fingertips.
“Why are you being so chivalrous, Jordan? If you only want a vacation fling before leaving, why would you exert such effort? It will only hurt more when you disappear in a few days.” She felt like such an imbecile. Why was she doing this? Why couldn’t she enjoy this moment? She didn’t want a relationship anyway, she reminded herself futilely. Why did she keep trying to lie to herself? She wanted him more than she ’d ever wanted any man.
Jordan set his dessert down, sighed, and then gently cupped Jaynee’s face with both hands.
She sucked in a mouthful of air as if preparing for impact. What did she think he was going to do? Someone had hurt her badly. He planned to find out, but first he needed to assure her he wasn’t some schmuck who only wanted to take advantage of her.
“Jaynee, I don’t know how to say this without scaring the heck out of you, or myself for that matter. But I am not pretending anything. And I am definitely not interested in a one-night-stand. I don’t know how this is going to work, but I…all I know is I want—”
He pulled her face to his, kissing her softly once, twice, a third. As she parted her lips inviting him in, he kissed her deeper, passionately. They fit together perfect, and his body ached to have her closer. Not in a sexual way, he wanted all of her, mind and soul. He wanted to know everything. He released only her lips but continued holding onto her face. All he knew was he wanted that to be his last first-kiss.
“I don’t know how to explain this, Jaynee, but I assure you I don’t want a fling . I’m not pretending anything. Can we just sit a minute, eat our ice cream and then we can talk. Okay?”
He wanted to bask in this moment. The feelings soaring through him were powerful, like nothing he ’d ever experienced. He wanted to kiss her again, taste her lips and breathe in her scent, but he didn’t want to alarm her.
They ate without talking while staring out at the waves crashing against the beach. How was this going to work? he thought to himself. He had told her the truth. He didn’t want a one-night-stand, but he did want her.
When he finished eating, he draped his arm around he r shoulders. God, he loved this; it felt so natural. The evening was warm, but the ice cream made it feel cooler. Jaynee shivered, so he pulled her closer. She made no objection, which he was thankful. He didn’t want to release her. He truly enjoyed her company.
“Tell me more about you,” she said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Not wanting to talk about himself, he huffed lightly in response. “Well …I told you I left the military after my initial tour , because my dad was dying and my mom needed me, but it’s a little more entailed. I didn’t want to end up like my father. A career in the military, it’s rough on the family. So…I returned to the only place that ever felt like home. Where my grandparents have always lived and my family now lives.
“I always wanted to be a police officer, and it was an easy transition after the military. Now you probably understand why I asked you those questions earlier.” She nodded. “I also started helping folks remodel their houses. Before I knew it, people were paying me to build things for them. In the last few years, my small handy-man operation has grown. I have a beautiful house in Stanfield. It’s far enough from my mother and grandmother to discourage daily visits, but close enough to watch over them. I like being a cop, but I don’t have to anymore. My company pays the bills with enough left over I can take time to help in emergencies like these hurricanes.” Jordan paused. He felt as if he was telling her his life story, and still he didn’t know enough about her. He wanted to know everything. He felt like an addict who needed his fix.
He shrugged. “What else would you like to know?” He lowered his head to look at her eyes. She just stared at him. She probably thought he was ridiculous
“Why are you being so chivalrous, Jordan? If you only want a vacation fling before leaving, why would you exert such effort? It will only hurt more when you disappear in a few days.” She felt like such an imbecile. Why was she doing this? Why couldn’t she enjoy this moment? She didn’t want a relationship anyway, she reminded herself futilely. Why did she keep trying to lie to herself? She wanted him more than she ’d ever wanted any man.
Jordan set his dessert down, sighed, and then gently cupped Jaynee’s face with both hands.
She sucked in a mouthful of air as if preparing for impact. What did she think he was going to do? Someone had hurt her badly. He planned to find out, but first he needed to assure her he wasn’t some schmuck who only wanted to take advantage of her.
“Jaynee, I don’t know how to say this without scaring the heck out of you, or myself for that matter. But I am not pretending anything. And I am definitely not interested in a one-night-stand. I don’t know how this is going to work, but I…all I know is I want—”
He pulled her face to his, kissing her softly once, twice, a third. As she parted her lips inviting him in, he kissed her deeper, passionately. They fit together perfect, and his body ached to have her closer. Not in a sexual way, he wanted all of her, mind and soul. He wanted to know everything. He released only her lips but continued holding onto her face. All he knew was he wanted that to be his last first-kiss.
“I don’t know how to explain this, Jaynee, but I assure you I don’t want a fling . I’m not pretending anything. Can we just sit a minute, eat our ice cream and then we can talk. Okay?”
He wanted to bask in this moment. The feelings soaring through him were powerful, like nothing he ’d ever experienced. He wanted to kiss her again, taste her lips and breathe in her scent, but he didn’t want to alarm her.
They ate without talking while staring out at the waves crashing against the beach. How was this going to work? he thought to himself. He had told her the truth. He didn’t want a one-night-stand, but he did want her.
When he finished eating, he draped his arm around he r shoulders. God, he loved this; it felt so natural. The evening was warm, but the ice cream made it feel cooler. Jaynee shivered, so he pulled her closer. She made no objection, which he was thankful. He didn’t want to release her. He truly enjoyed her company.
“Tell me more about you,” she said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Not wanting to talk about himself, he huffed lightly in response. “Well …I told you I left the military after my initial tour , because my dad was dying and my mom needed me, but it’s a little more entailed. I didn’t want to end up like my father. A career in the military, it’s rough on the family. So…I returned to the only place that ever felt like home. Where my grandparents have always lived and my family now lives.
“I always wanted to be a police officer, and it was an easy transition after the military. Now you probably understand why I asked you those questions earlier.” She nodded. “I also started helping folks remodel their houses. Before I knew it, people were paying me to build things for them. In the last few years, my small handy-man operation has grown. I have a beautiful house in Stanfield. It’s far enough from my mother and grandmother to discourage daily visits, but close enough to watch over them. I like being a cop, but I don’t have to anymore. My company pays the bills with enough left over I can take time to help in emergencies like these hurricanes.” Jordan paused. He felt as if he was telling her his life story, and still he didn’t know enough about her. He wanted to know everything. He felt like an addict who needed his fix.
He shrugged. “What else would you like to know?” He lowered his head to look at her eyes. She just stared at him. She probably thought he was ridiculous
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