Sandy: Vested Interest #7

by Melanie Moreland

  He kissed me gently, our mouths moving together seamlessly. He slanted his head, cupping the back of my neck and bringing me closer. The kiss deepened. His tongue twisted with mine, stroking and tasting.

  Chocolate. Cinnamon. Jordan.

  The combination was heady, and I wanted more of it. I wrapped my hands around his neck and pulled him closer, letting him lead. The effect of the earlier alcohol was nothing compared to how drunk I was on his caresses. Endlessly, we kissed, sharing touches and whispered words of wonder. He discovered the spot behind my ear that drove me crazy. I found that he loved the feel of my tongue on his neck.

  We both determined we lost track of time, and when the car stopped. I realized we’d been making out like teenagers for thirty minutes. We broke apart, both of us breathing hard. Jordan straightened his tie, shook his head to clear it, and slipped from the car, offering me his hand. He walked me to my door, waiting as I unlocked it. I felt the heat of him behind me, caught a whiff of his sexy cologne that was now soaked into my clothing from being pressed against him. His breath drifted across my neck, making me shiver. My fingers shook as I tried to get the key into the lock, and with a low chuckle, he covered my hand with his and steadied it.

  He followed me inside, shutting the door. His gaze was warm, his smile indulgent. He traced one finger down my cheek, stopping at my mouth. Lazily, he ran his finger along my bottom lip.

  “You are sweet. Addictive.” He lifted his eyebrow. “Dangerous.”

  “I could say the same.”

  He leaned down and kissed me. The lightest brush of his mouth on mine. “Then I guess it’s a good thing we’re together.”

  I barely recognized my voice. “I guess so.”

  He stepped away. “It amazes me how difficult it is to walk away from you already.”

  I swallowed. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Text me when you get home.”

  He lifted my hand and kissed it. “Goodnight.”

  Jordan

  Bentley and Aiden glanced at each other after I explained what I was interested in.

  “How big a condo unit do you want, Jordan?” Bentley asked.

  “I was thinking a two-bedroom. I can use the spare room as an office and a guest room for when my daughter visits.”

  He nodded, concentrating on the screen in front of him. “We have three left. Plus a three-bedroom. It’s on the top floor, great views, and is actually the best value for money, square-foot wise.”

  “I’m trying to downsize, Bentley. The three-bedrooms are over twenty-two-hundred square feet.”

  Aiden spoke up. “Some, like Maddox’s, are larger. The one we have is in building B and was made a little smaller because the person who shares that part wanted a larger unit. The three- bedroom is just under two-thousand square feet.”

  I pursed my lips.

  “Why don’t you look at both and decide?” Bentley offered. “You may not like either, and if that’s the case, no pressure.”

  Aiden chuckled. “They’re one of the most well-made condos around, and the management is top-notch.”

  I laughed along with them. “I’d heard that.”

  BAM only built the best. There was no cutting corners with them—ever. This project had been a massive undertaking for them, and I was proud to have been associated with it.

  “If you don’t like them, Jordan, what about the new project? The fifty-five-plus compound we’re building?”

  “Those won’t be ready for a while, and I want to move fairly quickly, Bentley. I like the idea of the individual houses, but it’s also a little out of town while I’m still working. Maybe once I think of retirement.”

  Bentley regarded me for a moment, his intense blue eyes meeting mine steadily. “First off, I hope that’s a long way off, Jordan. Second, we plan on holding back a few places for lease only. There are always those who prefer not to own, so we cater to those individuals as well. If you decided you wanted one of those places, you could buy direct from us.”

  I smiled. “Knowing you, Bentley, by the time I retire, you’ll have a dozen other places I can pick from. But for now, I would like to see the units you have at Ridge Towers.”

  “I’ll take you there today myself. Maddox will come with us since he has all the numbers and can answer any of your questions.”

  Aiden piped up. “I think I’ll join you.”

  I waved my hand. “Not necessary. I know you’re busy.”

  “I insist.”

  I stood, knowing Bentley wouldn’t move on this. “All right.”

  “Two o’clock.”

  “Fine. I’ll meet you there.”

  I almost made it to the door when he asked.

  “Will Sandy be joining us?”

  Such an innocent question. Asked casually as if it was an afterthought, when I knew it was anything but.

  I glanced over my shoulder. “I hadn’t asked her, but perhaps I will. She can offer me an objective opinion.”

  Bentley nodded. “That’s a good idea.”

  Aiden leaned back in his chair, grinning like a loon. I left the office before I started to laugh.

  Sandy was right—overgrown, curious children. All of them.

  Sandy and I walked around the two units, opening cupboards, listening as Reid, who’d found out about the trip and insisted on joining us, blathered on about the technical wonders he’d added.

  As part of the company, I had watched these towers being built. Attended design meetings and looked over the blueprints many times. Toured the buildings once they were complete. But looking at the units as a prospective buyer was a different experience.

  I opened the patio door and stepped onto the balcony, staring at the vista in front of me. This unit was on the side of the building that overlooked the water. I liked that, plus the fact that there was a small marina being added. I could walk to my boat. The drive into the office would take a little longer, but given the early hours I usually went in, it would be worth it for the ease of access to my boat.

  Sandy stepped out beside me, laying her hands on the rail. “It’s surprisingly quiet.”

  “They’ve designed this very well.” I swept my gaze over the landscape. The wooded area with a trail leading down to the water. The outside pool and tennis court. The feel of a small resort while still being at home. “It’s amazing.”

  “Is it for you, though?”

  “It would be a big change. I need to think it over carefully.” I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. “How vigilantly are we being watched?”

  She peeked over her shoulder, then chuckled and turned back. “Desperately trying to act casual and failing.”

  “I can’t believe they’re all here.”

  “They’re trying to act as if all the partners show off units all the time.” She snorted softly. “As if.”

  “What are they expecting?”

  “I have no idea. I think they wanted to see us together. See how we act?”

  “I imagine they’re pretty disappointed.” I snickered. Sandy and I had acted as if we were in the office, discussing details of the units in a businesslike manner, standing apart, not touching.

  She laughed softly. “Serves them right.”

  “Do you think they know what I really want to do is hold your hand?” I asked quietly. “Pull you down on that bed in the master bedroom and lie there with you so I would know how it felt to open my eyes in the morning and not only see that view but see it with you beside me? Kiss you in the kitchen and see how you feel pressed against that imported marble?”

  Her breath caught, but she didn’t turn her head. “Jordan…”

  I slid my hand along the rail, covering hers. “Can you see yourself here, Sandy? Coming for dinner, spending time with me?”

  For a moment, we stared at the view. Listened to the muted sound of laughter coming from down below.

  Finally, she turned her head and met my eyes. “I would come and spend time with you anywhere, Jordan. If you’re asking if I like this place,
then the answer is yes. If you’re asking if maybe one day, I would do those things you just described—” she let out a quivering sigh “—the answer is yes. One day I would.”

  Then she turned, kissed my cheek, and walked back inside.

  Sandy

  Back at the office, I had trouble concentrating. It was an odd feeling for me. Usually, I was able to turn off my thoughts about anything but the office and only focus on the task at hand.

  But not since returning from the condo visit. When I stepped back into the condo, leaving Jordan outside, I felt the stares of all the partners. Jordan followed me, standing close, his hand settling into the small of my back.

  “I think I’ve seen enough. I need to do some thinking now.”

  I traveled back to the office with Jordan, but he remained quiet, other than thanking me for coming with him. When we arrived at the office, he received a message on his phone.

  “I have a real estate agent coming over tonight to look at the house. She was recommended by Bentley.”

  “All right.”

  “May I call you once she leaves?”

  I slipped my hand into his. “Yes.”

  Before the doors opened, he bent down and kissed me on the cheek.

  “Thank you.”

  I still felt the warmth of his lips.

  Jordan sat with the boys, leaving Bentley’s office with a sheaf of papers. He winked at me as he went by, and I smiled as I dealt with one of the many people Bentley needed to call back. His impromptu outing had caused some glitches in his schedule, but I knew I would smooth it all out quickly for him. He would have to work late today—a rare occurrence now. It used to be he was the first in the office and the last to go, but once Emmy became part of his life, that changed. Since Addi was born, he rarely was in the office past six. He was always anxious to get home to his girls.

  I shook my head and focused my attention on the work in front of me. The rest of the afternoon sped by, and I left the office with Bentley, who insisted on Frank driving me home. In the car, he was quiet, staring out the window.

  The car pulled up in front of my house, but before I could get out, Bentley spoke.

  “Sandy.”

  I turned to him, my hand on the door handle.

  “All kidding aside, you know we want what is best for you, right?”

  “I know,” I assured him.

  “Jordan seems very attentive.”

  “He is.” I let go of the handle and turned to him. “This is still very new. I don’t know if it will go anywhere. I don’t know if I’m ready for it to go anywhere. But I do know this. Jordan makes me smile. He makes me feel lighter. Less alone. I feel more like Sandy when I’m with him, if that makes any sense.”

  “It does. I’m more me with Emmy than I am with anyone else.”

  I squeezed his hand. “Yes.”

  “He watches you. Today, I saw how important your opinion was to him. How it would factor in his decision. I think his feelings already run deep.”

  “I know. He’s been upfront with me.”

  “How do you feel about that?”

  I sighed, contemplating his words for a moment. “Happy. Anxious. Safe. Worried. Scared. Incredulous.”

  “That’s a lot of feelings.”

  “That’s called being a woman, Bentley.”

  He leaned forward, gathering my hands in his. “You deserve to be happy, Sandy. You know that, right?”

  “I know.”

  “Max loved you, and he hated the thought of you being alone. He would want you to be happy and cared for.” His blue eyes were intense as he stared at me. “I know what alone is like, Sandy. You have so much to give. So much love. You deserve to have that given back to you.”

  I blinked at the sudden moisture in my eyes. “Is that your way of giving me your blessing?”

  He smiled. “That’s my way of saying grab happiness, Sandy. Look forward, not behind you.”

  “Sometimes easier said than done.”

  “Your past made you the woman you are. Let the future benefit from that.”

  I swallowed. “At times, I worry it’s too soon.”

  “What you and Max shared was special and rare. But with a heart as big as yours, you can love again.” Bentley tilted his head. “Loving again isn’t a betrayal to Max, Sandy. It’s a tribute. It shows how well he loved you.”

  “When did you get so smart?” I asked.

  He bent close and kissed my cheek. “I learned from you.”

  I sat at my table, staring into the glass of wine I had poured. I pushed away my plate, the sandwich I had made not tempting me at all. But I didn’t feel like cooking. Or eating.

  I picked up the wine and headed toward the living room. My doorbell echoing in the emptiness of the house startled me. I looked at the screen of my phone, surprised, but pleased, to see Jordan on my doorstep.

  I opened the door, smiling. “Hello. I didn’t expect to see you tonight.”

  He hesitated. “Is it all right that I came over? I know I said I would call—”

  I cut him off with a wave of my hand. “Of course. Come in.”

  He strode in, stopping to kiss my cheek, his lips brushing my skin, leaving a trail of warmth.

  I took his coat, got him a glass of wine, and sat next to him on the sofa. “Did you have dinner?” I asked.

  “I had a sandwich.”

  I laughed. “Me too.” I indicated the file in his hand. “What’s that?”

  “This is what I came here to talk about.” He faced me fully on the sofa. “I need your unbiased advice, Sandy.”

  I tilted my head to the side. “I’m not sure how unbiased I can be about you anymore, Jordan,” I confessed.

  He smiled and closed the space between us to drop a kiss on my mouth. “I like hearing that, but I think you can be in this case.”

  I squared my shoulders. “Okay, hit me.”

  He opened the file and spread out the documents. “This is the asking price the real estate agent has suggested.”

  I read the large number. “Given the market, that seems right.”

  He chuckled. “I bought the house for less than two hundred grand thirty years ago. I never imagined it would be valued at over ten times that price one day.”

  “Toronto is hot. And it’s a large house with a yard in a great neighborhood. It’s hardly surprising.”

  He set another document on top. “This is the price Bentley gave me for the condo.”

  I glanced at the amount, noting he had chosen the larger one with three bedrooms. It had been my favorite as well. “That’s in line with what he gave to Maddox and Reid.”

  “But they’re partners, Sandy. I’m not a partner. This is well below market value.”

  “Bentley believes in rewarding staff, Jordan. To him, you are as valuable as Reid and Maddox. As any of his staff.” I smiled as I teased him. “If you’re worried about Bentley’s bottom line, I assure you he made millions on this project. And the way Maddox structured and invested the holdings, he’ll make many more.”

  He chuckled, then rested his chin on his hand as he studied the papers. “He also told me I could have the condo whenever I wanted it if I decided to go ahead with this. The agent said she would help me thin out the house and put things in storage if needed.” He was silent for a moment. “One signature—one stroke on a pen, and my entire life as I know it will change.”

  “Are you ready for that?” I asked.

  He pushed at the papers with his finger. Back and forth, he moved them in a repeated restless pattern.

  “There’s no smoking gun here, Jordan. You don’t have to decide tonight, or even this week. Maybe you should talk to your kids about it. Look at the condo again.”

  He met my gaze. “That’s the odd thing. I’m not conflicted or worried. I really liked the condo, and the thought of not having to deal with all the outside stuff and being alone in the house, filled with nothing but recollections of what my life was like before, is actually a relief. I want
to sign the papers. Move ahead.”

  “And that worries you.”

  One corner of his mouth lifted in a lopsided grin. “Yes. It’s not like me. I’m usually a very methodical decision-maker.”

  “Perhaps there’s another way to think of this then, Jordan.”

  “Tell me.”

  “Maybe you had already thought it through. You told me when Gina brought it up two years ago, you weren’t ready. That when Gina questioned you again at Christmas, you had already begun to change your mind. You said you’ve been thinking about it ever since. As for the condo, they say you know if the place is right for you ten seconds after you walk in the door.”

  He stared at the documents, deep in thought. He turned his head, a smile ghosting his lips. “You are a very clever woman, Sandy Preston.”

  I laughed. “I try.” Then I became serious. “Do what it is you want to do—for you, Jordan. Nobody else.” I exhaled. “Don’t factor me into your decision.”

  “Are you breaking up with me already?” he asked lightly, although his eyes were worried.

  “No, but we’re still so new. Make this decision as if this happened two weeks ago, not now. Can you do that?”

  “It would still be the same.”

  “Then do it.”

  He relaxed back into the sofa, and I handed him the glass of wine. He sipped it.

  “Have you ever thought of selling?” he asked.

  I glanced around the room, its familiarity comforting and safe. “Not yet,” I admitted. “One day, maybe.”

  “Did you and Max buy this together?”

  “No, actually, he bought it after his divorce. I didn’t meet him for almost ten years afterward. He told me we could move, but I liked the character of the house and he was settled here, and I saw no point in doing so. He’d never shared it with his wife, so there were no memories to compete with. He gave me free rein, and I decorated it to suit us. It was rather, ah, masculine when I moved in. And he’d never touched the kids’ rooms, so they were a little dated.”

  “Did you ever meet his first wife?”

  I nodded. “We got on quite well. She was a little shocked at the age difference, as most people were, but she was cordial. We were all adults.” She winked. “Some of them more adult-y than I was.”