Page 46 of Before You Say I Do
Jordan’s gaze was intense as she stared at Abby. “You never had a box under your bed where you kept clippings of the dress you wanted, and all of that?”
Abby’s stomach flexed. “Fuck, no. For one, my mother would have thrown it out, demanding I have bigger ambitions than getting married.”
Jordan’s deep, joyous laugh split the warm evening air.
“Have I told you I love your mum?”
“Most people do.” Abby was grateful to have her, too. “She’s walking me down the aisle, did I tell you that? My biological dad’s not interested. I asked Martin as I call him Dad, but he said Mum brought me up for six years before they met, so it should be her. But no, I never dreamed of a big wedding. It’s not really me. Yet, here I am having one.” All the while, she was sitting in a hot tub with a woman she was growing increasingly attracted to. Abby swallowed down, glancing up to the night sky, now a midnight blue. There weren’t many stars visible. When she glanced back at Jordan, however, her eyes were sparkling in the evening air like diamonds.
“It seems like I’ve forgotten a lot in my life. The wedding I wanted. The job I wanted.” Abby breathed out. “Once you start down a track like project management, it’s not easy to change to something else. You get sucked into the culture, the money, the people. And the longer you stay on the track, the harder it is to get out. I always wanted to do something that gave back. I thought project management was helping people, sort of. But now I remember it wasn’t my dream. Am I selling out on both counts?” When she said it out loud, she was pretty sure she was.
Jordan shook her head. “Of course not. You can change your job if you want to. For your wedding, you fell in love and went along with what your partner wants. Most people do. Although it’s usually the man going along with the woman.”
Jordan moved in the water, her hand coming into contact with Abby’s elevated foot. She shot a look at Abby that kept her in her place, before taking Abby’s ankle in her hands. “This is your bad one, right?”
Abby nodded. Yep. It definitely was. Although Jordan’s touch was making it feel so much better.
“You should elevate it more. If you put it in my lap, you’ll get a good angle.”
“Sure,” she replied.
Jordan’s fingers skated across her skin. Abby closed her eyes, imagining those fingers elsewhere. Drawing lazy circles on the inside of her thigh. Walking slowly up her midriff. Tracing a path from her neck to her earlobe.
Abby leaned her neck backwards as her fantasy played out, before snapping herself back to reality.
Her body jolted as she opened her eyes.
Jordan looked at her for a long moment, and the corners of her mouth flickered into a smile.
Something shifted inside Abby. Something that made her feel more uncomfortable than she already was.
Perhaps this hadn’t been the wisest move. As soon as Jordan touched her, or looked at her in a certain way, Abby’s mind scrambled and she couldn’t think of anything else.
Nothing but Jordan’s hands on her. Then her tongue on her. Then back to Abby’s dream, when she was inside Jordan.
She shifted on the hot tub seat, then looked away. She reached for her drink and took a large gulp. What she’d give to be a little more drunk now. Perhaps it would take the edge off her feelings.
The bubbles stopped. Quiet descended. As silence serenaded them, desire and panic crept up Abby’s spine like a slow, rising tide.
She searched her mind for something to say. Something that wasn’t incriminating.
“I like the feel of your hands on me.”Oh fuck. It wasn’t that.
All of Abby’s normal rules had flown out the window since she met Jordan.
“I’m glad.” Jordan didn’t meet her gaze.
Abby was desperate to get them back on an even keel. But it wasn’t easy while Jordan was still holding her foot. “So tell me, how many times have you seen the ‘get the bride to kiss a load of men’ game played out?”
“A few times before.” Jordan’s voice was like honey. She ran her tongue along her bottom lip.
Abby’s stare followed it, then flicked her gaze to Jordan’s.
Boom! Desire hit her full in the gut.
“But I’ve never squirmed so much while I was watching the bride. Because you’re not just any bride-to-be. Or any woman. Marcus was right on that count. You’re special, Abby.” Jordan looked away. “And I shouldn’t be saying any of this, so I’m going to shut up now.” She shook her head. “Ignore me,” she said quietly, almost as an afterthought.
Jordan had just called her special. Did that mean she liked her, too? And if it did, what then?
