She resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his typical non-answer response. “Don’t worry, Zeus, I wasn’t trying to get you drunk and take advantage of you. I’ve just recently stocked up on coke.”
His posture stiffened, and she bit her lip, worried she’d given too much away. “Oh come on, don’t look so shocked. I’ve sat with you at Bowie’s enough times to know you never order anything else.”
The crease between his eyebrows deepened as he observed her, his palm burning an imprint against her hip. “You keep Coca-Cola in your fridge? For me?”
Heat bloomed in her cheeks at his stunned tone. “Well, I don’t think anyone born in this century calls them Coca-Cola anymore, but yes.” She averted her gaze. It was as far as she could get from him at that moment.
“I wasn’t born in this century.”
“No kidding.”
His hand caught her chin, tilting her face back to his with quiet command. Heat exploded through her entire body.
His voice dropped, low and rough. “You keep Coca-Cola in the fridge. For me.”
She tried to look away, but the slight jerk of his hand on her jaw stopped her. So she held his stare, masking the heat rising in her with a cool, practiced one. “It’s the neighborly thing to do.”
His fingers flexed on her chin, like he was trying to hold something back. She waited, trying not to let her mind spiral.
After a long, tension-filled beat, he said, “Let me feed Nigel, and I’ll be over.”
Abruptly, he stepped ahead of her but kept her hand entwined in his as he led her the rest of the way up to the top.
“Um, okay.” She scrambled after him.
Jordan scoped out the hallway in bodyguard mode, then turned to her. “Give me three minutes.”
Three minutes? Her armpits were wet, and her makeup was all but melted off from blushing, not to mention that she was fairly certain she didn’t smell as good as he did right now.
“Do you mind if I have like fifteen?” When he blinked at her, she explained. “I could use a little refresh and a shower.” Her hands fluttered over her designer dress. “While this looks gorgeous, it isn’t the most comfortable outfit for lounging on the couch with drinks.” Not to mention she wasn’t wearing underwear, and the way he was looking at her right now, it didn’t seem wise to go without any longer.
Jordan’s gaze tracked her body like molten lava, slow and scorching, sending a fresh wave of heat straight to her aching core. Oh, how she wanted this man.
When he finally met her gaze again, he rumbled, “Ten minutes.”
He didn’t move until she unlocked her door and stepped over the threshold. “Lock the door, I’m not leaving until I hear the click.”
Then with a soft forehead kiss, he shut the door. Inside she looked out the peephole. Jordan stood solid, unshakable. So freaking hot.
“Lock it, Vanessa.”
With a sigh, she turned the lock. Holy heaven, that man did things to her ovaries that should be illegal. They really needed to talk about it before they both spontaneously combusted.
Tugging off her heels, she let out a groan of relief filled the empty apartment. You’d think twelve-hundred-dollar shoes would be more comfortable.
Padding to her bedroom, a sudden chill raised the hairs on the back of her neck. The air was cold like a window had been left open, except it was February, and she wouldn’t open a window.
Her heart tripped over itself as she cranked the thermostat higher. It was probably the adrenaline letdown and no longer being close to Jordan’s heat that had given her this chill. She needed a hot shower.
In her bedroom, she quickly stripped off her dress, leaving her wearing nothing but the necklace with the key Jordan had given her. She clutched the key instinctively as another shiver ran across her shoulders.
Grabbing the silk robe she’d left on her bed, she wrapped it around her. Then she pulled sensible white boy-short underwear from one of her drawers and a pale-pink lounge set from another. She set them on her bed and headed for the shower.
The chill she couldn’t shake traveled up her spine, and she almost ran to the bathroom, locking the door firmlybehind her. She pressed her hand to her heart trying to calm its rapid beating and leaned her head against the door.
What was wrong with her? Freaking herself out was no way to end this epic night. She turned on the hot water, inhaled a deep breath and pictured herself curled up on the couch in cozy clothes, Jordan beside her, Coke in hand.
A small smile tugged her lips. A month ago, the idea of him starring in her comfort fantasy would’ve made her laugh until she peed herself.
