“How can you walk around wearing nothing?” she asked averting her eyes as she turned around to hug him.
“Easily, it makes it much faster to get you back into bed.”
“Jordan, we can’t,” she said as he went to untie her robe. His hands made their way around her waist and pulled her closer to him as his mouth covered hers.
“We could always try the shower,” he teased as his hands grew bolder.
“Bed’s good.” She grinned and he agreed.
It was late afternoon before they managed to get dressed and find something to eat. A knock sounded on the door and Jordan laughed letting her go as he took a step back to go answer it.
“Looks like we timed that about right,” he said kissing her cheek.
She nodded and couldn’t help but smile as Nicole came in eyeing them suspiciously.
“What do we owe this unexpected surprise to?” Jordan asked crossing back over to Mel.
“I stopped by the office only it was closed. Now why on earth would the two of you both be home in the middle of the afternoon, cooking what appears to be breakfast?” she asked slipping onto the stool on the other side of the kitchen island.
“Nic behave,” Jordan told her.
“I see, I take it the pretend is out of the marriage now?” she asked and Mel could feel the blush that stole up her chest and into her face. “Just be careful you two, unless you want to find a full-time nanny while Mel tries to go to college that is.”
Jordan felt like he’d been sucker punched at the idea, and he turned to Mel with an apology on his lips.
“It’s fine, I’m on the pill,” she admitted hating that they were having this discussion in front of anyone, even if it was just his sister.
“You are?” he asked confused. “How long have you been?”
“A year and a half, I was having issues with really irregular cycles and the doctor put me on them to see if that helped. So we have nothing to worry about,” she said pulling the pack out of her purse for him to see.
“Okay, so now that I have my answer and know the two of you didn’t die in some bizarre accident along with Tate, I’m going to run,” Nicole said seeing the look that passed between the two. “Jordan, be good to her or Mom and Dad will skin your hide.”
“Why am I the one always being told to be good?” he asked ushering her out.
“Because everyone loves Mel,” Nicole countered.
Except Jordan, she thought sadly as he came back over to her. She pushed the thoughts and feelings away and focused on the new aspect that they’d found.
She didn’t care she’d missed an entire day of school or that both Tate and Nicole would know the truth. Everyone else assumed they were sleeping together already so they were simply falling in line with everyone’s expectations.
For now, she’d merely enjoy what they had and hope that they would find a way to stay together once she was finished with school.
Chapter 9
“Okay so what’s going on Mel?” Tate asked as she slinked into PE and put her wedding band into the jewelry box with her engagement ring. “Steph has been going after you for the last two weeks non-stop.”
“Well it seems that after last semester’s grades were posted, she slipped, got a B in AP Chemistry whereas I got an A, and because of that she’s no longer tied with me in first place,” Mel admitted with a half-grin as she undid the necklace and slid it into the same pocket with her other jewelry. It had a large emerald surrounded by diamonds much like her ring and Jordan had given it to her for Christmas.
“And you hold it alone? Why didn’t you say anything before now Mel?”
“I’ve been sort of busy, Jordan’s finishing his final pitch for the College Board and I’ve been making sure the other schools and trade programs are still in line to help. Don’t worry; Steph can make as much noise as she wants, it’s not going to push my buttons anymore.”
“Because you and Jordan are sleeping in the same bedroom now? Don’t give me that look, I knew the day you didn’t come to class after your birthday that you two were…”
“Tate, shut up,” she said laughing as a blush stole into her cheeks.
“Come on Mel. It’s been over two months now, hell almost three and you never once said anything to me about you and yourhusbandtaking it to the next level,” he whispered in her ear. “And now this…what gives?”
