Chapter Ten

Jordan had managed to keep his expression neutral as he watched a confusing array of emotions roll across Sarah’s and Karli’s faces in the living room.

Wonder what that’s all about?

Must be a girl thing.

He mentally shrugged, then focused himself on opening the door for Karli and seeing her safely into the passenger seat.

“Where to?” he asked.

“You choose, I’m good with just about anything.”

“Italian?”

“Perfect. So, I figured out the first twelve entries of the new blog I’m starting,” Karli volunteered as they drove.

“Cool! What’s it about?”

“Being a mom,” she declared. “I’ve got a front row seat for it, and I’ve been wanting to do something besides fashion anyway, so it seemed like a good choice.”

“And you’ll be fabulous at it,” Jordan chimed in, and reached over and squeezed her hand.

***

As soon as he touched her, she had the sensation of being very warm. Karli almost wiggled in her seat a bit to try and restore balance before she stopped herself.

“You all right?”

“Yes,” she managed. “It’s just… a little stuffy in here, don’t you think?”

“Here,” he offered, and adjusted the truck’s air conditioning controls. “Better?”

“Yes, thanks,” Karli answered, then turned her face to the passenger window and watched the scenery as she tried desperately to stem the tide of new and unexpected emotion that she was feeling for Jordan Baker.

This is so wrong… isn’t it?

Not to mention - what if it’s one-sided, Karli?

What if he’s only been nice to you because he is Evan’s friend?

What then?

***

Jordan’s phone chirped just as the hostess seated them. He scanned the text.

“Kathy says she can meet you at the house at eight a.m. tomorrow to take pictures, put the lockbox on the front door and set the sign in the yard,” he relayed to Karli.

“Good!” she answered brightly.

He smiled at her, warmth in his eyes.

There it is again, she told herself. Now’s my chance.

“I need to ask you something,” she said abruptly.

“Go for it.”

“What’s with the look?”

His brows knitted.

“What look?”

“There’s been a couple of times you’ve gotten this… look on your face,” Karli said. “And I don’t know what it means.”

She swore she could pinpoint the precise moment he clamped down on whatever he was feeling; Jordan’s eyes went carefully blank, like a curtain had been lowered.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said gruffly. “Ready to order?”

Fine, don’t tell me, Karli thought to herself as she gazed at Jordan. But I will find out, mark my words.

Jordan was increasingly distant through the meal; she could feel whatever was weighing on him rolling toward her, a palpable aura of tension blanketing them both.

They waved off dessert and prepared to leave. After he settled the bill Jordan escorted her to the truck, making sure once again to see her settled comfortably before he got in the driver’s seat.

They rode in silence back to Sarah’s apartment complex.

It wasn’t until Jordan parked that Karli spoke up and said, “We need to talk, Jordan.”

“Okay,” he muttered, visibly uncomfortable.

“Why have you been so nice to me lately?” she asked.

“You needed it,” came the answer.

“Yes, and I appreciate it. But why now? Why go seven years acting like you hated me?”

“I don’t hate you.”

“Really? Because you always seemed distant toward me, like you were pissed off I was even around.”

“I don’t want to talk about this,” he began.

“But I do, so, it’s happening,” she shot back, chin raised in defiance.

“I don’t hate you, Karli. I’ve never hated you.”

“Then why did you act like that?”

She waited, watching as his hands gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white.

 “Karli… I really don’t want to talk about this,” he said in a warning tone through clenched teeth.

“Too bad,” she said. “I deserve an answer to the question.”

“You want an answer?” Jordan growled.

“Yes,” Karli snapped.

She was totally shocked when he undid his seat belt, leaned her direction, and reached for her. He gently framed her face with his hands, paused for a moment, then leaned in to plant an ardent kiss on her mouth.

Her senses reeled at his touch, his feel, the way his lips were both urgent and gentle against hers, and she felt every sliver of emotion that Jordan poured into their contact.

“That’s why,” he murmured when the kiss finally ended. “That’s why, Karli.”

“But…I…” she stammered.

“I wanted you for myself,” Jordan spoke in a low tone, his words tumbling from the lips mere inches from her own, his dark brown eyes alive with what she’d only glimpsed before.

“But not this way. Never this way. Not because he died. Do you understand? And you are carrying his child, Karli. I am trying to do the right thing here and not take advantage. Support you, but also keep my distance to let you grieve, let you heal. And then I see you…hear your voice…and I just…”.

His words fell away as he kissed her again, and with a sigh Karli leaned into him and ran her hands through his hair before landing her palms on the back of his neck to pull him closer.

But he slowly lifted away from her mouth to whisper in her ear, “This is why I didn’t want to talk about it. You should have left it alone.” 

Jordan gently lifted his hands from her face and retreated to his side of the truck, his expression guarded. He sat for just a moment, then got out of the vehicle and went around to open her door.

She swiveled in the seat, like she was about to climb down from the truck, and as he had before, Jordan held out a hand to assist.

Now it was Karli’s turn to shock as she took his hand, then pulled him close enough that she could kiss him again. Jordan immediately closed the distance and wedged himself between her knees.

He fisted his left hand in her hair as he plundered her mouth, and his lips curved briefly into a smile when hers parted. He deepened the kiss as his right hand crept up under her shirt, under her bra to gently cradle her breast, and the feel of his touch on her bare skin caused Karli to shudder.

Jordan growled low in his throat as he dipped his head to blaze a trail of scorching kisses down the side of her neck before returning for another taste of her mouth.

Meanwhile, Karli’s hands roamed his chest, then down his sides. She moved them down and around to his back, finally exploring the muscular physique she’d admired. When she gripped his ass to pull him in even more firmly against her core, he moaned against her mouth, and the sound turned her on even more.

“Karli. Wait,” he managed, as she moved her hands back around to the front and started to undo the button on his jeans.

“What?” she whispered.

“I don’t… I don’t know if we should do this right now, honey,” he whispered back, with both longing and pain shining in his eyes as he pulled his hand back from her breast. “You need more time…”.