His gaze swiveled back to her, his thick brows knit in confusion.
“If you’d have asked me, Jordan, I’d have told you I had a meal ready in the Crock-Pot.You’re welcome to join me if you like.”
He seemed to relax.Had the suspicion she was expecting someone else bothered him?The pleasure this bit of evidence brought overrode any sense of outrage at his presumptuous behavior.
His free hand gently caressed the soft flesh of her upper arm before he placed a tender kiss on her forehead.
“I’ll be right back.I have a car and driver waiting.”
Skye watched him leave.She didn’t know what it was about his touch that brought her senses to life.A kiss, the feather-light stroke of his hand, gave her undeniable pleasure.
Steaming bowls of Irish stew had been placed on the table by the time he returned.The smell of fresh sourdough bread filled the apartment as she drew it from the oven.
“Lunch is ready,” she said, feeling awkward.
Once they were seated, Jordan paused, waiting for Skye to begin eating.
“Do you mind if we pray?”she asked unsteadily.
He arched his brows expressively.“I suspect you want more than the prayer my father taught me.”His eyes were smiling.“You know the one:Good bread, good meat, good God, let’s eat.”
Skye couldn’t help laughing.“Yes, I guess I do.”
“You do the honors then.”
Skye bowed her head, her hands folded.“Father, thank you for this meal and for abundantly supplying all our needs.Bless Jordan and the time we spend together.In Your precious name.Amen.”
When she lifted her head, she discovered Jordan was watching her intently, and she shifted uncomfortably under his scrutiny.
“Before we eat,” she began haltingly, “I think I’d feel a whole lot better if I could explain about yesterday.”
The smiling sparkle returned to his smoky gray eyes.“Bothers you, does it?”
She lowered her gaze, pretending to study the thick bowl of stew.“The car breaking down was a culmination of several other things.I’d had a rather disconcerting conversation with my sister-in-law, and I got caught in that cloudburst...and, well, I feel I overreacted.I don’t often blow up like that, and...”
He reached across the small table and gently squeezed her trembling hand.“It’s forgotten.Feel better?”
She smiled and nodded.
“I have to admit, however, the thought of you burning your bra is an appealing one.”
Skye could feel the color invade her face, burning her cheeks.“A gentleman would have forgotten I said that.”
“I’m no gentleman.”His mouth quirked with the effort to suppress a laugh.
“I noticed.”Determinedly Skye began eating, refusing to let him see how he had embarrassed her.
“Did you enjoy yourself last night?”
Skye didn’t understand the question, and glanced at him quizzically.
“Did you and your date have a good time last night?”It was a polite inquiry without a hint of jealousy or resentment.Apparently she’d misread him earlier; he really didn’t care if she was with someone else or not.
“I tried phoning.You were out.”
Darn, she’d forgotten his phone call.“Oh, last night...”Her mind worked furiously.“Yes...yes, I did.I was invited to a party.”Another half-truth.John Dirkson had invited her, but Skye had never considered attending.She hadn’t stepped out of her apartment all evening.
They played three games of backgammon after their meal.Jordan won the first two and showed no mercy.Skye won the third because she was tired of being Ms.Nice Guy and suffered no qualms about putting him off the board.She half expected Jordan to be angry, but when she replaced his man for the third time, she saw a glimmer of respect enter his eyes.
