Date Night (Wish Come True Book 1) (10 page)

A pretty shade of pink flushed
Jordan’s cheeks and she punched JT in the arm. “You know I’m talking about the
dating service. You were a perfect gentleman at the reception hall, but that
wasn’t an official date.”

“I didn’t know you two posed for
pictures,” Grannie interrupted. Based on Jordan’s reaction to JT’s comment
there was definitely something going on that Jordan hadn’t filled her in on.
“Where are the pictures?”

“The photographer said he’d get back
to me,” Jordan said. “I haven’t heard back yet. Anyway, Steve was a nice guy.
And we have quite a bit in common. He got his teaching degree from Grand Valley
State as well but he’s four years older so we weren’t there at the same time.”

“Oh,” Grannie said in surprise. She
hadn’t expected Jordan’s date to amount to anything. This could be a bump in
the road of her well laid plans. “What does he teach?”

“Seventh grade Geography at the
middle school in Royal Oak. And he’s going to put in a good word for me before
my interview at Oak Ridge Elementary on Tuesday.”

“Well that’s wonderful, honey.”

“Yeah,” JT sighed and ran his hand
through his hair, “anything to help land you a job in town is welcome. He’s a
good guy from what I remember. But smooth with the ladies—always landed a date
when we had boys’ night out.”

He turned a stern eye to Jordan. “So
watch yourself.”

“Well he didn’t land another date
tonight,” Jordan said sassily back at him.

JT stood up and walked over to give
Grannie a hug goodnight. “All the more reason to be cautious, Jordan. If he
wanted to get in your pants, he’d have already made his move. Three days.
You’ll get the call. I saw the way he looked at you tonight, honey. Steve means
business.”

And with that JT shoved his hands
into his pockets and walked out of the kitchen to leave. Something about the
way he bowed his head to stare at his feet as he went tugged at Grannie’s
heartstrings. This was not supposed to happen. Go after him she wanted to
scream at Jordan. But she fought to keep quiet. Grannie had meddled long enough
with these two and now it was up to them to work it out.

***

Jordan

“JT wait,” I cried out into the night
but to no avail. He was already halfway to his house when I finally caught up
with him. Staring straight ahead, he continued with purposeful strides without
acknowledging my presence. His aloofness stung my heart and I felt a sudden
bolt of panic zing through my body. Why was he acting like this?

When we arrived at his house he
stepped through the threshold and spoke to me at last. “You should go home,
Jordan.”

“What’s going on?” I demanded and
pushed my way through into the entrance. “Why won’t you talk to me?”

“Look,” he said, exhaling a deep
breath, “it was clear that you had a good time on your date. I could tell from
your body language. You were completely at ease with Steve. He has his shit
together Jordan; a good job and connections that can help you.”

“What the hell JT,” I snapped, tapping
my finger hard against his chest until I had him pushed up against the wall.
“You’re giving up on me just like that? Yes, I was at ease with Steve because
we had a lot to talk about and I knew you thought he was an okay guy. But all
we did was talk. Since when am I not allowed to enjoy talking with other
people?”

JT stared down at me, eyes blazing
with some unnamed emotion. “He’s the better man for you. More stable. Able to
provide for you.”

“Bullshit,” I cried out and rubbed my
body flat up against him. “You don’t get to make that decision for me. My
parents taught me to be self-sufficient. Do you think I spent four years
getting a college degree just to stay home and let some man take care of me,
make me completely dependent on him? Oh, hell no.”

I laced my fingers through his belt
loops and pulled his groin towards me. “There are only two things I need from
my man; emotional connection and physical desire. And you see, no one sets my
body on fire like you do JT. Come feel for yourself what you do to me.”

He audibly sucked in his breath at my
seductive words. I smiled inwardly when he weaved his hand through my hair to
pull my mouth up to meet his while his other hand slowly massaged its way down
my back and over my bottom. Clearly he didn’t have the strength to ignore such
a bold invitation. Little by little I would tear down his defenses.

“You’re beautiful in this dress,
Jordan,” he said in a husky whisper. “Been driving me crazy. And the way you
smell, it’s been teasing me all night long.”

I couldn’t help the throaty chuckle
that rumbled in my chest.

“What’s so funny,” he murmured,
gazing into my eyes.

“My perfume,” I said as I closed my
eyes and shuddered at the feel of the tip of his tongue running along the base
of my neck before it traveled back up to lick my bottom lip. “It’s called
Tease. Glad to know it lives up to its name.”

He growled low while his teeth gently
nipped and tugged at my mouth, until I freely opened up to duel with his hot
tongue. A little moan slipped out of my throat when his hand slid beneath my
skirt and along my naked thigh, all the way up until it made contact with the
edge of my lace panties.

“Oh, Christ, I need to see these,” he
groaned and bent down to lift the edge of my skirt, revealing the pale yellow
lace against my smooth olive toned skin. He captured my mouth again and
plundered with his tongue as his finger found the wet apex between my thighs
and teased me gently over the delicate fabric.

I cried out and collapsed against his
chest, panting, when he finally slid his finger into my wetness, thrusting in
out and massaging me with a slow methodical rhythm that matched his deep
breathing. In a matter of seconds I exploded with the force of cannon fire, my
body shuddering as he continued the assault until I was completely spent.

“See what you do to me,” I sighed.

“Oh yes,” he chuckled and bent his
head to capture my mouth in a lingering kiss. “One of these days we might make
it to a bed where I can explore your body properly.”

“Promises, promises,” I said as I
palmed the bulge straining against his jeans. “But first I plan to do some
exploring of my own right now.”

I gazed into his eyes while deftly
opening the button of his jeans and then slid the zipper down. Within seconds I
wrapped my fingers around his long, hard flesh, stroking him from tip to base.
The corners of my mouth lifted up in a smile when he threw his head back and
let out a throaty groan. I had been right; he was exceptional.

His hands suddenly thrust into my
hair and yanked my mouth up to meet his in a ravenous kiss. I met him stroke
for stoke, both tongue and hand, until he pulled back with a force that nearly
knocked me over.

“Holy crap,” he said and whipped
himself back into his jeans while he groped for the light switch in the
hallway.

It took a moment before I regained my
senses and realized the garage door was opening. Derek was home. I growled in
frustration and fisted my palms.

“No fair,” I said as I smoothed my
skirt and tip toed my way to the front door with JT sharp on my heels to open
the door quietly. “We’re not finished here.”

“Till next time,” he whispered in my
ear and gently shoved me out of the house.

Jordan

Music blared through the speakers and
I could feel the rhythm pounding through the floor. I watched with envy as
several couples got downright dirty, dancing on the floor a few feet away from
our table. Dinner had been a great success considering JT took the surprise so
well. I glanced at my phone again wondering what was taking Leah so long when
everything suddenly went dark, or at least darker than it already was at
Tequila Blue, as a pair of hands covered my eyes.  

“I know it’s you Leah,” I said,
pulling her hands away and turning to give her a hug. It was the multiple rings
that gave it away. “I’m so glad you could make it.”

I had started to worry. But I should’ve
known better. It was typical of Leah to be late. Why hadn’t I learned my lesson
yet and started telling her to be places thirty minutes before I really wanted
her there so she’d make it on time?

“Hey everyone!” Leah cheerfully waved
to the group sitting around the table before she bent over to give JT a big
hug. “Happy Birthday, JT. Were you pleasantly surprised?”

“Surprised, yes.” He glanced sideways
at me and Derek with a frown. My pout must have been convincing because he added,
“Very pleasantly surprised.”

“Good deal.” Leah plopped down in the
chair next to Jared and bumped shoulders with him. “You’re dancing with me
tonight. I’m sans boyfriend. Haven’t been on a date in two months and it’s
getting pitiful. But you’ll do as a dance partner for one night.”

“What makes you think I’d agree to
dance with you, Leah?” Jared asked in his standard cocky fashion.

My brother was always a pain in the
butt with Leah, which is why I enjoyed watching her manipulate him so easily. I
loved my best friend. She was wasting no time distracting Jared so I could have
club time with JT. And I had no doubt she would prevail. Leah waved to the
waitress who’d arrived at their table with a round of tequila shots for
everyone. Apparently Leah had come prepared. She placed two shots in front of
Jared and two in front of herself along with a beer chaser each.

“If I down these before you, then you
have to dance with me all night.” She brushed her long auburn locks over her
shoulder and stared at Jared in challenge. Leah knew he wouldn’t back down from
a challenge—especially from a woman. She was brilliant.

“And if I win?” Jared asked, staring
down his nose at her. “What then?”

“Winner’s choice.” A grin suddenly
lifted the corner of her mouth. “But don’t waste too many brain cells thinking
about it because you’re not going to win. Save ‘em for learning all that
medical stuff they’re teaching you in school.”

Jared snorted and prepared for the
race as we all began chanting for our favorite to win.

“Leah! Leah! Leah!” we all shouted to
Jared’s dismay.

“Jerk!” Jared called out to JT. “You’re
supposed to have my back.”

JT smiled broadly. “This
is
me
having your back. Why wouldn’t you want to dance with a hot babe all night;
even if she is your sister’s best friend? Nobody here knows that. They’ll just
think you’re the bomb.”

Jared flipped him the bird and nodded
to me to count down.

“Three. Two. One. Go!”

Before Jared had even tossed back his
first shot, Leah was gulping down her beer laced with two tequila shots. Jared
shuddered through his second shot and then made up time with large gulps of
beer. It was a close call but the table voted unanimously for Leah.

“You cheated,” Jared said, slamming
his glass down on the table and laughing out loud from the shock of losing to
her. “I want a rematch.”

“I didn’t cheat,” Leah said
emphatically. “I drank two shots and a beer chaser. We never said what order it
had to be in. Drinking it all together gets rid of the gag reflex at the end of
the shot. Bought me at least two or three seconds, wouldn’t you say? I knew I
needed it to beat that big mouth of yours. You’re just mad because I outsmarted
you.”

“I won fair and square.” Leah stood up
and held her hand out to Jared. “Now come pay the piper like a good little boy.
No pouting. I want to have fun.”

Jared stood and headed towards the
dance floor as Leah turned to me with a sassy smile that had
‘you-owe-me-big-time’ written all over it.

I winked back and then grabbed JT’s
hand to pull him out onto the dance floor with me. It was time to heat things
up.

***

Jordan

I hummed along to the music on the
radio as I drove to my interview on Tuesday morning. Everything seemed to be
falling into place. After the passionate interchange with JT in his hallway
Friday night, followed by his birthday celebration complete with dirty dancing
at Tequila Blue, compliments of Leah, I was certain he was coming around to the
idea of dating me out in the open. Our attraction was undeniable.

I parked my car and then entered the
lobby of the elementary school. Remnants of the children’s special projects
from the previous school year hung along the wall, giving the hallway a homey
and inviting feel. I couldn’t wait to get started working with the kids in the
fall.

With my smart navy blue pant suit and
pristine white V-neck shirt, I felt ready to conquer the world. I’d come prepared
with my notes about the school and its newly appointed principal as well a list
of questions I hoped to ask at the end of the interview. Hopefully I would succeed
in highlighting my skills and enthusiasm for teaching.

“Jordan,” a male voice called out to
me from behind.

I turned to see Steve jogging up
behind me. He was casually dressed in a pair of jeans and short sleeved
collared shirt. The black color was striking against his white skin and reddish
brown air. I couldn’t help but think he looked like that Chuck guy from
Pacific
Rim
. There was no denying he was handsome. Maybe I should try to set him up
with Leah? By the look of him he would be heading out to the golf course later
in the day. The weather was perfect for it.

“Hi, Steve. How are you?”

“Great,” he said, falling into step
next to me. “Are you here for your interview?”

“Yes.” I glanced at my mobile phone.
“It’s supposed to start in five minutes.”

“Let me walk you in and personally
introduce you to the principal.” He smiled while ushering me to the main office
door. “I had a nice chat with her yesterday about setting up a day to talk with
the sixth grade boys about joining the football team. I’ve got to get them
thinking about it early on if I want to recruit enough players.”

“I appreciate it,” I said with a
gracious smile. “Every little bit helps.”

He paused a moment and stared down at
his feet while he kicked at some imaginary piece of dirt. “I was wondering if
you wanted to grab a bite to eat after your interview. Nothing big. I don’t
have a ton of time.”

“Sure.” I owed him after all he was
trying to do for me. “Let me buy you a cup of coffee and dessert at Panera?”

“That sounds great,” Steve said,
breaking out into a huge grin. “Well the part about coffee and dessert. But
I’ll be buying.”

Before I could argue the point
further, he stopped at the principal’s doorway and tapped lightly to announce
our arrival. After a minute of small talk, Steve excused himself and we got
down to business. Forty-five minutes later I stepped out of the school into the
bright sunshine. My interview was slotted for thirty minutes so I took it as a
good sign that it had run fifteen minutes longer. I almost forgot about my
arrangement with Steve and was startled when he called out to me from across
the parking lot. Hopping into my car, I drove up next to him and rolled down my
window.

“Is now a good time? Meet you there?”

“Sure,” he said. “See you in a few
minutes.”

A blast of cool air hit me in the
face as we entered the Panera lobby. It was a sure sign that summer was upon
us. The rich aroma of brewing coffee mixed in the air with fresh baked goods
and homemade soups. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until that moment and
decided to have the half soup, half sandwich combo instead of a dessert. It was
eleven thirty; close enough to lunch time.

We chatted about the school district
while eating lunch and Steve gave me some tips about writing daily lessons and
organizing my schedule to keep up on grading papers. I was fascinated to hear
about the new electronic system where teachers recorded the children’s daily
grades so that parents could actively work with the teachers in holding
children accountable for their homework. The time flew by and before I knew it,
Derek and JT entered the restaurant.

I watched them walk to the counter
from my vantage point across the room. With a little luck, JT wouldn’t notice
me sitting in the corner with Steve. I hadn’t planned for Steve to still be
here when they arrived. And while the meeting meant nothing to me, I wasn’t
sure how JT would react.  Things had been going so well in the past few days
and I didn’t want to muck that up. Try as I might to remain connected to the
conversation with Steve, my eyes kept wandering over to the two brothers as
they sat in a booth near the entrance.

“Jordan?” I heard him say.

“What?” I returned my attention to
him and was greeted by his raised brow.

“Did you hear a word of what I just
said?”

“Um…not really,” I confessed. Damn.
I’d been caught red-handed again. At least I had the grace to blush. “I’m sorry
but I noticed JT and his brother Derek sit down over there. What did you ask?”

“I was wondering if you wanted to go
out Saturday night to play pool.”

“Oh.” I glanced at the straggling
crumbs on my plate. “Well I don’t have my planner with me. Do you mind if I give
you a call and let you know?”

He chuckled and wrote his number on a
napkin. “You have to get with the times Jordan. Your smartphone has a calendar
in it you know?”

“I know.” I smiled back. “It’s just—well—my
grandmother makes me a planner every year for Christmas and I don’t have the
heart to tell her they’re not in vogue anymore. I don’t want to hurt her
feelings by not using it.”

“Sure.” He pushed his number across
the table. “Well I hope to hear back from you.”

I had the distinct feeling he thought
I was lying to him. Whatever. That was his problem; not mine. It was the truth.
Well at least the part about Grannie making me a planner every year was true.
But I knew exactly what was on my calendar for Saturday night. I was making
dinner for JT and there was nothing in this world keeping me from our date. Why
I hadn’t just said that in the first place I wasn’t sure. Probably because I’d
been distracted in my thoughts when he’d asked and I didn’t want to see the
rejection in his eyes. It always made me uncomfortable.

I watched as Steve walked towards the
exit and stopped to say hello to JT and cursed under my breath. Steve would
probably make a point of saying he’d had lunch with me. And now Derek was going
to take the brunt of JT’s anger. It was time for me to step in. I gathered my
things and prepared to enter the battle zone with my brightest smile.

“Scooch over,” I said to JT and sat
down next to him. If we were going to tear down his walls then I didn’t want to
start by sitting next to Derek to gang up on JT. It wasn’t much. But it was a
start.

***

J.T.

“Funny meeting you here,” I said and
crossed my arms lightly over my chest. Why did I have the feeling this hadn’t
happened by some strange coincidence? Maybe it was the nervous glance Derek had
given Jordan when she sat down. He had always been a shitty liar.

“I know.” Jordan’s voice rang out in
a too happy, sing-song tone. “I just had my interview this morning at the
elementary school and bumped into Steve. He introduced me to the principal and
put in a good word. So I bought him lunch. It was the least I could do.”

I settled back into the corner of the
booth and alternated glancing from Jordan to Derek. I wasn’t buying it. “Cut
the bullshit and tell me what this is about.”

Derek hesitated a moment but then
decided to go for it. “I want you to take fifty grand of my college funds and
pay off your school loans.”

“No.” I didn’t have the patience for
this. “We’ve had this discussion before.”

“But—” Derek tried again, only to be
cut-off after the first word.

“What part of
no
don’t you
understand?” The words came out slow and carried a sharp edge. I hated myself
for turning into a condescending bastard. I knew I was pissed about Jordan
having lunch with Steve and it wasn’t fair for me to take it out on my brother.

Jordan’s face twisted into a mask of
disgust and she slapped me sharply on the thigh. “Stop it, JT. He’s your
brother. The least you can do is hear him out. Let him have a voice. He has
earned as much.”

“Fine,” I said but felt the scowl still
plastered on my face. I’d listen but it didn’t mean I had to act as if I liked
it.