A Better Man(59)

"That's nothing to be ashamed of, Lucy."

"I'm ashamed of the string of bad decisions I made. I'm ashamed that I let my inexperience lead me instead of the intelligence I always depended on. I didn't really know him. Yet six weeks later we got married in a small ceremony. With my student loans I couldn't afford a lavish wedding and his family didn't want to shell out for it either. Later I found out that was because I was his second wife and they'd shelled out big bucks for a ceremony that included over five hundred guests."

"Five hundred? Wow."

"Imagine that. Married, divorced, and remarried before you were even twenty-­five. I completely ignored the red flag waving in front of my face."

"Sometimes it's hard to see clearly when you're too close to the subject."

"Maybe. But I've always been proud of my intellect. I'd always done well in school. It was just real life I had trouble with."

"That's just being human."

"No. That's being blind and stupid. Three months after the wedding I realized why he wanted to marry me."

"Because you're a wonderful person?"

"Because I was easy prey. It was then I took to hiding a rescue card in my shoe."

His stomach tightened and turned. "A rescue card?"

"It has the name and number of someone you can call who will come rescue you if the abusive relationship you're in becomes life-­threatening and you finally gather the courage to get out."

Jordan sucked in a breath. His feet stopped moving but he didn't let her go. He fought for a living with men who could hold their own. Striking a woman for any reason was just wrong.

"Fear and shame got the best of me." She leaned back and finally looked up at him. "It took me three years to finally make that call."

"I'm so glad you made it out." The desire to find this guy and beat him to a pulp lived and breathed like a flash fire in Jordan's soul. Instead, he drew Lucy back into his arms and hugged her tight.

She should have kept her mouth shut.

When Jordan took her home, she wrung her hands. Fiddled with her grandmother's ring. Straightened the layers and layers of dress ruffles like it mattered.

Now he knew.

Many people judged a woman who was or had been in an abusive relationship. They often thought she either was too stupid to get out or had asked for it. Lucy wondered about Jordan's take. Did he think she'd asked for it because she'd stayed? Or that she was stupid? Or weak? Her entire life flashed before her, and until recently it was a pathetic script. It might have taken her a while, but she'd finally taken control. And she was proud of her accomplishments. 

"Stop fidgeting."

Jordan's tone held no censure. Instead his words were delivered with a smile she could see even through the darkness of the SUV's interior.

"I can't help it. I always fidget when I'm nervous."

"It's the end of our date, what could you possibly have to be nervous about now?"

Duh should have been enough of an explanation. But no, Lucy just had to open her big yap . . . again.

"I know you did this whole prom thing because you thought you needed to make up for graduation night. But you didn't. I appreciate your efforts and it was wonderful. But somewhere during the night I forgot that the whole thing was just an apology. I had fun. But everyone knows on a first date you don't tell a person you're interested in all your deepest, darkest secrets. I should have kept my mouth shut."

The SUV rolled to a stop in front of her house. Mortified, she grabbed the door handle. His big hand reached across all those lavender ruffles and stopped her. His gorgeous face was inches from her own and she felt a blush of embarrassment creep up her cheeks.

"You're interested in me?" he asked.

"Is that all you heard?"

"No." He smiled. "I also heard you say you had fun."

"I did."

"Good to know. Stay right there." He got out of the SUV, came around to her side, opened the door, and held out his hand. "A date doesn't end until the gentleman walks the lady to her door."

"You don't have to do that."

"You're right. I don't have to. I get to." He waved his hand, encouraging her to take it.

When she finally did, he helped her from the car, tucked her hand in the crook of his arm, and walked her up the path that split her small front yard. Then he waited until she unlocked her door.

Key in hand, she turned to thank him. "It really was a wonderful night. And I'm sorry I-­"

Gently he cupped her face between his large hands, then lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was slow and sweet. He tasted like rich chocolate and leashed passion as his tongue stroked hers in a sensuous rhythm that lit a fire down deep. As she clutched her hands in the lapels of his tux, she knew she wanted-­needed-­more.