The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [264]
“I’ll pay you back. How much was it?”
Her polite query set his teeth on edge. “I don’t want your money, Georgia.”
To his surprise, she came to her feet, making him quickly stand so he wouldn’t be stampeded. “It’s not your job to take care of my children.”
Jordan crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at her, studying her set expression. “I don’t mind helping out.”
Her soft lips flattened into a hard line. The way she squeezed Honey’s clothes, they’d be all wrinkled by the time she got them on. Not that he was in any hurry for her to change now that they were virtually alone. The kids were asleep, Casey and Morgan had left, the hospital was quiet.
She looked incredible, sexy and tousled and earthy. His breath came a little faster. “You’re going to need more help, you know.”
She rounded on him, nearly dropping the clothes. Her eyes, circled with smeared mascara and exhaustion, turned stormy gray. She kept her voice low, but it sounded like a growl. “We’ll manage just fine.”
“Georgia…”
Her chin lifted. “You can leave now. I’m sorry I kept you so long. I lost track of the time, but now that I know my mother will be all right, I can—”
Very gently, he interrupted her. “You know I’m not going to leave.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s…” She looked around for a clock.
“It’s very late.” Jordan kept his tone soft and easy, soothing her. He had no idea why she’d suddenly turned defensive, except that she probably hadn’t eaten for a while, her mother was sick, and she’d nearly been arrested.
And he couldn’t stop thinking about getting her naked and under him. Or over him. Or…
He felt like a complete bastard. “Listen to me, Georgia.” He waited until her eyes lifted to his. “I’m going to drive you home after everything is taken care of here.”
“Why?” She stared at him, her face flushed. “You don’t even know me. And what you do know about me, you disapprove of. You certainly don’t owe me anything.”
“Georgia.” He said her name like a caress. He didn’t mean to, but he did. “No man would leave you here alone like this.”
She laughed at that, a mean, bitter laugh. “You are so wrong.”
It took a lot of effort not to get riled, not to react to his sudden suspicions. But she was too upset right now, too overwhelmed, for him to start interrogating her. There’d be plenty of time for him to learn more about her past later. He’d see to that. “How else would you get home?”
“We can take a cab.” She drew a shuddering breath. “Since I got my money from Bill, I can easily afford—”
Jordan took her shoulders and pulled her closer to him, leaning down so that he could whisper. The very last thing he wanted to do was wake the children.
Her eyelashes fluttered at his nearness, but she didn’t look into his eyes. She stared at his mouth instead.
“I’m taking you home, Georgia. Accept it. We’ll get your car tomorrow and then you can check on your mother and, after all that, we’ll talk about the cookout my family has planned.”
She covered her ears with her hands and pulled away. “I have to change now. Will you…” She made a disgusted sound. “Will you stay here with Lisa and Adam?”
“Of course.” Why was she covering her ears? It wasn’t like he’d been being abusive. He’d offered her help. He’d been gentle, calm. He hadn’t told her that he wanted her, that just touching her damn shoulders and bringing her close had nearly driven him to his knees and made him semierect.
He watched her walk away, and decided that he would tell her. Tonight.
He wasn’t at all sure he could last another day this way.
5
THE CAR RIDE home was mostly silent. There wasn’t a single other vehicle on the road, the kids were sound asleep and the clouds had finally cleared enough to let the moonlight dance over the wet streets. Overall, it was a sleepy, relaxing, lulling ride.
But she was far from relaxed. “Jordan…I’m sorry I lost my temper with you.”
Jordan glanced at her as if surprised that she’d spoken. Aside from getting her arrested, he’d been wonderful, and she’d been a raving bitch. All because he scared her.
And when she was around