Didi glared at her and thrust out her palm, into which Kate dropped her car keys.
“Be careful,” Kate warned her. “I just had it detailed.”
“Gotcha.” And Didi was out of there.
Kate strolled outside to Jordan, who was loading the car. “Do you think you could give me a ride home? Didi needed my car.”
“Sure. Is everything okay?” Jordan said, appearing distracted by Taylor and Andie.
“Fine. Do you have plans with them? I don’t mean to interfere.”
“Uh, no. They asked if I wanted to join them somewhere else for a drink, but this gives me the perfect reason to say no.”
“Your friends drove two hours to see you. Shouldn’t you go have a drink with them?”
Jordan sighed and stared at Kate for a moment. “I don’t really know Taylor that well, and Andie is, uh, she’s my ex.”
“Your ex,” Kate repeated dumbly. She stood like a boxer straining to recover from a left hook. “Don’t let me stand in the way of your reunion.”
Jordan pulled her aside. “I don’t want a reunion with her. I was trying to think of a way to ditch them.”
“She apparently wants a reunion with you. Why didn’t you introduce me as your girlfriend?”
“I don’t want any drama at places where I perform. I’m not saying she’d start anything, but she’s got a sharp tongue, and I just want to avoid any possibility of an exchange.”
Kate’s dander was rising. “I’m not worried about an exchange,” she said coolly. “Just say you can’t join them because you have to take your girlfriend home—unless you really want to go, and I’m the one you want to avoid drama with.”
“Kate, no, I don’t want that at all. Andie just wants to be friends, but I don’t.”
Kate wasn’t about to buy that with someone else’s money.
“C’mon. Let’s go over there.” Jordan pulled Kate by the hand and led her to Taylor and Andie. “Thanks for the invite, ladies, but I can’t make it for that drink. My girlfriend and I have special plans tonight.”
Kate shot her a smile dripping with satisfaction as Andie’s eyes sized her up.
“No problem,” Andie said. “Maybe some other time.” She glazed her comment with a smug glance at Kate, as though suggesting the battle wasn’t over.
As Kate helped Jordan carry the rest of her equipment cases to her car, she realized what had just transpired, and her short-lived feeling of victory turned to shame.
“Were you going to tell me that was your ex?” she asked as they loaded the last guitar case into Jordan’s trunk.
“Yeah, but it was so chaotic in there, I planned to tell you on our way home.”
“When did you break up?”
“About ten months ago.”
“That’s the four-year one?” Kate shouted and then reined herself in. “She’s definitely here to get you back, and not just as a friend.”
“Honestly, I’m surprised she’s here. We hardly ever talk, and if we do it’s just a quick happy birthday or holiday text. I thought Taylor was part of the reason we broke up. But whatever her deal is, I don’t want anything to do with it.”
“Are you sure? I mean I know it hasn’t been that long with us, but I’d still like to know where I stand.” Kate wanted to kick herself at the desperation in her voice.
Jordan crunched across the gravel, slipped her arms around Kate’s waist, and looked deep into her eyes. “All right. You want to know where you stand? Right here with me, a woman who’s crazy in love with you.”
Kate swallowed hard, neither expecting nor ready to hear that. She thought about poor Didi, who’d said it to Rhea recently and was left flapping in the wind like granny panties in a tropical storm. She didn’t want Jordan to feel like that.
“I love you, too,” she whispered.
While Jordan beamed, Kate’s stomach knotted up again, this time from feeling backed into a corner. Was she really in love with Jordan or just infatuated with Jordan’s attraction to her?
She began resenting being pushed into saying it as Jordan kissed her passionately in the parking lot.
“You don’t mind sleeping over another night, do you? I have an early meeting tomorrow morning,” Kate lied.
“On a Saturday?”
After a beat, “The client works long hours all week. I said I’d meet her at eight.”
Jordan kissed her softly on the lips. “You’re so compassionate. That’s one of the top fifty things I love about you.”
What was that? Was Jordan going to start frosting every sentence with that word now that it was out?
“I’m just doing my job,” Kate replied, suddenly claustrophobic. “Shall we go now?”
“And so humble.” Jordan smiled as she opened her car door. “You’re the whole package, Kate Randall.”
Kate forced a smile, but at that moment she felt the contents of that package ready to explode.
Chapter Eleven
The Ex Factor
The next morning, Kate dragged Didi to a gym several towns away, a precautionary or paranoid measure after telling Jordan the night before she was meeting with a client that didn’t exist. As they pedaled their stationary cycles, Kate attempted to sort out the business of Jordan’s ex appearing out of the past like a bunch of unpaid parking tickets.
“I don’t know what you’re worried about,” Didi said after a squirt of bottled water. “They broke up a long time ago, and you’re clearly an upgrade.”
“It wasn’t that long, and Jordan had this weird look on her face.”
“Most people have weird looks on their faces when their ex- and current girlfriends are in the same room.” Didi shuddered in repulsion.
“It was more than that. It was stolen glances laced with longing and regret. I was wondering if I should let her go, so she can figure out this thing with Andie. She can’t process her feelings for her with me around.”
“Aww, aren’t you selfless,” Didi said, wiping her forehead with a paper towel. “Give me a break.”
“What? I’m serious. What if seeing her again has left her second-guessing her decision? Maybe she needs some space to sort things out with her.”
“Did she tell you that? Or give you any indication whatsoever that she’s still hung up on the ex?”
“Nothing other than what I saw.”
“Given your general state of mind lately, I wouldn’t completely rely on your eyes if I were you. If Jordan was giving off sketchy vibes with this chick, I would’ve picked up on it.”
“You weren’t even there,” Kate said. “You were out plotting to run Rhea over with my car.” She jacked up the resistance on her machine and pedaled harder. The push-pull of conflicting emotions was one thing she hadn’t missed in her single years—that raw, aching vulnerability, like using Purell on a fresh paper cut.
“Kate, you’re not threatened by this girl,” Didi said. “I mean, would you ever consider taking Lydia back if she came around?”
“Definitely not.”
“Then why assume Jordan wants that?”
“Because I was with Lydia a lot longer. You know my relationship with her had more than enough time to run its course. She hasn’t even been an adult long enough to have had a relationship that long.”
“Kate, you’re phishing for rationalizations, and I’m not biting. I refuse to be your enabler. If you want to ruin this with Jordan, do it on your own.”
“Is that what I’m doing?” Kate said as they got off their machines. “It’s called self-preservation, Didi. You’ve never gone through a painful breakup and, therefore, haven’t had the need to develop the instincts to protect yourself emotionally. You even said when your marriage ended you were relieved.”
“I was relieved,” Didi said as they headed toward the treadmills. “Mike and I were married fifteen years, but I knew I wasn’t happy with him after the first five.”
“That’s my point. What did you have to fear?”
“One of the biggest ones of a
ll: the fear of change. Besides, I was with Georgie for almost a year when I first came out, and I was devastated when she broke up with me.”
“Devastated or kind of sad? There’s a big difference.”
“Sometimes you’re so condescending. What do you have to be afraid of? A beautiful young woman who’s totally into you? This may come as a surprise to you, Kate, but nobody wants their heart broken. Nobody wants to be deceived or lied to or dumped.”
“I realize that, but we can all reduce our risk of heartbreak by paying attention to the warning signs and learning from our past mistakes. Our instincts are rarely wrong.”
“Unless there’s something you’re not telling me about Jordan, I haven’t noticed any signs other than her having a major crush on you. Your chemistry is palpable.”
“Yeah.” Kate broke into a full sprint at the thought of nights with Jordan.
“And second of all,” Didi said, “who ever learns from their mistakes the first time around?”
“I was trying to be the first,” Kate said dryly, slowing to catch her breath.
“Good luck with that,” Didi said. “What are you guys doing this weekend?”
“Jordan has another show at a restaurant on the water in Clinton.”
“She’s been busy with gigs lately.”
Kate nodded. “Lucky for me, she plays great places. So how did you leave it with Rhea?”
“After she apologized profusely for falling asleep on me last night, we had a rather lovely time in the car.”
“Whose car?” Kate bleated in horror.
“Hers. We met at the commuter lot.”
Kate stared at her for a moment in revulsion. “How I envy your man-like ability to have sex in any circumstance. I would’ve been grilling her all night about how and why she’d fallen asleep when she knew we had plans.”
“That’s because you suffer the cynicism and complete lack of trust from being a lawyer your entire adult life. You should’ve had your shrink fix that, too, while she had you in for an overhaul.”
Kate laughed. “We’re two very different people, Didi. That’s what makes us such great friends. We complement each other so well.”
“I just thought it was because we met when we were too young to know any better.”
“That too,” Kate said.
“What does Sylvia think about your relationship?”
“I haven’t discussed it in detail with her yet.”
“It’s been almost two months, and your mother doesn’t know?”
“She knows I’m seeing someone, but I’m saving the surprise of the age difference for when she meets her next weekend. Jordan’s irresistible charm will soften the blow.”
“You’re taking Jordan to meet Sylvia?” Didi gave a whistle of surprise.
“She won’t stop hounding me about it. Anyway, I’m not viewing it as a formal introduction or anything. I’m simply having lunch at my mom’s and taking along the woman I happen to be dating.”
Didi regarded her with skepticism.
“And you always say I’m afraid to live on the edge,” Kate said.
“That ought to be a gas. Can I come and watch from the hedges?”
“No,” Kate said. “You’ll be busy trying to keep your girlfriend awake on date nights.” She giggled at herself as she stepped off the treadmill.
“I think that last night I more than proved the worth of her staying awake for me from now on.”
They walked over to the locker room to gather their things and wash their hands. Kate checked her phone and then went into her work email.
“What the fuck?” she shouted over the piped-in workout music.
“What’s the matter?” Didi said, sounding alarmed.
“I think I know why our dear Vivienne has been MIA lately,” she said. “I just got an email from Maia’s lawyer saying she’s filing a motion on Monday to drop the restraining order against Viv.”
“Are you serious?”
“No. I thought this would be a hilarious joke,” Kate said with an eye roll. “I cannot believe her.”
Didi grinned. “Theirs is a love affair for the ages.”
“It’s a love affair for the DSM, and I’m the one who’s going to get the text the next time they implode.”
“Stop being so cynical,” Didi said. “Maybe this time they’re ready to work it out for real. Viv really seems committed to settling down with her.”
“Right. What can possibly go wrong with going back to the ex who had a restraining order against you?”
* * *
After spending the afternoon on the phone with Viv reviewing the pitfalls of trying it again with Maia, Kate was ready for a relaxing evening, first having dinner and cocktails with Jordan, then being transported by one of her magnetic acoustic performances.
Jordan picked on a small seafood salad as Kate explained the backstory of Viv and Maia, anticipating her full support that Viv was clearly deluded and vigorously avoiding the big picture.
“Aww, that’s so romantic,” Jordan said.
“Romantic? Several adjectives come to mind—unhealthy, dysfunctional, doomed—but not romantic.”
“Kate, that’s a little judgy, don’t you think? Who’s to say what makes people fall in love. I think it’s wonderful when couples try with all their heart and soul to make it work.”
She softened into a smile. “I love your optimism. It’s so refreshing. I, on the other hand, am of the firm belief that you can’t make chicken salad out of chicken shit.”
Jordan giggled. “I’ve never heard that one before, but its relevance isn’t lost on me. I do deal with the public in my day job.”
“You deal with them at night, too, but they’re of a decidedly different persuasion.”
“Oh? And what’s that?”
“Fans. They fawn all over you. You realize you can have any woman you want?”
Jordan’s curls flopped in her face as she bowed in a blush. “There must be some truth to that, because I’m sitting right across from her. And hopefully going home with her tonight.”
Kate privately reveled as she studied the flawless physical specimen before her, still amazed that she was the woman who had captured Jordan’s affection. Those earthy green eyes and that delectable chin dimple were enough to lure anyone in, but what she had on the inside was a pearl hidden in an elegantly sculpted shell.
“You better finish your salad, or you’ll be late starting your show.”
Jordan rested her chin in her palm. “I wish I could sit here and stare at you all night.”
“I wish you wouldn’t.” Kate crossed her arms in front of her chest, self-conscious of Jordan’s probing eyes.
“But I love to,” she replied in a seductive tone. “Sometimes I feel like I can’t get enough of you. If I were a museum curator, you’d be my prized work of art.”
“Yeah. Whistler’s Mother.”
“Kate, I’m serious.” Jordan sat back in her chair, obviously deflated. “I’m trying to show you how you make me feel, and you’re cracking jokes about it.”
She reached across the table for Jordan’s hand. “I’m sorry. It’s been a while since I’ve experienced compliments, never mind ones as beautiful as yours.”
“That’s a real shame,” Jordan said.
Kate looked away, puckering her lips to fend off a smile.
Jordan shrugged as she rose from the table. “I don’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable. Something comes over me when I’m with you, and it just spills out.”
Kate rose, too, and faced her. “You can win a girl’s heart with talk like that.”
Jordan stroked the back of Kate’s arms. “Good to know. Would it make you feel uncomfortable if I kissed you right here, in the middle of the restaurant?”
Kate offered a sultry smile. “It will make me feel many things, but uncomfortable isn’t one of them.”
Jordan clasped Kate’s hands as they hung at her side and gave her a long, sensual kiss. “I’ll miss you when I’
m gone.”
Kate chuckled. “I’m going to be sitting right here.”
“It’s still too far away,” Jordan said as she pecked at Kate’s lips.
“You better get up there before I steal you out of here,” Kate said, studying her sparkling eyes.
“Do it,” Jordan whispered.
“Get up there.” Kate gently, reluctantly pushed her away.
Jordan hopped up on the small platform, slung her guitar over her shoulder, and strummed the strings as she greeted her intimate audience. When she stood behind the microphone undulating in rhythm with her guitar, she delivered Kate to a place of multisensory abandon. What it did to her libido was a given, but Jordan’s velvety voice and suggestive glances on the sensual lyrics launched Kate into an unexplored galaxy of emotion.
* * *
After the performance, they snuck away from the venue and back to Kate’s house. They lay in bed under silky sheets as a sea breeze whistled them a love song through the open doors.
Nestled into the crook of Kate’s arm, Jordan nearly crushed the air out of Kate’s torso. “This is the best feeling in the world,” she purred.
Kate moaned her agreement and gripped Jordan’s shoulders tighter against her. Jordan’s devotion and passion filled her with contentment she’d never experienced with a lover. How could she have spent so many years with Lydia and not have felt that? What did Jordan have that she’d never found in anyone else?
“You’re so quiet,” Jordan said.
“I was just thinking about that time you sang that Carly Simon song and were smiling at me through most of it. It was so romantic. I fairly swooned.”
Jordan giggled and kissed Kate’s neck. “Song lyrics never had as much meaning to me as they do now.”
“I can’t believe you’ve even heard of her, never mind play her music.”
“My taste in music is wide-ranging, to say the least. I also like old movies, in case you’re wondering. Mildred Pierce and Calamity Jane are two of my absolute faves.”
“I guess it proves the classics never go out of style,” Kate said.
“It also proves that age isn’t always a factor in what we connect with.” Jordan ran her nails over Kate’s arm. “Or who.”
Summer Fling Page 13