CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Jordan
Jordan was a self-made, confident woman. But every time she thought about last night, her stomach clenched. After Noah dropped her off at home, she’d done a lot of thinking, and none of it made her feel any better. It didn’t matter how she felt about him; this thing she had started with Noah was a mistake, any way she looked at it. That is, unless he had changed his mind about being casual. And she didn’t know how he felt. She was tired of thinking.
She stood up from her desk, straightened her skirt, adjusted her blouse, and took a deep breath. The morning paperwork complete, it was time to make rounds in the dining room.
Jordan finished checking the alcohol delivery in the back room. She carried a few bottles out to the bar to help Mo restock, although it was unnecessary because their bar staff were always on top of things.
Any busy work was welcome to keep her mind from wandering back to her dilemma.
That’s when she heard his voice. A tingle arose in her belly as she turned to see Noah walk behind the bar and grab a bottle of water. “Hey.” He winked at her, and took a seat at the bar. “I hope you got plenty of rest last night.”
Actually, she’d spent the night tossing and turning. “Yes,” she lied. “Slept like a log.”
She turned to go back to the office, but Noah jumped up and followed her. “Jordan, got a minute?”
Feeling nervous already, she nodded. She took a seat in the office, and Noah closed the door behind him. His eyes were twinkling, and his lips turned up in that boyish, seductive way that made her forget everything else. There was no mistaking his intent.
She was annoyed at herself for her reaction to him, and turned her attention to the paperwork in front of her. They were in her place of business, and this was the last place she wanted to feel like this. The memory of their sizzling coupling against the wall haunted her every time she was in this room. But that was after closing, when her guard was down. Totally different than during the busy work day.
But one look into his eyes, and she melted.
“You’re really not going to make me ask, are you?” he said, leaning against the door.
“Ask what?”
“Is anything wrong?” You seemed to shut down last night, and couldn’t wait to get away from me when I dropped you off.”
“I was exhausted, that’s all.” Her face burned.
“Are you sure that’s all?” Noah pushed away from the door and stepped towards her. “Because I have something to ask you.”
“Oh?” Now her curiosity was piqued.
“Come to the game tonight.”
“Oh, I, um—” Her mind raced, trying to think up a plausible excuse.
“Didn’t you enjoy the game last time?” He stepped close to her, until she could feel his warmth. He set his water bottle on the desk, and then smoothed a tiny stray strand of her hair back from her face. His voice was low and sexy, as he stepped behind her chair and began to slowly massage her shoulders. “I liked looking into the stands and seeing you there.”
Her heart thudded in her chest, and she stifled a groan, because his kneading of her tight shoulders felt so amazing. If only his hands would move lower… She licked her lips, remembering all they had done together. She ached for him again, and she forgot why she shouldn’t.
“And the post-game fun? That was amazing, too,” he said, as his fingers moved down her arms, pressing into the muscles there and ever so slightly brushing the sides of her breasts, before moving back to her shoulders.
“Okay, sure,” she agreed, because obviously she had no control over her brain. “Sounds fun.”
He stopped massaging and moved to face her again. “Wonderful.” He smirked, making butterflies dance in her stomach. “Then meet me after the game, for overtime.”
She wanted overtime fun now. Against the wall again. Or on the desk, it didn’t matter.
To her dismay, he grabbed his water bottle and walked to the door. “I have to run. It’s lunch time in the player’s lounge. Then I’ll be heading home for my game day nap.”
“Oh, right,” she said breathlessly. “So, I’ll see you later then.”
He flashed a smile before leaving the office.
Jordan sat back in the chair, feeling deflated and frustrated. So much for distancing herself. She grabbed a sheet of paper and fanned herself. Here she was, hot and bothered, and he’d barely had to say or do anything. Why was she so helpless when it came to his seduction?
She checked the time. Donna would be here soon for their lunch date. She spent a minute tidying the papers on the desk, and then stood and straightened her skirt. Perhaps she’d just take one spin around the dining room to take her mind off Noah before breaking for lunch.
As she closed the office door, she came face to face with Noah.
“Did you need something else?” she asked.
“Yes.” He nodded with a sly grin. “This.”
His warm lips pressed to hers, and his hard body moved her against the wall. She melted under his fiery embrace and was powerless as she kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
The sexual tension reheated, bubbling to the surface, as his tongue ran along her bottom lip. Her brain knew this was not the place for this sort of thing. But her body didn’t care.
The sound of heels clicking on the floor alerted her that someone was coming, but not before her sister Donna walked around the corner.
“Oh! Excuse me.” Donna chuckled, and quickly shielded her face with her hand.
Jordan pushed away from Noah, heat rushing to her face.
“Don’t mind me!” Donna said, as she retreated. “Don’t stop on my account, but you may want to take that into the office. I’ll just be out here in the dining room waiting for you, Jordan.”
Donna hurried away.
“Were you expecting her?” Noah asked quietly, one hand still on her waist.
“Yes, she’s in town for the day, and we were meeting for lunch,” she said. “I just didn’t expect her to come back here.”
Noah pulled her back into his arms and reignited their kiss without another word.
As Noah’s lips reached her neck, she came to her senses. Placing her palms on his chest, and against her body’s wishes, she gently pushed him away.
“We are still at our place of business.” She enjoyed his kiss a little too much, and it was bad enough that her sister had caught them. If an employee walked in on them, it would be a whole other level of inappropriate.
“That wasn’t a problem the other night,” he said, smirking.
“That was after hours.”
She moved out of his arms and tugged her shirt down, hoping she didn’t look as though she’d been making out in the hallway.
He took her chin in his hand and gently brought her attention back to him. “After the game, come back to my place?”
She nodded. “That would be much better than the hallway between the kitchen and the dining area.”
“Much better.” He gave her a quick kiss on the lips. Taking her hand in his, he stepped back and smirked. “So, to be continued?”
She took a deep breath, trying to get her heart rate to go back to normal. She had never wanted the hours to go by as quickly as she did today. “Meet you after the game.”
He moved in and whispered in her ear. “God, I can’t wait for tonight.”
She felt another surge of longing. Her resolve to stop this had all but dissolved.
His sexy grin wasn’t doing anything to help her calm down. “I’ll look for you during warm-ups.” Noah slowly took a few steps and eventually dropped her hand as he strutted towards the back exit. He flashed her one last grin before he was gone.
Taking a minute to compose herself, she smoothed her clothes again, and ran her hand through her hair.
Jordan knew even before she turned the corner to the dining area that her sister would be smirking like the cat that ate the canary. And yep, there she was, sitting at a table, grinning like a fool.
“Girl, I’ve already ordered the wine. Now sit down and dish. I want to hear everything!” Donna beamed.
Taking her seat across from her sister, Jordan looked towards the bar for the waitress with the wine. Once she had made eye contact with her, the waitress then hurried to their table with the wine.
Nodding a thank you, Jordan then took a large gulp before indulging Donna.
“So, you and Noah, huh?” Donna raised one eyebrow and took a sip of her wine.
Jordan had the feeling of being caught red handed. She shrugged, though not able to contain the smile that filled her face.
“Did you sleep with him?” Donna blurted out.
“Wow, tactful much?” Jordan relaxed a bit. She hadn’t expected her sister to beat around the bush, so her comment didn’t shock her at all.
“Good thing I interrupted back there. If you two had gone any farther…Well, I’d hate for a busser to walk in on that.”
Her body warmed as she thought about the impromptu make out session in the hallway.
“You don’t have to say anything. It’s obvious you’ve slept with him.” Her sister laughed. “I mean, I get it. He’s got that sexy, irresistible smirk and of course that nice hockey butt.”
Jordan searched the room for any excuse to escape this conversation before Donna went into any more detail about what she liked about Noah. But her sister was right; he was all that and more.
The server set their plates down. The smell of the food enticed her. It was her first meal of the day, and well deserved while she was the target of Donna’s twenty questions.
“When did all of this happen?” Donna asked once the server left. She took a small bite of her food while she waited.
Jordan fussed with her sandwich. “I went to a hockey game, and afterwards we met up,” she mumbled.
Donna’s eyebrows rose. “After a hockey game? Must’ve been one exciting game.”
Jordan nodded and took a bite of her sandwich.
“When we all came for the meet and greet, were you two already an item?” Donna tapped her chin in thought. “Come to think of it, I remember seeing certain sparks flying.”
“Things kind of happened after that.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!”
“There’s really nothing to tell. It’s not what you think,” Jordan said. “We’re not together, not an item. We’re just being casual.”
“Casual,” Donna repeated. “What exactly does that mean?”
“We’re not in a relationship. Just casually dating and whatnot.”
“Especially the whatnot, I see.”
Jordan shot her a pointed look.
“So if you’re not together,” Donna asked, “does that mean he’s free to date—and whatnot—other people?”
Jordan played with her drink coaster, unable to meet her sister’s gaze. “That’s what I understand to be the meaning of casual.”
“Whose idea was that, his? Or yours?” Donna sat back and folded her arms. Jordan recognized when her sister was turning into a protective mama bear.
Jordan sighed. “We both agreed. Noah doesn’t do relationships; he was very clear about that. And before you look shocked, everyone has kept telling me to just have fun, you included.”
Donna rolled her eyes. “I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with having fun. You haven’t dated since Denny, and it’s good that you’re finally getting out there.” She leaned closer. “But are you happy about the situation?”
Jordan felt the rolling in her gut that she’d felt last night. “I’m… Honestly, I don’t know. I thought I could do casual, but now I’m not sure.”
“Oh, sweetie.” Donna reached out and put her hand over Jordan’s. “Have you caught feelings?”
Jordan nodded. “I think I might be coming down with them.”
“What about him? Do you think he has feelings, too?”
Jordan thought. “Honestly? I’m confused. On the one hand, he says we have to keep things casual. But then he turned up the other night at The Sin Bin and helped me bus all the tables—after closing. He insists on driving me home because he wants to be sure I’m safe. He just invited me to another game.”
“Those could be things a friend would do. But what I saw back in the hallway doesn’t fit the definition of merely friendly or casual.” Donna narrowed her eyes. “Does he sleep over?”
The memory of waking up next to him that morning caused Jordan to feel hot again. She nodded.
“Isn’t sleeping over against the casual rules?” Donna frowned. “I can’t help thinking that perhaps he’s confused about what he wants. What does it feel like to you when you’re with him? Do you feel any emotional connection?”
It wasn’t easy to put her feelings into words. “When we’re together, it feels to me like we’re together. Like I’m his, and he’s…” Jordan shrugged. She wasn’t supposed to think of him as hers.
Her sister sat back. “You realize that playing around with the boss might not end well, as far as your job security goes? Especially if you’re into him and he doesn’t reciprocate any feelings.”
“I know that. I’m trying to distance myself.” She took another large sip of her wine.
“I see you’re not having much success with that.” Donna laughed. “Trust me, I get the attraction. There’s just something about those hockey guys. I bet one taste is never enough, and you find yourself going back for more.”
Jordan chuckled. “You make him sound like a potato chip.”
“Tell me I’m wrong.” Donna pressed. “It sure looked like you were helping yourself to another chip back there in the hallway.”
Her sister wasn’t wrong. Ever since that first night together, now she couldn’t stop thinking about him and wanting more. But she had to keep a cool head about this.
“Want my advice?” Donna asked. “You may not like it.”
Jordan pursed her lips. “I don’t suppose I have a choice.” But she did want to hear her sister’s opinion.
“If casual is all fun and games for you, then that’s fine. If you can look at him kissing another girl and you’re okay with it, great. If he ends things with you next week and you’re still happy, fantastic.”
Jordan hated the idea of Noah with any other girl. And the thought of him ending things with her made her heart ache. She took a gulp of her wine.
“But if you’re starting to feel more,” Donna continued, “be careful. Because if you don’t see a future with Noah, it’s better to shut it down now before you get in any deeper. Being in love with a man who doesn’t return your feelings is a straight road to heartbreak. In other words, you need to go cold turkey on the chips.”
“That’s why I was trying to maintain some distance. But when he’s near, I lose all sensible thought.”
Donna smiled. “Distance is good. But don’t expect him to be a mind reader. You need to tell him straight up that you’re done.” She drained her wine glass. “And I wouldn’t waste time. The longer you wait to end it, the harder it will be to return to a normal working relationship.”
“You’re right. I do. I will.” Jordan thought about the fact she’d just accepted his invitation to the game. She wouldn’t be able to see him before the game, and this was something she needed to do in person. Besides, she needed some time to think of what she wanted to say, and she should do that tonight. She grabbed her phone and sent Noah a text:
Something came up. Can’t make it to the game tonight.