Jordan’s eyes narrowed as they rested on her exposed midriff. “Except that your skin is a hell of a lot sexier than ninety nine point nine percent of the female population’s. And even if there are other women walking around the place in bikinis, you’ll still be the one everyone watches. Haven’t you heard the saying that a little mystery only adds to the intrigue? You’ve got just enough of that sexy body of yours covered up to make every hot-blooded male in the vicinity wonder what’s underneath that short little skirt and skimpy top.” Boldly, his hand disappeared under her skirt until it was cupping her vulva through her silky thong. “Lucky for me I’m going to be the only one who ever gets to see for himself.”
Aubrey squirmed in the plush leather seat as he teasingly ran a finger along the edge of her underwear. “Um, the, uh, road gets - gets a little rougher up ahead. You - you might want to keep both hands on the wheel. Oh!”
She arched into his touch as he slipped that naughty finger under her thong to find her clit. He added a second finger and slid them both inside of her slit where she was already wet.
“I’d much rather keep both hands on you,” he purred, bringing his fingers to his lips and giving them a sensual, deliberate lick. “But I suppose that will have to wait until later, given that I’m presently trying to steer a two hundred thousand dollar rental car over the most piss poor excuse for a road I’ve ever seen.”
She stuck out her tongue at him. “You’re evil, Jordan Reeves. Pure evil to tease me that way, only to stop without warning. I’ll expect you to finish what you started later.”
“My pleasure, sweetheart.” He gave her a sideways wink before turning his attention back to the uneven road. “And I can also think of a much better use for that tongue of yours. Care to hear my ideas?”
Aubrey gave him a provocative smile instead, thinking sourly that two could play at this little game. “I’m all ears,” she replied in a breathy little voice, even as her hand reached over and began stroking his semi-hard cock. “But since great minds tend to think alike, I’m willing to bet we have the same ideas. In fact, why don’t we compare notes right now?”
Jordan yelped as she gave his dick a squeeze, wrenching the wheel of the expensive sports car sharply to the left to avoid hitting a road sign. “Jesus Christ, woman! A little consideration here, okay? I’ve kind of got my hands full navigating this so-called road.”
She continued to stroke his now fully erect cock with slow deliberation. “That makes two of us who have our hands full, doesn’t it?”
“Aubrey,” he cautioned in a strained but stern tone. “Baby, as much as I love what you’re doing right now, I don’t think the insurance I have on this rental covers accidents caused by the driver receiving a hand job. So I’d strongly suggest that we continue this later. In the privacy - not to mention the safety - of my suite.”
She briefly considered teasing him a bit longer, just because it had been really mean of him to get her all hot and bothered only to leave her hanging, but then the thatched roof of the cantina came into view. In a little huff, she removed her hand from his crotch and crossed her arms, her chin lifting defiantly.
“Fine,” she replied testily. “But just so you know - not only will I be expecting you to finish what you started a few minutes ago, but there had better be several orgasms in it for me.”
Jordan pulled into a parking space, cut the engine, then leaned over to claim her lips in a long, open-mouthed kiss. “Funny,” he murmured huskily when he eventually broke the kiss, “I was just about to say the same thing to you, darlin’.”
***
“Well, it might have been the adventure of my life just getting to this place, but the view certainly makes up for it. And the fish tacos come in a close second.”
Aubrey squeezed his hand. “I’m glad you like it. Both the view and the food. It’s nothing fancy, that’s for sure, but this is one of the places I’m going to miss the most about living in Maui. Jenna and Mel and I had a lot of great times here over the past year and a half. And if you think the drive you just made was an adventure, try doing it sometime with Jenna behind the wheel of her deathtrap Ford Fiesta that’s held together with duct tape in half a dozen places.”
“I’ll pass, thanks,” replied Jordan drily, taking a swig from his bottle of Corona.
She could sense that beer wasn’t his favorite adult beverage of choice, but since it was pretty much the only kind they served here one couldn’t be choosy. Jordan also seemed like a good sport to her, someone who’d be game for just about anything at least once in his life, though she highly doubted he could ever be persuaded to make the drive here again.
She wasn’t much of a beer drinker herself, but it was practically required to have one when eating fish tacos at Surf’s Up. Aubrey didn’t want to imagine the scathing look she’d receive from the servers if she asked for a soda or water or - even worse - a glass of chardonnay.
“Thanks for coming here with me,” she told him as the waiter took their empty plates away. “I know it isn’t really your kind of place, but I wanted you to see the view from here at least once.”
Jordan snagged her hand, interlacing his fingers with hers. “You don’t need to thank me, darlin’. For anything. I’ve told you several times now that the pleasure of your company is all the thanks I’ll ever need. And the view is spectacular, no denial there. The food was great, too. Though I’m still not happy about you paying for dinner.”
Aubrey blew him a flirty little kiss. “I know,” she replied sweetly. “But you’ll get over it eventually.”
He laughed and didn’t argue the point further. For the next few minutes they simply sat there, hands entwined, sipping their beers, and gazing out at the colorful sunset. Aubrey couldn’t recall a time in recent years when she’d felt this happy or content, and then realized that she had probably never felt quite this way. Jordan was like no other man she’d ever met before, and it was highly unlikely she would ever meet anyone who compared to him. It was too bad, she thought sadly, that he seemed like such a commitment-phobe.
Maybe it was the beer she’d just had to drink, or figuring that he’d asked her equally personal questions over the past few days, or simply saying to hell with it. Whatever the reason, she found herself asking him bluntly, “Have you ever been engaged, Jordan? Or thought about getting married one day? And given that you deliver babies for a living, haven’t you ever thought about having a few of your own? I know you told me when we first met that you didn’t have a current girlfriend, but has there ever been anyone serious for you?”
Jordan’s gray eyes widened in shock, and she wondered if anyone had ever actually come out and asked him those specific questions before. He cleared his throat, and for the first time since she’d met him, he looked to be at a complete loss for words.
“I, uh, I’m not - not exactly sure how to answer that,” he stammered. “I mean, I can answer the first question right off the bat and say no - I have never been engaged or even had a long term relationship. I’ve never lived with someone, either. So I think that answers the last question, too. And, yes, I realize I’m answering the questions out of order, but there’s a logic behind that.”
He polished off his beer before continuing. “I’ve never seriously considered having children of my own, even though I like kids a lot. I’m not sure I could take such joy in bringing the little buggers into the world if I didn’t like them. But I’m also old-fashioned enough - more of that Southern upbringing, I suppose - to believe that a child deserves two parents, whether it’s a mother and father, two fathers, or two mothers. And that those parents should be in a long term, committed relationship, preferably marriage. Which brings us to the last question.”
Aubrey hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath this entire time, and she finally remembered to exhale as Jordan paused yet again, as though he was carefully considering his next words. Their hands were still entwined, and she winced a bit as his grip suddenly tightened.
“I always figured I’d be a bachelor for life,” he murmured. “That given the rotten example my parents set for me I’d be a terrible husband. I don’t know the first thing about commitment and I rarely take anything seriously. I’m going to be honest with you, Aubrey, because I know that’s what you’re all about. I’ve been with a lot of women in my life, too many to count, and I have never once considered having an actual relationship with any of them. At least, not until I met you on Monday. Now, for the first time in my life, I’m actually wondering what it might be like. Which brings me to a question I’ve been wanting to ask you.”
Her free hand was trembling, and she hoped she didn’t have to stand up anytime soon because she was pretty sure her legs were shaking, too. Jordan’s casually uttered admittance had knocked her for a loop, the very last thing she had expected him to say, and she could only stare at him in a daze as she mumbled, “Uh, what - what question would that be?”
Jordan grinned wickedly, taking her other hand in his. “How would you like to spend a few weeks visiting San Francisco?”
Chapter Ten
“Hey, Mel, better call the cops because we’ve got some strange woman in our house. Oh, never mind. It’s just our missing roommate.”
Aubrey rolled her eyes at Jenna’s sarcastic greeting. “I haven’t been missing,” she retorted. “I sent you a text a couple of days ago. You know, in response to the one you sent me in shouty caps asking if I was dead or alive, and that if I didn’t reply to you within two hours you were putting out an Amber Alert on me. By the way, you do know that system is only for minors, right? Last time I looked I was well over the age of seventeen.”
Jenna grinned. “I had to get a response from you one way or the other. My next threat was going to be contacting your parents.”
Aubrey waved a hand in dismissal as she started walking towards her bedroom. “Unlike my nosy roommates, my parents know I can take care of myself. They always encouraged me to go on those school sponsored community service trips during spring break and summer, the kind where you’d do stuff like help plant a community garden or protect sea turtles or teach little kids English.”
Jenna gave a snort. “Well, that sounds like the most fun summer vacation ever, doesn’t it? Meanwhile, I spent my vacations lazing around the beach trying to pick up hot guys. Guess which one of us had a better time?”
“I actually loved those trips,” admitted Aubrey. “Felt like I was finally doing something worthwhile. Maybe I should join the Peace Corps or something once my contract here is up.”
“And here I thought you were going to San Francisco instead,” replied Jenna slyly.
Aubrey shrugged, starting to rummage through dresser drawers for the clothes she wanted to take with her. “I’m still not sure Jordan was totally serious about that,” she admitted. “When I started to quiz him further about it that night at Surf’s Up he told me to think about it. But he hasn’t mentioned it since and I didn’t want to be the one to bring the subject up.”
“Why the hell not?” demanded Jenna as she flopped onto the narrow bed, causing the headboard to rattle precariously. “And by the way, did you know that your headboard shakes this badly?”
“Only since the first night I slept in it eighteen months ago,” retorted Aubrey. “Pretty soon it will be someone else’s problem.”
Jenna made a comically sad face. “Don’t remind me. What are Mel and I going to do without you, Aubrey? You’re breaking up the Three Musketeers. How can you do that to us?”
Aubrey laughed, moving to the closet and taking out a couple of sundresses. “The Three Musketeers were guys, you know. And you know I’m going to miss the two of you. But my contract’s up in a few more weeks and the only way I can stay in my current job is if I re-up for eighteen more months. And as much as I love living in Hawaii, I need to do something else with my life. Something more challenging - not to mention better paying - than arranging zipline tours or sunset dinner cruises for hotels guests.”
“Yeah, I know,” agreed Jenna with a sigh. “Just like I need to find a better gig than slinging mahi mahi and teriyaki burgers for tourists. And I could probably find something if I wasn’t so freaking lazy and uninspired.”
“Maybe you just need a change of scenery,” pointed out Aubrey as she began shoving clothing into a duffle bag. “You’ve lived in Hawaii all your life, went to culinary school here, and have only been to the mainland about five times. Maybe you should be the one who moves to San Francisco.”
Jenna shuddered. “My God, I can’t even imagine the fallout from my family if I ever seriously considered leaving the islands! I get shit from my mother if I don’t attend my third cousin’s kid’s high school graduation. Believe me, if I told her I was moving to the mainland there’d be volcanoes erupting for a thousand mile radius. Besides, I do like it here. I don’t think I could live anywhere where there’s snow or fog or where they don’t sell mango shave ice.”
“Your family is awesome,” assured Aubrey, who’d been dragged along to almost as many events as Jenna had over the past year and a half. “Mine is too, though on a smaller and slightly less manic scale. And while they might drive you crazy, Jen, at least you know they love you. Unlike Melanie’s family. Or lack thereof.”
“You’re right,” agreed Jenna soberly. “I shouldn’t complain, even though I want to block all of their phone numbers most of the time, and have to use an alias on social media so they don’t know every detail of my life. But it’s way better than having a crappy mother and asshole father like Mel does. Fortunately, my mom has sort of unofficially adopted her.”
Aubrey nodded, tossing a couple of pairs of shoes into the duffle before zipping it up. “Your mom is a doll. And I know for a fact how much Mel appreciates being included in all of your family events.”
Jenna wrinkled her nose. “I told her she should just go to most of them without me. And speaking of going places, why are you packing more stuff? I mean, you’re practically living with Doctor Hotstuff as it is. And he’s only here for what - four more days? Unless, of course,” she added with a knowing grin, “he gets you all hot and sweaty multiple times a day so that you have to keep changing clothes. Maybe you should swing by Victoria’s Secret and pick up some more undies. Or does he even let you wear panties?”
Aubrey’s cheeks pinkened, not about to admit to her roommate that her joking comment wasn’t all that far from the truth. “He doesn’t let me do anything,” she protested. “I mean,” she amended hastily, “that he doesn’t control what I do. And I do not need any more undies, thank you very much.”
She didn’t add that most of the time she spent in Jordan’s hotel suite was done so sans underwear, and often clothes altogether. It was just, well, more convenient to be unencumbered when the mood took one or both of them over, which was pretty much all the time.
In the ten days since she had met Jordan she’d spent every single night at his hotel suite. She had packed up enough clothes and toiletries to last her awhile, insisting that he was not permitted to buy her anything else - though she hadn’t been able to resist accepting the full sized bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and bath gel that he’d bought for her at the hotel gift shop, the same brands that were provided for their use in the suite and that he knew she adored.
She had been with Jordan continually except for the hours she’d had to spend at work, and so this morning was the first time she had been back to the home she shared with Jenna and Melanie in more than a week. Aubrey felt a teeny bit guilty about neglecting her friends, but consoled herself with the fact that Jenna at least wouldn’t have hesitated to do the same exact thing if she’d met a hot guy. Plus, she thought glumly, things would be back to normal sooner than later since Jordan was due to return home in just four more days. It was a fact that she really, truly didn’t want to think about too seriously, and both she and Jordan had gone out of their way not to bring the subject up. Except, of course, when he had startled her tha
t evening at the Surf’s Up.
“S-San Francisco?” she’d stammered. “Um, I’ve actually been there once or twice. On a vacation when I was about eleven. I remember walking across the Golden Gate Bridge and riding a cable car. And then again when I was in high school since Mateo was doing college tours and considering Berkeley, so the whole family made a three day weekend out of it.”
Jordan had just smiled mysteriously. “I wasn’t referring to a vacation, Aubrey, and you know it. I’m inviting you to visit me, to stay at my place with me for a few weeks. After you spend some time catching up with your family in San Diego, of course.”
She had been speechless with surprise. “I don’t know,” she’d demurred. “I mean, I’ll need to start thinking about a new job assignment, that sort of thing. I have no idea what I want to do in that regard.”
He’d patted her hand reassuringly. “All the more reason for you to take some down time then. Look, tell you what. Give it some thought over the next week or so, and we’ll revisit the subject then. I won’t bring it up until then so that you don’t feel like I’m pressuring you to make a decision.”
And he’d been true to his word, not so much as hinting at the possibility of her visiting him in San Francisco. But she had been giving it a whole lot of thought, and had been tempted at least half a dozen times to broach the subject with him. Despite what she had just told Jenna, she knew that Jordan certainly hadn’t forgotten his offer to her. And with time running out on his Hawaiian vacation, she knew he would expect her to make a decision about it very soon.
But she didn’t need to make that decision right now, she reminded herself. Especially since Jordan would be returning within the next few minutes to pick her up. He’d dropped her off her a little while ago so that she could pack the additional things she would need for their overnight excursion to Hana. And then they would be spending every minute of his last few days here in Maui together since Aubrey had arranged to be off work for the next four days - changing shifts with co-workers, begging her supervisor for an extra day off, and promising to work some extra hours next week to make up for the time off. Jordan had been thrilled that she had gone to so much trouble so that they could be together for the final days of his vacation, and had promised to go along with whatever she planned for them.
The Girl of His Dreams (Bachelor #1) Page 13