The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [282]
Jordan nearly choked when she gave her age. Twenty-three? That had to mean she’d gotten pregnant at sixteen. Good Lord, that was a lot to expect of someone who was little more than a child herself. Had she finished high school? Gotten any college at all?
He again thought of her stepping onto that stage, and tried to imagine how she personally felt about it. She was so damn young, so driven by hard-nosed pride. Did she enjoy the work at all or was she taking the only job she could that would pay the bills?
“Most mothers are that way,” Sawyer assured her while casting quick worried glances at Jordan. “My own is as stubborn as a goat and twice as ornery.”
Gabe nodded to that. When Georgia looked at Jordan, appalled by what she took as an insult to their mother, he managed to laugh to cover the emotions she’d made him feel. “You’d have to meet Mom to understand, sweetheart. We love her dearly, but—”
“But she did manage to raise the lot of you.” Georgia shook her head. “I suppose that takes great fortitude.”
They all laughed. “Exactly.”
“Let me check on Mom and talk to her privately for a moment, to make sure she doesn’t object to you coming in. I’ll be right back.”
Georgia slipped silently into the room and the second she was gone, Jordan began to pace. He could feel Sawyer and Gabe watching him.
“Any reason why you look so tormented?” Sawyer asked.
Jordan glared at him. “She’s only twenty-three!”
“You thought she looked older?”
“No, Gabe, it’s not that. It’s just…damn she’s young to do what she’s doing.”
Gabe asked, “What is it she’s doing?”
Sawyer, having been apprised by Morgan, as well as Howard and Jesse who’d gotten a firsthand show, said, “I think he’s talking about the dancing.”
“Ah.” Gabe caught Jordan’s eye and gave him a wide, masculine smile. “You know, I was thinking of going to watch her act, myself. I haven’t seen a live show in ages. Whadya think, Sawyer? You want to come, too?”
7
JORDAN TURNED so fast Gabe jumped in surprise. With his eyes blazing and his jaw locked, he growled, “Don’t even think about it, little brother.”
After biting his lips to keep from laughing, Gabe soothed, “All right. Don’t get in a lather over it.”
It took him a second, and then Jordan’s eyes narrowed. He realized Gabe had just gotten him but good. And Jordan had made it disgustingly easy for him to do. Choking Gabe sounded better by the minute.
Georgia opened the door. She looked at Jordan’s severe frown, then at Sawyer’s exasperation and Gabe’s innocent expression. Her own turned suspicious. “Am I interrupting anything?”
“Not at all.” Sawyer stepped forward. “Am I allowed in?”
She didn’t look convinced, but she let it go. “Yes. Mom said she’d like to meet you.” Georgia glanced once more at Jordan, then turned away. She and Sawyer walked into her mother’s room, Sawyer’s hand at her waist.
Jordan was still looking at the closed door when Gabe murmured, “I see Morgan was right.”
Jordan rounded on his younger brother again. He felt dangerously close to losing his edge. “You wanna tell me exactly what the hell that means?”
“Ho!” Gabe backed up, pretending fear. And this time there was no way for him to hide his amusement. “Don’t bite my face off over a simple observation. If you’re still worried that I might go to the bar, I promise I was just yanking your chain. You can quit snarling at me now. Besides, Lizzy would have my head if I looked at another woman and you know it. She’s got a mean jealous streak.” Gabe sounded immensely pleased over that observation.
“If you don’t stop pricking my temper,” Jordan rumbled, “you won’t have to worry about Elizabeth. I’ll have your damn head.”
Gabe laughed. “Honest to God, Jordan, I’ve never seen you in such a fury. It’s kind of interesting.”
“You’re on thin ice, Gabe.”
In his defense, Gabe said, “Hey, I’m justified. Don’t think I’ve forgotten that you stole my wife from me!”
Georgia gasped behind them. When they both turned to her, she stammered, “Mom wanted a moment alone