“And now you and James can enjoy yourselves. Do you know where he’s taking you on a honeymoon?”
“I think I heard something about the Whitsundays, but we’ll see. But enough about me. Why aren’t you dancing with Jordan?”
She glanced across the dance floor to where he and Harriet were dancing again. Huh.
“I’ve had a bunch of people ask me if you two are dating.”
“Me and Jordan? Please. We’re friends, that’s all.”
“Right. So that’s why you’ve been going out with Eric Churchill.”
“No. That was only a business meeting. No, I’m footloose and fancy-free.” Well, mostly fancy-free. The more time she spent with Eric the more intriguing she found him. Not that she could tell Jordan that. He’d flip his lid, for sure. Although what gave him the right to be so judgy about Eric, she didn’t know. What happened to loving one’s enemies?
“So, there’s definitely nothing going on between you two?”
Which two was she talking about? Oh, judging from the way Rachael kept looking at Jordan, EJ guessed she meant him. “No.”
“Good.”
Huh? “Why good?”
“I thought I’d see if I could set my cousin up with him. Even if he and Harriet look like they’re together. They’re not, are they?”
“No,” she said firmly.
“Just thought I’d ask. Jordan’s popular, but then, he’s a good value kind of guy.”
Her stomach tensed. “Yes.” He was. But that didn’t mean just any old person was allowed to go out with him.
“And quite handsome too,” Rachael continued.
She glanced back at him. Could see in this light that his face had carved shadows, giving him a more mature, sophisticatedlook than what she was used to seeing. Or maybe that was the effect of the bow tie and dinner jacket he wore. He certainly hadn’t looked like that at their end of year 12 formal, the last time she’d seen him so dressed up.
Rachael laughed. “Of course, I suppose it must be weird to talk about your best friend like that. Especially when you’re more like brother and sister.”
“We’re not like brother and sister,” she insisted, frowning on the inside as the music finished and Jordan escorted Harriet to EJ’s side.
“You two looked like you were having fun.”
“Jordan is such a good dancer.” Harriet’s cheeks were flushed. “I didn’t know you could dance so well.”
“Nor did I,” EJ murmured.
He held out a hand to her. “Well, perhaps it’s time to see if you are willing to take those fancy shoes for a spin.”
“Sure.” She clasped his hand and allowed him to draw her into the dance. But whether it was the feelings provoked from before or the sensation of having his dressed-up self so close to her, she felt a little lightheaded. Just as she had before. But this wasn’t due to illness. This was something else entirely. Maybe it had something to do with the aftershave he wore that she’d never really noticed before. She leaned a little closer, her face near his neck, and inhaled. Mmm.
“Are you okay?” he murmured.
“I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“You looked a little worried before.”
No way was she going to say she was worried because he was a lot handsomer than she ever remembered seeing him before. That the romance of today was messing with her. So she told him what Rachael said, adding with a laugh. “I told her it’s not like we’re brother and sister.”
His eyes were intense as he looked at her. “Brother and sister? No, indeed.”
Chapter 14
