“Like I might be drunk?”
I snickered. “We’ll take a cab, and I’ll make sure you get home safe. Would you do me the honor of coming with me?”
“I would love that.”
“Great. And Sandy, Van is getting married in a month. Would you come with me as my plus-one?”
“Oh, ah…”
Her hesitation prompted me to ask. “You would prefer not to let people know we’re seeing each other?”
“We’ve only had one date, Jordan.”
“Two, after Tuesday, and in a month, it will be so many, you will have lost count.”
“You’re very sure of yourself.”
I couldn’t resist teasing her. “I felt your response to my kiss, Sandy. I have every reason to be sure.”
“You’re such a rake.” She teased back. “I thought you were a gentleman.”
“I’m both.”
“I see.”
“So?” I pushed. “Tuesday, about twenty more dates, then the wedding? Yes?”
She sighed. “Yes.”
I couldn’t help my grin. “Perfect.”
Sandy
Monday morning, my stomach fluttered with nerves. As I prepared the boardroom for the usual start-of-the-week meeting, I worried about seeing Jordan.
How would he act? Would people know we’d been out together? I valued my privacy and I was certain he did as well, yet I also felt anxious about my reaction to him.
He’d been on my mind all day yesterday. Snippets of our evening came back to me, making me smile as I sorted drawers and tidied the house. The way I felt in his embrace—safe and secure. Surrounded by his scent. Max never wore cologne since many of the hospitals had a fragrance-free policy, so I wasn’t used to it, but Jordan smelled like fresh air in the fall—woodsy and warm. I liked it.
And his kiss.
It awakened in me something long dormant. With the age difference between Max and me, our sex life had shifted greatly as Max grew older. The last few years of Max’s life, his body had suffered terribly with his MS. He fought it valiantly, but the passion we had shared so strongly throughout our earlier marriage was missing. We snuggled, exchanged whispered words of love, gentle kisses, but that was all. As hard as we tried to prevent it, I became more of a caregiver than his wife, and although I wouldn’t have done it any other way, that side of our life was gone.
I touched my mouth, still feeling the pressure of Jordan’s lips on mine. The tender possession that had deepened and blossomed into something more. It left me wanting.
And in many ways, it scared me.
Reid walked into the boardroom, his laptop tucked under his arm, a cup of coffee in his hand. He stopped beside me, dropping a kiss to my cheek.
“Hey, Sandy. How was your weekend?”
I patted his cheek. “Good. Yours?”
“Great. Becca and I went shopping for some furniture.” He shook his head. “I’ve never been able to shop for my own stuff before. There’re so many choices and decisions. Good thing I have her.”
I smiled. “Yes, it is.”
Other staff members filed in, and I took my usual place to the side of Bentley. I opened my pad and got ready, knowing once he strode in, the meeting would start. It was as if everyone waited for him, feeding on his energy and leadership to begin the week.
Aiden and Maddox sat down, both smiling and greeting me. My breath caught as Van walked in, followed by Jordan. I relaxed as they both said hello. Jordan smiled, nodded, and sat in his usual place. There was nothing out of the ordinary with his demeanor, nothing overly familiar, yet I felt his glance from across the table. Saw his smile widen a little as I returned his salutation. I averted my eyes as the feeling I was about to blush rushed over me.
Heaven’s sake, I hadn’t blushed since I was fifteen. What was this man doing to me?
Bentley walked in, set his leather-bound journal on the boardroom table, and clapped his hands.
“Morning everyone. We have a busy week ahead of us, so let’s get to it.”
I was grateful for his briskness this morning. I needed to occupy my hands—and my mind.
Blushing.
What next?
Swooning?
Heaven forbid.
I stayed in my seat, furiously writing the last few moments of the meeting as people filed out. Bentley had been on fire this morning, discussing new projects, the hiring of additional staff, the transition of some people to the new building, as well as a hundred and one other items on his list.
Busy, indeed.
I jotted down some questions I needed to ask, then snapped shut my notepad.
I glanced up, surprised to see all the boys still in their seats. They were all relaxed, sipping coffee, Aiden eating what I was certain was his fourth Danish of the day. I met their glances, confused.
“Boys—what’s up?”
“Just checking in, Sandy,” Maddox drawled, a smile on his lips.
“Checking in?”
“You look good today,” Bentley stated softly. “Lovely as usual, but better.”
“I had a nice weekend.”
Aiden lifted one eyebrow. “Oh?”
“Very productive. Cleaned out some drawers, went shopping, that sort of thing.”
Reid leaned forward. “Anything particularly interesting filed under ‘that sort of thing’?”
I rolled my eyes. They were fishing. They knew I had lunch with Jordan last week, and like curious children, they wanted to know what was going on. I stood, brushing off my skirt.
“I deleted that app, if that is what you’re wondering. You can all stop worrying.”
“We’ll never stop worrying about you, Sandy,” Bentley stated. “We love you too much.”
His words made me smile.
“I’m fine, boys. Carry on with your life.”
“Dee and I were out to dinner on Saturday,” Maddox said.
I glanced at him, waiting for him to continue.
“Imagine my surprise”—he smirked—“when I saw you across the restaurant, having dinner. With Jordan.”
“Imagine,” I replied, trying not to laugh. I was incorrect. They were worse than curious children. Four sets of eyes stared at me, all waiting for me to speak.
“The restaurant was lovely. I hope you enjoyed yourself as much as we did,” I responded, keeping my voice neutral.
“You looked quite cozy,” Maddox added.
“Tell me, how many phone calls happened between the four of you on Sunday? I’m quite shocked none of you was at my door demanding answers yesterday.”
They all spoke up at once.
“Emmy wouldn’t let me.”
“Cami said to leave you alone.”
“Dee refused to let me come say hello on Saturday. She told me to give you some privacy.”
“Becca told me to butt out.”
I picked up my notepad. “Good thing your partners have some sense. Yes, Jordan and I went out for dinner. We had a nice evening. We spoke yesterday on the phone, and we do plan on seeing each other again. Now, I will try to refrain from dragging him into the supply cupboard and having my wicked way with him, and I promise not to make kissy faces at him during meetings, but heaven only knows. He is rather sexy. Now, I believe we’re done here.”
I swept out of the boardroom, shutting the door behind me. The silence I left was deafening and the shocked looks on their faces priceless.
But I had a feeling I had made my point. I knew that each of them would approach me today and grovel. I planned on enjoying it. I found it quite funny, if I was being honest.
I wasn’t angry or even upset. I knew they were all concerned about me, and I also knew they were idiots a great deal of the time when it came to personal matters. Still, I had to set some boundaries.
Even if I loved them all the more for their behavior.
I approached my desk, all other thoughts disappearing when I saw what waited for me. Sitting beside my keyboard was a small vase containing three perfect i
rises.
There was no note. No indication of who had left them, but I knew who it was.
Jordan.
It was a lovely little reminder of the weekend.
Of him.
The boardroom door opened, and the partners all filed out, heading directly to their offices. They all looked crestfallen, and I was instantly ashamed of berating them.
“Boys,” I called softly.
They all turned, looking at me.
“I love you. Interfering idiots you are, that hasn’t changed. I promise if I need you, I will call, okay?”
They all smiled in relief, making me chuckle. They couldn’t stand it if they felt I was upset—the hard-hearted, tough businessman image they projected was simply that. An image. Underneath their fancy suits and gruff exteriors, they were all caring, loving men—and fiercely protective.
I was glad to be one of the people they cared so deeply about.
“Now, get back to work,” I demanded. “I can’t do all this myself, you know.”
Reid laughed. “I think you do most of it.”
I tilted my chin. “Remember that.”
They were all sniggering as they dispersed.
I touched the petals on my irises, smiling. I looked up to see Bentley in his doorway, watching me. I winked at him and he grinned.
“I love seeing you smile like that again.”
I arched an eyebrow at him, and he lifted his hands in supplication, then disappeared into his office.
I opened my laptop and got to work.
Sandy
Jordan’s eyes widened in shock. “Maddox was there? I never noticed him.”
I nodded with a grin. “Neither of us did. Apparently, Dee dragged him out of the restaurant and refused to let him interrupt us.”
He lifted his wine. “What are the odds?”
“I know.”
“Does it bother you? Their interference? Or should I say, attempted interference?” Jordan asked with a smirk. “I love how you shut them down.”
I felt the need to defend them. “No, I know how worried they have been. They’re just trying to watch out for me.”
He leaned across the table, his voice low. “If you still have to prove a point, I’m okay with you dragging me into the storage cupboard.” He sat back with a wink. “I’ll take one for the team.”
I laughed at his humor. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You do that.”
The waiter slid a plate in front of us. “Elk ravioli with a blue cheese and thyme cream sauce,” he announced, then poured us the next wine pairing. “A rich Syrah with essence of black plum, pepper, and blackberry.”
I eyed my plate with anticipation. Everything had been delicious so far. I cut into the pasta and tasted the offering. The richness of the cheese and the dense filling was heaven.
Jordan groaned around his mouthful. “This is amazing.”
I sipped the pungent, dry wine with appreciation. It was the perfect accompaniment to the decadent pasta.
“This just gets better and better,” I agreed.
We had left the office together, heading straight for the restaurant in a car service Jordan ordered for the night. He planned on taking me home, then having the car drop him off at his place since we would both be drinking. He had kissed my cheek in the car, and we had held hands, both enjoying the quiet on the short trip to the restaurant. I liked not having to fill the time with empty chatter. I had never been very good at small talk. Since we had sat down, though, conversation had flowed, and I was enjoying every moment with Jordan.
“I concur,” he said, tasting his wine. “How we’re supposed to get through seven courses, I’m not sure.”
I indicated our plates. “I’m not sure we’re supposed to finish everything they give us.”
He shook his head. “Nope, too good.”
He was right. The portions weren’t huge, but I had noticed other people literally taking a bite and leaving the rest. Jordan and I cleared our plates. Spicy, shredded lamb and vegetable rolls. Ahi tuna with a drizzle of citrusy glaze on top of crispy noodles. Each course was delicious and the wine that accompanied it, heady.
I finished my pasta and sat back to enjoy the last of my wine. Jordan mimicked my position.
“Did I mention how lovely you look tonight?”
“Ah, no.”
“How remiss of me. You are stunning, Sandy.” He tilted his head. “You took your hair down.” He lowered his voice. “Was that for me?”
I was shocked how husky my voice sounded. “Yes.”
He eyed me over his wineglass. “Thank you.”
How did he do that? Lovely, soft-spoken words that wrapped around me like a hug. Unspoken thoughts that promised more as the night went along. I found my gaze straying to his mouth. How had I never noticed his full lips before now? How soft they looked. Felt against mine.
How much I wanted to feel them again.
As if he knew what I was thinking, he smiled, his tongue touching his lower lip. I had to duck my head, feeling that odd sensation of needing to blush again.
Dammit.
“I was talking to Gina on Sunday.”
I looked up. “How is she?”
“Good. Busy with the kids.”
“You miss them.”
“I do, but they’re happy and Eric is doing really well with his new position. They’re exactly where they should be.” Then he inhaled deeply. “I talked to her about a decision I’ve made.”
“Oh?”
“I’m going to sell my house.”
“Where will you live?” I asked, my throat tight. Was he moving? I was shocked to realize how the thought of him leaving distressed me.
He frowned, then leaned over the table, offering me his hand. I slipped mine into his, and he squeezed my fingers. “To a condo—here in Toronto. I’m not going anywhere, Sandy. I wouldn’t start something with you if I planned to disappear from your life.”
My shoulders relaxed and I sighed. I hadn’t even known how tightly I was holding myself until he spoke.
“Oh.”
He squeezed my fingers again, not releasing my hand. “I would never do anything to cause you pain.”
I nodded and reached for my wine. Our fingers remained entwined on the table.
“So, a condo?” I asked.
“It’s time,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while. The house is too big for only me. I don’t use the pool much, and the gardens are getting overgrown. I need to downsize. The house needs a young family.”
“Have you spoken to Bentley about it?”
“No.”
“They still have a few units in Ridge Towers they kept aside. Maybe one of them would suit you.”
“That’s a good idea.” Then he chuckled. “He’ll grill me about it. You know that.”
“Quite possibly. I think you can handle him.”
His fingers flexed on mine. “I think you’re right.”
“You’re not moving because of me, are you?”
He drained his wine and pursed his lips. “I’ll be honest. Your presence in my life has factored into the decision a little.”
“We’re very early on in a relationship to make a drastic change like that, Jordan.”
“I’ve been thinking of this for a while now. Gina brought it up when she was here again at Christmas, and I’ve been thinking about it more and more.” He sat back. “I have every confidence in our fledgling relationship, Sandy. The bottom line is I don’t want to make love to you in a place you shared with Max or one I shared with Anna.”
His words astounded me. To him, it was a given. Our relationship would move forward and become intimate. We would become a couple.
“Wouldn’t a hotel be cheaper?” I asked weakly. “A lot less stuff to move.”
He threw back his head in laughter. “Hotels are fun too, but I want a place we can be together and create our own memories.” He held up his hand before I could respond. “I’m not trying to put
pressure on you, or us, here. It’s simply my time for a fresh start. But if you’re in my life, it makes it an even better decision.”
I blinked. Then again. I sipped the last of my wine. I looked down where our fingers were still clasped together. I wasn’t worried about Jordan pressuring me, and given what a thoughtful man he was, it shouldn’t surprise me he had thought about our future. He would consider all factors in such a major decision.
“All right, then.”
“Good. Glad we cleared the air.” He winked. “I told Gina we’d been on a date.”
“How did she take it?”
He smiled. “She was shocked I’d waited as long as I did to ask you. Apparently, Sandy, I talk about you a lot.”
I had no response to that statement. “Oh.”
“She is fine with it, by the way. She just wants me to be happy.”
“And I make you happy?”
He smiled, and once again, I felt the reassuring press of his fingers. “You do.”
I was surprised at the words I uttered.
“You make me happy too, Jordan.”
Two hours later, we headed to the car. Neither of us was exactly drunk, but we weren’t sober either. The food was wonderful, the wine delicious, and the courses more decadent as the night progressed. The final pairing of a Canadian ice wine with a rich, thick brownie dipped in the darkest of chocolate was addictive. We enjoyed the ice wine so much, Jordan announced we were going to go to the winery and purchase some this weekend. I had no problem with his decision.
He nodded, his voice firm. “It can count as one of the dates.”
I was sure I giggled, but I must have been mistaken. I never giggled.
Once in the car, Jordan slipped his arm around me, holding me close to his side. The driver told us a concert had just let out and the traffic was heavier than usual this time of night. Jordan waved him off.
“Not a problem.”
The driver chuckled and raised the partition. I frowned.
“Why did he do that?”
“Maybe because he knew I was going to do this,” Jordan’s voice was pitched low. He slipped his hand under my chin, turning my face to his. Then his lips—those full, soft lips—were on mine.
Sandy: Vested Interest #7 Page 6