A Better Man(51)

"I might say I overstepped. But clearly, I sent the right people."

"They scared me to death. I thought they were here to rob me."

He grinned. "Someone named Rashard from a place called Stardust Creations scared you to death?"

"Well, maybe not after he told me his name and why he was here."

"Scaring you was never my intent." He realized he was still holding her hand, and he gave her cool, soft fingers a little squeeze. "Surprising you with something I doubt you'd ever do for yourself was my only objective."

Her pillowy breasts lifted above the sparkling neckline on an intake of air that she let go with a little sigh. "You make it very hard to be mad at you." 

"Good. I'd hate to waste the entire evening with you angry. I have more surprises in store."

"Thank you." She leaned in and kissed his cheek. "No one's ever done anything this nice for me before."

"You're welcome." He smiled. "And I'm glad it makes you feel good."

"I feel . . . fancy." Her laughter brought forth the dimple in her cheek. "And I certainly hope you didn't reserve a table at Cranky Hank's, because this dress really is too fabulous to worry about soiling it with sweet and sticky barbecue sauce."

"I agree." Even though the mention of sweet and sticky did not bring barbecue sauce to his mind. "And no, I didn't make plans to take you to any of the restaurants in Sunshine."

"Where then? Your note was a little cryptic."

"There are more surprises in store." He offered her his arm. "Shall we?"

"I'll admit"-­she settled her hand on his forearm-­"you do have me curious."

With a laugh and a wink to Ziggy, who'd stretched out beside the coffee table, Jordan pulled the front door closed. Then he led her down the walkway to where the limo driver stood with the door open and waiting.

"Where you going all gussied up?"

Jordan looked up as an elderly woman next door came out onto her porch.

"Hi, Mrs. B." Lucy gave the woman a little wave.

"You sure look pretty."

Even in the dark Jordan caught the blush on Lucy's cheeks.

"Thank you, Mrs. B."

"Hot date, huh?"

Jordan chuckled. "I promise I'll take good care of her."

"Nonsense," Mrs. B said. "What that girl needs is to get her feathers all ruffled. In a good way, if you know what I mean."

"Mrs. B!"

"I'll see what I can do," Jordan reassured the woman. He turned to Lucy. "Looks like your neighbor thinks you should be going out more."

"Yes, well, dementia makes people say all kinds of crazy things."

"I don't have it and I agree with her."

Lucy looked up into his eyes and before she could protest, he lifted her hand and kissed the backs of her fingers. "How about we get in the limo and see if you might agree too."

For a long, silent moment Lucy looked at him. Then she turned toward her neighbor. "I'll be by tomorrow to take you grocery shopping, Mrs. B."

"Okey-­dokey." Mrs. B waved from her porch. "You enjoy yourself tonight. Who knows what tomorrow will bring."

"Wise woman," Jordan said as Lucy watched her go back into her house."

"I worry about her. I don't think she should be living alone anymore."

"Nice of you to take her shopping."

"She's like the grandma I never had. So I look after her when her son and daughter are too busy."

"Does that happen a lot?"

"Unfortunately."



       
         
       
        

Jordan noted that Lucy seemed to be a caretaker. An admirable quality he was sure those she chose to care for appreciated. "Your chariot awaits, my lady."

"I've never been in one of these before," she said, sliding onto the long leather seat.

"Stick with me, kid, I'll show you all kinds of things." He waited until she moved aside the ruffles on her dress, then he slid in beside her. "Why should the teenagers have all the fun?"

"Good point." She spread her fingers across the seat and caressed the buttery leather.

While Jordan imagined how those long, dainty fingers would feel on his skin, he lifted the bottle of Moët that had been chilling in the stainless ice bucket. He poured the bubbly into crystal flutes and watched her eyes widen when he dropped a ripe strawberry into each glass.

Yes. He'd tried to remember every detail she'd mentioned last night. He handed her the drink. "I hope this will be a night of many firsts for you."