The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [271]
He waited, hoping, his breath held. But with no more than a wary look, she retreated.
He settled both hands on her shoulders and gave her his patented stern look. “Is it true, Georgia? Or do you have someone you can call to help out until your mother gets well?”
They were still speaking in hushed tones, and her voice sounded gruff with emotion when she answered. “Of course I have people I can call.”
Jordan knelt down in front of her. His long legs encased hers; he surrounded her, wanting her to know he’d protect her, that she could trust him. “Who?”
Silence filled the room. Jordan loved the way her gray eyes darkened, making her thoughts easy for him to read. Others would consider her eyes mysterious, but he understood her. He knew her.
Finally, after long seconds, she shook her head.
His heart swelled painfully. “There’s no one, is there?” She turned away and he whispered, “Georgia?”
“No.”
Without conscious decision, he began caressing her shoulders, feeling the smoothness of her, the softness. In a tone so low he could barely hear himself, he said, “Don’t ever lie to me again, Georgia. It’s not necessary. Whatever men you’ve known—”
She laughed at that, a sound without much humor.
“—I’m not like them. You can trust me.”
She stared at his mouth. “Oh, I know you’re different, Jordan. No doubt about it. But don’t you see? That’s part of the problem.”
“You want to explain that?”
“Why not?” Her hand trembled when she touched his jaw, and her voice was husky with wonder. “I’ve found it very easy to ignore most men, even the men yelling crude suggestions from the audience when I dance. But I can’t ignore you. You make me feel different. You…affect me.” Then with a frown: “I don’t like it.”
For the first time in his life, Jordan’s knees felt weak. He sucked in air, trying to fill his lungs enough, trying to dredge up just a little more calm. This was important and he wanted it resolved.
He cupped her face, pulled her forward to the edge of her seat until her breasts were soft and full against his chest, until he could feel her thundering heartbeat, meshing with his own. “You affect me, too.”
And then he kissed her.
Her lush mouth softened, warmed, under his. She made a small sound of confusion and her hands settled on his shoulders, her fingers biting deep into his muscles.
He tasted her deeply, his tongue pushing gently into her mouth, making them both groan. Jordan was a hairs-breadth away from taking her completely when he forced himself to lift his mouth away. They both struggled for breath. “This is insane,” he whispered.
She nodded, staring into his eyes with a mix of wonder and fear.
“Here’s what we’re going to do.” He used the tone that made women agree with him no matter what. He considered it successful, given that she rested her head on his shoulder and her hands still held him tightly.
“I’ll see to the children,” he insisted, “after I’ve taken care of all my appointments. With a little rearranging, I think I can be done by three each day, which means you’ll have plenty of time to visit with your mother, and then get into work, right?”
With an obvious effort, she pulled herself away from him. She looked dazed, but said, “Sometimes I waitress in the afternoons, too.”
Jordan barely resisted the urge to kiss her again. “You work alternate shifts?”
“No. Sometimes I work both. We…that is, I need the money. This house has a lot of repairs that have to be done and…”
It seemed the words came from her unwillingly. “Shh. I understand. When I can’t make it, Casey or one of my other relatives will help out. You’ll love them. They’re all terrific with kids.”
She didn’t reply to that, either to deny or accept his offer. Jordan looked at the weariness etched into every line of her body. It was no wonder she looked so tired, so utterly defeated. “You were finishing up a