Chapter 38 Kennedy
kennedy
Sitting in my T-shirt and sleep shorts on the couch, Jordan walks back in after grabbing his phone charger and his toiletry bag out of his car to stay the night.
I am still unclear what is happening to my body here.
Part of me feels like I should be…pissed?
More upset? Angry? But the part of me that starts to see behind the cracks of the facade he wears every day is strangely drawn to him.
He mentioned magnets, and dammit if that didn’t send goosebumps running across my skin.
God, I sound like a teenager having a goddamn boy over when my parents are gone for the weekend.
Goddammit, Kennedy, control your ovaries.
This could never work. I’m in my freaking thirties, and he’s in his twenties.
Early twenties. What the hell am I thinking?
! I need to stop this before things get more complicated.
But as he shuts the door behind him, his eyes run up and down my body, leaving behind the fucking goosebumps again.
He sets his bag down by the front door and slips his shoes off, never taking his gaze off mine.
My thighs clench together, once again at war with every rational thought.
Christ on a cracker, this man is hot. Well, there goes the stopping this right now part.
He sits on the couch ridiculously far away from me.
Again. How is this guy, who is a total playboy in the news, a truly respectful gentleman in my apartment?
This is not what I was expecting. He was the one who stopped our kiss.
He was the one who pulled back. I pick at my cuticles—this entire situation is making me need a manicure.
I’m not used to this. Most guys are more pushy.
Is he…is he scared of me? Does he not like to take the lead?
I guess I have initiated both of our kisses.
Not that I’m mad about it. I’m used to being in control and, to be honest, it turns me on, especially with him.
“Are you scared to sit close to me? You know I don’t bite.”
“You have attacked me with your mouth twice now.”
I smirk. “Are you complaining?”
“No,” he says with a wicked smile. “Just…stating a fact. I thought you wanted to talk and get everything out in the open; if I sit closer to you, I’m afraid I’ll be too much for you to resist.”
I let out a loud laugh. “There’s the extremely humble Jordan Boucher I see around everyone else. Glad he showed up tonight.”
His cheeks flush as he shifts on the couch. “Happy to oblige.”
“Do you want something to drink?” I ask as I swirl my heavy pour of gin.
He sucks his teeth. “I could probably use a drink for this.”
“You got it. I have…gin, gin, oh, and some gin,” I say as I get up to make him a drink.
“No…you stay there. Relax,” he motions to me to sit back down. “I know how to make a drink. Especially with your many options.”
I don’t stifle the smile creeping up my face as I hold my hand up in surrender. He quickly sees the bottle of gin I have on the counter and finds the tonic water in the fridge.
“Glasses?”
“Cabinet to your right,” I say, gesturing with my head toward the correct door.
He makes his drink and returns to the couch, sitting a little closer to me than before.
I’m not mad about it, but there’s something in his eyes as he knocks back half the drink that dampens the thrill running through me.
His hand shakes just a hint as he sets his glass down and leans back in his seat.
“So…tell me what I need to know about you,” I say once he finally gets settled.
“I need you to promise me, swear on your life, that this does not leave the room,” he mumbles, a shakiness to his voice.
“I would hope you’ve realized I’m not that kind of person. We have enough dirt on each other that we could get the other one canceled in a heartbeat. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t. This is just between you and me. I swear.”
“Okay. Yeah. It’s just…this is…God, it’s fucking embarrassing.”
I scoot next to him, my legs curled at my side as I tuck my feet under the throw pillows, settling in. A dull ache weighs heavily in my chest, my actions twisting tightly inside me. I bite my lip, realizing I owe him an olive branch before he spills the rest of his story.
“Listen, I know I can be kind of a bitch sometimes. Okay, most of the time.”
“Kennedy, you’re not a—”
“Yes. I am. Before you share whatever it is you need to get out, I want to apologize. I had a lot of preconceived notions about you. I thought you were selfish and conceited, and…I don’t say this often, but I was wrong.
” I grab his hand, pulling it into my lap, the roughness surprisingly soothing as I choke out my words.
“I was a bitch for ignoring you before. And I’m sorry about earlier.
I insulted you about your money and your car, and that was wrong. ”
His brows narrow; it’s as if someone’s never apologized to him before. Yet another surprising reaction from this man.
“Thank you. I know my family has money, but it really is such a small part of my life.” A warm smile spreads across his face.
“You’d probably be surprised if you met them in person.
We’re not like some of the rich families you see on TV.
Everyone has a job. Everyone works hard.
My dad, especially, made sure we all had a path to independence.
He always said, ‘We have money now, but you never know what can happen’.
” He chuckles. “When I would complain about people on the ice chirping about my family’s money, he would always tell me the best way to prove them wrong was to work your ass off and show up every day. ”
My smile matches his. “Your dad sounds cool.”
“He is. Joseph and Maria Boucher are pretty badass parents, if I do say so myself. But seriously, thank you for the apology.”
“Can I still call you Richy Rich?”
He smirks. “Yeah. I’ll let that one slide.”
“Good. Now that we’ve cleared the air, I’m ready for story time. Tell me why you pulled away from our kiss.”