“So, Jordan, how long have you lived in Thompson Falls?”
She rested her head against the headrest, gazing at him as she held onto his hands. Her eyes were so dreamy…so amazing, he knew if he didn’t watch it, he could get lost in her eyes. Black hair flowed freely down around her shoulders, making her look that much prettier. He liked seeing her this way.
“I’ve lived here for about ten years,” she answered. “How about you?”
He shook his head. “Less than that. I’ve lived in Montana all my life, but never in one place for very long. After college, I did some traveling before finding a place to settle down. I picked Thompson Falls for two reasons. One, the scenery, and two, because my business is booming here.”
“What’s your business?”
He grinned. “The family business. Construction.”
“Oh, yes, I remember. The same one your brother is in.”
He ran his thumb over her finger. “What have you been doing in Thompson Falls since you came here?”
“Going to college, studying, researching, and then involved with my job and helping other doctors. I’ve had my nose in books for a long time, and I’m not used to getting out and looking around.”
“How old are you, Jordan?”
She tilted her head when she looked at him. “It’s not polite to ask a woman her age.”
He chuckled. “Do you want me to guess?”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine, I’m thirty. How old are you?”
“Not much older.” He grinned. She slapped his arm when he didn’t give away his true age. But he couldn’t. She’d know Brock was thirty-six.
There was silence for a few minutes, and if they didn’t do something soon, he was sure she’d hear the crazy rhythm of his heart. He knew what he wanted to do…had to do to get revenge, yet he couldn’t bring himself to do it. For some reason, talking with her while they held hands was enjoyable. In fact, he couldn’t remember ever doing this with a woman before.
“It’s been nice getting to know you a little better,” she said.
“I know. I was just thinking that.”
“How much longer do you have before you need to get back to work?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I wasn’t paying attention to the time.” He reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a pocket watch. He quickly turned on the inside light of the car and checked the time. “I think I could stay out here a few more minutes.” He grinned as he turned off the light.
She leaned in closer. “What a lovely pocket watch. Do you mind if I look at it?”
“Not at all.” He handed it to her.
She peered at it, turning it around in her hand. “I haven’t seen one of these for so long.” She met his gaze. “Why do you have one?”
“Don’t laugh, but I keep one to remember my grandfather.” He paused, smiling in remembrance. “He was the greatest man and I cried so hard when he died. He taught me and my brother how to fish, how to hunt, and especially, how to whittle sticks. Granddad always carried a pocket watch. When I got older, I realized that I had to get me a watch—just to hold those memories close to my heart.”
“What wonderful memories.” She handed it back to him.
“They were.” He glanced at the watch. “I’ve had this for many years. It’s starting to fall apart, so I guess I’ll need to get another one.” He glanced out the window at the bar.
“Are you sure I’m not keeping you from your job? I’d never forgive myself if I got you in trouble with Charlie.”
“Oh, Charlie is cool. He wouldn’t get mad.”
She glanced back at the bar before meeting his gaze again. “Tell me, how did a guy like you ever get involved in co-owning a bar?”
“Funny story, actually.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles softly. The skin around her eyes and mouth relaxed. If he wasn’t mistaken, he thought she had sighed, too. “A few years something happened in my life that made me really close with any kind of drink with alcohol in it. After a while, my family informed me that I was a constant drunk and if I didn’t clean up my act, I would not be working in the family business any longer. After all, you can’t have a drunk construction worker building anything. It’s too dangerous.”
She nodded. “So true.”
“Because I came to this particular bar a lot, I got to know Charlie. He was a recovering alcoholic as well, and he was the one who helped me through the rough patches. He told me the bar was what kept him from picking up a beer.”
“Why? I’d think he’d be more tempted.”
Rocky shook his head. “Not when he witnessed night after night all the people who came into the bar to get sloshed. He didn’t want to be like them, which is why the bar helps him stay away from liquor.” He shrugged. “I decided to give it a try, too. Once I cleaned myself up, Charlie asked if I wanted to co-own the bar with him. I thought it was a good idea, too.”
She smiled. “That’s a very good story, Rocky. I’m glad to know you had someone in your life to help you through that time. Not many people are as lucky as you.”
“No, they aren’t, and I thank God for that every day.”
She pulled her hand from his grasp and stroked the side of his face. “Would you mind if I asked what happened to make you start drinking in the first place?”
“I don’t mind if you ask. However…telling you might be a different matter altogether.”
She chuckled. “Fine. I won’t ask.”
“Thank you.” He didn’t want to have to tell her it was his break up with Lanie that drove him to the bottle. He couldn’t let her know about his true identity yet.”
She looked back toward the bar again and sighed. “I suppose I should let you go back to work now.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
Jordan met his eyes and sighed heavily. “It’s been nice. We’ll have to do this more often.”
“I agree.” He leaned forward. “Just as long as I get to kiss you before you leave.”
He pulled her into his arms—as much as he could anyway, due to the awkward gear shift. Strange to think how well she fit in his embrace, as if she was meant to be there. He looked over every inch of her beautiful face, thankfully free of those reading glasses that the good doctor always wore. Even in the shadowed car, her eyes had softened, her lips parted in anticipation.
“Jordan, you’re so pretty.” He stroked his fingers over her cheek, down to her neck. “How did I get so lucky to meet you?”
A tender expression crossed her face, making her eyes sparkle like gems. She smiled. “No, the question is, how did I get so lucky? So far you’ve proven to be a true gentleman.”
“Oh, don’t say that. I’d hate to disappoint you. Sometimes I turn into a real animal.”
She chuckled. “Don’t we all?”
“I sure hope so. I’d hate to think I was the only one.” He bent his head to capture her lips.
She snuggled closer, hooking her hands around his neck, rubbing his skin gently. The kiss didn’t stay soft for very long, only because he enjoyed the heated sensations flowing through him and the way his heartbeat quickened.
Jordan broke the kiss, but seemed content to stare into his eyes. “I think you’re a beautiful man, Brock,” she cooed.
He’d never had a woman say that to him. His heart melted. Usually women used lewd terms, making him feel that they couldn’t see past his body to his mind. Not once did Jordan make him feel like an object. Her elegant way of speaking thrilled him more than he was prepared for.
Then it hit him… She’d called him Brock, not Rocky. Did she know the truth? But apparently, she hadn’t noticed. Was she really thinking of Brock? In way, he hoped she was.
He crushed his mouth to hers and deepened the kiss. She answered just as he wanted, leaving him breathless. It was hard to believe this woman could make him feel this way.
* * * *
Jordan loved the way his kissed—almost too much, but she knew someone had to stop thing
s. It must be her, because once again, she had to be in control of the situation.
She broke the kiss and rested her head against the seat, smiling lazily. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For making me feel like a teenager again.”
“Anytime, sweetie.”
She really didn’t want to let him go, but…she had to get home and start preparing for her visitors. Inwardly, she sighed with regret. She’d never be prepared to see Serena with Kenneth. It would be too hard, especially to handle alone. If only someone had answered the ad in the paper. If only…
She lifted her head, her heart beat in a different rhythm this time. Would Rocky be offended if she asked him to play the role? There was only one way to find out.
She licked her lips and swallowed hard, gaining courage. “Um, Rocky, could I ask a favor—”
Just then, his cell phone rang. He held up his finger to stop her. “Hold that thought.” He pulled the cell out of the pocket of his jacket and held it up to his ear. “Yeah,” he answered.
She couldn’t hear what was on the other end, but the pleasant—and very tender—look that had been on his face quickly disappeared and lines of anger crossed it instead.
“Be there in a second,” he said before clicking it off and sliding it back into his pocket. “Hey pretty lady, I got to get back inside. Todd needs me. Looks like a fight is about to start.” He leaned over and kissed her lips quickly, then pulled away. “We’ll get together soon.”
He didn’t wait for her to say anything before he flew out of the car and hurried inside. Her heart sank, but she knew this was more important. If anything, she’d come back tomorrow during the afternoon and see if he was here and ask him then.
As she drove out of the parking lot, her heart was light and a smile stretched her mouth. It had been a while since she felt so giddy. Dare she allow Rocky into her life? True, it might take longer to let him into her heart thanks to the nightmare Kenneth had put her through, but if Rocky kissed her like that all the time, she knew she’d eventually forget about that man who’d broken her heart by marrying her stepmother.
* * * *
The shrill ring of Jordan’s cell phone startled her from a deep sleep. She rolled over in bed and reached for the sound before it rang again, snatched it from the nightstand, and placed it by her ear.
“Hullo?” she answered, her voice still groggy.
“I know you don’t want to be bothered today, but something exciting has happened.”
Jordan massaged her forehead. “Erica, is this important enough to wake me at,” she paused and looked through squinted eyes at the digital numbers on her alarm clock, “eight o’clock in the morning? Today’s my day off. I want to sleep in.”
“Another man called just a few minutes ago inquiring about the ad in the paper.”
A gasp caught in Jordan’s throat, and she pulled herself to a sitting position. “It wasn’t a prank?”
“No. Would I be calling you if it weren’t serious? He sounded genuinely interested.”
“Did you question him?”
“Duh! Of course I did and he sounds sincere. He owns his own company. His voice is so sexy, he practically melted my phone.”
Jordan chuckled. “Did you make an appointment?”
“Yes. I told him nine thirty this morning in your office. That gives you an hour and a half to get ready.”
She sighed. “Thanks, Erica. You’re wonderful.”
“Can I sit in during the interview?”
“Certainly not.”
Erica chuckled on the other end. “I was just joking, but I do expect to hear all about it afterwards.”
“You’ll be the first I tell.” Jordan threaded her fingers through her hair, pushing the bulk away from her face. “Why don’t you take the day off. There’s probably not much to do, anyway.”
Erica snorted unladylike. “You just don’t want me there, huh?”
“You got that right.” Jordan laughed.
“Hey, Jordan…thanks for the Christmas bonus. It really helps this time of year.”
“You’re welcome. You totally deserve it. Now good bye, Erica. I’d better hurry and get ready for my interview.”
“Bye. Merry Christmas,” Erica cheered.
“Merry Christmas, Erica.” Jordan clicked off the phone and set it back on the nightstand before sliding her feet off the bed. She stretched her limbs, yawned a few times, then hurried into the bathroom to take a refreshing shower. Hopefully, her appointment would go well. No more jerks like Juanito or Eddie.
Wouldn’t it be lucky to find the right man now? Serena and that man were coming into town this afternoon, and although Jordan hated the idea of deceiving Serena—a woman who’d been like her mother for several years—there was no way she’d let Kenneth know of her non-existent dating life. He could never know how much he’d hurt her two years ago.
Once she had the water running at just the right temperature, she stripped off her nightgown and stepped inside the porcelain shower. The fragrance of the rose-scented soap drifted around her as she washed.
As she readied herself for the appointment, visions of last night with Rocky floated through her head and she smiled at herself in the mirror. He’d been wonderful. Even though he was still the aggressive man she’d kissed inside the bar, she’d gotten to know a different side of him, too. She liked that…almost too much. When he told her about his grandfather, and about the pocket watch…she thought her heart would melt.
Then something flashed through her mind. She stopped brushing her hair and gasped. She’d called him Brock. Not Rocky. Her heart hammered against her ribs. Why hadn’t he commented on it? Brock was his brother, for heaven’s sake. Rocky should have said something, unless....
She furrowed her brow. Could they be the same man?
She rolled her eyes and chuckled. What was she thinking? Definitely still in her own little dream world.
But, what if they were? Did that mean Brock had multiple personalities?
A shiver ran through her as she finished fixing her hair and applying her makeup. If this morning’s interview didn’t go well, she’d certainly search out Rocky and ask him to be her pretend boyfriend. With him, it wouldn’t be hard to act like a woman infatuated.
No matter what, she had to discover if Brock and Rocky were the same man. What were the odds…
She dressed in her gray business suit. After all, this was just a business arrangement. Not a love affair.
Toast and orange juice were the only food her nervous stomach could handle this morning. After brushing her teeth and spraying perfume over her body, she hurried out the front door to the car.
Snow had covered the ground during the evening, and thankfully the roads were clear enough to drive. She hurried through cleaning off her car, climbed in and took off toward work.
It worried her that the man applying for the job might not take her seriously. She wasn’t after a tryst, just a great performance. How could she let the man know how important it was that Kenneth didn’t suspect a thing? It’d kill her to see pity written on her ex’s face.
The people who maintained the office building she rented from had already cleaned off the sidewalks and threw ice-melt on the pavement, making it easier to hurry inside. She unlocked the door to her office and stepped in, flipped on the lights in the reception area first, then into her private office. She returned to the reception area and spotted an envelope that had been slipped under the door that she hadn’t seen a minute ago. Then again, the lights weren’t on, so perhaps that’s why she didn’t see it.
Her heart slammed against her chest as she picked it up. The writing on the envelope looked the same as the writing on the other letters. Could it be?
She slit it open with her finger. With shaky hands, she pulled out the paper. The second she saw the magazine cutout words, her stomach clenched.
I’ll get you. I’m watching your every move.
A slight ache pounded in her forehea
d, but she refused to give into hysterics. Her appointment would be here any moment. She’d not let this deranged person run her life. After she concluded the interview and found a business partner, she’d take the letters to the police.
With the decision firmly tucked in the back recesses of her mind, she wouldn’t think about it again for the rest of the day. Especially not today. Too many things were happening to let a stupid letter disrupt her life.
The front door to her building opened and heavy footsteps echoed through the receptionist area. Her heart raced faster than his steps. She took a deep breath, and with a straight back, walked out to greet her applicant.
The man’s masculine scent of spice aftershave touched her senses before she actually looked at him. A familiar muscular outline of the man stood in her office. Her heart dropped. She lost her ability to speak. Even her limbs refused to move.
Rocky stood looking up at one of her hanging pictures. He slowly turned her way. His smirk spread into a wide grin. “Hello, Jordan. Or should I call you Doctor Reed today?”
Confusion boggled her mind for a brief moment. She found the strength to shake her head, but still, her mouth refused to make any kind of noise.
“No?” he asked. “You don’t want me to call you Doctor?”
Inwardly, she screamed at her mind to work, and at her body to function. She cleared her throat and found her strength. “You don’t need to call me Doctor. You’re not my client, just your brother’s.” Or was he? He seemed so familiar standing in her office and looking at her like he was.
Swallowing hard, she tried to keep her eyes focused on his face and not wander down to his long-sleeve blue shirt stretched across his corded muscles and his black jeans that fit his lower half so well. She wiped her moist palms against her skirt.
Finding the Perfect Man Page 8
