Page 33 of Before You Say I Do
Jordan ground her teeth together. She’d been asked this before at previous weddings with previous brides.
“She hasn’t missed the boat,” Jordan replied. “I’m still single, so I’d be honoured to have Abby as my bridesmaid when the time is right.”
Their gazes met one more time, but this time, Jordan didn’t look away.
Abby held up her glass, licking her lips. “I look forward to being at your beck and call sometime in the future.”
* * *
Two hours later,and most of the party had gone to their rooms. Abby was clearing glasses, even though Jordan had told her to leave it.
“I honestly can’t believe Mum and Delta have both gone to bed this early on night one.”
“It’s a marathon not a sprint, like they said.” Although Jordan was surprised, too. She’d never seen a first night where everyone was in bed at just gone midnight. It was a modern-day hen weekend miracle. She would have to write this one up in her journal. If she had a journal.
When they’d taken everything to the kitchen, Jordan came out to do a final sweep of the terrace. Satisfied it was clear, she walked to the edge, stopping at the glass wall that came up to her hip. She leaned her arms on the top, and admired the view over the water once more. After such a full-on day, it was nice to soak in a few moments of solitude. Seconds later, Jordan’s skin prickled with sensation. Her solitude was short-lived. Not that she minded. Not when the one piercing her bubble was Abby.
Jordan breathed her in, her pulse beginning to sprint, even though externally she was calm. She hadn’t drunk anything tonight, because this was work. She’d had a glass at all times, and she’d played the part of the tipsy bridesmaid, but the glass had remained full. She was glad she had a clear head.
“Gorgeous, isn’t it?” Abby’s smoky voice thrummed through her.
“It really is.”
Jordan looked to her right.
Abby’s dark eyes flashed at her. “What are you thinking about?”
You. How you make me feel. The excruciating heat of you standing next to me.That’s what Jordan wanted to say. But she didn’t.
“Just soaking all this in. It’s a gorgeous place to be for the weekend.” She glanced at Abby again. She’d taken her scarf off, exposing her neck and cleavage.
“Even if it is work? I’m sure this is nothing out of the ordinary for you.”
Jordan gave her a smile, a spark lighting inside her. “You’re anything but ordinary.” Then she looked away swiftly. She hoped she hadn’t overstepped the mark.
“I could say the same about you,” Abby replied.
Jordan’s muscles clenched, then unclenched as she flicked her eyes to Abby. What did that mean?
“Have you left anyone behind this weekend who’s missing you? You don’t seem to have anyone special in your life, but then again, you might not have told me.” When Jordan looked her way, Abby raised an eyebrow. “You did say I could ask you anything about your life, so this is me playing that card, by the way.”
Jordan had said that. She shook her head. “There’s nobody, it’s just me. I haven’t had a girlfriend for a long time. This job keeps me too busy.” Jordan had never discussed this with a bride before. Most brides were too busy thinking about their wedding and themselves.
Abby was not most brides.
“Plus, I’m not sure many girlfriends would be all that happy about me disappearing for weeks on end. Or spending so much time with beautiful women and getting close to them. It’s enough to test even the most secure of relationships.” She’d never admitted that to anyone before, either. If she wanted a relationship, she might have to give up this job. From March to September, it owned her.
Abby twisted her body around, frowning at Jordan. “Wait, you’ve been doing this three years, and you haven’t had a relationship that whole time?”
Jordan shook her head. “Nope.”
“And before that?”
Jordan stilled, flicking through the cards of her life. When it came to relationships, they weren’t stacked in her favour. Anna, Queen of Hearts. Yvette, Queen of Pain. Brianna, the Joker. She’d given months, sometimes years to those relationships. None of them had worked. All of them had left her heart on the floor.
“I haven’t had the best luck with women.” She said it like it meant nothing. “Let’s just say that.”
“It sounds like we’re not so different when it comes to love. Before I met Marcus, I hadn’t had a partner in a few years. I hadn’t had my heart trampled. In fact, anything but.” Abby shrugged. “Every man I got together with, the spark was never truly there. I always finished it in the end. But then I stayed solo for a few years, and everyone was getting on my back to meet someone.”
