Chapter Five

Jordan arrived as scheduled, and his breath caught when she opened the door.

She’d opted for jeans and a blue blouse that complemented her curves and brought out her eyes. He also noticed she’d applied a bit of makeup.

Not that she needs it, at all. She is stunning already.

Easy, dude. Keep a lid on it.

He schooled his expression into one of casual interest, and said, “Ready?

"Yep, just let me grab my purse,” Karli announced, and moved to the coffee table to get it.

She locked her door, and they walked to his truck. He saw her safely seated in the passenger seat, then moved around and got behind the wheel.

“Where would you like to eat?” he asked.

“Barbeque,” she decided. “I’ve been craving it.”

“Your wish is my command,” he quipped as he fastened his seat belt, then put the truck in reverse and backed out of her driveway.

When they reached the restaurant and got in the serving line at the cafeteria-style setup, she asked, “Everything sounds good. What are you going to get?”

“Hm. Leaning toward the ribs and the jalapeno cheddar sausage. You?”

“Brisket,” she replied. “Keeping it simple.”

The man behind the counter moved swiftly with his carving knife and handed them their plates of meat. Continuing down the line, Karli opted for loaded mashed potatoes while Jordan went with coleslaw and cowboy-style beans.

They moved around the corner to the cashier, then headed to a booth with their trays.

“I’m going to get a roll,” he said, pointing to the little station where freshly baked bread waited. “Want one?”

“Two, actually,” came her answer, and he chuckled.

Once they got settled into the booth, Jordan asked, “How’s the blog stuff going?”

“You care about that?” Karli was shocked.

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be? It’s what you’re into, right?”

“Well… yeah.”

“So why are you surprised I’d ask about it?”

She paused.

“You’re a guy, so… Evan never asked how it was going. Fairly sure he thought it was dumb.”

“You mean he missed the entry about the must-have spring accessories?”

She narrowed her eyes.

“Are you messing with me right now?”

Jordan grinned.

“I can see where you’d think that, but no.”

“You read that?”

Now he started to blush as he said, “We have never really talked much, Karli. And I wanted to be able to have something for us to talk about besides… you know... to give you a break from it.”

“That is so sweet,” she whispered, a slow smile warming her face.

“I can be people-friendly, on occasion,” Jordan answered, his smile growing to match hers.

She’s always had the best smile, he thought to himself as he watched her butter the rolls he’d snagged for her. And I will do whatever it takes to make sure she keeps smiling.

He pulled out of his reverie when Karli said, “You’re right. We haven’t really talked before. Let’s change that. What kind of music do you like?”

***

Two hours later, Jordan’s truck was pulling into Karli’s driveway, signaling the end of one of the best days Jordan had ever had.

As they talked, they had discovered more and more common interests – music, writers, television shows, movies. Neither one really cared for sports.

“That was something that always drove me a little bit nuts about Evan,” Karli had confessed. “Way, way into sports. Like, take-up-all-the-recording-space level of ‘into.’ Did I tell you about the time he erased the season finale of my favorite show so he could record a dart tournament?”

“Darts? Seriously?”

“Yep. I guess… I guess I can record whatever I want now,” Karli had said as the smile was chased away by the sudden barrage of tears threatening to fall.

He had held out his hand across the table and tried not to gasp at the amazing sensation touching her caused him. Karli clutched it tightly with her left hand while she used her right hand to wipe her eyes with a napkin.

“I miss him, Jordan,” she’d squeaked. “I thought we’d grow old together.”

“I know, honey,” he had murmured, squeezing her hand. “And I miss him too.”

Oh, dear Lord. Did I just call her honey?

Although she did not comment on it, her rapid blinking let him know Karli had heard it, and he’d winced internally.

What the hell do I say now?

She’d stared at him for a long moment, then gently withdrew her hand and said quietly, “Are you ready to go?”

Dammit. I made her uncomfortable. Great job, Jordan, he berated himself in his head as he’d nodded and told her, “Whenever you are.”

Now he sat in her driveway, putting his truck’s transmission into park, and racking his brain for a way to undo the awkwardness he’d shoved into their perfectly nice time together.

“So,” he began, “let me walk you to the door.”

“You don’t have to,” she protested.

“I know I don’t. But I want to,” he answered, and in a flash was out of his truck, moving around to the passenger door to open it for her and extend his hand.

She hesitated only briefly, then clasped it, and Jordan almost closed his eyes at the electricity that seemed to flow back and forth.

Breathe. Just breathe, he chanted in his head like a mantra as she gracefully stepped down out of the truck. Then she dropped his hand, and it felt like a physical blow to him.

They walked together up the sidewalk, and Karli pulled out her keys.

“Thanks for dinner,” she murmured as she slid the key into the lock. “And the company. It was nice.”

“You’re welcome,” he said earnestly.

She went still, seemingly conflicted about something, although Jordan had no idea what it could be. It was a complete surprise to him when she suddenly pivoted, closed the distance between them, stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek.

“See you later,” Karli whispered, and went into her house, closing the door behind her.

He stood, feeling rooted in place, one hand slowly traveling up to his face to land softly where she had pressed her lips to him.

It seemed like forever before his legs finally cooperated and he was able to walk back to his truck.

***

Karli shut the door, locked it, then leaned against it, eyes closed, her mind a battlefield of chaos and conflict.

He called me ‘honey’, her shocked brain repeated. No one’s ever called me that.

Is it wrong that I liked it? It feels so… disloyal to Evan. Not to mention – I kissed him? Seriously? I mean, it was a peck on the cheek, but still… What the hell is wrong with me? Evan hasn’t even been gone two weeks and I am kissing someone else?

With tears of shame running unchecked down her cheeks, Karli headed for the one place in the house that could usually soothe both her body and her spirit – her garden tub.

But her cell phone rang as she moved toward her bedroom, and she returned to the couch where she had dropped her purse and answered it.

“Sarah,” she managed.

She could hear the worry in her best friend’s voice when Sarah said, “Oh honey. Need me to come over?”

“Yes,” Karli gasped. “Please.”

“On my way, girl. Be there in twenty.”

“Okay,” Karli sniffled, and disconnected.

***

Jordan brooded in his apartment on the opposite side of the park.

She kissed me. I still cannot believe she kissed me. And I should feel like I am betraying Evan – but I don’t. I don’t. Not after everything he did. My only regret is that Karli kissed me on the cheek, not the mouth. And I hope it happens again…

How big a jerk does that make me?

Shaking his head in frustration, he moved to his bedroom to change into running gear, grabbed his headphones, and prepared for three punishing circuits of the jogging trail.