“Hey, babe,” he said as she approached, his voice carrying across the room.
Cory felt color rise to her cheeks as the two baristas behind the counter openly stared at her. Oh yes. The women of Starlight were well aware of Jordan. She’d always hated the attention she received as Kade’s girlfriend and the way other women would eye her up and down like they were trying to assess how easy it would be to poach her man.
She reminded herself Jordan didn’t belong to her, even as she reached out to hug him when he stood. To her utter shock, he dropped a lingering kiss on her mouth, a public claiming, so to speak.
The butterflies took flight again, and Cory did her best to smother them. This was all an act, she told herself. They had only a few days to make their relationship believable to the people of this town before his mom arrived.
No time for subtlety.
Ben cooed and reached for his father, making Cory’s breath catch. “Come to Daddy,” Jordan said, a little too loudly.
Cory laughed. “Maybe find a different way to say that next time.”
The blush that rose on Jordan’s cheeks loosened some of her nerves, but she realized he was truly disconcerted. He glanced around to make sure no one could overhear him. “I don’t know what the hell I’m doing being a dad.”
“You’ve got it.” She transferred Ben to his arms. “It would be more believable if you didn’t look like you were going to throw up.”
Jordan’s jaw tightened. “I’ll get used to it.”
“It’s not like a toothache.” She took the seat across from him. “I promise you’ll be a natural before you know it.”
Two cups of coffee and a plate of muffins sat on the checked tablecloth.
“I got you a sugar-free latte,” he told her as he sat down again. “Although, I guess I don’t know if that’s still what you drink.”
“It’s great,” she whispered, blown away he remembered her favorite coffee drink from the time they’d spent together in Atlanta. Seriously, how was she going to walk away from this man in a month?
A woman approached the table, curiosity obvious on her pretty features. She was tall and lithe, her chocolate-colored hair pulled into a loose bun. To Cory, she looked more like a high-end professional than a woman who belonged in a small-town coffee joint. “Hey, Jordan.”
“Hi, Mara,” he said calmly, like he showed up in the coffee shop every day with a strange woman and baby. “Nice muffins today.”
“Thanks. I appreciate a guy who appreciates my muffins.” She flashed a saucy grin before her gaze turned serious. “Parker said he stopped by Trophy Room last night for a drink with Nick and Finn. Tanya mentioned you were out of town for your dad’s funeral. We’re all sorry for your loss.”
Cory watched Jordan’s reaction closely. He started to go tense, but Ben patted a chubby hand on the tip of his nose. One side of Jordan’s full mouth pulled into a smile, and relief coursed through Cory.
“I appreciate that,” he answered, then gestured to Cory. “Have you met my fiancée? This is Cory Hall.”
Cory choked on the swallow of coffee she’d just taken as the other woman’s mouth dropped open.
“I don’t believe I have,” Mara said, eyebrows lifting almost to her hairline.
The grin he bestowed on Cory was filled with tenderness. “Sweetheart, this is Mara Johnson. She runs the coffee shop and is Starlight’s master baker.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Cory lied, because that was the plan. Jordan had told her most people in Starlight came through the coffee shop at some point during the week, so it made sense to have their first date there.
“Interesting.” Mara glanced between Cory and Jordan. “I’ve heard nothing about you, but I’ll admit I’m quite curious. Apparently, our friendly neighborhood bar owner has been keeping his private life very private.”
“I can’t wait to get to know all of Jordan’s friends.” Panic made Cory’s chest tighten. She didn’t like to lie, so she had spent a lot of time working out how to explain her sudden appearance without outright falsifying information. “You can blame me for the secrecy.” She licked her suddenly dry lips. “Ben had some health issues when he was born, so I needed to stay in Michigan until the doctors cleared him for travel.”
Mara made a soft tsking sound and touched Ben’s arm. “Oh, sweet boy. You look perfect.”
“He is perfect,” Jordan said, and Cory blinked away tears.
“He had heart surgery five days after he was born to repair a narrowed aortic valve.”
“Jordan.” Mara’s hazel eyes widened. “Why didn’t you tell us anything? People would have happily pitched in at the bar to take care of things so you could go back. How old is Ben now?”
“Six months,” Cory offered before Jordan could speak. His eyes had gone dark, and she could imagine what he was thinking. How angry he must feel that he wasn’t told about the baby, so he missed the chance to be with them during the trauma of surgery and recovery.
“Jordan flew back to Michigan whenever his schedule allowed. I really wanted to keep everything private.” She gave the other woman a watery smile she didn’t have to manufacture. Just talking about that time made her emotional. “To be honest, Jordan and I have been through some ups and downs. We needed to get to a solid place before...” She drew in a deep breath. “We needed to be solid.”
“And now we are.” He covered her hand with his big one, the callus on his palm tickling her skin, and then looked at Mara. “I’m hoping you, Brynn and Kaitlin will help her get her bearings in Starlight.”
“And a job,” Cory added.
“You have a job,” Jordan countered, thick brows furrowing. “It’s called being a mom.”
“I can be a great mom and also work if that’s what I choose.” Cory spoke slowly, like she was talking to a toddler. Of course, they hadn’t discussed her working yet. The list of things they needed to go over seemed never ending.
Before Jordan had a chance to respond, Mara chuckled. “That’s exactly right. Brynn is balancing work and motherhood, and she has little Remi plus a ten-year-old. I managed it most of my daughter’s life. Don’t worry, Cory. We’ll help you figure it out.” She pulled a cell phone out of the back pocket of the jeans she wore. “Although, I’m not babysitting. Babies aren’t my thing.”
Jordan frowned. “You have a six-year-old. Evie was once a baby.”
“I barely made it out alive,” Mara said with a mock shudder before winking. “Just kidding. I love my daughter, and she was adorable. Your little guy is adorable, too. I can admire him from afar.” She handed her phone to Cory. “Go ahead and put your number into my contacts. I’ll arrange a time for all of us to get together. I’m sure Tanya has made you feel welcome already.”
Cory darted a questioning glance at Jordan.
“She hasn’t met everyone at the bar yet,” he said, almost apologetically. “Tanya’s going to give me a ration of grief for not telling her about this.”
Mara laughed again. “Good luck with that.” She turned her attention to the counter when one of the baristas called her name. “It was nice to meet you, Cory. Welcome to Starlight.”
“Thanks,” Cory said quietly, then stared at the half-eaten pastry on her plate as the other woman walked away. Her mouth felt like it was filled with sawdust, and her stomach cramped from anxiety.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” she told him. “It’s too much. If she’s an example of the type of people who live in this town, I don’t want to lie to them.”
Jordan scrubbed a hand over his jaw, then closed his eyes when Ben rested his head on his shoulder. “It’s for Ben. We’re doing this for our son. You’ll move into my house today, right? Are you comfortable with that?”
Cory blew out a long breath. Hadn’t she just reminded herself that she would do anything for Ben? “Okay, yes,” she whispered. “But j
ust know I hate every part of it.”
Jordan nodded and averted his gaze. “Duly noted,” he said through clenched teeth.
It was going to be a long few weeks pretending this was her life and not desperately wishing it to be real.
Chapter Seven
Jordan did a double take when Cory walked into the bar later that night. She wasn’t carrying the baby and looked as beautiful as he’d ever seen her. Her dark hair had been curled at the ends, and she wore a pair of fitted jeans that hugged her curves, along with a red sweater in a material so soft he wanted to reach out and touch it. He wanted to touch her, and the knowledge their pretend relationship gave him the freedom to do just that made it hard to concentrate on anything but his desire.
They’d agreed that he would mention her and Ben to his employees before formally introducing them so that he could answer questions and get everyone used to the idea of the boss having a secret family before they met.
He’d talked to Tanya, Madison and the rest of the crew earlier that afternoon during an impromptu staff meeting. The announcement that Jordan had a fiancée and a baby had been met with a range of reactions—from straight-up shock to gentle teasing to hearty congratulations. Tanya had grilled him on the situation while Madison stared with amused astonishment. True to her form, his prickly, if talented, head chef seemed to enjoy watching him squirm under a barrage of pointed questions.
But he’d gotten through it, and although Tanya sent him admonishing looks as she served drinks to the regulars, he knew she’d make sure the rest of the staff fell in line to support Cory and make sure there were no rumors spread about her.
Jordan didn’t quite understand his protective streak when it came to Cory. He still held plenty of resentment about her keeping his son from him. He wasn’t sure if he could truly trust her, despite his attraction. The attraction part had him swallowing back a growl as several male heads turned to check her out as she approached the bar.
He hadn’t been kidding when he said motherhood agreed with her. To his deep consternation, Jordan wasn’t the only one who seemed to notice.
He ran a tight ship at Trophy Room. The bar might look like a throwback to a small-town tavern with its paneled walls and scuffed wood bar, but he wanted everyone who walked in the door to feel comfortable. He didn’t tolerate rude and offensive comments from customers or rowdy crowds, although he couldn’t exactly stop his patrons from admiring a pretty woman.
Certainly he couldn’t give in to the urge to knock some heads together until they stopped looking at his fiancée.
His fake fiancée, he reminded himself.
“Hey, ba—” He cleared his throat, then lifted a hand to wave. Cory had told him in no uncertain terms she would not answer to the term babe, which made him smile and also tempted him to call her that all the more just to elicit a reaction.
Her mouth quirked at the corner like she was trying to hide a smile. “Hi, hon,” she said, smooth as his favorite single-malt scotch. She placed her hands on the bar, elegant fingers spread over the burnished wood, and leaned forward.
Like a moth drawn to a flame, he bent his head, heart hammering when she pressed her soft mouth to his.
He barely registered the gasps that came from the patrons around him and had to resist the urge to lift her over the bar and into his arms, caveman style.
“This is a surprise,” he told her when she pulled back.
Her thin shoulders lifted and lowered. “Mara put me in touch with her friend Brynn, who recommended a babysitter.” She bit down on her lower lip and then offered him a smile. “I missed you, so once I got Ben down for the night, I thought I’d stop in for a visit.”
Blood roared through Jordan’s brain. He knew she was playing a part right now, but the look in her eye made him believe every word. It was hard as hell not to want her to be speaking the truth.
“Are you going to introduce us?” a feminine voice asked behind him. “Or just stand there making googly eyes all night?”
He turned to see Tanya and Madison staring at him with twin smirks on their faces. Of all the times for his chef to make an appearance at the front of the house, it would have to be this moment.
“I vote for googly eyes,” Ray Monning said from his bar stool. The older man winked at Cory. “I mean that in the most respectful way, ma’am.”
“Understood,” she said with a wide grin and held out a hand. “I’m Cory, Jordan’s fiancée.” She hitched a thumb in Jordan’s direction. “Googly eyes aren’t usually my thing, but I make an exception for this guy.”
Jordan’s heart melted just a little bit as Ray shook her hand with wide-eyed astonishment. He was one of the regulars, but his history in town was spotty at best. He had trouble holding down a job and stuck mostly to himself since his wife had left him several years earlier. Jordan rarely had to refuse to serve customers, but he would if someone got out of hand.
Ray never got out of hand, but most people in town overlooked him. He was just an old-timer who’d fallen through the cracks when it came to living a life society deemed successful. He wore the same ratty flannel every day and was often in need of a shower. Jordan mostly felt sorry for him and did what he could to be a sympathetic shoulder, but Ray wasn’t much for conversation.
Now he was looking at Cory like she was the sun shining down on him. Jordan certainly understood the feeling.
“I didn’t know the barman had a fiancée,” Ray said, drawing out the syllables of that last word as he glanced between Cory and Jordan.
“He kept the secret from all of us,” Madison added. “Sneaky schmuck.”
To her credit, Cory didn’t flinch at the other woman’s snarky tone. If anything, her smile grew brighter. “I’m here now, and I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone.” Her gaze zeroed in on Madison. “I hear that your food is amazing. Fries are my favorite, so I can’t wait to try yours. It probably sounds strange, but I’m a little bit of a connoisseur. A perfect French fry is difficult to master.”
Jordan flinched as his chef narrowed her eyes. She tended to be just shy of outright confrontational when anyone even hinted at judging her culinary skills. “Well, then. It’s my dearest hope I can live up to your high standards.”
“Be nice,” Tanya whispered under her breath.
Cory only continued to smile, not offering an antagonizing reply but not backing down, either. Add backbone to the list of things that Jordan found attractive about her. The list was getting longer by the second.
A couple gestured to Jordan from the far end of the bar. It was easy to get distracted by Cory, as well, but he needed to keep his wits about him.
“I’ll be right back,” he said, tossing a towel over his shoulder.
“Come to the kitchen with me,” Madison ordered Cory, crooking her finger. “I’m working on a new dipping sauce for the manchego cheese croquettes. I need a discerning palate to taste test for me.”
“Unnecessary,” Jordan said as he moved past, throwing a beseeching glance toward Tanya. “Help,” he mouthed.
She shrugged in return. “You should have mentioned her earlier.”
The wife of the couple waved to him again. Thirsty patrons he couldn’t ignore. He gave one last glance over his shoulder. “You can wait for me,” he called to Cory.
“I don’t bite,” Madison said.
Cory nodded and stepped forward. “I appreciate that. Lead on. You had me hooked at the word cheese.”
Worlds colliding, Jordan thought, his heart still beating at a rapid pace as Cory followed Madison into the kitchen and out of his sight. He hadn’t expected his worlds to collide so soon.
Anxiety pounded through him like a fierce thunderstorm. Maybe he needed to serve himself a drink along with his customers. Tanya gave him a funny look, and he forced a steadying breath and pasted a smile on his face. As if he didn’t have enough dealing with the shoc
k of being a father, he’d never imagined how stressful it would be to have a fake fiancée.
* * *
Cory was used to being underestimated.
Her mom had done it for most of Cory’s life and then she’d spent her relationship with Kade being either coddled or condescended to, so she didn’t misinterpret the willowy chef’s invitation to her kitchen as anything but the gauntlet it was.
If she had any question, Jordan’s terrified glance had confirmed her suspicions. Even Tanya, the spirited bartender, had squeezed Cory’s arm as she walked past. “Good luck,” the other woman murmured. “Just don’t cry. Tears are like blood in the water when the sharks are circling for Madison.”
A dire warning for sure.
“Sit,” Madison ordered when they entered the bar’s kitchen. The woman flicked her wrist at the line cook currently chopping vegetables on an oversize butcher block. “Out,” she told him.
He swallowed and nodded, then dropped his knife and practically raced out of the room.
“Is everyone around here afraid of you?” Cory asked conversationally as she took a seat on the metal stool positioned in front of the stainless-steel counter. Despite all of her bluster, Cory liked Madison. As far as she could tell, they had very little in common, but somehow the prickly woman felt like a kindred spirit.
“Fear and respect go hand in hand in my kitchen,” Madison said simply.
“They aren’t mutually exclusive, you know.”
The other woman shot her a glare. “Big words. Are you some kind of fancy scholar?”
That made Cory laugh out loud. “Hardly. Are you a classically trained chef?”
Madison’s mouth thinned. “As a matter of fact, yes.”
“What do you like most about cooking?”
“No one has ever asked me that. I like your earrings. They’re unique.”
Cory touched a finger to one of the thin gold hoops with multicolored stones strung through them. Pride snaked along her spine. “Thank you. I made them. But you’re avoiding my question, and it’s a fair one for someone who makes her living in the kitchen. I read the online reviews of the bar and the food you serve. People rave about it.”
His Secret Starlight Baby Page 7