Chapter 4
Chapter Four
C asey leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. It had been a busy morning and he was glad to have a chance to sit down and relax. When Jordan shopped, she went after it with more enthusiasm than a five-year-old in a toy store.
Soft hands landed on his shoulders. “Tired?” Jordan asked.
His nod was followed by a groan when she massaged his tight muscles. “That feels so good,” he said.
She tightened her grip. Damn. He loved a deep massage. Jordan’s fingers worked magic on his weary body.
“I want to thank you for coming with me today. Nice to have a man’s opinion on clothes. My very own hot-or-not meter.”
He glanced over his shoulder. “You picked out some pretty sexy outfits. It was no hardship looking at you in them.”
“I’m glad you think so. Can I ask you something?”
He started to say, “Anything,” but before he could reply, Jordan moved in front of him. She stepped closer, hiked up her short skirt and straddled his lap. Her legs were open over his, her pussy perfectly lined up with his cock. The only things separating them were her panties and his jeans.
“Jordan?”
She bent forward and bit his earlobe. “What do you think of this skirt?”
It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her it would look better on the floor, but she robbed him of speech once more when she placed her lips against his. He accepted her light kiss then deepened it.
His tongue touched hers, and he savored the lingering sweetness of soda on her breath. He placed his hands on her waist and pulled her even closer, pressing his cock firmly against her.
She moaned as she picked up a rhythm of her own, rubbing him with her pussy until he saw stars. Jesus. She was magnificent. Too much more of this and he’d come from just her dry-humping.
“So good,” he murmured.
Jordan’s soft laughter surprised him. “I’m glad you’re enjoying your lunch. Personally, I’ve never gotten that worked up over a McDonald’s hamburger.”
Casey glanced up. He found Jordan looking down at him.
He quickly picked up his burger and leaned closer to the table to conceal his rock-hard cock. “Um, yeah, well, you’re missing out.”
What the hell was wrong with him? He was sitting in the middle of the mall food court having the mother of all sex fantasies about the woman he planned to hook up with his best friend. Thank God he’d placed a paper napkin on his lap before losing his fucking mind or there would be some fairly obvious evidence of where his thoughts had wandered.
Jordan joined him at the small table. She’d opted to wait in a longer line for Chinese. Placing her shopping bags on the floor, she opened her food and chopsticks and dug in, oblivious to his horny state.
“I want to thank you for your help today.”
Her comment sent his mind right back to the gutter as he recalled his fantasy. “Sure.”
He swallowed heavily and tried to will away the hard-on that cut off all flow of blood to his brain. His jeans were digging into the sensitive flesh. He was in agony.
Jordan reached up and ran her fingers through her hair. “You’re sure you like this new style?”
He smiled. She’d look good bald, but he didn’t say that. “It looks terrific. What prompted the change?”
“I’ve always wanted to try some red highlights. My natural hair is pretty damn boring.”
“I don’t think your hair is boring.”
She accepted his compliment with a dismissive wave of her hand. “It was completely devoid of life and I was tired of ponytails. I figured it was time I went for a jazzier style.”
“Good for you. So did the hip hairstyle prompt the new clothes too or are we in the midst of some makeover show that I don’t know about?” He pretended to glance around for hidden cameras.
“I’ve been in a rut for a very long time.”
“What kind of rut?” he asked.
“I don’t know. It’s hard to explain. If you’d asked me last week if I was happy, I would have said yes. And that would have been true. Then, yesterday, Stephanie and Jayne pointed out some hard truths to me, and it’s like the light went on.”
“What hard truths?”
She blushed, not answering immediately. Her silence sparked his curiosity even more.
He watched her think about her answer and worried she’d try to change the subject or fib. “Be bold, Jordan. Tell me the truth, not whatever half-baked lie you’re conjuring.”
She gave him a rueful grin. “I suck at lying.”
“So don’t. I won’t judge you.”
“Can you keep a secret?”
He crossed his heart with his finger. “Scout’s honor.”
“I haven’t dated in a very long time.”
It was a simple confession and Casey suspected there was more. “Why not?”
She took a deep breath. “Because I’ve been harboring a very deep—and probably not completely healthy—crush on Gabriel.”
He’d asked for honesty and she’d given it. Her revelation should have made him happier than it did. “So you made these changes for him? To capture his attention?”
“Oh my God, no. I realized yesterday my feelings for Gabe are holding me back from finding true happiness. He and I are friends and it’s very unlikely we’ll ever be more than that. I decided it was time I put some effort into my hair, update my wardrobe and get back on the horse, so to speak.”
“So what you’re saying is you used me to help you pick out outfits that will attract other men,” he teased.
She’d spent the afternoon trying on some of the sexiest clothes Casey had ever seen, which no doubt explained his vivid fantasy and current erection. He’d invited her out with the intention of making Gabriel jealous. He’d hoped seeing her with another man would help Gabriel realize Jordan was the woman he wanted. The plan had backfired. Casey’s attraction to her was officially full-blown. What was he supposed to do now?
She put her chopsticks down. “Or maybe I’m just hoping they’ll attract you.”
Damn. So much for his cock deflating. “You did that yesterday with the old Jordan.”
Her cheeks flushed and the smile she gave him was one of genuine pleasure. He resisted the urge to lean forward and taste the soda on her lips firsthand. He shook himself, fighting to recall his purpose.
“Have you ever told Gabe about your feelings?”
She shook her head. “No. It’s been hard to catch him between girlfriends. Besides, we come from two different worlds. He’s caviar and I’m Kraft Mac afraid to break whatever spell had prompted her to be so bold. When she reached his chin, she blinked twice, her gaze meeting his, startled and chagrined.
“Sorry,” she said, pulling her hand away. “I don’t know why I?—”
He gripped her wrist and pressed her palm against his cheek. Then he reached toward her with his free hand and cupped her soft cheek. They looked at each other for several quiet moments before he leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers.
Her lips were close. He wanted to kiss her, but he didn’t dare. “I don’t want to mess this up.”
“I understand.”
Neither of them moved, instead they let the moment play out.
“This feels so natural,” she whispered, her breath hot on his cheek. “Being close to you.”
“Did you think it wouldn’t?”
He released her wrist, relieved when she kept her palm on his face. “We’ve been friends for so long. I guess I always wondered what it would be like to touch you. This could have felt awkward. Instead…” She paused.
He didn’t need to hear the rest, but he wanted the words said. “Instead, it feels right. It is right.”
She pulled away from him. “I have to go.”
She stood and grabbed her bags. He felt like he’d been run over by a city bus, so he could only imagine where Jordan stood on the emotional scale.
“You’re going with me on Friday?”
She nodded. “Yeah. I am.”
Then she walked away.