Jordan put her hand in her pocket and fished out her car key. “Male intuition?” she asked curiously.
“Years of experience.” Her lieutenant gave her a confidential wink. “Summer break is upon us, that’s why. But you’ll soon see for yourself.”
She tapped her forehead in mock salute and passed him. When she reached the doorway, he called after her.
“Oh, Esposito?”
“Yeah?” She turned back around.
He nodded thoughtfully. “You did well. I’m glad I could rely on your help during that last operation. Good job.”
She heaved a deep, relieved breath and slipped out of the station, trotting to her car with a broad grin plastered to her face. Her triumphant mood was short-lived.
As she put the key in the ignition, she heard the shrill ringing of her cell. One glance at the screen made her shoulders sag.
She knew it was a really bad idea to take her brother’s call, but for some reason she leaned back in her seat and held the phone to her ear. “Hello, Luke. What’s up?”
“Hi, little sister. I just wanted to see how you were doing.”
Jordan looked into the rearview mirror and made a face at her reflection. “Fantastic,” she said, forcing herself to be friendly. “I’m doing great. I was just about to drive home and get some sleep. So would it be—”
“Listen,” he cut her off, proving that he hadn’t listened at all, which didn’t actually surprise Jordan. Luke had only one thing on his mind … ever. “I went to see Sienna today. She’s not doing well. Couldn’t you maybe—”
Now it was her turn to cut him off. “No, I couldn’t.”
“Jordan …”
She gritted her teeth so hard it hurt, and she felt herself breaking out in a cold sweat. The mere thought of Sienna tore her apart, because thinking of her only led to think of Brad. And that led to thinking of the words Jordan had thrown at him when they’d last seen each other. If she had known what was about happen, if she’d had even the slightest inkling, she would have kept silent …
“It’s hard for all of us, Jordan, but it’s especially hard for Sienna. Can’t you swallow your pride and go see her? She needs all of us.”
Jordan fought the sudden sob that threatened to escape her mouth, clamping a hand over it and closing her eyes. She felt the sting of hot, bitter tears. Why did Luke have to call her now? She had just had the best day in a long time, only to be reminded of all the terrible things she’d been trying to block out for months.
“We’re family,” Luke reminded her pleadingly.
“Oh, are we?” Jordan couldn’t suppress the bitterness she felt. “You know what she said to me, don’t you? Family doesn’t hurl that kind of accusation at each other, Luke!”
“But she didn’t mean it, Jordan!” he hastened to defend the woman. “You know it was just the shock talking! She’s totally sorry about it. Talk to her so she can tell you she’s sorry, please. She needs your support.”
Nobody asked Jordan if she needed any support, she couldn’t help but think. Nobody treated her with kid gloves or anything, even though she’d lost Brad, too. And she’d been struggling with the way their final meeting had gone for eight months now. But apparently none of her family members had wasted a thought on how Jordan was dealing with the loss of her big brother.
She stuck out her chin and interrupted Luke, who had launched into another speech on family standing together.
“Listen, Luke, I just finished work, and I’m exhausted. Take care of Sienna if you think she needs that, but leave me alone. And in case you’re interested: Losing a brother is tough, too. Sienna isn’t the only one who loved Brad.”
Before Luke could continue making her feel guilty, she hung up and rested her head against the steering wheel. She didn’t want to cry, and she forbade herself from breaking down here in her car, because once she started, she knew she wouldn’t be able to stop. So she took a few deep breaths and balled her hands into fists.
For eight months, she had managed. She just hadn’t allowed herself to think too much about Brad. Or to give her feelings free rein. Instead, she had distracted herself with other things and focused on her training and her job.
Speaking of her job …
Her awesome day was turning into an evening that screamed “Get drunk!” What she needed now was alcohol and a little comfort.
Before she could think of what the reasonable thing to do was, she started the engine and drove to the pub. One thing was certain: She couldn’t sit alone in her apartment tonight and stare at the walls. She needed to be among people, and she needed distraction. An evening with silly small talk, bitter Guinness, and raucous laughter was exactly what she needed now.
As soon as she set foot in the pub, she spied the familiar blond head, its owner standing at the bar sipping a pint. Jordan felt a rush of relief that made her want to kiss him. If Ryan was anything, he was a great distraction.
Without hesitation, she stepped up next to him and tapped his back.
When he recognized her, his eyes widened in surprise, but Jordan gave him no chance to say anything. She took the beer from his hand, drank from the glass, and asked, “Your place or mine?”
Chapter 8
Ryan’s gaze traveled over the naked butt cheek he discovered in his bed, realized he wasn’t alone, and lifted his head to study the melee of covers and sheets and pillows he found himself in.
He scratched his chest contentedly, gave a soundless yawn, and then wiped the sleep from his eyes. Then he turned to see it was past eight in the morning. He needed to be at the station at noon for a meeting with the district attorney to prepare for his testimony in court. He regretted it wasn’t his day off, because when he looked at this pretty ass and the cute little dimples below her narrow waist, he wanted to bestow more attention upon all those alluring parts of her body.
One hot night with Jordan Esposito, who hadn’t allowed him to pause to do so much as catch his breath, obviously wasn’t nearly enough. Even though he’d gotten hardly any sleep last night due to the insatiable firefighter continuously inciting him to ravish her once again, he wanted to pick up where they’d left off shortly before dawn, when they’d lain next to each other panting.
He turned cautiously on his side and stared at her dark head, her face buried in a pillow. Jordan Esposito didn’t just promise a lot of fun. No, the woman was also an absolute looker.
He didn’t want to wake her, so he contented himself with letting his gaze wander over every square inch of her soft skin, his fingertips tingling with the desire to explore her slender back and touch the firm flesh of her hips and butt. He pulled away one of the sheets, so he could study her shapely legs. She lay next to him on her stomach, fully naked and displaying her perfect ass. It made him nervous. Ryan might not act like a polite gentleman in bed, but he felt that attacking a sleeping woman was out of the question. Yet he remembered with an ache in his groin how she had moaned and begged him to take her last night.
When he could no longer bear it, he placed a hand on her hip and slowly caressed the soft curve that marked the transition between thigh and butt. He hadn’t even really started his thorough exploration when Jordan stirred, uttered a delightful moan, and snuggled closer.
He could hardly believe his good fortune as he pushed the annoying covers away, pressed himself closely to her side, and buried his mouth in the tender skin of her neck, his right hand slipping between her chest and the mattress to reach her breasts. The moment he pressed his penis to her ass and cupped her breast with his hand, Jordan made another sound, but it didn’t sound inviting.
And then Ryan groaned, due to the elbow she rammed into his stomach, nearly taking the wind out of him.
She freed herself from his grip and rolled over onto her back, brushing the hair from her sleepy face and blinking up at him. While her tone wasn’t exactly antagonistic, Ryan didn’t get the impression she was happy to find herself next to him. “What are you doing here?”
Co
nsidering they were both naked, Ryan thought the question was rhetorical, and then he realized he was feeling a little offended. Last night, they’d popped one another’s corks so wildly he couldn’t believe she didn’t remember.
Slightly outraged, he grumbled, “First of all, you’re lying in my bed—”
“Oh, God, what time is it?”
He frowned as she sat up and pushed him aside to catch a glimpse of the alarm clock. “Eight? Why didn’t you wake me?”
“Hey!” Ryan huffed. “How about a slightly more affectionate good morning? I did everything in my power to please you last night, didn’t I?”
Jordan rolled her eyes and pulled the covers up to her chin so he couldn’t even relish the sight of her wonderful breasts any longer. “Why didn’t you throw me out last night? I wasn’t planning on sleeping here.”
“Shit, Jordan,” he snapped and ran a hand through his hair. “Relax, will you. What’s so terrible about having slept in my bed? Unlike you, I don’t throw people out right after I climax.”
Much to his surprise, she sank back into the pillows and hid her face in both her hands,. “You don’t expect a proposal now, do you?” she murmured through her hands. “I haven’t had any coffee, so I can’t decide my future right now.”
“Very funny,” Ryan griped, pulling away the covers to gaze at her naked front again.
He’d expected her to snap at him, but she merely took her hands away from her face and asked, “What do you think you’re doing?”
His gaze traveled lazily over her breasts, her stomach, and down over the seductive hollow between her thighs. He placed a hand on her flat stomach. A heavy lust immediately spread through his body, reaching even the smallest nerve endings.
“No idea,” he confessed as he drew tiny circles around her belly button. “Maybe I just want to seize the opportunity since you can’t throw me out of my own bed.”
Her husky laugh aroused him in a flash. “Poor detective.” She purred like a kitten and turned on her side. “Does it still bother you that I threw you out of my apartment when I was done with you?”
Ryan didn’t know if he liked the way she spoke of their first sexual encounter, but he was sure he liked the way she looked at him from under heavy lids, placed a hand on his knee, and then slunk down to press a kiss to the taut skin above his hip.
His throat went dry. The sight of her dark head so close to his groin, together with the hand that stroked his knee and then traveled higher, drove him crazy with lust.
“Oh, yeah,” he mumbled. “You … you hurt me so bad.”
“Oh, no,” she whispered regretfully, guiding his hand to her breasts before moving hers back to his thigh. “How on earth can I make up for that?”
“Mmm … I don’t know,” Ryan croaked and held his breath as her hand snaked closer to his expectant penis.
Just when he thought his morning couldn’t begin any better, a persistent ringing at his door destroyed it all.
He moaned. “Just ignore that.”
“I’m sorry, Detective.” Her hand left his crotch. “That must have been a sign.”
Frustrated, he watched Jordan sit up. His dream of a morning blow job burst like a soap bubble. “Fuck the sign,” he forced out beseechingly, but Jordan rose from his bed and bent down to retrieve her panties from the floor.
“I need attention,” Ryan whined, still hoping against all hope that she would change her mind and return to the bed.
“You had enough attention last night,” she informed him cheerfully as she stepped into her panties. Then she put on her bra and gave him a meaningful grin. “Don’t you want to see who’s at the door at this time?”
He vowed he would pull his gun on the mailman if he was the one responsible for spoiling his morning fun. The guy kept dropping packages for the entire neighborhood at Ryan’s door.
He scowled as he rose from the bed and put on his boxers. He adjusted his crown jewels and told Jordan with an authoritarian air, “Don’t forget you still owe me a blow job.”
“Are all of you Fitzpatricks this romantic?” she asked as she pulled her t-shirt down over her head. “With that sort of sweet talk, I’m not surprised women chain you to beds and go crazy.”
Ryan grabbed her hand and pulled her close. “You’re playing with fire, little girl,” he warned in a rough voice, ignoring her spluttering laughter. He put his thumb on the rapid pulse at her throat while his other hand slipped into her panties and slid over the curve of her ass.
Her laugh died away immediately, but her eyes gleamed with new interest.
“I can handle fire,” she murmured, and her gaze traveled to his lips.
Ryan was about to kiss her when the devilish doorbell interrupted him again.
He swore under his breath. “Stay right there!” he ordered. “I’m going to shoot the mailman, but I’ll be right back.”
Her nervous giggle was like an aphrodisiac. He rushed out of his room and opened the door wearing nothing but his boxers. It wasn’t the mailman. It was his mom, his five-year-old niece, Joey, holding her hand.
The little girl held up a box of cookies, grinned at him to show off the newest gap in her teeth, and asked excitedly, “Uncle Ryan, will you take me to the park?”
***
When he still hadn’t returned after several minutes, Jordan wondered what Ryan was doing with the poor mailman.
Wearing only her t-shirt and panties, she stood in the middle of his bedroom, where she had come close to losing her mind last night as the man with the boyish smile and the irresistible abs ravished her over and over again. The mere thought of all the things he’d done with his mouth made her shiver with remembered pleasure. His hands had felt so good on her skin.
Although Jordan didn’t think it was a good idea to stay overnight when you had a one-night stand, she had fallen asleep feeling luxuriant after their arduous sex, and now she had to admit that staying might have its merits. Once Ryan was finally back in his room, she would show him how to start his morning the naughty way, pulling down his boxers and going down on him.
Technically speaking, Ryan was no longer a one-night stand anyway, since this had been the second night they’d spent together. For a brief moment, Jordan chewed on her lower lip.
Ryan Fitzpatrick might be a nice enough guy, but she didn’t expect more than casual sex from him—and surely he didn’t expect anything else from her.
They were both adults and knew people could have sex without harboring deeper feelings or being in a relationship. The key word was casual. Uncomplicated also described what she and Ryan shared: sex and fun when they were in the mood, but no drama if one of them felt it was time to go.
Jordan’s last relationship had ended in drama and broken her heart—even though Gary hadn’t been the reason for her heartache. In any case, Jordan didn’t plan on investing her feelings in a man any time soon. The tragedy was still bright in her mind, and the best way to avoid getting hurt was to leave her feelings out of it. And that was the reason she didn’t want to read anything more into her fling with Ryan.
The two of them could tear off each other’s clothes and have mind-blowing sex, but Jordan wouldn’t sit at home crying when the blond cop decided to stalk his next quarry.
All those thoughts that led straight to Brad, Gary, and the last eight months upset her, so she decided not to wait any longer for Ryan’s return. She’d go and get him. Just when she was about to walk through the door, she heard the melodious laughter of another woman. Despite her best intentions, she felt the sting of jealousy flash through her. Even though they weren’t exclusive, she’d kick the guy if he was really chatting up another woman in the other room while she stood in his bedroom in her underwear, waiting to sleep with him.
She marched out into the hall and didn’t even bother to smooth down her mussed-up hair.
The frown she had slapped on her face turned into mortification when she discovered Ryan’s mom in the doorway, a small girl holding her hand. The little
one waved a box of cookies in front of her face.
“Heath took Kayla to the doctor for her shots, and Hayden has a meeting at her school. You only need to look after Joey for two hours, so I can go to my church meeting. I just can’t take her there.”
“Mom,” Ryan pleaded as he rocked nervously on his heels. “I need to be at the station by twelve, and I have an appointment with the district attorney,” he explained in a desperate-sounding voice, fidgeting.
“Oh, please! I’d come get her at eleven, at the latest. Why is it such a problem to watch her until then?”
“Mom …” At a loss for words, he tore at his hair.
“What’s more important than spending time with your niece?”
That was Jordan’s cue to tiptoe back into Ryan’s bedroom. So far, she’d been lucky, and they hadn’t noticed her, but now the little girl pointed a small finger in her direction and asked innocently, “Who’s that, Uncle Ryan?”
Jordan hoped the earth would open up and swallow her, but of course it didn’t. Ryan’s mom raised her eyebrows, and her gaze followed Joey’s pointing finger. She looked at Jordan’s naked legs.
It didn’t take a member of the FBI to connect the dots: her mussed hair, her missing pants, and Ryan’s appearance in nothing but his underwear. Mrs. Fitzpatrick grasped immediately what she had interrupted here on this fine morning.
The little girl, however, didn’t.
“Why is she only wearing a t-shirt, Grandma? Isn’t she cold?”
Alarmed, Jordan sucked in a breath and pulled the t-shirt down, hoping against hope that the material would stretch to turn into a dress, which of course it didn’t.
A thousand conflicting thoughts whirled through her brain, starting with the possibility of jumping through the open window to get away from this mortifying encounter with the woman who had entrusted her with her prized chicken recipe, and ending with wondering whether her lieutenant’s daughter would get her first birds-and-bees talk because of this.
All Tied Up (The Boston Five Series #4) Page 9