Page 83 of Then Came Love
Chapter Seventeen
JAX HAD GONE all out and gotten them the penthouse suite with a sunrise view, and they’d taken full advantage Saturday morning, watching the sun come up over the skyline from the warmth of their bed. Jordan swore the sun was more vibrant than ever, but that might just be a reflection of how happy she was that everything was falling into place. Even after she’d told her aunt and uncle all the things Reggie had warned her about, her aunt had said, I think you need to do this, and her uncle had added, Maybe we all do. Before they’d called Reggie to give him the okay to move forward with the search, she and Jax had talked about finances, and he’d agreed to let her help pay a small amount each month toward Reggie’s fees. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to let her know he respected her need to pitch in but that he also was in this with her for the long haul.
She’d have bet those were the reasons everything felt brighter today, but then she and Jax made love, and as he gazed into her eyes, confessing that he was falling fast and didn’t ever want to stop, she realized he was the force behind that vibrant beauty and the lightness she felt. He was peeling back all her protective layers, allowing her to flourish and take control of the parts of her life she hadn’t held the reins to for a long time, while also nourishing the parts of her that she hadn’t known so desperately needed it.
They fell back to sleep tangled up in each other’s arms, and when they woke up, they ordered room service and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast in bed. By the time they’d left their suite, it was almost noon. They took a ferry to Governors Island, where they rented bikes and spent the afternoon looking at art, enjoying delicious coffee and homemade ice cream, and seeing everything the tiny island had to offer, including Slide Hill: home of the longest slide in New York. Jordan sat between Jax’s legs, squealing as they flew down the twisty slide. “I feel like a kid again!” she said as he helped her to her feet.
“Damn, baby, being a kid looks good on you.” He took her hand. “Let’s go again!”
They ran to the line, kissing and laughing, and after riding the slide a few more times, they took the ferry back to the city and spent the rest of the afternoon at Summer on the Hudson, a local festival. They listened to live music while dancing in the grass and held hands as they perused the festival attractions. They met a number of talented artists and craftsmen, and Jordan was especially taken with jewelry made by an upbeat, hippyish brunette named Heaven Love. She’d had so many unique pieces that Jordan adored, Jordan had bought Jillian a beautiful pair of earrings as a belated birthday present.
When they came upon a karaoke stage, Jordan dragged Jax up to sing, just as he’d done to her at Whiskey Bro’s, and they sang “Glad You Exist” by Dan + Shay. As they sang about a hello turning into much more and getting so caught up in moments it felt like the world disappeared and it was only the two of them, they could have been singing about that very moment. When they finished the song, Jax hauled her into his arms and kissed her right there onstage as onlookers whooped and cheered.
Afternoon bled into evening, and they went back to the hotel to shower and change for dinner. Jax surprised her with reservations at HanGawi, a Korean vegetarian restaurant. They sat on pillows on the floor, and the vibe was so serene, Jordan felt far away from the busy city they were in, as if they’d stopped time and found their own private oasis—a brief reprieve from the worries she’d carried for so many years and knew she’d carry every day to come until she found out for sure what happened to Casey.
They shared the most delicious meal of stuffed shitake mushrooms, dumplings, and a mix of vegetables, rice, and wild mountain greens. When they finished eating, they had tea, and Jordan felt like they’d been in New York for a week instead of a day. How was that even possible? With Todd every day had dragged on forever. He’d been so busy with work—or other women?—during her visits, she was realizing that she’d never really relaxed. With Jax it was easy to relax. Everything felt natural, and he made her feel safe enough to let her worries go, knowing she’d pick them up again when she was ready. Was this sense of freedom and safety part of what truly falling for someone felt like?
Overcome with happiness, she reached for Jax’s hand. “You were right, you know.”
“About what?”
“This city. This amazing day. It feels like an entirely different place from the one I’ve been visiting for years.” She scooted closer, wishing she could climb into his lap. “Before today, I’d never even heard of Governors Island, and I’ve been wishing I could go back to that night at Whiskey Bro’s and kiss you onstage. I like you, Jax, and I like who I am when we’re together.”
“I’m glad you feel that way, because I got you a little something so you’d always remember this weekend.” He reached into the pocket of his button-down and withdrew a linen bag with a drawstring enclosure.
Her pulse quickened. “When did you have time to buy something without me seeing?”
“At the festival, when you went to use the ladies’ room.”
“That was very sneaky of you, Mr. Braden.”
He opened the bag and pulled out a necklace with a gorgeous white-gold, rectangular sunrise charm. The sun was brass, and it was rising over mountains etched into the white gold, just like the sun’s rays, which stretched all the way to the edges of the charm.
“Jax. I love it. Thank you.” She hugged him, whispering, “If we weren’t surrounded by people, I’d show you just how much I love it.”
Sparks flickered in his eyes. “Maybe we need to add get sexy in a restaurant to your naughty bucket list.”
“Well, we did check off skinny-dipping, so there’s room for more.”
“Next time I’ll book a restaurant with higher tables and tablecloths.”
A thrill shivered through her, and she leaned closer, loving how he pushed her boundaries. “You are the naughtiest, and you make me want to be just as naughty.”
“You haven’t begun to see naughty.” He put the necklace on her and kissed her. “This is one of Heaven Love’s pieces, and I chose it because sunrises are signs of hope and new beginnings, and I’d like to think we’ve got a beginning worth remembering.”
Her heart filled to the brim, and she pressed her hand to the charm. “We definitely do. I’ll never take it off.”
He kissed her. “Are you ready for our next adventure?”
“There’s more?”
“Babe, this is the city that never sleeps. Are you ready to get wicked?”
“With you? Always.”
He squeezed her thigh. “We’ll get wicked all right, but first I’m taking you to see Wicked on Broadway.”
She gasped. “Really? I’ve never been to a Broadway show. Am I dressed okay?” She looked down at her royal-blue dress.
“You look gorgeous, and it doesn’t matter what you wear. You’re always the most beautiful woman in the room.”
He sure made her feel that way.
