Page 5 of Cupcake of the Month
She wouldn’t be surprised if Larry was giving her the friends and family discount, but she wasn’t too proud to not take it.
“Bippen and Howe offered a settlement.” Larry stateda number that would destroy any chance Jordan had of maintaining her livelihood.
Shadows approached the door, so she dashed around the corner of the building. With Weinschenk’s continued questions, she needed privacy. “Well, that’s not happening. I did nothing wrong.”
Lana’s low, seductive chuckle drifted over from the patio, a marked difference from her light, social party laugh. A lower murmur followed, but Jordan couldn’t make out the words.
“You’re going to tell me I should continue to stay away from home, aren’t you?” she asked her lawyer.
“I wish I could give you better news.”
She leaned against the brick building as he laid out options for her next steps. All she wanted to do was take off her heels and get out of her dress, put on a pair of comfy pajamas and eat ice cream. Plus, if Lana’s laugh meant what Jordan thought it did, her friend wouldn’t mind if she left.
She peeked around the corner and saw Lana sitting on a bench next to a mustard-yellow Josh. Lana trailed her fingers down his arm. He clasped her hand and brought it to his lips, his eyes firmly set on hers.
“Jordan?” Her lawyer’s voice held a note of concern.
She closed her eyes and slunk back around the corner. “Thanks, Larry. I appreciate your help.”
“We’ll talk soon.”
Jordan hung up, then checked her messages. Her mom and dad had texted as well, giving her an update on the news situation. She appreciated their involvement and support, but they seemed to forget she was a grown woman with the ability to read a web page.
She slipped the phone back in her purse as Lana purred at Josh. “You look so incredible in anything you wear.”
Jordan missed Josh’s response, but that didn’t matter. Lanawasn’t lying. She leaned against the wall, hoping they would leave soon so she could escape.
“Let me take you home tonight,” Lana said.
“What about your friend?”
Jordan stiffened at his casual blow-off of her being only Lana’s friend. Though it was only fair, since Jordan wasn’t about to tell Lana of their history.
“I’ll call a cab for her. Unless you want me to see if she’ll come along?”
Oy gevalt. Jordan most definitely did not want to come along, and she could call a damn cab herself. She secured a car on a ride-sharing app, then texted Lana that she had a headache and was leaving. That way, Lana could eat her cupcake without any guilt.
And Jordan would return to the lonely room that she was currently calling home.
Alone.
***
Josh berated himself for letting Lana tag along when he needed fresh air. That’s what happened when his mind reeled from All Things Jordan. He would have recognized her even if she’d dyed her hair blonde and wore large sunglasses.
“Got plans for later?” Lana trailed a finger down the arm of his jacket.
He should have stayed away from Jordan, but he needed to see her. Up close. Needed to hear her speak and feel her unmistakable pull. Needed to see if she’d welcome the sight of him or dump her wine over his head.
Damn, even outside, the air still held Jordan’s citrusy scent.
“I haven’t decided yet,” he said to Lana.
He had caught a flash of heat in Jordan’s dark eyes before she had doused it and regarded him with a frosty glare.
Lana’s phone rang, and he tugged at the tuxedo snug againstthe back of his neck.
“Give me a minute, handsome.” She dug into her evening bag.
