you understand that?”
His probing eyes swept over her. “Yes, I can.”
“I don’t want you to accept my apology. I want you to forgive me. There’s a difference. I need your forgiveness, Jordan.”
He stood and came to her side. Gently he brought her upright, easing her against his body. Kissing her hair, his hand gently stroked her arm. “I forgive you,” he whispered huskily.
Skye’s arms slid effortlessly around him, her mouth turning instinctively toward his. As his lips fit over hers a searing contentment stole over her. It felt so right to be in his arms. He shuddered against her, and Skye nestled her head upon his broad shoulder.
“Have dinner with me?” he mumbled into her hair.
“I want to,” she admitted huskily, “but I can’t. My family is waiting for me.”
Raising her face, he kissed her again with an infinite tenderness, arching her toward him.
“You could come with me,” she whispered. “Brad and Peggy won’t mind.” Her lovely mouth curved into an appealing smile. “Besides, I’m going to need help with the pup.”
Jordan chuckled softly. “Scheming woman, aren’t you?”
Her car had no sooner pulled up alongside the curb than Janey came rushing from the house and down the front steps. The screen door slammed behind her, only to be opened again a few seconds later.
“It’s about time you got here,” Brad scolded affectionately. Then he noticed Jordan, who came around the other side of the car. “So this is the reason you’re late,” he teased her in a brotherly manner.
“Don’t embarrass me,” she joked, but her eyes were serious.
“Would I do a thing like that?” he asked laughingly.
The two men shook hands after an informal introduction and walked toward the house talking companionably. Skye and Peggy rescued the pup from the backseat of her car while Janey squealed with delight over her birthday gift.
While the men sat in the living room talking, Skye helped Peggy finish the salad and add an extra place at the table.
“I hope you don’t mind my showing up with Jordan unexpectedly like this,” Skye said as she glanced into the living room and saw how well Jordan got along with her brother.
Peggy’s smile was full of warmth. “Of course not,” she denied instantly. “I was dying to meet him anyway.”
“Is Jordan your boyfriend, Aunt Skye?” Janey quizzed as she lopped a fingerful of frosting from the cake.
“Hey, you!” Peggy cried. “Keep your greedy finger off the cake.”
“Is he?” She repeated her question.
Skye wasn’t sure how to answer. A contentment flowed through her, and unconsciously she found herself studying Jordan from the kitchen. Lean and powerful, he sat with his long legs stretched before him, exuding an aura of strength.
“Auntie Skye?” Janey grabbed Skye’s hand as if to pull her attention back to herself.
“I’m sorry, cupcake.” Skye broke her concentration. “Yes, I guess you could say he’s my boyfriend.” But she didn’t want her niece to pursue the subject further. “How do you like the puppy?”
“He’s wonderful … I think I’ll name him Sampson. What do you think?”
“It’s a great idea,” Skye said, hugging her.
The meal was an enjoyable sharing time. Everyone participated in the laughter and teasing.
“I’m stuffed.” Brad leaned back in his chair and patted his stomach.
“You better have room for dessert,” Janey warned, not wanting to delay opening her gifts.
“I think I’ve managed to save a little room for cake. How about you, Jordan?”
“I’ve always got room for birthday cake.” He purposely winked at Janey, who dissolved into delighted giggles.
Skye rose after Peggy, conscious of Jordan’s warm gaze following her. “I’ll help Peggy with the cake,” she said, as if needing an excuse to leave.
They returned a few minutes later carrying in the cake with nine lighted candles and singing the traditional birthday song.
“Make your wish, princess,” Brad
His probing eyes swept over her. “Yes, I can.”
“I don’t want you to accept my apology. I want you to forgive me. There’s a difference. I need your forgiveness, Jordan.”
He stood and came to her side. Gently he brought her upright, easing her against his body. Kissing her hair, his hand gently stroked her arm. “I forgive you,” he whispered huskily.
Skye’s arms slid effortlessly around him, her mouth turning instinctively toward his. As his lips fit over hers a searing contentment stole over her. It felt so right to be in his arms. He shuddered against her, and Skye nestled her head upon his broad shoulder.
“Have dinner with me?” he mumbled into her hair.
“I want to,” she admitted huskily, “but I can’t. My family is waiting for me.”
Raising her face, he kissed her again with an infinite tenderness, arching her toward him.
“You could come with me,” she whispered. “Brad and Peggy won’t mind.” Her lovely mouth curved into an appealing smile. “Besides, I’m going to need help with the pup.”
Jordan chuckled softly. “Scheming woman, aren’t you?”
Her car had no sooner pulled up alongside the curb than Janey came rushing from the house and down the front steps. The screen door slammed behind her, only to be opened again a few seconds later.
“It’s about time you got here,” Brad scolded affectionately. Then he noticed Jordan, who came around the other side of the car. “So this is the reason you’re late,” he teased her in a brotherly manner.
“Don’t embarrass me,” she joked, but her eyes were serious.
“Would I do a thing like that?” he asked laughingly.
The two men shook hands after an informal introduction and walked toward the house talking companionably. Skye and Peggy rescued the pup from the backseat of her car while Janey squealed with delight over her birthday gift.
While the men sat in the living room talking, Skye helped Peggy finish the salad and add an extra place at the table.
“I hope you don’t mind my showing up with Jordan unexpectedly like this,” Skye said as she glanced into the living room and saw how well Jordan got along with her brother.
Peggy’s smile was full of warmth. “Of course not,” she denied instantly. “I was dying to meet him anyway.”
“Is Jordan your boyfriend, Aunt Skye?” Janey quizzed as she lopped a fingerful of frosting from the cake.
“Hey, you!” Peggy cried. “Keep your greedy finger off the cake.”
“Is he?” She repeated her question.
Skye wasn’t sure how to answer. A contentment flowed through her, and unconsciously she found herself studying Jordan from the kitchen. Lean and powerful, he sat with his long legs stretched before him, exuding an aura of strength.
“Auntie Skye?” Janey grabbed Skye’s hand as if to pull her attention back to herself.
“I’m sorry, cupcake.” Skye broke her concentration. “Yes, I guess you could say he’s my boyfriend.” But she didn’t want her niece to pursue the subject further. “How do you like the puppy?”
“He’s wonderful … I think I’ll name him Sampson. What do you think?”
“It’s a great idea,” Skye said, hugging her.
The meal was an enjoyable sharing time. Everyone participated in the laughter and teasing.
“I’m stuffed.” Brad leaned back in his chair and patted his stomach.
“You better have room for dessert,” Janey warned, not wanting to delay opening her gifts.
“I think I’ve managed to save a little room for cake. How about you, Jordan?”
“I’ve always got room for birthday cake.” He purposely winked at Janey, who dissolved into delighted giggles.
Skye rose after Peggy, conscious of Jordan’s warm gaze following her. “I’ll help Peggy with the cake,” she said, as if needing an excuse to leave.
They returned a few minutes later carrying in the cake with nine lighted candles and singing the traditional birthday song.
“Make your wish, princess,” Brad
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