Midnight Surrender by Jean Brashear
"I have a sense that Jordan might be lonely."
A bark of laughter. "Jordan? Get real." David glanced
in the mirror behind the bar, and his brow wrinkled. "Speak
of the devil...she does get around, doesn't she?"
Will followed his stare and spotted Jordan striding
across to the bar on those long, long legs, her lithe figure
showcased in a tight black pinstriped skirt and severely
tailored red silk blouse. Work clothes, he supposed, but
with the addition of red stilettos, she looked anything but
buttoned-up.
She was quickly welcomed by the bartender and offered
a stool by one of the regulars. She gave each man around her
a smile that seemed genuine, bantering with them and making
every man near her vie for her attention. Man-eater was not
the right description for her; Jordan Parrish was a siren,
yes, but with a surprising dash of friendly chum mixed in.
In no time she had her audience eating from her hand.
"I'd better shove off." David signaled the bartender
to bring his check. "I'll be late for Joseph's game if I
don't get cracking."
Just then Jordan glanced into the mirror, and her gaze
fastened on Will's. He felt a visceral and very unwelcome
punch, but he carefully kept his face neutral and merely
lifted his beer in salute.
She arched one eyebrow, then pointedly turned away.
Friendly perhaps, but not to him. And didn't that just
stir the competitor in him?
He should head out, as well. There was sheetrock
calling his name.
But just then he noticed Jordan on the small dance
floor, smiling and flirting outrageously with her current
partner.
Will pondered holding sheetrock...or holding Jordan.
No contest. At any rate, one more encounter with her
would surely cure him of this curious fascination. He threw
some money down on the bar, and headed her direction.
As he approached, she glanced over her shoulder, then
quickly turned her back on him, redoubling her attention on
her partner, putting a dangerous sway in those slim hips he
wouldn't mind getting his hands on.
She's a man-eater. Discards men like tissues.
Hadn't he had his own taste of her sharp tongue?
Indeed, but abruptly Will found himself smiling. She was
bad-tempered and difficult, but didn't that add to the
challenge she presented? She was the polar opposite of his
perfect woman, but that woman hadn't yet made her
appearance. While he was patiently waiting, he would unlock
the puzzle of Jordan Parrish. It wasn't as though his heart
would get involved, after all. He was saving that for the
woman of his dreams.
Meanwhile, two could play Ms. Parrish's game.
When Jordan glanced over and narrowed her eyes at him
as if to warn him off, he stifled the grin that threatened
and instead walked right past her toward a woman sitting
with her friends.