Finding Jordie: Things aren't always what they seem. (The Love Lies Bleeding Series Book 1) (26 page)

He pulled away. My eyes were closed but I could hear the smile in his voice. “I never imagined I’d find a love like this, and even when I dreamed I did, it was nothing compared to how you make me feel.”

My chest felt full, like it was going to explode. It could have been because my heart was beating triple time and I was on the verge of having a heart attack, but my bet was that it was because I was so happy. I kissed him again. I kissed that gorgeous, kind, and loving man with every bit of emotion I had for him.

My cell phone was ringing. I scrambled out of bed as I attempted to focus on the clock. Nine forty-five A.M. I checked the number first. It was Rachel, so I bumped her to voice mail. I might’ve been at peace with Nathan knowing that dark part of my past but I was
so
not okay with the fact that she’d told him in the first place. I climbed back into the bed but instead of lying down I straddled a still-asleep Nathan.

“Wake up!” I bounced up and down over him.

“No. Go back to sleep, you kept me up all night.” He smiled groggily as he peeked through one eye.

“Oh, I kept you up now, did I?” I placed my hands on his chest so I could lean over to kiss him. In one swift motion he sat up, grabbed me around the waist, and flipped me over so he was on top of me.

“Sneaky bastard!” I screamed playfully as we began to wrestle around.

“Breakfast?” He looked like a giddy child as he jumped out of the bed.

“No, I’m not hungry... for food.” I pouted. “I want breakfast in bed.”

“I can arrange that. What would you like?”

“You.” I extended my arms out to him with my eyes closed like a child waiting for a surprise as my greedy little fingers waved.

“How can I refuse?” He jumped back onto the bed.

The next three days were quiet. Business at the bar was great and no, there were no paps around, really. Rachel was being Rachel and kept everyone in check for me at the bar. Not that I’d expect any less out of her. She was my best friend, she was my sister from another mister, and Lord knew I couldn’t stay pissed at her for very long. Besides, my attention span never had allowed me to hold a grudge.

But the best thing about the past three days was that not a single creepy call was to be had. Not at the bar and not on my home number either. I knew it was nothing. Seriously, someone acting territorial over me? The idea was just absurd. Like I said, three flings in eight years kind of made it impossible.

“Have you made up your mind about Friday?” Emma’s voice had an impatient sound to it.

“Not yet.” I answered in a loud voice from the kitchen.

“Mom, it’s Wednesday. I kind of need to know what I’m doing.”

“Really? What, do you have some big plans?” I laughed as I carried out our dinner plates to the table. “I don’t know, Emma, what if I’m needed at the bar or you get sick or something.” I crinkled my brows. I hoped my worry didn’t show on my face.

“Quit making excuses. I heard you talking to Nathan and Aunt Rachel about how great everything is over at the bar, Mom, and I’m sure as long as I don’t come down with SARS or something Aunt Kelly can handle it if I get sick.” She rolled her eyes.

“All right, all right. I’ll go.” I gave up suddenly, not even sure whether the words had really left my mouth or not.

I was in the kitchen rinsing the dishes when the alarm beeped.

“Nathan’s back,” Emma announced. She jumped up, yelled “Hi!” and waved at him, but she didn’t look at him as she walked into her room and closed the door.

I picked up a dishtowel and quickly dried my hands. “Hey you, are you hungry? I have some food left over.”

He kissed the top of my head. “I’m okay, thanks. I ate with Tyler.”

I hurried up and finished in the kitchen then went to tell Emma to shower and get ready for bed. I grabbed my smokes. Nathan followed me up to the roof through the door in the hallway. Since the alarm had been installed I couldn’t use the fire escape. It was a royal pain in the ass to disarm it, open the window, turn it back on, rinse and repeat.

Before he sat down Nathan went over and turned on the lights.

“How was your day?” I lit my cigarette.

“Miserable. I missed you.” He sat down next to me.

“Oh, stop it. I like you manly. Don’t go getting all sappy on me, please.” I laughed.

“What, you didn’t miss me?” His voiced raised two octaves, but I could tell he was joking around.

“Of course I did. That’s why I decided to go to L.A. with you for the week.” I met his gaze and smiled. “If I missed you this much and you were in the same city and only gone for six hours, how would I feel if you were across the country?”

“I hope you’d feel just as miserable as I would,” he confessed. “We leave out of Newark Airport at eight thirty-three Friday morning.”

“Think they will let me get a ticket at the airport?” I hadn’t been to an airport since I was twelve. I had no idea what the rules were since 9/11.

“Already taken care of.” He looked at me from the corners of his eyes.

“Nathan...”

“What? When I spoke to Lila and made arrangements for Rachel’s travel plans I had her book a seat for you as well. Just to make sure you sat with me.” He spread his hands. “If you did decide to go, of course.” He smiled my smile.

Sucker
. “I love you.”

“I love you, too. You stubborn pain in my ass... I mean, baby.” He smirked and kissed my forehead.

We arrived at Newark Airport about seven-thirty Friday morning. Frank had driven Emma to Kelly’s the night before. There were only two security guys posted over there now since things had been relatively calm. Frank seemed on edge still, though. Actually, Frank seemed more on edge than he’d ever been before. I hoped everything was okay with his family. It would be nice for him to go home for a week.

“Excited to see your family?” I asked Frank while we waited for our coffee at the Sky Cap lounge Starbucks. That was one decked-out VIP lounge for an airport. Nathan had his arms wrapped around my waist from behind and his head was buried between my neck and shoulder. I assumed it was so he wasn’t recognized.

“I am, Jordie.” Frank gave me a small smile.

“Is everything okay, Frank?”

“Yes, of course. Why?” He scowled.

“I don’t know, you seem so... on edge. Like, all wound up and on guard.”

Nathan raised his head just a bit and he and Frank exchanged a glance, then Frank looked back at me.

“It’s my job to be on guard, Jordie.” He tossed me a smile that I think was to reassure me.

I’m not an idiot, Frank. He thinks I’m an idiot. Something isn’t right.

“You’re different somehow.” I studied him, squinting.

Nathan squeezed me a bit tighter and planted a quick, soft kiss on my neck.

When we landed at LAX there were people everywhere. It reminded me of the circus two Mondays prior except worse. There had to be thirty-plus photogs and people screaming our names from every direction. Nathan flipped the hood up on my sweater and removed my sunglasses from my pocket before we walked off the ramp through the doors.

“Just walk, act as if they aren’t there, all right?” He kissed my forehead and put my sunglasses on my face.

“No, I thought I’d stop and greet each one of them.” I puckered my lips in a sarcastic pout.

“Ha ha ha. I never know with you.” He raised an eyebrow and took my hand. We walked through the path airport security had provided for us with Frank no more than five steps ahead of us. Behind us were three airport security guards. Frank stopped short, then was next to me in an instant.

“Let’s go. Pick up the pace, you two.” He scowled and rushed me forward with his hand on the small of my back. The crinkles in Nathan’s forehead were a dead giveaway for his concern, so I did just what I was told and double-timed it to the SUV waiting at the curb for us. Frank opened the door and assisted me into the vehicle hastily, Nathan right behind me. The driver put our bags in the back and Frank got in the front passenger seat.

“What was that about?” I slipped the shoulder harness around me and clicked the buckle closed.

“That’s the norm for Frank, Jordie.” Nathan chuckled. “Too many people. He wanted us out of there is all.”

“Ooookay, then.” I shook my head.

When we arrived at Nathan’s apartment the paps were all over once again but the building security had it under control so we breezed inside. His apartment was one of those bachelor pad-type deals. There was barely any furniture except a huge flat screen, tons of electronics beneath it, and a huge couch. No pictures hung on the white walls. The windows were covered by brown blackout curtains like mine and the carpet was thick and brown. In his room, there was a queen-sized bed—unmade of course—a dresser, and another huge flat screen with video game consoles and other electronics underneath that one as well.

“Like video games much?” I laughed.

“When you spend as much time as I do inside, you’ve got to do something to keep you sane.” He grinned. “Now that I have you, I’m sure I won’t mind being cooped up as much and won’t be playing any of them.” He grabbed me around my waist and pulled me hard against him.

“What, do you have that thing on speed dial?” I could feel him against me. I slid my hand down over his jeans to feel him with a mischievous grin.

“Oh yeah, not going to need those at all any longer.” He flashed me his nut job smile and tugged the back of my hair just enough to send me over that edge again.