As the time drew closer for her flight to arrive, Jordan asked himself for probably the twentieth time if he really and truly knew what he was doing here. Not only was he a rank amateur when it came to having a meaningful relationship, but he was taking a huge risk having Aubrey and Tessa in the same city. Sooner than later his luck would run out and the two women would become aware of the others existence. Somehow or other he had to find a way before that happened to explain to Aubrey about the coincidence, and at the same time make damned sure that she never guessed about his infatuation with Tessa Gregson.
An infatuation that he was relieved to discover had all but dissipated for good. He’d seen Tessa at her six week post-delivery check-up just a few short days ago, and for the first time since meeting her hadn’t wished that he could trade places with that lucky bastard Ian. The appointment had been relatively brief, friendly but professional, and once Tessa had left his office - accompanied, of course, by her ever-faithful watchdog of a husband - Jordan quite honestly hadn’t given her a thought since.
‘That’s because you’ve finally got a woman of your own, Reeves,’ he told himself now. ‘A woman who’s actually much better suited to you than Tessa could ever be, who laughs at your dirty jokes and counters with even dirtier ones of her own. Who’s a tigress in bed and gives as good as she gets. And who makes me happier than I’ve been in a really, really long time - maybe in forever. So follow the same advice you gave Finn and Max and don’t fuck this up, Jordan. Because it’s a sure thing that you’ll never meet anyone like Aubrey ever again.’
As if on cue, he glanced up as a rush of people walked towards him, most likely all passengers who’d just disembarked from the same flight. And in the middle of the pack was the girl of his dreams, looking ten times more beautiful than his memories or even the multitude of photos he did in fact have stored on his phone. She was dressed casually, in a pair of skinny jeans that made those legs of hers look like they went on forever, and a simple long-sleeved black T-shirt that clung to those full, round breasts without being too tight. Her blonde hair hung loose about her shoulders, and the only visible makeup he could detect was some pale pink lip gloss.
She was so beautiful it made his heart ache, and all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and hold on tight for as long as possible. Aubrey spotted him then, a smile of joy lighting up that perfect face, and she quickened her pace at the same time he did the same. She flung herself into his arms, and just like he’d done at the airport in Maui when they had said good-bye, he kissed her with a hungry, relentless passion, not giving a holy damn how many people were in the vicinity to watch.
Aubrey was breathless when he finally lifted his head, her blue eyes looking a little glazed as he slid an arm around her waist. “Wow,” she murmured in wonder. “I guess that answers the question of whether you really missed me or not.”
Jordan threw back his head and laughed, ignoring the curious looks of passers-by. “Darlin’, mere words cannot express just how much I missed you. And that one itty bitty kiss doesn’t come close to telling you, either.”
“Itty bitty?” she asked in astonishment. “That was like PDA on steroids, Jordan. Not that I’m complaining, of course. But, um, maybe we should continue the reunion in private.”
“Great minds think alike, sweetheart. Ah, these are for you. I hope you like yellow,” he added, handing her the roses.
She took a deep, appreciative sniff. “It’s actually my favorite color,” she admitted. “And I’m pretty sure I told you that at least once or twice while we were in Maui. But these are gorgeous, Jordan. Thank you. Quite a welcoming present.”
He grinned as they began walking towards the baggage claim area. “Oh, that’s just a little warm-up present actually. I might have a few other surprises waiting for you at my place. And don’t argue when you see them, okay? Otherwise you might hurt my feelings.”
Aubrey burst out laughing. “I will try very, very hard not to hurt your tender little feelings,” she teased. “But I’m going to reserve judgment until I see exactly what these so-called little surprises are.”
“Fair enough.” Jordan hugged her close against his side, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Christ, I missed you, Aubrey! Enough that I almost booked a return flight to Maui - twice - and was all ready to drive down to San Diego to see you last week when one of my patients decided it was a good idea to go into labor two weeks early.”
“Well, how dare she,” giggled Aubrey. “I hope mother and baby are doing well.”
“Better than I was at the time,” he grumbled. “But nowhere near as good as I am right now. Come on, let’s get your bags so we can start making up for all this lost time. Unless, of course, you’d rather stop for lunch first. I mean, I’ve got a ton of food at my place, all sorts of stuff we can throw together, but I don’t want you to think that sex is the only thing on my mind if you’d rather - umpf!”
This time she was the one to kiss him, hooking an arm around his neck and tugging his mouth to meet hers. The kiss was long and deep and dirty, her tongue tangling with his in that sort of erotic little dance they did so well together.
“The only thing I’m interested in putting in my mouth right now is your cock,” she whispered wickedly. “And the only thing I’m hungry for is a long, hard fuck.”
Jordan’s cheeks flushed darkly with excitement at her deliberately enticing words, and he was glad he’d grabbed her carry-on bag from her a minute ago so that he could use it now to cover his erection. “Well, darlin’, I’m happy to say that I want the exact same thing for lunch. Along with breakfast and dinner. And maybe a few midnight snacks.”
Aubrey ran a finger over his lips. “So tell me. What color are they?”
He furrowed his brow in confusion. “What color are what?”
She grinned. “How quickly you forget. Your undies, silly. Remember the two pictures you texted me last week? Unless, of course, you took my advice and went commando.”
“Ah, those pictures. Right.” Jordan was so turned on by her earlier words that it was difficult to think straight. “Ah, as it turned out these jeans were a little too scratchy to go au naturel so I went with the black briefs. I hope that meets with your approval.”
“Like I said, it’s just one more article of clothing I’ll have to take off of you in a little while. Lucky you, though, because you won’t have to do the same.” She gave the side of his neck a sensuous little lick that caused a shiver to run up and down his spine. “Because I’m not wearing any panties.”
Chapter Twelve
“I guess I was hungrier than I thought,” mused Aubrey, glancing around at the empty containers and platters spread out on the granite topped breakfast bar. “Thirstier, too,” she added, noting the empty bottle of chardonnay they’d just polished off.
Jordan snickered. “Well, both of us just burned off a lot of calories a little while ago. It stands to reason that we’d need to replenish our energy stores. And I hope you saved room for dessert because I bought these incredible lemon bars just for you.”
Aubrey smiled, leaning over on her padded barstool to kiss him. “You’re so thoughtful,” she told him. “You remembered all of my favorite foods, including the lemon bars. Though it remains to be seen if they’ll be able to compete with the ones from the Sugar Beach Bake Shop back in Maui. But as yummy as they sound, I should probably wait awhile for dessert. I’m not sure I could eat another bite of anything right now.”
“Even of your favorite flavor of doctor?” he teased, nuzzling the side of her neck. “I think the spot where you sunk your teeth into my shoulder that last time is definitely going to leave a mark.”
She laughed. “Sorry about that. Do you want me to kiss it and make it all better?”
“Don’t tempt me,” cautioned Jordan. “Which is all but impossible, because every time I look at you I’m tempted. But we, uh, worked each other over pretty good this afternoon, and I might need a little more time to recover. Too b
ad I don’t keep syringes of adrenaline in my medical bag. Or a supply of Viagra.”
Aubrey shook her head. “You don’t need any artificial stimulants, Jordan. Might I remind you that you’ve come three times since we walked in the door? And in less than a two hour time frame that averages out to an orgasm every half hour or so. Besides, I’m still a teeny bit - um, tender right now myself, so it’s probably a good idea to hold off a little longer.”
“Okay.” He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. “I’ll just sit here and stare at you instead. You don’t mind, do you?”
She squeezed his hand. “Not in the least. I can’t take my eyes off of you either, you know. Wait - isn’t that the name of some corny song from the sixties?”
“Sure is,” replied Jordan, grinning. “Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Ever see the musical Jersey Boys?”
“Nope. I’m not a huge fan of the theater and cultural stuff like that. I’ve always been more of an outdoor activity person. But I know you like the opera and ballet and symphony, so I’m happy to keep an open mind about it,” offered Aubrey.
He gave a careless shrug. “We’ll see. I’m not all that crazy about some of it either, especially the opera. I mostly attend those sort of events as a way to network with potential patients. It was extremely helpful when I was first getting started in private practice, helped me make a lot of valuable connections. Now, well, I suppose I’ve made some friends in those particular social circles so it’s really more of a habit than anything.”
“I’d still like to go to a performance or two with you,” she insisted. “After all, you indulged me plenty when you were in Maui. I’m guessing stand-up paddle boarding and deep sea snorkeling aren’t your typical forms of recreation.”
Jordan gave her a wicked grin. “You’re probably right. However, I had some definite ulterior motives when it came to you, darlin’. Specifically, I wanted to please you so that I could get into your pants.”
She gave a shout of laughter, that turned into a fit of the giggles. “Maybe I shouldn’t tell you this, but you really didn’t need to do any of those things to - as you so charmingly put it - get into my pants. I was as hooked on you as you were on me.”
He smacked himself playfully on the forehead. “Now she tells me! After I almost drowned on that kayaking excursion you talked me into. To think I could have been safe and dry sunbathing on a chaise lounge with an endless supply of Mai Tai’s instead.”
Aubrey patted his chiseled, rock-hard abs. “Ah, but you needed to do something to work off all of those cocktails. Something other than sex, that is. Besides,” she added teasingly, trailing her fingers along his bare chest, “you scored a whole lot of bonus points by indulging me.”
Jordan threaded a hand into her hair, holding her head still for his kiss. “Then it was all worth it,” he whispered against her lips. “Though I’d rather not repeat that death defying bike ride down from Haleakala if it’s all the same to you. I haven’t prayed that much since I was a six year old in Sunday school.”
She gave his stubbled cheek a gentle caress. “It’s a deal. Though I understand there’s some pretty awesome mountain bike trails not far from here in the Marin Headlands. I don’t suppose you’ve got any interest in taking a ride there with me one day?”
He grimaced. “I’d be lying if I told you it sounds like the most fun ever. But if it’s a ride you want, baby, I’m more than happy to accommodate you. And we won’t need any mountain bikes.”
Aubrey rolled her eyes as he waggled his eyebrows at her lasciviously. “You really do have a one track mind, don’t you?” she retorted. “And while a ride sounds pretty tempting, those lemon bars you mentioned earlier are calling to me. Are they in the refrigerator?”
Jordan nodded, taking a step or two back. “I’ll get them. You keep your gorgeous butt right where it is.”
“Actually, I was going to make a cup of tea. Can I fix you some coffee?”
When they had been raiding the fridge for their impromptu dinner, she’d spotted the sophisticated single-serve coffeemaker on one of the counters, and Jordan had assured her he’d also stocked up on a variety of tea pods.
“That sounds fantastic, darlin’. Thanks.”
She blew him a kiss. “The least I can do after you bought all this food. I’m pretty sure you cleared out the shelves at Whole Foods.”
At least it seemed that way when she surveyed the vast assortment of dishes set out on the counter, as well as all the stuff still untouched in the refrigerator. Just a little while ago they’d feasted on roasted lemon herb chicken, cheese manicotti, a delicious Asian noodle salad, grilled marinated veggies, an assortment of sushi, and buttery brioche rolls. She felt like a glutton for having eaten so much at one sitting, and for still craving one of those lemon bars he’d tempted her with. But Jordan had certainly been right about having burned off a ton of calories already, given that the front door of his condo had barely closed behind them before they were in each other’s arms.
He’d taken her right there in the foyer the first time, spread out on the plush area rug, their hunger for each other way too out of control to wait the extra few seconds it would have taken to make it to the bedroom. They hadn’t even undressed all the way, only removing their jeans and his underwear since she hadn’t been joking about not wearing panties. That discovery had caused Jordan to go a little crazy, and he’d barely had time to roll on a condom before driving into her with enough force to bump her head against the wall. The sex had been wild, frantic, and loud, and she guessed that it had taken both of them less than two minutes to climax almost simultaneously.
The next two times had been in the comfort of Jordan’s comfy, oversized bed, and with the initial edge taken off, they’d been able to take it slower, to enjoy and savor each kiss and caress. But their lovemaking had been no less passionate, every bit as torrid and greedy as that first near-savage encounter, and Aubrey had been left feeling more than a little dazed and disoriented afterwards. And as impatient and ravenous as Jordan had been for her, she knew that he’d been true to his word about being faithful, about being true to her by remaining celibate all these weeks. She was far from being an expert on the matter, but somehow it just didn’t seem possible that a man could make love to a woman with such overwhelming passion and need if he hadn’t been abstinent all this time.
They’d dozed for a little while after that, until Jordan had roused her enough to hustle her into the shower. She’d been thrilled to discover the hair and bath products waiting there for her, the same high-end brands that had been provided at the Gregson resort in Maui that she had liked so much. And she’d been equal parts delighted and outraged when Jordan had somewhat sheepishly revealed the “few” surprises he had bought for her - at least half a dozen different outfits, two pairs of shoes, assorted accessories, and the sexiest black lace bra and panty set she’d ever seen.
He had also bought her the beautiful robe she wore now - of black satin with a vivid yellow and red abstract print. The rich fabric felt like utter indulgence against her bare skin, and she knew it had cost a considerable amount of money. And it was a whole lot nicer than the admittedly ratty white terrycloth robe she’d packed - or at least it had been white at some point in the past.
Perhaps because she’d still been sleepy and sated from so much incredible sex, or maybe it had been the anxious expression on Jordan’s face, worried that she wouldn’t like the things he’d bought her, or maybe she had just been so darned happy to see him again, but whatever the reason Aubrey hadn’t had the energy to argue with him overmuch about buying her stuff. Instead, she’d given him a hug and simply told him, “Thank you. Everything is beautiful. I should really be saying something like this is too much, or you shouldn’t have. But I’m too happy right now to spoil things by arguing with you.”
Jordan had been so pleased by her reaction that it had made her heart ache just a little, and she wondered if the women he’d dated in the pa
st had ever bothered to thank him for anything. And then, because she really, really didn’t want to think about all of the women he’d been with over the years, she’d let him give her a quick tour of his condo before they had raided the kitchen.
The condo wasn’t overly large - two bedrooms and two baths plus a bonus room he used as an office; a huge, modern kitchen equipped with every appliance and gadget imaginable; and a combination living/dining room that boasted a gorgeous stone fireplace and breathtaking views of the San Francisco skyline and bay. There was a spacious balcony that could be accessed from either the living room or the master bedroom, and Aubrey knew she’d be spending a lot of time out there during her visit.
She guessed that he’d used a professional to decorate the condo, relying on them to select all of the furnishings, draperies, and decorations, though most of the artwork looked like items Jordan might have chosen himself. It was unquestionably a beautiful home, tastefully and expensively furnished, but to Aubrey it lacked a bit in personality and warmth. The only rooms that really reminded her of Jordan were his bedroom and en suite bathroom where his clothing and toiletries, along with a few assorted framed photos, lent the space a much more personal feel.
Overall, though, this was not the sort of place she would ever really be able to think of as a home. There was no backyard or outdoor space save for the balcony, no next-door neighbors to socialize with, no kids riding their bikes around the neighborhood or playing basketball in their driveways. And while the condo building was modern and sophisticated, with numerous amenities like a gym, pool, sauna, and meeting/event room, it all felt too much like a high-rise hotel to Aubrey and certainly not a proper home.
The Girl of His Dreams (Bachelor #1) Page 17