“And you want me to deliver that news to Charles,” Seth asked.
“No. Just in case anyone is looking for me. I’m not around,” Jordan said.
“Why do I have a feeling you’re not out doing research like you want me to believe?” Seth asked.
“Save your questions for Friday,” he said before ending the call. Looking at his watch, if he left now, he’d have just enough time to meet up with Sal in the park. This time of day it was faster to walk.
When he arrived, Sal was already waiting for him. “So, who pissed you off?” Sal asked.
“An old friend of mine. It’s a complicated story,” Jordan said.
“Aren’t they all? Should I assume this also involves a woman?” Sal asked. Jordan nodded. “And that’s where the complication begins. Okay, let’s walk and you talk.”
As they walked through the park, Jordan started from the beginning, with how Marvin had been his best friend, and then how he turned into the piece of shit he was now. Sal didn’t ask any questions, just listened.
“As you can see, there is no way in hell can I let Marvin locate Gianna,” Jordan said.
“Or you could try being honest with her and set up a meeting between the two and let her settle it herself,” Sal stated.
“Hell no. No way is Marvin getting anywhere near her,” he snarled.
Sal asked. “What are you really afraid of Jordan? That she’ll fall for his bullshit and get hurt? Or maybe it’s that you care more than you think and you can’t stand the thought of her being with him.”
“This has nothing to do with me. I just don’t want to see her hurt,” he said firmly.
“Yet you didn’t mention to Marvin that you had dinner with Gianna last night, or that you’re having dinner with her again tonight. Why is that?” Sal asked.
All he wanted was for Sal to keep an eye on Marvin. He didn’t need the inquisition. Of course that’s what a detective does, he picks apart things that you don’t want him looking at. Things I don’t want to think about either. Jordan knew he was attracted to Gianna. He had been years ago.
“The best way to ensure it doesn’t happen again is to keep her close.”
“I can do that for you if you need me to. And I can meet with Marvin and tell him to stay away. Just say the word and I’ll tell Gianna what’s been going on,” Sal stated.
Yeah. That wasn’t going to happen. If anyone was talking to Gianna, it was him. “Are you telling me you won’t do as I asked?”
“No. I have no problem keeping an eye on Marvin. But I’m worried that if Gianna finds out you’ve been keeping this from her, it will be you she is angry with and not Marvin.”
He knew the risk. But he wasn’t out to get her to fall for him. This was just to protect her, that’s all. If at the end she was happy and safe, that’s all that mattered. She’s no conquest. She’s…special.
It was the one thing that he and Marvin agreed on.
Gianna wished she hadn’t agreed to Jordan picking her up. Somehow him coming to her apartment made it feel more like a date. This wasn’t a date. It was dinner. Of course she’d come home from work, showered again and put on a pretty dress. That was something she’d have done for a date.
She laughed looking in the mirror and thought about changing. But it was nice to have a reason to wear something that wasn’t business professional. This spaghetti strap dress definitely wasn’t allowed in the office and the color red, well that made a statement of its own. One she was reconsidering.
Before she had the chance to back down, she heard the knock on the door. Looking at the clock she noticed it was exactly seven. Of course you’re punctual. There was no longer any time to stress over her choice. She shut off the light in her bedroom and went to answer the door. When she opened it, Jordan was standing there wearing a suit and tie. Casual wasn’t something he seemed to know how to do.
“You look beautiful,” he said.
She smiled and said, “And you look like you just left the office.”
“Is that supposed to be a dig at what I’m wearing?” he asked.
Gianna said, “Not at all. But after work, I want to get comfortable. You know, take off the tie, unbutton the shirt.”
Jordan chuckled. “I think you better stop there, but I get your point.” He reached up and loosened his tie, then slipped it off. “Is that better?”
Gianna stepped closer and unbuttoned the top one on his collar. “Now it is. Did you want to come in or do we have reservations for a specific time.”
“We do have reservations,” he said.
Oh I have plenty. Doing this is top of the list right now.
“Let me grab my purse and we can go.” She left him briefly. When she returned she tugged the tie that was draped around his neck until it came free. Then she slipped it into his jacket pocket. “Hope they still let you in,” she half teased. Gianna didn’t want fancy, but something relaxing.
“Don’t worry. I could even remove my jacket and be allowed to enter,” he replied. “It’s known for good food, and a lot of it.”
She laughed as they headed down to the limo. “Now that sounds like my type of place.” Once inside she added, “So where are we going?”
“Outside of the city if you don’t mind. I’m not in the mood for fighting crowds and I wanted us to have a place we could talk.”
“As long as it’s not about Marvin or work,” she said firmly. “Neither are dinner topics.” At least not with you.
“I actually was hoping to get to know you better,” he replied.
That was a problem. It seemed for the last few years all she did was work. It’s what it took to keep a business in the right direction. God. Dolores is right. I need a life. Heck, I’ll settle for a hobby.
She answered saying, “Last night was about me, in a roundabout way. I think tonight we should talk about you.”
“Maybe we can talk about the weather instead,” Jordan joked.
Gianna nodded. “Or we can talk about what we would do if we weren’t working 24/7.”
“It would be better than trying to think about what my favor color is. It’s blue by the way. That’s one for me. And yours is?” he asked.
“Yellow.”
“I’d have thought pink or purple.”
“I like those as well, but you said favorite. When I was a little girl we had gone and lived with my grandparents for a while. My grandmother was ill and Mom had to help take care of her. I remember playing outside in this field of yellow flowers. I had picked one and brought it home to my grandmother. She would tell me all kinds of stories and somewhere in the story she always made sure to put a buttercup flower in it.” Those were happy times for her. She didn’t even understand back then that her grandmother was sick. All she saw was big grassy fields and more places to explore than she ever imagined. “I used to ask all the time when we could go back. My mother never said it, but eventually I figured it out. My grandmother wasn’t there anymore.” Gianna hadn’t thought about that in a long time. “Sorry, that was more information than you asked for.”
“Actually, I found it interesting. And it beats the heck out of my answer.”
“I bet you look good in purple.”
“You mean like that big stuffed dinosaur that kids watch?”
She laughed. “I’m not talking about a costume. I mean instead of the blue dress shirt, try a purple one. With your dark hair and eyes, I bet you’d look great.”
“I guess I should be grateful you didn’t suggest pink,” he said.
“Oh you so easily could pull that off too.”
She bit her lip as Jordan sighed. “Maybe we should talk about music instead.”
“Well you’ll have me on that one. I really don’t listen to music. Well not unless I’m out with my friend Mary-Lou. Do you remember her? She was in the wed…” Gianna caught herself. She almost made a reference to the wedding. “She is a bartender and they usually have a band at night. They used to have karaoke but they had to stop. Custom
ers were complaining that it was costing them too much in alcohol to drown out the horrible sound.”
“You can’t be that bad,” Jordan said.
She said, “Not me. A guy Dave used to come in all the time. He thought he was fantastic. People tried telling him he…well he sucked. He said they were just jealous. Trust me, no one was envious of that.”
“This is all valuable information,” he said.
“How?”
“I know not to ask you out to a karaoke bar next time,” Jordan said.
Next time? She was beginning to think this actually was a date. That was going to make things a lot more complicated. She needed to set him straight immediately.
“Jordan, I am enjoying myself but we can’t keep doing this,” she said.
“Because you don’t like to enjoy yourself?” he asked.
“Of course I do. It’s just that…well…you spoke about Today & Tomorrow being a candidate to work with Lawson Steel. It’d be unethical for us to…” Don’t use the word date. She chose, “socialize too frequently.”
Jordan burst out laughing. “Socialize? Is that what this is called now?”
“Don’t laugh at me. I’m trying to be serious,” she said firmly.
“I know and it’s adorable. But Gianna, we are two grown adults who I believe can ‘socialize’ and do business. Which by the way was one of the forbidden topics tonight,” he reminded her.
“I know. I can’t believe I’m the one who broke the rule.”
“How about no rules,” he suggested.
“That might be easy for you, but for me, it keeps me on track so I don’t make any foolish mistakes again.” I live by them since Marvin.
“I see I have my work cut out for me,” he said.
“In what way?” she asked.
“I’m going to have to work extra hard to ensure you have fun without breaking any of your rules. Should I have you list them out to me?” he asked.
“God, that makes me sound…boring. And I’m not. I just have a lot to lose and I can’t risk it. Don’t you have rules at Lawson Steel?”
“We do. But unless it’s against the law, I take them as a suggestion only.”
“Then I suggest we keep this…socializing, platonic.”
Jordan smiled down at her. “I can’t promise to abide by your suggestion,” he said. “Because I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time.”
As he raised his hand to her chin, a chill ran through her with anticipation. She knew he was going to kiss her. She wanted him to even though it was breaking the rules. As his lips connected with hers, she closed her eyes and soaked in all the tenderness there was. It was brief, yet her lips tingled with the promise of more. Her eyes fluttered open to find him still only inches away.
“Are you going to suggest I don’t do that again?” he asked.
She shook her head and leaned closer. “Actually, the opposite.”
This time his kiss was full of passion, and it built a need within her that she couldn’t ignore. The attraction she’d felt for him obviously was reciprocated. It wasn’t a forceful kiss. Instead she found it light and playful as his tongue teased her lips and she opened to him. Their tongues explored and she raised her hand and clung to his lapel, gently pulling him closer.
Gianna didn’t want this to end, but slowly she felt him pulling away. The limo had come to a stop, but the desire built up inside her, hadn’t. He made her feel alive and she yearned for so much more.
She cleared her throat, “That was—”
In a deep, husky voice Jordan said, “Something I couldn’t resist any longer.”
“You know we really shouldn’t have,” she said.
“Don’t talk to me about the rules again,” he said.
She smiled up at him. “No. I was going to say, we should’ve saved that for dessert. I believe we’ve arrived at the restaurant.”
He never stopped looking down at her and she could get lost in those dark eyes of his. It was like looking at the reflection of her own desire.
“If I hadn’t promised you dinner tonight, I’d be tempted to suggest we skip it,” he said.
Jordan didn’t wait for her answer and stepped out of the limo. That gave her a second to compose herself and regain control. But he extended his hand to help her out. Instantly she felt the spark between them. There was something there, and she couldn’t pretend it didn’t exist. Right or wrong, she and Jordan wanted each other. Even if the waitress spilled a pitcher of ice-cold water on them, she didn’t think it would put out the hot embers burning deep down inside.
And this is why I should’ve said no to dinner.
It was all too late now. She could try denying whatever she wanted, but Jordan already knew the truth. This meant she needed to somehow tell him about Marvin’s plan years ago. No way could she move forward with him unless that was settled first. And since it was her bright idea to promise not to talk about Marvin tonight, that made it all the more challenging.
Gianna had to admit Jordan knew how to pick a restaurant. This wasn’t a fancy joint at all. It was family owned and run and they seemed to love Jordan there.
“How did you find this place?” she asked. “The food is amazing.”
“It’s a long story,” he said.
“Well there’s a lot of food on our plates, so I don’t think we’re leaving any time soon,” she stated. “Besides, I haven’t watched the weather report, so we need something to talk about,” she joked.
“Good point. My oldest brother Charles is best-friends with the owner’s son Salvatore. And then my youngest brother Dylan married Sal’s sister Sofia. As you can see, the Lawson’s are very fond of this place. But don’t think that’s why we’re getting treated like family. The Marciano’s treat everyone like this.”
She highly doubted that. The owner came over to check on them for the third time. “Do you have enough to eat? Want more?”
“No thank you, Mama. I’m going to burst as it is,” Jordan said.
“Young lovers burn it off quickly. Besides, who wants to snuggle up to a bag of bones?” Mama smiled and then winked at Gianna.
“We’re not…” Gianna started.
Jordan said, “We’re just socializing.”
Gianna rolled her eyes. Why on earth did she ever use that word? He was enjoying taunting her with it every chance he got. She was going to get even with him for that. She just wasn’t sure how yet. Then she smiled a wicked grin.
“Mama, don’t you think Jordan would look good in a pink shirt instead of blue?” Gianna asked.
Mama eyed him and then nodded. “I think so. But I would say purple. Goes with his eyes.”
Ha. Told you.
“I’m not wearing pink or purple. What’s wrong with blue?” he asked.
Gianna and mama said in unison, “Boring.”
Jordan looked at them both and then raised his hands. “Fine. Gianna, I expect you to be meeting me downtown for lunch tomorrow.”
“Why?” she asked.
“I’m not doing this shopping trip on my own,” he stated.
She was going to have to alter an appointment, but she wasn’t passing up on this opportunity to change up his attire a bit. “I’ll be sure to clear my afternoon.”
“It won’t take that long to get a shirt,” he said.
Mama walked away laughing and Gianna bit her lip. “I was thinking you might want help with finding something to wear for Saturday. It’s a jeans and t-shirt event.”
“And you don’t think I own a pair?” he asked.
“Do you?”
Jordan reached across the table and covered her hand with his. “I’m not at all what I appear to be on the outside. You’ll see. Boring is not how you’ll describe our time together.”
Nope. Unpredictable. Hot. Steamy. Wrong and yet so very right.
“Guess only time will tell,” she said.
“Let’s eat before Mama comes back thinking we don’t like the food and brings us something else.”
>
She was glad for the change of subject. Gianna didn’t want to think past this moment. Tomorrow would come fast enough.
6
“You’re joking right? There is no way in hell I am wearing this,” he stated pulling the cowboy hat off his head and placing it on hers. “Now on you, it looks good.”
“I don’t know. I thought you looked cute,” Gianna said.
“I haven’t been cute since I was ten,” Jordan corrected her.
“Fine. You’re not cute.” Gianna took the hat off her head and put it back on the rack.
Jordan picked up a hat that a jester might wear and placed it upon his head. “Now this one I think I could pull off.” Gianna turned around and he could tell by the smile in her eyes, that it worked.
“You’re right. This hat is definitely you. I expect to see you wearing it on Saturday,” she said.
As he removed the pointy multi-colored hat he replied, “When did this become a costume party?”
“Don’t tempt me to change it. I bet Rosslyn would love it,” she warned him.
“Unfortunately you’re right. But do you really want to meet all my brothers dressed in a costume? And if so, I want to pick it out,” he teased.
“Oh no you don’t.”
“Am I not out here shopping for a purple dress shirt?” he asked.
“That’s totally different,” she stated.
“How?” he asked.
“Mrs. Marciano agreed with me. And if I’m wrong, I didn’t force you to do anything. You invited me to come along to keep you company.”
“And next time we go to Mama’s Place to eat, I’ll be wearing the purple shirt too.” He knew if he didn’t, he’d never hear the end of it.
“If I go back there I’ll need to run a marathon every day just to burn off the calories.”
“Since this is the fourth store you dragged me to, I think you’re off to a good start,” he grumbled. “Are we done now?”
“I cleared my schedule to shop. That’s what we’re doing,” she explained. “But if you have something else you’d like to do instead…”
“Just about anything,” he blurted.
The Billionaire's Revenge (The Blank Check Series Book 6) Page 7