Nicole nodded. Sailing this way could be addictive. Or was part of the attraction doing it with Jordan? On the water, separated from reality, they’d seemed in almost perfect sync, which should have scared her, but for the moment it was simply wonderful.
* * *
IT WAS PAST five when Jordan tied up the boat.
Nicole stood. “I’d better collect my things.”
“Not yet.” Jordan pointed at someone walking toward them carrying a bag. “You said you didn’t have anything planned for tonight, so I phoned and ordered dinner for us.”
She’d seen him on his cell, but hadn’t listened to the conversation. If he had asked if she wanted to eat together, she would have said no, which was probably why he’d ordered and told her after the fact.
“Nice timing for them to get here as we arrived.”
“I know the place and how long it takes them to deliver to the marina.” Jordan gave money to the delivery man and took the bag. “Keep the change.”
“Thanks. Enjoy your meal.”
Jordan pulled a container from the bag and handed it to her along with a plastic fork and a napkin.
“Hope you like surprises, though I should have asked whether you had any allergies.”
“None, and I enjoy most foods.” It was the kind of thing she might have thought was romantic if this had been a date.
She opened the lid and found eggplant parmesan with grilled vegetables on the side. It smelled wonderful, reminding her that the lunch she’d barely touched had been hours earlier. The only problem was that the silence was no longer comfortable.
Jordan went down to the cabin and returned with bottles of seltzer. “This is all I have and it isn’t chilled,” he said. “I should have ordered something to go with the food.”
“It’s fine,” she said, accepting the bottle. Their fingers brushed and energy traveled up her arm, reminding her of all the reasons she hadn’t invited him home for dinner the night before.
No restaurant had a view better than the one from the boat. The sun was dropping below the horizon, and across the water, city lights began barely glimmering.
“It’s beautiful,” Nicole said, pausing between bites to soak in the scene.
“Absolutely. Because I travel often, I have arrangements for a guy to check on The Spirit occasionally. But there is a downside to not being required to visit the boat regularly. Sometimes I let weeks or months pass without going for a sail.”
“That’s too bad.”
The conversation was prosaic, but he kept looking at her instead of the vista.
“The temperature has dropped,” he said, “you must be getting chilly in those shorts.”
“I’m all right.” She swallowed. There was nothing odd in his comment, except that she suddenly remembered how her bare legs had brushed against his during their time at the tiller.
Finishing her meal, she placed the plastic fork inside and closed the container.
“I think I’ll go change into my own clothing, though.”
There was a long moment as his gaze locked with hers. He stood and offered her a hand, and as she came to her feet, she swayed closer, knowing what she was inviting.
Nicole held her breath as he bent low to lay a trail of kisses alone her jaw line until reaching her lips.
“Mmmm,” he murmured. “Better than dessert.”
But the words had the opposite effect than he’d probably intended, reminding her of another man who’d said the same thing. It wasn’t a positive memory.
She broke the contact and moved aside.
He frowned. “Did I say something wrong?”
“Not your fault. It’s just that someone else used to say the same thing to me. It was my last attempt to form a relationship, the one that finally convinced me wedding bells and happily-ever-after weren’t in the cards. I’ve found I can count on friendship and a useful career, not love and romance.”
“Now you’re the one who sounds as if you’ve given up on believing in things.”
“Not really. Marriage and romance are terrific for some people. You should have seen Em’s wedding. She and Trent are so much in love, and they’ve made such a difference to each other’s lives. I’ve seen plenty of couples in Schuyler and other places who seemed equally happy, so I’m all for the institution in general, even if I’ve decided it isn’t something I want personally.”
“Maybe you’ll find someone equally well suited.”
She lifted an eyebrow at him. “Has anyone tried that sort of argument on you? ‘Hey, Jordan, you’ll joyfully give up that happy carefree bachelor life once you find your soul mate.’ ‘Don’t be ridiculous, once you find the right person, all your doubts will vanish.’ Or how about, ‘You’ve got to be kidding, marriage and family are the most important things in life and you’ll realize that when the right woman comes along.’”
A wry smile twisted his lips. “You’re right. I’ve heard those arguments and more to push me toward an altar. But your decision still seems based in a negative experience.”
“The people we are today come from everything we’ve experienced. All that has to be taken into account in our decisions, doesn’t it?”
“Sure. Isn’t that a justification for asking about your past for the article?”
“Perhaps if it didn’t feel as though you’re steering everything in that direction. Are your parents’ problems the only reason you’re a bachelor?”
“No, I’m just happy that way.”
“Then it’s partly based on the fact you’ve had happy experiences as a bachelor, right?” she asked. “And also because your logic says it works for you.”
Jordan groaned. “You really enjoy making rational arguments, don’t you?”
“I like to understand a situation. It’s part of how I solve problems, or at least it affects how I feel about them. I don’t know if that’s true for everyone, but it helps me. All I can say is that I understand my past and I’ve learned from it, which I believe is the mature approach. But it isn’t controlling me.”
“Except it made you react against something I said.”
Nicole pursed her lips. “I could say something brutal, such as the jerk who used that line taught me that cheesy lines are a dime a dozen. But I didn’t assume you’re a jerk because of him. It simply broke the mood.”
The wind blew tendrils of hair against her cheek and he raised his hand to brush them away. Despite her words, her breathing quickened. How was she supposed to think her way through something that was primarily instinct?
* * *
JORDAN HADN’T PLANNED to kiss Nicole when he’d suggested the sail or ordered dinner. Nor had he planned on getting into a debate about how life decisions should be made. The golden light of early evening had felt like a sensual painting, perhaps leading to the kind of moment he’d cherish as an old man and mention in his memoirs. Well, something of the sort. And how cheesy would that sound to her?
He was also struck with another realization. Nicole had talked about him just observing life, keeping his distance. The last thing he wanted to turn into was one of those pseudo-intellectuals he’d sometimes met, the ones who discussed everything with a pretentious air of detachment.
Lord, he remembered one columnist he’d known when he was a reporter. Ken hadn’t been syndicated in many newspapers, but he’d acted as if he was sending his wisdom down from Mount Olympus. Jordan had just gotten back from the Middle East with Syd; he’d had bruises all over, cracked ribs and a nasty cut on his leg, and Ken had pontificated on the sociological history of the conflict...without even getting it right.
That was definitely not the sort of person he wanted to become.
“You know something?” Jordan asked. “I have this sudden urge to go skinny-dipping, but I’m too grown-up and have too much of a false sense of dignity to do it. Besides, we’d pro
bably get arrested.”
“We could inaugurate my hot tub.” She seemed surprised by her own suggestion, but straightened her shoulders with an air of not backing down.
“It’s in a private part of your backyard,” he said, trying to make sure he hadn’t misunderstood her.
A long pause. “True,” she finally agreed.
“Will it bother you if Chelsea sees me arriving?” he asked.
She lifted her chin. “We’re both taking risks, here, Jordan. You know that, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
The word hung between them.
“No regrets or recriminations?” she challenged.
“I’ll do my best.”
He stepped back and she hurried down into the cabin, coming out a few minutes later with her arms full.
“I’ll leave you to do whatever is needed on the boat.”
Jordan watched in the golden light as she walked swiftly along the dock. With any other woman, he might fear that she’d change her mind, jump in her car and speed away, leaving him to find a taxi to get home. But that wasn’t Nicole’s style. If she changed her mind, she’d tell him to his face.
Shaking the thoughts aside, he made sure The Spirit was secure and followed Nicole to her sedan.
“I’ll drop you at the agency to get your car,” she said. “I’m not sure how good that lot is for overnight parking.”
“You want me to park up the street and sneak through the side gate?”
“Or we can be open about the fact you’re spending social time with me that has nothing to do with any magazine articles. Objectivity has been shot to smithereens already. I’d just as soon the public didn’t know you’d spent time in my...er...hot tub, but that’s one of the risks here, isn’t it?”
“I don’t like the idea of hiding or sneaking. I’ll park in front of the house and not pretend there’s a reason to do anything else.”
“That’s fine with me.”
He was fairly sure his head was going to explode, that is if another part of his anatomy didn’t beat him to it.
Chapter Fourteen
NICOLE WAS GLAD Jordan didn’t seem interested in conversation as she drove them back to the agency parking lot. What was there to say? They found each other attractive. The hormonal energy had been turned up to high since the day he’d charged into her living room. She knew what the signs were; no one had to hit her on the head or paint a picture. He’d likely recognized it in her as well. And no matter how many times she’d tried to ignore or manage it, some things couldn’t be controlled.
“See you in a bit,” he said, sliding from the passenger seat.
“Right.”
Deciding not to wait for him to follow her home, she headed straight for her place. That way she could turn on the hot tub before he arrived and take a few deep breaths.
One thing she was sure about: there were things you did that you regretted, but there were bucketloads of other things that you regretted not doing because you were too cowardly to take the leap. Of course, she couldn’t be sure this was one of them, but it would be hard to know until after the fact.
It wasn’t as if she’d been fantasizing about Jordan her whole life. Aside from reading a handful of his columns, she had barely thought of him in the years since high school.
Now things had changed.
The mature man was far more dynamic. He was an insightful writer, albeit too cynical, and sexier than any guy had a right to be. The thought that had struck her on the deck of his boat was that she could well look back and regret not taking the opportunity to be with him. It didn’t mean she’d changed one iota of her plans for the future; this was just a small holiday.
At the house she turned on the hot tub, changed into her own clothing and put Terri’s things in the washer.
Nicole had carefully planned the hot tub location along with its protective features. It wasn’t that she’d planned to have nights like this, but because she valued privacy after so many years of living a very public life.
The minutes passed and she began wondering if Jordan had changed his mind or gotten a phone call that was detouring him to another task or destination. She laughed to herself. That would certainly take any decision-making out of the picture and at least she wouldn’t have to agonize over whether she’d have something to regret, one way or the other.
Then the doorbell rang. Taking a deep breath, she opened it.
“Sorry I took so long,” Jordan said. “I stopped to pick up strawberries and champagne.”
“Sounds...good.”
He walked inside and glanced around the living room. “Still no furniture?”
“I haven’t had a chance to go shopping, so there’s just furniture in my den and the bed...room.”
There was a glint in his eyes, which she ignored. “This way,” she said, turning and walking toward the back of the house, trying not to think too much.
* * *
JORDAN BARELY BREATHED as he followed Nicole to a part of the house he hadn’t seen. There was a separate exterior door off a hallway leading to the spacious spa area. The water bubbled and tiny twinkling lights lit the space from above. Sliding louvered doors made it private and intimate.
To the side was a small refreshment area and he carried his purchases there.
After opening the champagne, he took a large strawberry and splashed the sparkling wine over it so the excess fell in the sink.
“I remembered you said that you didn’t drink much, so I thought this might be a unique way of washing the berries. I didn’t know this area would be so well-equipped.”
He came closer and held the berry to her lips. Nicole hiked an eyebrow and he grimaced ruefully.
“Don’t tell me that’s cheesy, too.”
“Not exactly, but I have experience. While it sounds pretty in theory, it’s a messy way to eat a strawberry.”
Her slender fingers took the dripping berry and she bit into the juicy red fruit while he prepared one for himself.
“I think I should mention,” she said after they’d finished the basket, “that unlike you with female guests on the boat, I don’t come prepared with men’s clothing or swim trunks.”
Heat surged into his groin. “I thought this was a skinny-dipping exercise.”
“I didn’t know whether you might be all talk, but modest in action.”
“If I recall correctly, you told me that modesty doesn’t fit me very well.”
Nicole sat on the edge of the hot tub. “But you might have gotten your invisible modesty suit from the dry cleaner after all.”
“Not since last night.”
“So what you’re saying is that modesty will be lacking this evening.”
Jordan started unbuttoning his shirt. The repartee between them had only made him hotter. “Judge for yourself,” he managed to say and shrugged off the shirt. It left his chest bare while her gaze lingered over him.
“Where did the scar come from?” she asked, pointing at the jagged white streak that sliced across his ribs.
“It was during my time as a reporter. I got too close to the action during a police standoff.”
“Looks painful.”
“Didn’t hurt as much as the way my editor ripped me up one wall and down the other for being stupid.”
Smiling, she loosened the sash on her wraparound dress and eased it off her shoulders. Underneath was a bikini...barely.
“I thought tonight was about skinny-dipping,” he choked out of a tight throat.
“I invited you to indulge, never promised I’d do the same.”
She stepped down into the gently steaming water and leaned back, closing her eyes, which was a good thing. If she’d kept watching him, Jordan feared he might have been in danger of the same sort of accident he’d had in his youth, when the hormones raged and he hadn
’t learned control. At the moment, any of the control he had learned seemed utterly absent. He hurriedly stripped and sank into the bubbling cauldron, trying to chuckle as he did so.
“Three guesses about what I’m picturing at the moment.”
“Harry and the Hendersons,” Nicole said promptly.
“Right.”
Despite the silly image, it did nothing to slow the euphoria that was spreading through him. A private spa was rare in his experience, though he’d spent time on a few nude beaches. The advantages of privacy were extreme.
Half floating, Jordan nudged himself closer, his legs brushing against Nicole’s. She opened her vibrant blue eyes again and stared into his as he pulled her close. Even in the warm water he could feel her shuddering response.
* * *
NICOLE BARELY BREATHED as Jordan pulled her into his arms, giving her one teasing kiss after another. He hadn’t waited for any pretense of enjoying the water first. Twining her arms around him, she returned his kisses fully. He quickly disposed of her swimsuit and it was only skin against skin. It felt like a moment outside of time.
Suddenly his caresses slowed and he drew back a few inches, his eyes wide and glazed. “Sorry,” he said in a strangled voice. “It just occurred to me...stupid not to have considered it before, but are you on birth control?”
She drew in a shaking breath. “No.”
“Condoms are risky in water. They can lose effectiveness.”
“Right.”
Releasing her, he edged back to the other side of the hot tub.
“We could consider drying off and heading upstairs,” she managed to say.
“You did mention it was one of the few furnished rooms in the house.”
Slowly she stood and waited as he looked his fill. But the tension in her body grew almost unbearable. “Then what are we waiting for?”
“Nothing.” But when he also stood, like Poseidon rising from the waves, Nicole didn’t mind spending a few extra seconds enjoying the view.
She was uncertain whether she was making the best decision, but it was easy to ignore her nagging doubts.
* * *
IT WAS 6:00 A.M. and Chelsea tried to ignore the fact that her brother’s car was parked in front of the house in the same position as when she’d driven back from an evening trip to the grocery store. Where he spent the night was his business—his and Nicole’s if he’d spent it with her.
Moonlight Over Seattle Page 20