Free Finding Forever by Michele Shriver Page A

always wanted her. But not this way. When Jordan’s hand moved toward his zipper, he put his hand on hers and stopped her.
    “What are you doing?” she asked.
    “Something I’ll probably regret,” he said. “It’s too soon, though.” He pulled away. “I should go.”
    ***
    Jordan closed the dishwasher with such force that she startled Cujo. “Be glad you’re a cat,” she said. “You don’t have to deal with men.” She turned the dishwasher on and started a pot of coffee, still trying to understand what had happened and what she’d done wrong to mess up what had been a perfect day, right up to and including a kiss that left her breathless but ended abruptly.
    “‘It’s too soon,’” she repeated. “What the hell?” What man said that, anyway? Unless maybe it was Jake’s way of letting her down gently because he’d decided she wasn’t worth the trouble after all. Well, at least she got a nice piece of pottery out of it.
    The doorbell jolted her from her pity party and she rushed to answer it, almost stepping on Cujo in the process. “I guess you changed your mind,” she said, yanking it open, except it wasn’t Jake that stood in the doorway. “Carl.”

Chapter 9
     
    Jake sped in the direction of his hotel. Twice he wanted to turn around, go back to Jordan’s, and explain. He didn’t because he knew if he saw her again, his thought process would be controlled by the organ below the waist rather than the one in his head. As it was, said organ voiced its displeasure with Jake’s decision by pressing against his shorts, making it difficult to concentrate on driving.
    He swore under his breath. A woman who looked like a fashion model—and had brains and a sense of humor, too—had her hand on his zipper, and Jake responded by pushing her hand away and leaving, all because what? He wanted more than easy sex? Yeah, some playboy I am . Maybe it was the curse of Macy, but Jake was done with casual flings.
    His mother would be happy, and Val disbelieving, but Jake was far more concerned about Jordan’s reaction. Did she laugh it off, dismissing him as an idiot who didn’t know what he was missing, or did she now think he didn’t want her? A woman who looked like that shouldn’t have any self-esteem issues, but what did Jake know about women?
    Thankfully, he had the elevator to himself as he rode to his floor. He tossed his keys, wallet and phone on the desk on his room and headed for the shower. Not exactly how he’d planned on ending the night.
    ***
    “You were expecting someone else?” Carl asked.
    “No.” Jordan shook her head. “I wasn’t expecting anyone.” I just foolishly got my hopes up for a second. “Beth was going to come over and watch a movie, but she’s not feeling well.” The lie flowed easily from her lips, sounding better and safer, she decided, than saying her date decided to make a hasty exit rather than make love to her. Jordan didn’t care for lying as a regular practice, but there were times when the truth would invite too many questions.
    “You seemed anxious when you opened the door. You must have really been looking forward to it.”
    “I guess.” She shrugged. “What do you want?” As if she didn’t already have a good idea.
    Carl leaned against the doorframe “To see you, of course. Are you going to let me in, or are we going to stand here all night?”
    After the slightest hesitation, Jordan opened the door all the way. “How was your day?”
    “Long. Stressful. One of the networks crashed.”
    Jordan nodded, trying to look interested, even though she didn’t understand IT and had little interest in discussing it with him.
    “I tried to call you earlier,” he said. “To let you know I might come by.”
    Not to ask if she wanted him to. “My phone was off. I went shopping.” Jordan went to the table where she’d set her purse down and pulled her phone out, pressing the power button. Sure enough, she had a missed call from him.