She’d been concentrating on rearranging a layout for the next issue of The New York Beat, a magazine where she was editor when her office door burst open and he stormed in. He demanded she print a retraction of an article that featured him and a starlet caught skinny dipping in a park fountain. She refused saying he was a person of interest and therefore fair game.
When threats against the magazine hadn’t worked he proposed the idea she do a feature on him to take the focus off the negative publicity. She agreed only because she wanted the magazine to be taken seriously and not be regarded as another tabloid. He then caught her off guard when he decided to seal their deal with a kiss although she’d enjoyed it she knew it could never happen again. During the weeks they spent together working on the story they became friends.
“Why would you e ven come here instead of going to the hospital?”
“I was surrounded by reporters and paparazzi I knew they’d follow me home so I came here instead.”
“ What makes you think they didn’t follow you?”
Jordan frowned . “Why would they, you’re one of them?”
Payton rolled her eyes as she stood. “Whatever, I’m going back to bed. You’re welcomed to stay if you’d like. The bed in the spare room is already made. Well, good night.”
Shutting o ff the lights and checking the door, Jordan headed down the hallway towards the bedroom.
******************
The next morning Payton was surprised to walk into her kitchen and find Jordan standing in it. He was drinking a cup of coffee.
“Good morning. ”
“Hey. ”
Sitting his cup on the counter Jordan filled another cup and handed it to her.
Taking a sip Payton briefly closed her eyes relishing in the warm liquid sliding down her throat.
“What are you still doing here I thought you’d be gone by daybreak?”
“Well since it is Sun day, I decided to stick around, besides I owe you an apology for disturbing you last night.”
“ About that,” she said placing the cup on the table. “What makes you think I wasn’t alone?”
Jordan was silent for a moment, feeling a jolt , of what could only be described as jealousy, at the thought of her being with another man. As their friendship grew he’d seen her through several relationships, one of which nearly led to marriage. Thankfully it had been called off, he thought the guy was a jerk.
He’d always thought of Payton as his , although he’d never made his true feelings known. The fact was that he’d always been a little bit in love with her, and through the years his feelings had only grown stronger.
“You weren’t , so what’s your point?’
Payton groaned shaking her head. “Never mind, how about some breakfast I’m starving?”
“Breakfast music to my ears.”
“You’re hungry, huh?” She grinned opening the refrigerator, removing a carton of eggs and the ingredients they needed.
“Of course, I’m a growing boy.”
There’s nothing boyish about that body that’s for sure. Payton thought to herself. Even rumpled and bruised, the man still looked like sex on a stick.
Through the process Jordan cracked a couple of jokes that made her laugh, it was nice having him around if only for a day. Too bad things could never go beyond friendship, the Cain’s were old money and lots of it. Whereas hers, were blue collar, and she could never fit into that circle.
“Wha t’s got you so deep in thought?”
“I was just wondering how you were going to handle last night’s situation,” Payton said, the sound of his voice bringing her from her musings. “You in a fight. That’s big news. If we hadn’t called a truce I’d jump on this story myself,” Sliding the chair away from the table, she began clearing it.
Jordan looked up at her . “Is that what this is between us, a truce?”
“Yeah, what else would it be?” She responded, picking up their plates taking them to the sink to rinse them. When Payton turned around Jordan
When threats against the magazine hadn’t worked he proposed the idea she do a feature on him to take the focus off the negative publicity. She agreed only because she wanted the magazine to be taken seriously and not be regarded as another tabloid. He then caught her off guard when he decided to seal their deal with a kiss although she’d enjoyed it she knew it could never happen again. During the weeks they spent together working on the story they became friends.
“Why would you e ven come here instead of going to the hospital?”
“I was surrounded by reporters and paparazzi I knew they’d follow me home so I came here instead.”
“ What makes you think they didn’t follow you?”
Jordan frowned . “Why would they, you’re one of them?”
Payton rolled her eyes as she stood. “Whatever, I’m going back to bed. You’re welcomed to stay if you’d like. The bed in the spare room is already made. Well, good night.”
Shutting o ff the lights and checking the door, Jordan headed down the hallway towards the bedroom.
******************
The next morning Payton was surprised to walk into her kitchen and find Jordan standing in it. He was drinking a cup of coffee.
“Good morning. ”
“Hey. ”
Sitting his cup on the counter Jordan filled another cup and handed it to her.
Taking a sip Payton briefly closed her eyes relishing in the warm liquid sliding down her throat.
“What are you still doing here I thought you’d be gone by daybreak?”
“Well since it is Sun day, I decided to stick around, besides I owe you an apology for disturbing you last night.”
“ About that,” she said placing the cup on the table. “What makes you think I wasn’t alone?”
Jordan was silent for a moment, feeling a jolt , of what could only be described as jealousy, at the thought of her being with another man. As their friendship grew he’d seen her through several relationships, one of which nearly led to marriage. Thankfully it had been called off, he thought the guy was a jerk.
He’d always thought of Payton as his , although he’d never made his true feelings known. The fact was that he’d always been a little bit in love with her, and through the years his feelings had only grown stronger.
“You weren’t , so what’s your point?’
Payton groaned shaking her head. “Never mind, how about some breakfast I’m starving?”
“Breakfast music to my ears.”
“You’re hungry, huh?” She grinned opening the refrigerator, removing a carton of eggs and the ingredients they needed.
“Of course, I’m a growing boy.”
There’s nothing boyish about that body that’s for sure. Payton thought to herself. Even rumpled and bruised, the man still looked like sex on a stick.
Through the process Jordan cracked a couple of jokes that made her laugh, it was nice having him around if only for a day. Too bad things could never go beyond friendship, the Cain’s were old money and lots of it. Whereas hers, were blue collar, and she could never fit into that circle.
“Wha t’s got you so deep in thought?”
“I was just wondering how you were going to handle last night’s situation,” Payton said, the sound of his voice bringing her from her musings. “You in a fight. That’s big news. If we hadn’t called a truce I’d jump on this story myself,” Sliding the chair away from the table, she began clearing it.
Jordan looked up at her . “Is that what this is between us, a truce?”
“Yeah, what else would it be?” She responded, picking up their plates taking them to the sink to rinse them. When Payton turned around Jordan
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