light sprinkle tapped her head on the way.
Jordan had walked halfway through the barn when something shuffled to her right. She suddenly realized she was alone in the dark. An image of Bobby Ray flashed through her mind. She screamed and jumped to her left, falling over a sawhorse.
“I’m sorry I scared you. Are you okay? I should have said something. I’m so sorry.” Connor helped her back to her feet.
Jordan stood for a moment catching her breath. Her heart was pounding like a jackhammer. Her hands braced against his chest. “Oh God, I can’t believe how stupid I am. I thought you were him. You scared me to death.”
“You see why I worry about you? You’re not prepared. You should be in the house with that damn alarm on.” He was clearly annoyed.
“Don’t you think I know what an idiot I am? I married that monster. I deserve what I get, but where does that leave Lizzy? I’m not saying you’re wrong. I just don’t know what to do about it. I can’t live like this for the rest of my life, not knowing when he’s going to show up, or what he’s going to do. I feel like I’m losing my mind. The last thing I need is you reminding me. What are you doing out here anyway?”
“I was just wandering around thinking,” he said more quietly. “There’s something I want to tell you. I want you to know that last night meant a lot to me. I had forgotten what it felt like to be that close to someone. There have been other women since…my divorce. But, it was just sex. You were so much more than that. I just wanted you to know. I wanted to say thank you for making me feel normal again.”
“You are normal. After last night, I can’t say you’re average. That would be a huge understatement. But there isn’t anything wrong with you. As I see it, you’re pretty awesome. You took me, a neurotic Amazon woman, and made me feel desirable. That’s what I call a miracle.”
“You are desirable. You are downright amazing. And you are not an idiot. You don’t deserve any of this. You deserve a man who can love and protect you from that psycho. For now, you’ll have to settle for me. Even if I do have to stay away from you, I intend to see you and Lizzy through this.” He ran a finger through a lock of hair that had escaped her braid and then held her hand as he led her back to the house. He lifted her fingers to his lips before he left her at the door.
Jordan watched him walk back to his van. She was fascinated by the way he moved. He seemed half man, half panther. All his sleek muscles moved in a graceful rhythm. He had been hers for one night. If she had known the effect that one night would have on her, she probably wouldn’t have done it. She didn’t regret it though. And, she would never forget it.
Chapter Eight
For the next week, Connor made their routine appear as normal as possible. Jordan didn’t need to know that he was taking small steps back into his old life.
Every evening, she came home to a clean house and a home cooked meal. He had used the accounts she had opened in town to continue the redecorating. On Monday, the upstairs bathroom had been painted pale yellow. The silk floral arrangement on the white counter matched the red and blue towels. A painting of a mother and daughter walking through a brightly colored garden dominated the room. On Tuesday, Lizzy’s bedroom was the same pale yellow with new white furniture and brightly colored accents. He had used an old quilt Jordan had as a child to cover the bed. The flowers stenciled at the tops of the walls had ladybugs, butterflies, dragonflies and fairies. In the corner was a small table and chairs. Her books had been neatly lined on shelves. Lizzy swore she would keep her new room neat as she hugged and kissed every inch of Connor’s face.
On Wednesday, Jordan’s room became a pale, sage green. The four-poster bed and heavy oak furniture remained, but a bistro table and two chairs had been added in front of the window. The comforter
Jordan had walked halfway through the barn when something shuffled to her right. She suddenly realized she was alone in the dark. An image of Bobby Ray flashed through her mind. She screamed and jumped to her left, falling over a sawhorse.
“I’m sorry I scared you. Are you okay? I should have said something. I’m so sorry.” Connor helped her back to her feet.
Jordan stood for a moment catching her breath. Her heart was pounding like a jackhammer. Her hands braced against his chest. “Oh God, I can’t believe how stupid I am. I thought you were him. You scared me to death.”
“You see why I worry about you? You’re not prepared. You should be in the house with that damn alarm on.” He was clearly annoyed.
“Don’t you think I know what an idiot I am? I married that monster. I deserve what I get, but where does that leave Lizzy? I’m not saying you’re wrong. I just don’t know what to do about it. I can’t live like this for the rest of my life, not knowing when he’s going to show up, or what he’s going to do. I feel like I’m losing my mind. The last thing I need is you reminding me. What are you doing out here anyway?”
“I was just wandering around thinking,” he said more quietly. “There’s something I want to tell you. I want you to know that last night meant a lot to me. I had forgotten what it felt like to be that close to someone. There have been other women since…my divorce. But, it was just sex. You were so much more than that. I just wanted you to know. I wanted to say thank you for making me feel normal again.”
“You are normal. After last night, I can’t say you’re average. That would be a huge understatement. But there isn’t anything wrong with you. As I see it, you’re pretty awesome. You took me, a neurotic Amazon woman, and made me feel desirable. That’s what I call a miracle.”
“You are desirable. You are downright amazing. And you are not an idiot. You don’t deserve any of this. You deserve a man who can love and protect you from that psycho. For now, you’ll have to settle for me. Even if I do have to stay away from you, I intend to see you and Lizzy through this.” He ran a finger through a lock of hair that had escaped her braid and then held her hand as he led her back to the house. He lifted her fingers to his lips before he left her at the door.
Jordan watched him walk back to his van. She was fascinated by the way he moved. He seemed half man, half panther. All his sleek muscles moved in a graceful rhythm. He had been hers for one night. If she had known the effect that one night would have on her, she probably wouldn’t have done it. She didn’t regret it though. And, she would never forget it.
Chapter Eight
For the next week, Connor made their routine appear as normal as possible. Jordan didn’t need to know that he was taking small steps back into his old life.
Every evening, she came home to a clean house and a home cooked meal. He had used the accounts she had opened in town to continue the redecorating. On Monday, the upstairs bathroom had been painted pale yellow. The silk floral arrangement on the white counter matched the red and blue towels. A painting of a mother and daughter walking through a brightly colored garden dominated the room. On Tuesday, Lizzy’s bedroom was the same pale yellow with new white furniture and brightly colored accents. He had used an old quilt Jordan had as a child to cover the bed. The flowers stenciled at the tops of the walls had ladybugs, butterflies, dragonflies and fairies. In the corner was a small table and chairs. Her books had been neatly lined on shelves. Lizzy swore she would keep her new room neat as she hugged and kissed every inch of Connor’s face.
On Wednesday, Jordan’s room became a pale, sage green. The four-poster bed and heavy oak furniture remained, but a bistro table and two chairs had been added in front of the window. The comforter
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