Page 3 of Then Came Love
LETTING JORDAN WALK away was the toughest thing he had ever done. From the moment he’d first set eyes on her, the intensity of their connection had been inescapable, and he’d have bet she’d felt it too when she’d cut their initial meeting short and had flown out of his office like a frightened bird. He had plenty of beautiful women at his beck and call, but there was something about Jordan that made him want to know her in ways he’d never taken the time to know other women. It was much deeper than physical, although she was stunning, with delicate features, a slightly upturned nose, long blond hair he’d like to tangle his hands in as she lay beneath him, and gorgeous legs he wanted to feel wrapped around him as he loved those frightened shadows she thought she hid so well out of her beautiful blue eyes.
He watched her talking with Nick and Trixie and caught a narrow-eyed glare from Nick. Jax gritted his teeth, holding his brother’s stare.
Nick was one of only two people he’d told about being so taken with a bride-to-be that he hadn’t been able to concentrate. The other person was his petite, burgundy-haired twin, Jillian, who was stalking toward him with an incredulous look on her face. He steeled himself for an onslaught of questions and turned away, catching sight of his older brothers Beau and Zev and their wives, Char and Carly, fawning over their cousin Tempest’s new baby girl, Penina Jane, who they called PJ, after Tempest’s husband Nash’s late brother. Their little boy, Phillip, was dancing with Jax’s mother. Beau and Zev had also suffered a loss that had affected their whole family for a long time, and it was good to finally see them happy again.
Jillian stepped into his line of sight, glowering. “Oh my God, Jax.”
“What?” She was as pushy as he was laid-back. When they were younger, she could rile him up like no one else ever could, but he’d learned that if he remained calm, eventually she’d back down.
“Don’t what me. I saw you dancing with Jordan, and holy frick. I’m surprised the dance floor didn’t go up in flames.”
Good to know he wasn’t the only one who’d felt it.
“I’ve never seen you look at anyone the way you looked at her. It’s Jordan, isn’t it?” she whispered harshly. “She’s the one that’s had you tied in knots so badly you almost missed a deadline. How did I not know this?” She paced, brow furrowed. “You know her wedding is back on, right?” She froze, eyes widening. “Are you the reason she postponed it in the first place?”
I wish.“If I were, do you think her wedding would be back on?”
She sighed. “I guess not, but, Jax, what are you doing?”
“I’m trying to enjoy my brother’s wedding.”
“Yeah? Well, that brother looks like he’s ready to kill you.”
Nick, their largest and gruffest brother, was striding toward them, his serious dark eyes locked on Jax. “Stay here,” Nick growled at Jillian as he grabbed Jax’s arm, pulling him a few feet away.
Jillian scoffed and stomped over to them. “I’m not missing this.”
Nick ignored her, his angry eyes boring into Jax. “I saw you dancing with Jordan, and she was all flustered when she left. Tell me you didn’t proposition her.”
“Back off, Nick. Of course I didn’t, and this is none of your business.”
“She’s Trixie’s friend, which makes it my business,” Nick barked. “If you didn’t proposition her, then what did you say that got her all wound up? Jesus, Jax. Didn’t you see that rock on her finger?”
He’d seen the damn rock. It was a fucking solitaire, about as common as rings could get. She deserved a one-of-a-kind stunning creation made just for her.
“He knows she’s engaged,” Jillian snapped. “She came to him for a wedding gown last summer.”
Nick’s eyes narrowed, and Jax saw understanding dawning on him. “Aw, hell, Jax. Seriously? It’s her?”
“Relax. I just offered to make her dress.”
“Make it, or take it off?” Nick challenged.
Jax threw his shoulders back, stepping closer. “What kind of asshole do you think I am?”
“I don’t think you’re an asshole,” Nick gritted out. “But you’re a Braden, and we stop at nothing to get what we want.”
When it comes to Jordan, truer words have never been spoken.
“Okay, down, boys.” Jillian stepped between them, pushing them apart, and looked up at Nick. “You know he’d never cross that line.” She turned a thoughtful gaze on Jax. “It’s too bad she’s engaged. I think her fiancé is a bit of a jerk, and you’d be cute together.”
Nick glared at her. “Don’t encourage him.”
“Don’t bark at me,” Jillian snapped. “I’ve spent months working my matchmaking magic behind the scenes and talking him up to all of Trixie’s single girlfriends, some of whom will be at the bachelor auction.” She had talked Jax into taking part in a charity bachelor auction next month. “But he didn’t give any of them a second look, so put that snarl away and let me talk to him.” She huffed out a breath. “As I was saying, Jax, you’d be cute together, but Jordan is taken, and considering how she’s made you all gaga over her, and you lost your freaking mind for all these months, making her dress might not be the best idea. Why don’t you let me make it?”
Jillian was a phenomenal fashion designer, but she specialized in dresses, not wedding gowns, and her style was far more outlandish than Jax’s. “No. I want to do this for her.”
“I don’t know, man.” Nick’s jaw clenched. “I saw the way you were looking at her when you two were dancing.”
“He’s right,” Jillian said. “Tempting fate might not be a good idea. What are you thinking?”
That she should be mine.“That I’ll take every minute I can get with her until she walks down that aisle.”
