by Marie Harte
“At work,” she agreed. “Where you and I continue as coworkers and friends.”
“Yeah, yeah. Isn’t that what I said?” He’d opened the door and started to leave, then turned around and hauled her into his arms for a kiss that left her breathless. “Christ. You broke my dick. Around you, it’s always hard. Damn it.” Then he stormed off and slammed the door behind him.
The moment he left, she realized what she’d done. She’d had sex with Cash Griffith. Several times. And she had a feeling had Rafi not been coming back, they could have spent the night screwing and not gotten it out of their systems. And he’d called her addicting?
Floundering, she looked around at the dishes in the sink, knew she needed to air out her room and adjust the bedding, and contemplated jumping in the shower to wash his scent off her skin, to erase the memories of how good he’d felt inside her.
Instead, she grabbed the box of chocolates and dug in, needing the sustenance, so that by the time Rafi returned, she had the house neat, herself in pajamas, ready for bed, and no hint that her entire world had turned upside down.
* * *
Cash told everyone to have a great Fourth by the end of the workday Tuesday. He still didn’t understand the dynamic between himself and Jordan, but damned if they hadn’t fallen right back into their routine on the job. He teased her and tried to tell her what to do. She told him to kiss off and teased him right back.
They acted exactly the same with each other, except for a few stolen glances when no one was looking.
He’d never had that kind of rapport with a woman, and he didn’t know how he could possibly have it with Jordan. She was smart, funny, and sexy. Exactly the type of woman who normally saw through bullshit and ended nonsense before it could begin. Yet she’d already agreed to come to his place Friday night so they could discuss Rafi and Cash could make her dinner.
He didn’t understand why she wanted to be with him outside the sex part. Because that he did exceedingly well.
“Hey, my eyes are up here,” Hector teased, and Cash realized he’d been staring at Hector’s broad chest while holding a large box.
“Funny.” He scrambled for an excuse for his absentmindedness. “I just can’t figure out what to do about Smith. Everyone’s got assignments for next week except him. And me.”
Hector slapped him on the back. “And there’s your answer. It’s your turn to take one for the team. You and Smith really need to get to know each other better.”
“Fuck you.”
Hector chuckled. Jordan happened to walk by and overheard. “Stimulating conversation with Cash Griffith, as always, eh?”
Cash felt out of sorts, so he fell back on what he knew. “Sorry, Jordan, but no. When I said fuck you, I was talking to Hector. That wasn’t an invitation, but hey, you’re cute. Someone out there will make a nice Mr. Fleming.”
Hector guffawed.
Her eyes narrowed. “Is that right? Sugar nuts, you couldn’t handle me if you tried.” Then she turned to a laughing Hector and gave him a sweet smile. “I’ll see you later tonight at Simon’s.”
Hector blew her a kiss and kept laughing, this time at Cash’s expression. “Relax, man. We’re hanging so I can pretend I’m not checking out Lafayette’s new man.”
“I’m relaxed.” He forced himself to laugh. “That woman is a viper.” He knew it came out complimentary.
“She is indeed. Hey Little Army, wait up,” Hector said as he went to help her move a few items.
Cash shook his head. They’d been trading barbs all day, and it felt natural. Except to know she was going out with Hector. That bothered Cash because in Hector he saw a guy worthy of Jordan. A decent man, one who knew how to treat a woman, who was selfless, dedicated, and smart.
Someone who’d make a much better fit for the hot little woman who’d somehow wormed her way into his head and heart when he hadn’t been looking.
He shook his head. “Women.”
Near him, Heidi shook her head. “Ja. Women suck.”
Agreeing wholeheartedly with the sentiment, he helped her finish the job. As he drove the truck back to the office, she mentioned she was going to spend a little time with her sister in Whidbey Island. He learned she had family there as well as back in Germany. Each day with Heidi he found out something new. And the more he got to know her, the more he liked her.
Reid had been right about what he’d said weeks ago. The team felt more like family, and Cash should know better than to screw up a good thing.
Guilt hit him, that he’d done what he’d promised not to do and seduced Jordan. Though, to be honest, hadn’t she seduced him right back? Hell. She’d started it. What kind of woman asked for sex then blew a guy and swallowed?
Feeling the start of yet another erection, he growled all the way up to the office and sat in front of Reid’s desk, staring at a mound of paperwork.
The light flicked on, and Reid entered, surprised to see him. “What are you doing here?”
“We just got back.” And Jordan would be going home to get ready for her big date-that-wasn’t-a-date with Hector.
Cash wanted to pound something.
“You want to grab dinner?”
Cash blinked at his brother. “You’re not out with Naomi tonight?”
Reid smiled. “We’re not joined at the hip.”
“More like joined at other places.”
Reid laughed. “Come on, Bro. Let’s hit the town and hang out. It’s been a while.”
It had been. “Yeah, okay.” Cash followed Reid outside. They drove home in separate cars.
Their rental fit Reid perfectly, located between Green Lake and Ballard. A snooty, highbrow area full of corporate types and soccer moms. Cash snorted. Not like his class of people, more comfortable shooting pool or working up a sweat in a gym that smelled like a gym, not a perfume dispensary where the female gymgoers circled like sharks in fancy tights and makeup.
Once home, Cash headed for the shower. After they’d both cleaned up, they headed to one of the more popular sports bars in Northwest Seattle, forgoing Ringo’s for once. Cash was just as glad. He didn’t feel in the mood to deal with anyone from work because work reminded him of Jordan.
“You okay?” Reid asked after placing an order of appetizers and a pitcher of beer.
“Fine. What about you? You going to marry the redhead or what?”
Reid frowned. “The redhead has a name.”
Cash rolled his eyes. “Okay, Mr. Sensitive. Na-o-mi. The sexy chick with legs to here.” He held a hand up to his forehead. “You going to get serious about her or what?”
“I’m already serious about her.”
Cash’s stomach sank, and he hated the jealousy that had no place between him and Reid. “Yeah? Like I couldn’t tell.”
Reid studied him.
“What?”
“You seem, I don’t know, different.”
“Probably just not used to seeing me when I’m off my workouts and tense. We’ve been so busy lately I haven’t been by the gym, and it’s making me jittery.” As good an excuse as any.
“Yeah, that’s probably it.” Yet Reid kept watching him. “Work is going well. Everything good with the guys? With Jordan?” Reid smiled. “I heard she went to Miriam’s last Saturday. Man, what I wouldn’t have given to see that.”
Cash laughed with him. “She won’t tell us what happened, but we can all imagine. Heidi’s going back for another session of classes though. When she’s done her training.”
“Heidi cracks me up.” Reid accepted the pitcher and glasses from the waitress and poured them both a beer. “I’ll bet you she wins her marathon.”
“I won’t take that bet because the woman has the constitution of a marathoner and pro-wrestler all in one. I went to the gym with her a few weeks ago, and I think she nearly outlifted me.” He wondered if Jor
dan liked to work out, if they had that in common too.
Too? What else did they—
“Hey, Bro. What’s going on? It’s me.”
Shit. “I’m distracted because I’m tired.”
“No, it’s something else.”
In an effort to not talk about Jordan, because he had no idea what he thought he was doing with her, Cash brought up the topic sure to make Reid uncomfortable. Unfortunate, but hey, maybe it was time they had this conversation. “I’m not a talker. I’m a doer. And I’m the only one cleaning out Angela’s stuff.”
Reid’s face froze. “It’s your house.”
“Oh, bullshit. The woman didn’t acknowledge me for twenty-seven damn years. Then she loses her mind, dies, and leaves me the house? Whatever. You know it’s yours too.”
“Maybe.” Reid drank, his entire body stiff.
“She loved you forever. I know it hurts, but fuck, get over it.” Cash hated all the talky-talky crap. “I bet Naomi has told you to deal.”
Reid frowned. “We haven’t talked about it.”
“Liar. I know that woman, and anything that bothers you bothers her.”
“That’s true.” Reid toyed with his napkin. “But I don’t like talking about Mom.”
“That. See? You call her Mom. I think of her as that crap mother Angela. You know, the one more interested in fantasy than her own kids.”
Reid choked. “Cash.”
“What? She hated me. Charles hated me. You think I want her shit? I don’t. But someone has to box it up and get rid of it. The house is livable, man. If not, we could sell it and make some serious cash.” He paused. “I know you put up most of the money for the business. You should get it back.”
“I am getting it back,” Reid said, earnest. “Because the business is booming. It’s really taking off, Cash. The money’s starting to pour in, for all of us.” He paused. “Listen, I want you to have the house.”
“What? Why?” He hated the panic in his voice, but he had a bad feeling he knew where this was going. The things that had made sense for the past year and a half were changing.
“Because Naomi and I have been talking about moving in together.”
The bottom dropped out, though he’d been expecting such news. “So you want me to move out?”
“No, dumbass. I’ll move in with Naomi. But that’ll mean you have to pay for our rental yourself unless you get a roommate. And we both know you hate everyone.”
He grunted his agreement.
“So you’re free to stay and pay both rents. Or we can both move out. I’ll move in with Naomi, and you can move into Mom’s—your—new place.”
“I hadn’t made up my mind yet on whether to keep it.” Cash glared, unable to understand how Reid could just cut all ties to their mother. “The house is ours, Reid. We’ve talked about this. Stop being such a pussy and help me clean it out. You know a lot of the stuff there is yours.”
Reid sighed. “I know. And you can say what you want. But she left it to you, not me. In a way, it’s a relief. Mom had problems. Now she’s gone. Dad’s gone. We’re free to live our lives, man.”
“Hate to break it to you, but we were free before.”
“Were we?” Reid asked quietly. “We both know you have issues with the way we grew up. Hell, I do too, and they were nice to me.”
“I don’t want to talk about this. I just want you to come help me.” Why the hell was Reid being so stubborn about all this? Was it his way of cutting ties with Cash a little at a time so it wasn’t so obvious he was leaving?
“I will.”
“Will what?”
Reid frowned. “Come help you clean out Mom’s.”
Cash let out a relieved breath.
“But not yet. I need time to process. I still don’t understand everything that’s happened. Then there’s Naomi in my life. I’m trying to adjust.”
And leaving me far behind. “Yeah, sure.”
Reid groaned. “I knew you were going to take this the wrong way.”
“What’s the right way to take it? You want space, and I’m obviously in the way. So go. Move in with Naomi. I don’t need you to babysit me, Reid.”
Reid frowned. “Naomi has nothing to do with us, you and me.”
“Please. I’m not stupid.” Not about things that matter. “I’m not standing in your way. Go be with your hot chick. I have plans tonight anyway.” He stood and dragged a few bills from his wallet. After tossing them on the table, he stepped away.
“Damn it. Don’t be like this.”
Cash shrugged. “I’m giving you what you want. I’m not your problem.” And I never should have been. What kind of big brother needed his younger sibling to watch over him? A loser, that’s who. “Go hang with Naomi. Later.”
He left with Reid calling after him, determined to do nothing that would necessitate his brother bailing him out. No getting drunk. No getting into a fight. No trouble he couldn’t handle by himself. What better place to work out his frustration, safely and legally, than at the gym among fellow Marines?
Chapter 10
Jordan hadn’t expected to have so much fun with Hector and Lafayette, but she had. Simon, Lafayette’s new boyfriend, was adorable. Quiet, shy, and sweet. And of course, sexy as all get out. Figured Lafayette couldn’t just settle for a normal guy.
The date wound down two hours later than she’d expected, the four of them having a blast playing silly board games while the Jackson twins tried to outspell and outwit each other. Cash would surely have hated it.
Damn it. Could she just for one night not think of the man?
After Jordan and Hector said goodbye to the cute couple, he walked her out to her car, laughing about something Simon had said. “So what did you think?” he asked as she unlocked her door.
“I like him. And even better, Lafayette likes him.”
Hector shoved his hands in his jean pockets and leaned against her front panel. “Did you see the way Simon was looking at my brother? Like, he’s way into Lafayette. But did you think he was playing up since we were there?”
“No.” She frowned. “Why so concerned?”
Hector sighed. “My brother has a habit of trying to rescue people. His last boyfriend weaseled three months’ worth of rent money out of him. The guy before that was using Lafayette as a standby while he worked out issues with his ex.” Hector blew out a breath. “Lafayette met Simon while helping Simon fix a flat tire on the side of the road. Once again, Lafayette to the rescue. It pisses me off that he never considers that they might be using him. He says it’s all some stupid journey and he likes being helpful.”
Surprised to hear a tinge of bitterness in his voice, she paid Hector more attention.
“Don’t get me wrong. I want my brother to be happy. He likes taking care of people. But just once, I’d like someone to take care of him.”
She nodded. “You two are a lot alike. If it makes you feel any better, I got the sense Simon really likes Lafayette. And in case you didn’t notice, we had a gourmet dinner at Simon’s house, and Simon cooked it.”
“Yeah, that’s true.” Hector studied her.
“What? Do I have food between my teeth or something?” She ran her tongue over her teeth but couldn’t find anything.
He shook his head and grinned. “You sure do make me laugh, Jordan. Thanks for coming over tonight.”
“That’s what friends are for.” She socked him in the gut, hard enough to get his attention but not hard enough to hurt. “Even though you know you did me wrong by not telling me about Miriam’s.”
He rubbed his flat stomach, and she wished she could be as toned as the guys she worked with. Hector looked like a model and had twelve-pack abs. When he took his shirt off, his body was clearly defined. And yeah, she’d looked.
He was smart, nice, and handsome.
&nbs
p; “Okay, now you’re staring at me. Do I have food in my teeth or something?” he asked, humor in his voice.
“Kiss me, Hector.”
He blinked but stepped closer without hesitation. “You sure about this?”
“Let’s think of it as an experiment.” If Jordan should like anyone, it should be a man like Hector. Someone who had his act together and treated people with kindness. He didn’t bury a big heart under anything. No, Hector wore his intentions on his sleeves for all to see.
“Try not to faint when it’s over,” he warned.
“Ha ha.” She waited.
Hector slowly reached for her, his large hands on her shoulders, bringing her closer. He lowered his head, and the kiss, when it came, felt soft, dry, and…nice.
Not exciting, not panty-dropping or insanely hot. For a woman who didn’t like to deal with drama, he would be the ideal mate.
And he’d bore her to tears in weeks. A safe bet, like her exes.
She pulled back and forced a smile. “Thanks, Hector.”
“Well?” Hmm. He didn’t seem to be breathing too hard either.
“You tell me.” She crossed her arms over her chest, waiting.
“It was good.”
“Yes, it was nice.”
He groaned. “Nice. That’s the kiss of death. Literally.”
She chuckled. “Look, you’re sexy, and you know it. But you’re not exactly throwing me to the ground to get it on.”
He perked up. “You want that? I’m your man.”
“No, and stop. You felt no spark. It is what it is.” She shrugged. “But we’re still friends.”
“Of course.” He sounded surprised to think they’d be otherwise. And that’s why she loved the guy. “But so you know, I’d throw you down and do you anytime, anywhere. All you have to do is say the word.”
“Aw, you’re so sweet.” She patted him on the cheek. “So…nice.”
“Jordan.” He gave her a sad face.
She laughed at him. “Yep. So cute. Okay, muscle man. Go home and think about why your brother and Simon are good for each other. And only part of that equation is that they can’t keep their hands off each other.”