I turn to see a very pretty bartender with long dark hair and legs even longer. She seemingly knows Jordan very well if the look on her face is anything to go by as she leans over the bar and throws her arms around his neck.
My stomach tightens into a knot of jealous ire. Stupid, I know, but still there nonetheless.
He awkwardly pats her back, then quickly pulls her arms from around him. She grabs hold of his forearm, keeping him with her, but I watch him remove her hand. She leans in and says something. He shakes his head, which she clearly doesn’t like if the pissed off look on her face is any indication.
She stares at him for a long moment, then without another word turns away and starts making our drinks.
Jordan turns in our direction. I quickly look away so he doesn’t see I’m watching.
“I wouldn’t worry about it,” Beth says close to my ear. “All women behave like that around him.”
“Yeah, but more so the ones he’s already slept with.” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. I clamp my mouth shut.
I can’t believe I just said that.
Beth will, without doubt, be aware of Jordan’s past when it comes to women, but it’s not my place to pass comment.
She lifts her eyebrow. “He has been talking to you. I’m glad, but surprised he told you that stuff. Still, I’ll take it as a good sign considering you’re here on a date with him. You must really like him.” Then she smiles wide. “And he must really like you.”
I can’t say her words don’t affect me because they do. I want Jordan to like me.
“What makes you think that?” I ask.
“Because he’s never been that honest with a girl before. Hell, he’s never been on an actual date before. And if he’s telling you all his shit up front, then you must really mean something to him. He must think a lot of you. He wants you to know the truth, and that’s a big step for him.”
I honestly don’t know what to say, so I say nothing.
“Look, I don’t know how long you’re here for, Mia, and I know Jordan might come off as being a bad ass, but he’s not. Not really. When he cares about someone, he cares about them with everything. And he takes, losing someone he cares about, badly.”
“His mom?”
“Holy crap! He told you about his mom? Shit, he does like you.” She grins and wraps an arm around my waist. The contact surprises me and locks every muscle in my body. It does every time a new person touches me. “Just don’t break his heart now that he’s finally got it working, please.” She laughs lightly.
My insides coil. “I don’t think I have the power to do that.”
“Oh, you’d be surprised,” she says, lowering her voice.
I lift my eyes to see a smiling, but curious Jordan walking toward us, hands laden with our drinks.
He hands me my beer.
“Thanks.” I smile. His eyes hold mine for a moment before moving to Beth.
“You wanna go see Toni now?” He hands Beth her drink.
“You know what?” Her eyes dart to me, then back to Jordan, a smile creeping across her face. “I’m good. I got this with Toni.”
Jordan’s brow creases in confusion. “You sure?”
“I’m sure,” she says, walking backwards and away from us into the crowd. “You two go have fun.” Before turning away, she gives me a conspiratory wink.
Subtle much? I have to hold back a laugh.
“If you need me, call my cell,” Jordan calls after her.
Beth waves a hand in acknowledgement before disappearing into the crowd.
Jordan turns to me. “So … it’s just you and me.”
Shivers and a whole bunch of nerves swarm me. “It is.”
“You wanna try and find somewhere to sit?”
“Sure.”
I follow Jordan upstairs where he says it’ll be quieter and we’ll be more likely to find a seat. He’s right. We find an empty sofa overlooking the dance floor below.
I sit down first. Jordan sits beside me. My nerves have ratcheted up a couple of thousand notches now because it’s just him and me. No Beth as a buffer. I can’t think of a single thing to say to him, so I cover it up by continuously sipping on my drink and pretending to be fascinated by all the people in the club.
“You’re still nervous.” His hand comes up, pulling mine from my mouth. I was playing with my lip without even realizing.
Jordan slides his fingers through mine, holding my hand. My stomach scatters.
I turn my face to him, not realizing how close he is, bringing me almost nose to nose with him. My cheeks heat. I shuffle across the sofa, putting myself up against the arm rest, and I don’t deny the nerves. There’s no point. Not when he can read me so well.