Finding Jordie: Things aren't always what they seem. (The Love Lies Bleeding Series Book 1) (19 page)

“Yup.” He nodded. That one word said it all. It was all he had to say. I knew he felt the same way I did.

“I don’t see why I needed this fancy thing,” I whined as I attempted to figure out what all the buttons did on my new cell phone.

Nathan chuckled. “For one, it will make texting me a hell of a lot easier with the full keyboard.”

“Whatever. We never text.”

“Well, in a week I’ll be going to L.A. for a few days, and when I get back I’ll be working,” he reminded me.

My stomach sank. “Oh yeah. That. Womanizing tycoon,” I whispered, my eyes fixated back out the window.

“What’s wrong?”

I could tell he was concerned. “Nothing.” I was still watching the trees as we flew by them.

“She’s jealous,” Emma shouted over the DVD that was playing in the back.

“Emma Lynn Spellman. You mind your own business, young lady.” I scolded her, partly because she was right—I was jealous—but mainly because it was nothing she should be concerned with.

“You’re jealous?” Nathan erupted into a full outburst of laughter.

“What the fuck, Nathan? You’re laughing at me? Even if I was...
jealous
.” I spit the word out of my mouth like it was poison. “You would
laugh
at me?”

“I’m laughing because that is A: adorable and B: ludicrous.” I could hear the smile he wore on his lips.

I stretched my hand out and gave him the finger, my eyes still fixated out the window. Without any warning he pulled over. We were on the Garden State Parkway just before exit 98.

“You can’t just pull over here.” I raised my voice with a hint of attitude in my tone.

Emma took off her headphones. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Watch your movie, honey,” I said.

“Whatever,” I heard her mumble. She put the headphones back on.

“Baby, seriously,” Nathan said, “it’s only work. I don’t even know
who
I’m working with yet. Relax, please. I don’t like to think that my work will upset you.” He grabbed my chin and gently angled my face up so I was looking at him. The sincerity that filled his blue eyes washed away any insecurity I had—for the time being anyhow.

“All right,” I managed to croak out. His eyes caused my mind to run amuck, so complete sentences weren’t in the cards at that moment.

“I’d let you in on a little secret, but I’m pretty positive you’d really think I was a nut job.” He smirked and leaned over to give me a smooch.

“What secret?” I asked after our mouths separated.

“In due time.” He winked.

I sulked playfully as I rested back in my seat. We pulled off the shoulder on to the road and continued on to Kelly’s. When we arrived at her house my niece and nephew ran out to greet us. Kelly shouted for them to slow down as she walked out behind them. My niece Alison flung Emma’s door open, her mouth running a mile a minute as usual, and my nephew John opened my door.

“Hi, Aunt Jordie.” He reached up and planted a quick peck on my cheek before jumping right back out.

“Hi, sweetie.” I climbed out.

“Hi, Aunt Jordie.” Alison blew me a kiss before all three of them ran to where Nathan was leaning against the truck laughing.

“I love it. ‘Ant’ Jordie.” He teased about our “accent.”

“Excuse me, we don’t end every sentence with ‘dude, chill’.” I shook my head.

“Nor do we, or at least we haven’t since the eighties.” He stuck his tongue out at me.

“Oh. Em. Geeeee!” Alison squealed as any thirteen-year-old would when a movie star was standing in her driveway.

“Nate Harper is here, at my house, in my driveway.” She tossed her head back and her hand over her eyes dramatically in an attempt to swoon.

“Ah, you’re a natural,” Nathan said.

“Naturally!” She brought her head back up and smiled.

“Let’s go inside before my neighbors start to swarm us. They’re so friggin’ nosey.” Kelly gestured toward the house.

My brother-in-law Mark was on the couch watching some fishing show and eating Doritos.

“Mark, we’re going to eat soon.” Kelly scowled at him.

“And? I’m a big boy. I’m sure I’ll finish my dinner too, Mom.” He rolled his eyes and stood up to give me a hug. After wiping his hand on his jeans, he stuck it out to Nathan. “Hey, Jords, good to see you aren’t a raging lesbo.”

I walked to the kitchen rolling my eyes.

“Have a seat, man,” he said to Nathan.

“Seriously, Mark, shut your pie hole,” I chided him from the kitchen as I poured myself a glass of wine.

“What? Just sayin’, it’s been forever since ya had any—”

“Mark!” I screamed. “What the fuck? The kids are in here. Time and place, asswad, time and place.” I made my way to the couch.

“Yeah, because ‘fuck’ and ‘asswad’ are far more appropriate than ‘dick’,” he muttered teasingly.

“Asshole,” I mouthed.

He let out a burst of laughter. “Yup. That’ll never change.”

“Uh, Aunt Jordie, your purse is ringing, I think,” John said.

“Huh? Oh yeah, new cell phone.” I proudly held it up and displayed it for everyone to see. Mockingly, they all cheered in unison.

“Thank you, thank you.” It was only then I realized nobody but Rachel, Nathan, and Erin had my new number. I looked at the caller ID.

000-000-0000.

“Babe, look.” I held the phone out so Nathan could see it. He glanced at it and then at me.

“Want me to answer it?” He held his hand out as I hit answer.

“Hello?” Nothing but silence. “Hello, is anyone there?” I said again with no response.

Nathan reached over my shoulder and hit the speaker button. The crackly bad connection was back, along with the now familiar heavy but quiet breathing in the background.

“Hello?” Nathan said. A loud slam came from the other end and muffled noises as the breathing gradually became louder, creepier.

“I don’t know who this is or what you want, but please stop calling my girlfriend. This is the only time I’ll ask. Next time I’ll be contacting the police.” He hung up.

“Jesus Christ, that is so effin’ creepy!” I shivered.

“What’s that about, Jordan?” Kelly got a little crease between her brows.

“I don’t know. I thought maybe it was just some reporter or someone bugging me, but I changed both numbers and I’m still getting them, even at the bar,” I said. “And it creeps me out.” I tried rubbing the goose bumps on my arm away.

“Be careful. The world is full of crazies.” She shook her head.

Nathan made it through an entire meal with Mark and his wise cracks. He even went back at him with a few good ones himself. I kissed Emma goodbye and we headed back to the city. It was almost one A.M. when we got back. The bar was jam packed with a line still halfway down the street. The fire marshal’s truck was double parked out front, so I had to go in.

“This guy is such a twat.” I rolled my eyes at Nathan. “Park the truck in the alley, please. I’ll let you in the back door. This way nobody will see you and start mass hysteria.”

“What’s Fire Marshal Dick doing here?” I asked Mike when I got to the door.

“Head count. But don’t sweat it. I’ve been keeping it fifteen to twenty heads under max cap. Hence the longer line.” He smiled as if victory was his.

I laughed. “Thanks.” I slapped him on the shoulder.

I headed straight to the back room and let Nathan in. He closed the door and locked it, then turned around quickly and grabbed me by the waist, gently pushing me against the wall.

“I’ve been waiting all night to do this to you, gorgeous.” He leaned down and kissed me, hard. His tongue took over my mouth and I responded just as urgently. He hitched my leg up around him and held it there as his other hand wandered to my breasts. He nipped down my neck so passionately I felt as though I would detonate at that moment. My hands were tangled in his hair as I begged for him.
My god, how does he do that to me, in a matter of seconds?
It really felt as if we were meant for each other, like our chemistry was just right. I could feel him against me and it made me more ravenous. He slipped his hand under my skirt and slid it back grabbing my behind. I let out a small groan.

“Jesus Christ, Jordan.” He hiked up my skirt and moved my panties to the side with one swift motion.

“Ahhhhhh,” I breathed out as his fingers explored me. I couldn’t think straight, I was dizzy.
Breathe.
I clumsily undid his belt, unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans. I was a ball of sensation and lust begging for relief. In almost no time a sharp shock of pleasure washed through me.

“Yes?” Nathan whispered against my lips. He pressed up against me, his eyes full of an intensity that made it hard for me to catch my breath.

“Oh god, yes,” I said.

He pulled one of my legs up and I wrapped it around his hips, gripping his backside with my heel. He pushed into me, and the intensity grew again. I was so filled with raw emotion I didn’t know if I wanted to cry with happiness or explode with desire. At that point I could have done both. I was in absolute awe that I could feel that exultant, that I was capable of yearning for someone in that way mentally and physically. With those thoughts, Nathan and I finished together.

“I can’t begin to tell you how I feel about you, woman.” He grinned. All I managed to do was smile and give him a quick kiss back.

“Jordie?” Rachel screamed through the door to the back room. “Are you in here?” she screamed louder, her voice still mostly drowned out by the music.

Nathan stepped back from me and zipped up his jeans, grinning like a loon.

I giggled. “Good timing.” I pulled my skirt down. “Back here,” I yelled as Nathan pretended to lick his hand and fix my just-fucked hair.

“Stop it!” I slapped him lightly, still laughing as Rachel turned the corner.

“Holler, biotch. Listen. This chick Isobel you hired. I. Love. Her.” She separated each word. “She’s a hard worker. She wigged out a bit when some guy came in, said he stole her camera and gave off some eerie vibe, but he left so I didn’t need to kick his ass. For real, good job. She’s a keeper.” She patted me on the back.

“What about Amber?” I smoothed out the back of my skirt as I prayed she didn’t catch on.

“Oh, she’s doing pretty well, too. Sure knows how to use those titties of hers for tips, I’ll tell ya that much.”

“And the guy for security? I didn’t see him out there,” I said.

“Oh, no, no. He reminded me of the guy from that movie
Road Trip
. The sickly looking one that fell in love with the big black girl wearing the cheetah panties. Yeah, him. He’s a scrawny frail-looking guy. I gave him a cupcake and sent him on his way.” She shook her head. “But that guy Ronnie is out there helping out and another one.” She turned her head to look at Nathan. “Oh, and Nathan, Tyler said he hopes you have enough clothes with you. Don’t come back to the hotel this weekend. At all. During the day.” She smiled like she knew something he didn’t.

“Um, okay?” He was clearly baffled. “Maybe I should call him and see what that’s all about.” Confused, he dug in his pocket to get his phone.

“No, don’t!” she screeched, stopping Nathan mid dig. “All right.” She rolled her eyes. “He didn’t say that. I did. But...” She grinned.

“You dirty whore!” I shouted and she covered my mouth.

“I’m the dirty whore? Pot meet kettle! You’re standing here looking like you stuck your head in a blender doing Lord only knows what on a prep table at the back entrance to a bar? Bitch, please.”

“There was no prep table involved, rest assured,” I mumbled.

“Ha! I heard that, ya hussy.” She winked.

“You heard nothing.” I smirked and busted out laughing again.

“That’s what I thought. Now run along and go be a filthy slut elsewhere.” She kissed me on the cheek and walked back toward the door into the bar.

“See ya’ tomorrow sometime.” I waved.

“Bye, Nathan.” She looked like a child with her lips all puckered up sarcastically.

IT ENDED UP BEING
a ten-minute walk from the bar to my door because Nathan stopped for some fans. Surprisingly, there were no paps and no one guarding my door, so it felt like a pretty normal end to an evening. The first of many to come, I hoped. We made our way up the stairs to the door of my apartment. When I stepped inside I immediately wrapped my sweater around me tightly.