“I didn’t think you were coming,” she began unevenly.
“Did I say I wasn’t?”His eyes left hers momentarily and fell upon the puppy confined in her kitchen.“Your burglar alarm system?”he joked casually.“I see.Once warned, you attack the intruder, using your shoe as a weapon.”A crooked smile turned up the edges of his mouth as he glanced at the high-heeled sandal in her hand.
“Of course not.”Her step faltered slightly as she slipped the shoe on as gracefully as possible.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?”
“What?”
“Your money?I’d hate to see you leave home without it.”
“Why are you here?”she asked him breathlessly, confused.
“I thought we had a date.”
“I...I didn’t think you meant to keep it.”Skye knew shewouldn’t be able to maintain this pretense of self-possession much longer.
“Clearly you’ve made other arrangements.”It was a statement full of irritation.
It would be easy to lie again, let him assume another half-truth.He would go then, and she knew with an unexplainable certainty that she wouldn’t see him again.
“It’s my niece’s birthday.I was going to have dinner with my family.Janey’s nine today.”
“Ahh...Jane, that’s where you got the name.”
“My given name is Jane, too.”She sat directly opposite him, pausing to buckle her shoe.“Jordan, listen.I don’t remember how the whole thing started, letting you believe the singer was someone else.I’ve felt terrible all week.”
“Let’s forget it,” he said tightly.
“I don’t want to forget it, and I doubt that I’ll be able to until I explain myself.I didn’t mean to mislead you.I’m not even sure why I did.Maybe it was because I didn’t want to talk about myself that first night.Or perhaps I wanted you to like me for myself, not for any talent I may possess.Can you understand that?”
His probing eyes swept over her.“Yes, I can.”
“I don’t want you to accept my apology.I want you to forgive me.There’s a difference.I need your forgiveness, Jordan.”
He stood and came to her side.Gently he brought her upright, easing her against his body.Kissing her hair, his hand gently stroked her arm.“I forgive you,” he whispered huskily.
Skye’s arms slid effortlessly around him, her mouth turning instinctively toward his.As his lips fit over hers a searing contentment stole over her.It felt so right to be in his arms.He shuddered against her, and Skye nestled her head upon his broad shoulder.
“Have dinner with me?”he mumbled into her hair.
“I want to,” she admitted huskily, “but I can’t.My family is waiting for me.”
Raising her face, he kissed her again with an infinite tenderness, arching her toward him.
“You could come with me,” she whispered.“Brad and Peggy won’t mind.”Her lovely mouth curved into an appealing smile.“Besides, I’m going to need help with the pup.”
Jordan chuckled softly.“Scheming woman, aren’t you?”
Her car had no sooner pulled up alongside the curb than Janey came rushing from the house and down the front steps.The screen door slammed behind her, only to be opened again a few seconds later.
“It’s about time you got here,” Brad scolded affectionately.Then he noticed Jordan, who came around the other side of the car.“So this is the reason you’re late,” he teased her in a brotherly manner.
“Don’t embarrass me,” she joked, but her eyes were serious.
“Would I do a thing like that?”he asked laughingly.
The two men shook hands after an informal introduction and walked toward the house talking companionably.Skye and Peggy rescued the pup from the backseat of her car while Janey squealed with delight over her birthday gift.
