Page 36 of Cupcake of the Month
“Stop telling. Do.”
It was scary how easily she fell back into the pattern of confiding in him what she couldn’t tell her friends. She’d always maintained her composure when others were watching, like tagging out a power hitter at first or avoiding reporters.
And why was that? She studied him with a full-on stare, taking in his mouth, his shoulders, the rawness in his eyes.
He returned her look without blinking, without withdrawing from her, without hiding. Letting her see all of him.
And her heart stirred again, a subtle increase in rhythm that pulsed through her blood.Oy vey. She shifted her plate to the side and stood up, leaning over the island.
He mirrored her actions, pausing before making contact. She pushed through the final quarter inch between them and captured his mouth.
Delicious heat swept through her and she grabbed the edge of the island to stop her trembling at the unexpected wildness in the kiss. She wanted to grab his hard body and devour him piece by piece, until the tempest within her settled into oblivion. But she couldn’t stop the itch in her brain that wondered at his angle. Why he was interested in her now, when he had tossed her aside eight years ago?
She put a hand on his chest. He broke off the kiss, but returned for round two. This time it was a soft brush of his lips on her forehead and a gentle caress of his hand on her neck.
He huffed out a quick breath, his mouth quirking in a self-assured grin that she hadn’t seen since The Night Before. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to. He’d laid everything between them on the table with that one kiss.
“When are you going to call Mrs. McGraw?”
She fiddled with her fork. “I want to talk to the girls first.”
“Don’t wait, Jordan.” Josh studied her over his shoulder, the desire in his eyes shadowed by their intensity. “Don’t come up with excuses. You’ll miss out on something real and wonderful, and you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”
Chapter 7
Jordan stood on the concrete walkway outside Fountenoy Hall’s rec room two days later, phone in hand, two mitts wedged under her arm, and a bat and bucket of balls at her feet. They had been wedged behind the peach pickers and tubs tucked away for the season. It was the first time in a couple of days that all of them had a night free.
For some women, a girls’ night meant pedicures and bar hopping. Jordan and her friends added batting practice to the list of accepted activities. The September heat had lessened now that the sun had dipped in the sky. She shielded her eyes and scanned its position over the tops of the peach trees in the orchard. They had maybe two hours, tops, before it sank and plunged them into darkness.
Now that the equipment was ready, she texted Josh.
You looked hot today.Jordan let out a giggle. They’d been texting the past couple of nights, snippets of conversation and flirting and fun. Since he was never alone or extremely busy when he was at Fountenoy Hall, conversations beyond a simple greeting had involved a phone.
Yeah?
Since you were cooking so much.
She grinned at the length of time it took him to create a witty rejoinder as she reveled in the sense of contentment. At least for now, she was able to accept what was in front of her.
Ha ha.Another pause, and thenWhat are you doing tonight?
She exhaled slowly.Taking your advice and telling B and W the full truth.
I’m glad. Let me know how it goes. Tomorrow, because I have to finish things up here and get ready for bed. My bossmakes me be at work at an ungodly hour.
His timing was spot on. Voices came from the side of the building.
Good night, then.
Good night.
She ran her fingers over his words, aware of the dopey tilt of her mouth. The kiss they shared two mornings ago had felt so right. In her heart. Her head, however, liked to relive the doubt and uncertainty of Josh’s refusal to tell her why he had left.
Having fun was the new addition to her vocabulary. Getting serious with someone when there were doubts was a sure way to get hurt. She was diving in with her eyes and mind clear.
Jordan’s stomach gave a lurch as Rob came around the corner with Wendy and Brandi. She liked the guy and all, and Wendy would probably fill him in on the gist of it later, but this was supposed to be time with her besties. It had always been her, Brandi, Wendy, and Sebastien in college. Even though Sebastien was now attending to his royal duties in the small principality ruled by his father, that didn’t mean Rob could take his place. She didn’t want to bare her soul in front of someone she’d known only for a few months.
He held the recognizable orange bottle of Belle’s Medicinal peach whiskey. Wendy carried four mason jars on a tray, the choice of tumbler an homage to Belle’s Prohibition past. Her mitt was tucked under her arm.
