Page 73 of Make You Love Me
“Josie, that’s amazing.”
“It’s not guaranteed, of course, but if my art catches the attention of a few collectors, there’s a chance this could be the start of something.”
“In that case, I hope I don’t see you for another week.”
“Aww. Thank you. But it’s just not the same without you.”
Wanderlust fills me, and I open my mouth before considering the consequences. “Maybe I can make it after all. I haven’t had any seizures since…you know…and Nora and I are taking a trip to—”
“Where are you going?”
“I was about to tell you before you interrupted.”
“Right. Sorry. I’m a little scatter brained today.”
“It’s not just today, Josie.” I laugh, but the other side of the phone is silent. “Anyway, as I was saying, we’re going to Charlestown.”
“Where’s that?”
“West Virginia. If I handle that well, a trip to New York shouldn’t be too much.”
“Oh, I’d love that so much. But talk to your doctors first. I miss you so much.”
“Miss you, too.”
A sniffle comes through and another. Damn it. I’ve made her cry.
“Josie. Don’t do that.”
“I’m sorry,” she says on a loud, snot-filled inhale. “I’m just so relieved. It’s been hard not talking to you, wondering if you’re okay and if you’ll forgive me. There’s too much to do here and not enough time. They wanted three new pieces to match the theme, and I’ve hardly had a moment to think. I had to pretend to go to the restroom at the restaurant we’re at to get away from Grant long enough to call you. And you know how much I hatepublic restrooms. Every time the door opens, I expect it to be him coming in to scold me.”
“Heisoverbearing.”
“Ugh. He’s stressed, too, and making mine worse. But he wants this as badly as I do.”
“It will all be worth it in the end.”
I look over as Nora exits the bathroom—hair wet, cheeks flushed, skin moist, and wearing nothing but a towel. She grins over her shoulder as she bends to sort through her suitcase, exposing more of her long legs. Josie’s voice continues to carry through the phone, but I comprehend none of it as Nora straightens to hold a shirt out in front of her. Without her arms holding the towel in place, it slides down her breasts to the tops of her nipples. A touch of those alluring dark circles peek out above the blue towel, and I—
“Jordan, can you hear me?” Josie asks. I hear her but can form zero words in response when Nora bends over again.
Cleavage and more cleavage glistens in the sunlight as if she rubbed glitter lotion all over her body. Maybe she had, or maybe her skin is just that perfect. Either way, this sexy little display of hers has torched my war strategy as if it never existed. It’s a new game now. If this is how she’s going to play it, all chances of a friendly game is also going up in smoke.
All’s fair in love and war, baby, and it will be fun to remind Nora of my competitive side. I’m not afraid to play dirty and—
“Jordan!”
“What? I’m here. Jeez, sis.”
Nora looks over and bites back a smile as I run my jittery fingers over my hair. She tosses some garments she chose from the suitcase over her shoulder and struts back to the bathroom. Disappointed the show is over, but glad to have a moment to get blood circulating through the brain inside my skull again, I give my full attention to my sister.
“Sorry, something was distracting me.”
“Nora walking around naked or something?”
Caught, I shake my head at how predictable and simple-minded the women in my life must think I am. “Not exactly.”
“Close enough, I bet. I’ll let you go deal with that. Grant will send out the calvary for me if I’m not back soon.”
