Having someone see through him so thoroughly was uncomfortable.
She shrugged. “That’s what Parker would do, and you two are a lot alike.”
Well that bit. Hard. “You’re that mad at me, are you?”
“I’m disappointed, but I understand. But you have to realize that when you make unilateral decisions that affect both of us—without telling me—you’re not easing stress for me. You’re increasing it, especially after the passive way I’ve handled family relationships for too long. Whether I sense something’s off or find out later, it tears at me.”
Guilt hammered at him, made all the worse by how easily she’d let him off the hook, even going so far as to take some responsibility by mentioning how she’d dealt with her family in the past. I’m sorry seemed too little to offer.
“I won’t excuse what you did, Jordan, but I can see where you came to your decision and forgive what happened.” Her spine straightened with unmistakable steel. “As long as you promise never to lie to me again.”
“That, I can do.” And he meant it. He was ambitious, even had a reputation for being ruthless—which he wouldn’t deny—but he prided himself on honesty. No question, the newspaper thing hadn’t been one of his wiser moves, hindsight. “Are you ready for supper?”
She inched away from him and stood in an unmistakable back-off message. “As long as we’re being open with each other, I need some space tonight.”
She hesitated and he thought—hoped—she might relent. She reached toward him …
And snagged the carryout bag of food before turning back to her bedroom.
Not bothering to stifle his grin at her accepting at least one of his gifts, he watched Brooke walk away and disappear behind her door. He wanted to follow her, but would leave her alone and let her sleep. Rest was the best thing for her and the baby. For tonight, he figured he’d wrangled more forgiveness than expected.
However, he hadn’t figured on being so damn disappointed at the missed opportunity to share chili and a movie with Brooke.
Brooke wrestled with sleep and the covers, the confrontation with Jordan leaving her frustrated and restless.
She stared at the clock—2:00 a.m. She’d seen midnight, as well, but must have drifted off.
God, she hated this helpless feeling of losing control of her life. Her family had staged an intervention with her mother, a huge, life-changing moment.
While Brooke sat around with her feet propped up, unable to handle stress. No wonder Brittany had been so edgy when she’d come to visit after Brooke left the hospital. The whole family must have gone through hell, and yet they’d all continued to tiptoe around her. Doing the right thing wasn’t necessarily easy.
Why couldn’t Jordan have told her sooner? Her mother seeking help was a good thing, the right thing. Hope warred with skepticism.
And therein lay her main problem, trusting that her mother would make it through the program successfully. Trusting, after a lifetime of mixed signals from her parents.
Trusting Jordan.
Even with their dates and living together this past week, it still seemed like too little time to know each other before committing to marriage. Her parents had dated for two years before marrying and look how that had turned out.
If only she could recapture—and trust—that intense sense of rightness she’d felt the night she’d decided to sleep with him for the first time.
The night they’d made this baby …
She’d seen him many times. She’d always wanted him.
Tonight, her family be damned, she would have him.
The decision echoed in her mind all the way up the elevator to the room she’d secured for herself and Jordan Jefferies.
Her head spun more from the touch of his hands on her body than from any effects of alcohol. She’d felt the attraction between them for years, but never imagined the sparks would combust through her with such intensity.
His palms, sweeping down her back during their frantic kiss down the hall.
His palms, cupping her bottom to pull her closer as they stumbled through the door.
His fingers, making fast work of her clothes in order to torment her.
And even when she demanded her place on top, still those talented hands teased her senses to the edge of fulfillment. Stopping short. Taking her to the brink and back again until they both tumbled over in a tangle of arms and legs and uncontained cries …
Brooke woke with the sheet twisted around her ankles, her body achy with want for what she’d experienced with him, an intense completion remembered in her dream.
Yet she hadn’t found the same relief tonight.
She reached to click on her bedside lamp. As always, there waited a pitcher of water along with fresh fruit for a late-night snack. She snagged a pear and crunched. If she couldn’t satisfy her sexual hunger, she would settle for feeding another appetite.