number?” I was glad I remembered to ask him. I wanted to talk to Todd today.

  “I think so. Why?” He began to look through his phone. I told him about Todd’s mom being the reason he moonlighted in tabloid stuff and my idea to try and help him out a little. He just grinned and cocked his head to one side. “Something, I tell you. Okay, I’ll text you the number.”

  “Yeah, yeah, and thank you.” I rolled my eyes at him.

  “Speaking of texting, my mom texted me.” His face was stone sober.

  “What? What did she say?” I asked, almost in a panic. Our conversation went well I’d thought, but judging by Nathan’s face, I was sadly mistaken.

  “That she can’t wait to meet you and Emma.” His face softened and then he let out a laugh. “Gotcha.”

  “Jerk!” I balled my napkin up and threw it at him. “You scared me for a second.” He tossed the script back on the table and gave me that sexy as fuck grin that drove me mad.

  “I still have twenty minutes, you know.” He slid in next to me.

  “Nathan, where?�
� I asked coyly.

  “I’m good with right here.” He took my hand and placed it on the bulge in his pants. “Ya know, christen the trailer with my fiancée?” He chuckled and kissed me.

  Turned out the counter in that thing was pretty sturdy.

  AFTER DROPPING OFF EMMA at home, I made my way over to the bar. Todd showed up at three o’clock on the dot. We talked for a few minutes about his mom and Isobel. He was a genuinely nice guy. I felt good about giving him the news and first pictures of my ring. Hopefully it would help him out as much as it helped us out.

  “I hid my hand all day to make sure you broke this shit. Don’t disappoint me and make it trashy,” I joked with him.

  “I would never, Jordie. Really, thank you both so much. This right here will relieve a lot of financial stress for me. I’m so happy for you two. I’ve covered Nate a lot over the years. I’ve never seen him this happy, and open.”

  “So I’ve heard.” I smirked.

  “Everything’s been okay lately? No break ins or whatnot?” He stood up to leave.

  “Nope, everything’s been relatively quiet.”

  “Lucky Nate’s security had a gag order put on that situation so quickly or that would’ve been a paparazzi feeding frenzy.”

  “A gag order?” I was confused.

  “Oh hell yeah, Nate’s security was on the phone with the police department within ten minutes of finding out about the break in. Must be friendly with some judge out here. Those things can take weeks, you guys had one within minutes.” He gathered his belongings while he told me.

  “Thanks, Todd. Tell Isobel hello please. I feel bad I haven’t seen her much lately, I’ve been—busy.” I blushed.

  “Jordie, she thinks the world of you. Her mom is flying out here next week for her graduation. She never thought in a million years she’d ever be able to afford that, but she is. She thinks you’re one of the kindest people she knows, and I have to agree.” He smiled and held up his camera.

  I walked him to the door to let him out, locked it back up, and made my way to the office. The phone rang, so I picked up my steps a bit to answer it in time. “The Post.”

  My stomach sank. I immediately recognized the bad connection and fumbling in the background.