The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [290]
Jordan shook her gently. “I’m not condemning you. How could you even think that?”
“You condemn all this.” She’d learned so much about him from his family. Her visits with them had started out strained, but Honey wasn’t a woman who left anyone feeling uncomfortable, and his brothers were too outrageous to be kept at an emotional distance. They treated her with all the teasing irreverence normally reserved for a little sister. And she loved it.
Where Jordan tended to close up about anything personal, his brothers took delight in sharing his deepest darkest secrets. Gabe had told her that Jordan never drank. And Morgan had told her because of his father, he protested any abuse of alcohol.
Georgia shook her head. “You may not condemn me specifically, but the bar, the men here, the atmosphere…And I’m a part of it, Jordan.” She hesitated, unsure how much she wanted to push him, especially in a damn closet, but she just couldn’t take it anymore.
She stepped away from him and concentrated on what she had to say while putting away her high heels. “You’ve done so much for me. I never would have gotten through the past weeks without your help.”
“Nonsense. You’re about the most resourceful woman I’ve ever met. I have no doubt you’d have managed just fine. But you know I wanted to help.”
His praise made her feel more vulnerable than ever. “And I appreciate it more than I can say. You’re…well, you’re wonderful.”
Jordan stared at her hard. “But?”
She drew a deep breath, forcing herself to say the words. “But I want to make it on my own. It’s important to me. I’ve made some really dumb mistakes in the past, mistakes that have hurt me, my children and my mother. I’m trying to fix all that.”
“You can’t fix the past, sweetheart. All you can do is make the future different.”
She nodded. “I know. And that’s what I’m going to do. My mother insists she’s feeling as good as ever, and I’ve cut back on the hours I work during the day so she’s not overburdened with the kids. And thanks to Bill’s stupid costume choices, I’m making more money in the evenings so my budget is more sound than ever. I’m managing, Jordan, and that’s what I want to concentrate on.”
Jordan gave her a long, considering look. As if she hadn’t just spilled her guts to him, he said, “Your mother likes me.”
Georgia had no idea how to respond to that. Truth was, her mother adored him.
“Your kids are crazy about me.”
She smiled. “I know. They’re also crazy about your family. Honey has been promoted to honorary aunt. Morgan, that big ox, astounds me every time he manages to be so gentle with them. And Sawyer and Casey…” She shook her head. “They’re incredible men.”
Jordan stepped closer until his chest brushed her breasts. “We’re your friends now. You can’t just expect us all to go away.”
“I wouldn’t want that!” It was so difficult to think clearly with him this close. She wanted to wrap her arms around him, to ask him to hold her. But he hadn’t touched her sexually since that morning in her kitchen, and she knew that was for the best.
“My children,” she said slowly, measuring her words, “have never had enough people in their lives who cared about them. My ex-in-laws…” She shook her head, not willing to go into details. “They weren’t nice people. They’ve never really cared about Lisa or Adam.”
“They must be idiots, then, because your children are very lovable.”
Anyone who loved her kids automatically got her love as well. And that fact scared her to death.
Feeling almost desperate, she put a hand on his arm and explained, “I want to keep the friendship.” She wanted that so badly her stomach felt like lead whenever she thought of losing it. As a child, she’d craved friendship so badly, always watching from the sidelines as someone else got picked for tag, as other girls gathered in clusters to giggle, excluding her. As a teenager, she’d put everything into her dance, detaching herself from the hurt, telling herself that she didn’t care.