Reluctantly she gazed at her reflection.
“Tell me what you see.”
“Nobody. Without the makeup I’m so plain, so boring, I might as well not exist.”
“Is that what you really think, or is that your family talking?”
Not just her family. Everyone.
“It isn’t makeup that makes a person beautiful, Jane. It’s what’s on the inside.” He let go of her wrists and turned her to face him. “And you are the sweetest, most passionate, and most beautiful woman I have ever met.” He laid his hand on her chest. “Because of what’s in here.”
Did he really see her that way? Did he really appreciate her for who she was on the inside?
“In school they called me Plain Jane.”
“Shame on you for believing them.”
She smiled and laid her head against his chest and he wrapped his arms around her. She may not have been completely honest with him, but one thing that she told him she meant with all her heart. She could love him. In fact, maybe she already did a little. And it had nothing to do with his wealth and power. In fact, she wanted him in spite of those things. He made her feel good about herself. No one had ever done that before.
“I know how tough it can be, ignoring the hurtful things people say,” he said.
“What could anyone say to you that you couldn’t refute by looking in a mirror?”
“I want to show you something,” he said. He took her hand and led her out of the bedroom and into the next room. He switched on the light and her heart picked up speed when she realized they were in his office. It was the size of the entire living space of her apartment and decorated in rich colors and dark polished wood. Very masculine and surprisingly homey. And considering the clutter, he clearly spent a lot of time there.
If she was going to find anything incriminating, this is where it would be. Or where she would find proof to exonerate him. Because really, that was what she wanted now. She didn’t believe for an instant that he was capable of putting anyone’s life in danger, much less a whole group of people. He just wasn’t that kind of man.
She glanced around the room, taking a mental photo for future reference. Getting the job done might require getting in and out quickly.
She knew that when he found out who she really was he would be furious, and he would probably never forgive her for betraying him, or be able to trust her, but she would at least be able to live with herself knowing that she had helped clear his name.
He pulled a framed eight-by-ten photo off the bookshelf and handed it to her. “It’s the ninth grade science fair winners. Guess which one is me.”
There were five winners, none of whose faces she could see very clearly. One was a girl, whom she could eliminate because if Jordan had once been a female, Jane would have heard about it by now. That left four boys, who all wore glasses. But one had black hair, so he was out too. The final three had lighter hair and ranged from tall for their age to downright puny. The one in the middle looked pretty average, but with the potential to be cute as an adult, and he’d won first place. She pointed to him. “This one.”
“Wrong,” Jordan said. “I’m the geek midget who came in third.”
Wow. She knew he’d been small for his age, but she never imagined he was that small. And yes, he looked pretty geeky, but who didn’t at that age? “This is ninth grade,” she said. “Everyone goes through an awkward stage.”
“Except I looked like that until I was eighteen. Not to mention that I was painfully shy and withdrawn. Which my father thought he could cure by toughening me up.”
“Toughening you up how?”
“Calling me a sissy, pushing me around. Basically bullying me. And who knows, maybe it would have worked if Nathan hadn’t always stepped in to defend me. Even if I had wanted to stand up for myself, he never let me. He would get between me and my dad, get in his face, and it inevitably got physical. Which made me feel guilty.”
“Physical?”
“Shoving, punching, backhanding. I can’t even tell you how many times Nathan and I got cracked across the mouth when we were kids. My old man was a real bastard back then.”
“Where was your mother when this was happening?”
He shrugged. “Somewhere else. She was never much of a mother. It took me years to figure out that her ignoring me was nothing that I’d done. She’s just selfish and cold. Well, up until Tuesday anyway. The stroke changed her. But for all I know, once she recovers, she may go back to being her old self.”
“It makes my family seem not so bad,” she said. “And I have a really hard time trying to imagine you as shy.”
“I changed in college. My first year I grew nine inches, and since tall and scrawny was even worse than short and scrawny, I started working out. Girls actually started to notice me, and ask me out. It boosted my confidence and drew me out of my shell. I swore I would never be that awkward, insecure kid again.”
She handed the photo back to him. “I guess the difference is, I never came out of my shell. At least, not until recently. I never figured out how to be confident. No one ever took me seriously. They still don’t.”
He set the photo back on the shelf. “But you left the family practice, that took guts.”
She wished she could tell him about working at Edwin Associates, how she had followed her dream. She didn’t like that he thought she was nothing more than an office temp, that she was wasting her potential.
“I don’t plan to be an office temp forever,” she told him. “I’m going to do something big.”
“I don’t doubt it.” He slipped his arms around her, under the shirt, drawing her against him so they were skin to skin. He was so big and warm and strong. She laid her head against his chest, hugging herself close.
“Did I mention how sexy you look wearing my shirt?” he asked. He eased it back off her shoulders, pressing kisses to her neck, and she started to get that electric, tingly-all-over feeling. He slid his hand down to cup her behind, drawing her against him and she could feel that he was getting aroused too.
“I have an idea,” he said. “I have to go into work for a while to catch up on a few things, but I don’t have to be to there for a couple hours. Why don’t we go back to bed for a while?”
That sounded perfect to her. She took his hand and led him back to the bedroom. They would make love, and then afterward, while he got ready for work, she would start searching his office. She wouldn’t feel guilty either, because she wasn’t trying to find evidence of his guilt. She was going to find the source of the two hundred thousand dollar deposit, and to whom he had wired the thirty thousand dollar payment. Because she was sure there was a reasonable explanation.
She knew deep in her heart that Jordan hadn’t done anything wrong, and she was going to prove it.
Jordan sat at his desk later that morning, and though he was supposed to be working, he couldn’t keep his mind off Jane. She was really getting under his skin. So much so that when he dropped her at home on his way to work, he told her he wanted to see her again that evening. They made plans to get together at his place again. He would pick her up at five and they would order in dinner and watch a movie—if he could manage to keep his hands off her for longer that ten minutes.
He tried to recall the last time he’d been so into a woman that he’d wanted to see her two nights in a row. It had been so long ago that he couldn’t even remember. Nathan had lectured him about finding the right woman, and how, when he had met Ana, he just knew. Of course Jordan had scoffed at the idea. He told Nathan that there were so many “right women” he wouldn’t know which one to choose. But after spending time with Jane, getting to know her, the idea of being with anyone else just felt…wrong.
He used to think that if he ever did decide it was time to settle down, it would take months and months for the relationship to develop. But when he kissed Jane for the first time, it felt as if something significant had happened, as though a critical part of him that he hadn’t even reali
zed was missing had shifted into place.
He shook his head and laughed at himself. A week ago if someone had even suggested such a thing were possible he would have called them crazy. And the fact that she was deceiving him and he still felt this way defied logic. But when was love ever logical? Or easy?
His phone started to ring and he found himself hoping it was Jane, but it was Nathan.
“Hey, I need a favor,” Nathan said.
His first reaction was to automatically say no, because that was the way it had always been between him and Nathan. Nathan, no matter how many times Jordan had dissed him, continued to make an effort, and Jordan cut him off at every pass. But frankly, Jordan was a little tired of that game. Yeah, Nathan’s meddling had made his life less than ideal, but he thought he was helping Jordan. Maybe it was time he let the past go.
Really let it go this time.
“What do you need?” he asked.
“Ana and I are supposed to go to a fundraiser tonight and our babysitter just called to say she has the flu. We called everyone else we could think of—”
“I’ll watch Max,” he said.
There was a pause, then he said. “Jordan?”
“Yeah.”
“I was just making sure. For a second I thought I had the wrong number. I figured I would have to beg or bribe you or something.”
“I love seeing Max. It sounds like fun.” He was supposed to see Jane tonight, but there was no reason why she couldn’t babysit with him. She could come by after Nathan and Ana left, and leave before they got home.
“You’re sure?” Nathan asked.
“I’m sure.”
“Because I know you’re not a much of a kid person.”
“What are you talking about? I love kids, and they love me.”
“When was the last time you changed a diaper?”
Never, but how hard could it be? “I’m sure I can figure it out. Besides, I’ll have reinforcements.”
“Reinforcements?”
“I’m going to invite a friend to come by and help out.”
“You’re bringing a date to babysit?” Nathan asked. “You’re joking, right?”
“She’s more than just a date. She’s…special.”
“Special how?”
“I’ve been seeing this woman, and it’s getting pretty serious. And I think…” He laughed and shook his head. “I can hardly believe I’m about to say this out loud.”
“You think what?”
“I think I’m falling in love with her.”
For several seconds Nathan was silent, as if he was waiting for Jordan to yell psyche!, then he said, “Damn, you’re serious.”
“It’s weird, I know.”
“When did this happen? Is it someone I know?”
“We met a couple of months ago,” he said, in part so Nathan wouldn’t suspect the woman in question was Jane, and because the idea that he could fall in love with a woman after a week—especially after he’d been so adamant that he would never fall in love—seemed far-fetched even to him.
“So, when do I get to meet her?”
“Soon, I think. Maybe she’ll be here tonight when you get back,” he said, even though he knew she wouldn’t. “So, what time do you need me there?”
“We have to be there at seven, so how about six-thirty. That will give Ana time to drill you and show you where everything is.”
“Sounds good. I’ll be there at six-thirty.”
“See you then,” he said, and before he hung up added, “And thanks, Jordan.”
Jordan hung up the phone with a smile on his face. Next he dialed Jane’s number. She didn’t answer her home line, so he tried her cell. She answered on the first ring.
“I was just thinking about you,” she said, which made him smile again. “I’m at the market and I just passed the whipped cream. I was thinking maybe we need to have another picnic in bed.”
That sounded good to him, but the food play would have to wait until later.
“Slight change of plans tonight,” he said, and told her about agreeing to babysit. And his plan to get her in and out undetected.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” she asked. “What if they come home early?”
“Then we’ll sneak you out the back.”
“I don’t know…”
“Jane, I want to see you tonight.” And the night after that, and the one after that.
“Okay, but whatever time they’re supposed to be home, I’m leaving an hour early.”
“Fine, I’ll give you the code for my front door and we can meet there after I’m done at Nathan’s.”
“That would work,” she said, and he knew exactly what she was thinking. Being alone at his place would give her time to search for evidence, which he was sure she would have done this morning while he got ready for work, if he hadn’t pulled her into the shower with him. But he had a few things he needed to take care of before he was ready to let her rifle through his personal files. Things that could be taken out of context if someone happened to stumble upon them.
He would stop home before he went to Nathan’s and deal with that, then she would be free to investigate. He only hoped that she would find, or not find, what she was looking for soon, so they could start to have a normal relationship.
“I’ll text you the address for Ana’s condo,” he said. “Be there at seven.”
They hung up and Jordan forced himself to focus on work for the rest of the afternoon. He packed it in at five and went home to take care of his personal files. He gathered all the hard copies, then backed up the computer files onto a removable drive and locked it all in his office safe. Then he deleted the questionable material from his hard drive, including any emails he may have exchanged that could be misinterpreted. The idea was to give the impression that there was nothing to find, not encourage her to dig deeper.
When he was finished, it was nearly time to leave. He gave his mom a quick call to check up on her, expecting the nurse to answer, more than a little surprised when it was his dad who picked up. At first he thought he’d hit the wrong number on speed dial, but it was definitely hers.
“I was just calling to check on Mom,” he said.
“She’s having a really good day. She’s napping now, but both the speech and physical therapists were here this morning and they say she’s already making remarkable progress. She always was strong-willed.”
Sure, if strong-willed was code for selfish and cold-hearted. “Dad, what’s going on? What are you even doing there?”
“I’m helping.”
“What happened to the baron she was so fond of?”
“I guess he showed his true colors. She needs a friend right now.”
“What did she ever do to earn your friendship? I know she seems different now, but there’s no guarantee she’s going to stay that way.”
“I’ll be here for her as long as she needs me,” he said.
Jordan wondered how the future Mrs. Everette number five felt about that, but he didn’t ask. He just hoped his dad knew what he was doing. He may have been a real bastard when Jordan was a kid, but he’d really made an effort to change, to be not only be a better father, but a better man. Jordan hoped it didn’t come back to bite him in the ass.
Thirteen
Jane hadn’t been convinced that spending the evening at Nathan’s place was wise, but she was glad that she’d put aside her doubts and come by. Not only was it a chance to spend time with Jordan—and get some alone time in his apartment later—watching him play with his nephew was probably one of the cutest things she’d ever seen.
Max was just under a year old with dark curly hair, big brown soulful eyes and a heart-melting dimpled grin. And he clearly adored his uncle Jordan. After a pizza dinner, which Max scarfed quite enthusiastically for someone with so few teeth, he and Jordan roughhoused on a blanket on the family room floor until eight when it was time for a diaper change and pajamas. But this time instead of wanting his uncle, he clim
bed into Jane’s lap on the couch and snuggled up with his bottle.
“I guess he likes you,” Jordan said with a grin.
She had never been much into kids. She’d never babysat as a teen, and neither of her brothers had started families yet, so she had zero experience with them. And that line she fed Jordan about being ready to start a family was only meant to scare him away. But when Max gazed up at her with his big brown eyes she found herself thinking, I want one of these.
Halfway through the bottle his lids began to droop, and shortly after that he was out cold.
“Looks like he’s ready for bed,” Jordan said, gathering his limp little body from Jane’s arms and carrying him to his crib.
While she waited Jane spread a blanket out in front of the fireplace and sat down, gazing into the fire. She hadn’t expected to have this much fun tonight, nor had she expected Jordan to be such a natural with his nephew. She couldn’t help wondering if he had plans to start a family someday.
Playboy that he was, she seriously doubted it, and if he did, she doubted it would be any time soon.
“Have I mentioned how sexy you look tonight?” Jordan asked from behind her.
She looked up at him and smiled. “Only about ten times.”
He sat on the blanket beside her. “And I’ll probably tell you ten more times.”
She couldn’t deny that she did look pretty good. She had taken a trip to the mall today and splurged on some new clothes. She had updated her professional wardrobe, so why not her casual clothes too? She had always assumed that skinny jeans would only accentuate her lack of figure, but the sales girl had insisted she try a pair on. They looked so good that she’d bought herself three pairs. She’d also purchased two peasant-style blouses and an emerald cashmere sweater that she was wearing now.
She looked young and hip and absolutely nothing like the drab woman she’d been the week before. She only wished she’d given herself a makeover years ago. She wished she’d had the confidence.
“So, we’ve got a couple of hours before you have to leave,” he said. “What would you like to do now?”
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