Текст книги "A Lot Like Love"
Автор книги: Julie James
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Текущая страница: 16 (всего у книги 19 страниц)
Twenty-eight
THE NEXT DAY, Nick found himself on yet another winding, tree-lined road, heading to yet another winery. Kuleto Estate winery, Jordan had said – which, of course, meant nothing to him. So in response, he’d made his usual grumpy noises of protest, although some of that was for show more than anything else. After last night, he’d mellowed – just a touch – on the subject of wine. It wasn’t the worst thing a man could drink, he supposed. No doubt, he still preferred a good, stiff bourbon, but he’d begun to think that wine held a certain appeal under the right circumstances.
His mind flashed back to the image of Jordan lying on the bathtub ledge, moaning his name as she arched against his mouth.
And now he had a hard-on.
He looked over at the cause of his problem, sitting next to him in the backseat of the limousine she’d hired to drive them around for the day. Quickly, he realized that looking at Jordan wasn’t going to help anything. She was all put together again, polished and stylish in her navy dress and heels, and all he could think about was mussing her up. In fact, if it were up to him, this particular billionaire heiress would stay good and mussed all weekend.
Of course, whenever it came to Jordan, things were not entirely up to him. “How long will this tasting last?” he asked her.
“Hours. It includes lunch.”
He grunted his displeasure. She smiled in amusement, and the gesture was inconveniently contagious. He’d planned to act cranky for at least five more minutes.
Nick noticed then that the road had narrowed as it wound up the mountain. When the drop-offs on the car’s right turned steep, he saw Jordan clutch the edge of her seat.
He slid his hand over hers. “You okay?”
“I hate this part of the drive.”
“Then why are we doing it?”
“You’ll see when we get there.”
Twenty minutes later, the car pulled to a stop at the top of the mountain. The driver parked the car, stepped out, and opened Jordan’s door. “I’ll grab the basket out of the trunk and bring it into the winery, Ms. Rhodes. I’ll make sure they put it in the refrigerator.”
Nick followed her out of the car. “What basket?” His FBI antenna went up – the limo had been waiting when he and Jordan arrived at the main lodge after being driven from their room in the golf cart, so he had no clue what might be inside the trunk.
“I had the resort put together a picnic lunch for us,” she said. “After the wine tasting, I figured we could grab a spot to eat, well, anywhere.” She gestured to the view all around them.
He took his first good look at the place. While he might not have been the type to ooh and aah easily over scenery, even he could appreciate the sight before him. The winery overlooked sweeping views of vineyards, emerald green rolling hills, the valley, and a sparkling blue lake below. Down a short path stood an idyllic Tuscan-style villa surrounded by flowers, gardens, and lush, shady trees.
“What do you think?” Jordan asked.
While taking in the view, it occurred to Nick that the downside of always being in charge and setting the rules of his relationships – and he used that term very loosely – was that no one ever surprised him with things like this. Actually, no woman had ever surprised him before, period. He normally didn’t give them a chance to. Yet here he was, unexpectedly standing on a hilltop in the Napa Valley with a woman who pretty much knocked him off his feet every time they were together. He’d be pissed about that if she didn’t somehow manage to do it while putting a smile on his face.
Very sneaky.
The incredible view made him think of something he’d wanted to say to Jordan ever since they’d arrived in Napa. He put his hands on her waist and pulled her close, holding her gaze. “I think this whole weekend is amazing. But you know that I don’t need any of these things, right? I’m here because of you – not for fancy resorts, or fireside dinners, or picnic lunches on a California hilltop.”
She smiled and touched his face. “I know. That’s what makes it even better.”
A voice called out from behind them. “Jordan Rhodes.”
Nick turned and saw a man with sandy brown hair walking over to them.
“Mike. So good to see you again,” Jordan said.
“Look at you – gorgeous, as usual,” he said. “I saw your name on today’s appointment list. With a plus one, huh? About time.” He shook Nick’s hand. “You must be the plus one.”
Nick returned the handshake. “Nick Stanton.” The “plus one” was getting tired of using that name.
Mike gestured toward the villa. “Come on in – we’re a little crowded this afternoon, but I think we can make some room at the bar.”
They followed him inside the winery and walked into a noisy, cozy room. Guests drank wine at a long banquet table, at cocktail tables scattered along the walls, and at the large bar in the corner. A friendly black Labrador mingled among the guests, quite content to be fed Brie cheese and crackers under the tables.
Nick relaxed as he and Jordan settled into the last two open chairs at the bar. This kind of wine tasting was much more his style.
Mike slid two empty glasses in front of them. “Where do you guys want to start?”
Nick thought about this. “Do you have anything in a pink?”
Mike eagerly grabbed a bottle from the back bar. “Actually, we have a gorgeous Rosato. Predominantly made from cabernet and Sangiovese grapes, fermented in stainless steel, then briefly in French oak, it’s a lush, aromatic blend of wild strawberries and blood oranges, full in the mouth without being too heavy. Perfect for a sunny, spring day like this.”
“Sounds delicious,” Nick said. “I’ll take everything but that one.”
LATER THAT NIGHT, Nick lay on his side, listening to Jordan’s steady breaths as she slept next to him. After spending a large part of the afternoon at Kuleto winery, and then another hour at a smaller winery she’d wanted to check out for her summer wine club selections, they’d stumbled back to the bungalow and finally explored the outdoor shower. For dinner, they’d made their way to the resort’s restaurant, a Pacific Northwestern-style lodge that sat on a lake nestled against tall pine trees and mountains. They’d scored a table on the deck and had talked as the sun set – about his family, her family, about lots of things.
There was one topic they hadn’t broached, however. The subject of them.
In the morning, they would leave Napa and return to Chicago, and then … Nick wasn’t sure what would happen. For a guy who typically kept his relationships with women easy and breezy, this was an odd position to be in. He usually didn’t think about the next step because, usually, there was none. But Jordan Rhodes had walked into his life and now here he was – staring at her in the dark, watching her sleep. That was the type of thing a sentimental, introspective man did. Not him.
He, on the other hand, was a rational, logical kind of guy, and there were a few cold, hard facts staring him in the face. First, he’d known Jordan for three weeks. Three weeks. And they’d officially been together for only the last forty-eight hours of that. Second, taking the next step with her would mean one of two things: either they would spend long periods of time apart while he was on an undercover assignment, or he needed to consider a major change in his career.
The fact that he was even considering such a thing seemed crazy. One simply did not make that kind of decision after dating a woman for forty-eight hours.
But.
The alternative meant saying good-bye to Jordan as soon as the Eckhart investigation was over. And that just felt … wrong. He liked seeing her lying in bed next to him, and wanted to see her there more often. A lot more often.
In other words, he wanted it all – and that simply couldn’t happen. So he had a tough decision to make.
There was another problem complicating this decision: he had no clue what Jordan was thinking. Sure, he knew she liked him, but not once had she talked about what would happen back in Chicago. Perhaps she didn’t want to address the issue yet, or perhaps she simply didn’t have any answers herself. Maybe she was just as confused as he was.
He’d always been a straight shooter with women. But this conversation, with this particular woman, unnerved him. Because – if he was being honest with himself – he knew that there was a part of him, a good part of him, that wanted her to ask the questions he’d always tried to avoid, wanted to hear her say the things he’d never given another woman a chance to say. Like that this weekend meant something more than just a weekend.
Jordan stirred and stretched out in her sleep. She rolled even closer, attempting to edge him out to a measly one-third of the king-sized bed. He couldn’t help but smile while firmly holding his ground – even in her sleep she tried to take control.
She was smart and beautiful and successful, and probably the most remarkable woman he’d ever met. With all she had going for her, it was hard to see her ever lacking for – or needing – anything. And although he’d never want to change her strength and independence, some Cro-Magnon, club-swinging, plain-old greedy bastard deep inside nevertheless wanted to know that she needed him.
He’d come to the Napa Valley. He’d even semi-willingly gone to wine tastings – three of them. And he’d specifically told her that she wasn’t getting his usual no-relationships speech. So the way he saw it, the next step was hers. Sure, she’d wined and dined him, but maybe that was par for the course for billionaire heiresses. So before he put himself out there any further, and thought about those career decisions he couldn’t believe he was thinking about, he wanted something more from her. Unbelievably, for once he actually wanted to talk about feelings – but hell if he would be the one to bring it up first. He was a guy. He did have some pride.
Still, that didn’t mean he couldn’t show her how he felt.
Nick’s eyes moved over Jordan, taking in the tank top and underwear she slept in. He shifted and slid between her legs, careful to keep his weight on his forearms as he kissed her throat and collarbone to wake her up. She sighed contentedly and smiled when she opened her eyes and saw him.
He brushed his thumb against her cheek – that smile got to him every time. “Hey, you,” he said softly.
“I was dreaming about you.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. “But this is even better.”
Pride or no pride, if he had been one of those sensitive types, he’d say he knew he was a goner right then.
Twenty-nine
THE NEXT MORNING, as he and Jordan packed their suitcases, Nick’s phone rang with a call from his boss. This was not unexpected – in fact, he’d been waiting for this particular call all weekend. The one where Davis asked him what the hell he was doing.
“Good to hear from you, boss,” Nick answered pleasantly. He stepped out onto the terrace and waited for the conversation to go downhill from there.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing in the Napa Valley?” Davis demanded.
Bingo.
“Nick Stanton figured he should treat himself to a little R and R. The real estate market for rental properties is really booming these days.”
“Don’t give me any of that Nick Stanton crap,” Davis warned. “Do I need to remind you that you’re in the middle of an investigation?”
“An investigation in which my primary objective is to appear to be dating Jordan Rhodes. As such, I see no conflict with my present location. Not to mention, I’ve checked in with Huxley and the other agents on the team several times while I’ve been gone – Eckhart’s been quiet this weekend, sick with the stomach flu. He’s scheduled to meet with Trilani on Tuesday morning, and I’ll be back in town well before then. Today, as a matter of fact.”
Davis grunted. “Well, don’t you have all the answers?”
“You’d expect nothing less of me, boss.”
“I expect you to remember that you’re an FBI agent, that’s what I expect.”
“Trust me, that fact hasn’t slipped my mind once since I’ve been here,” Nick said sharply.
Davis paused, likely surprised by his tone. He responded carefully. “All right, Nick. You seem to have things under control. I suppose you’ve earned a little leeway.”
“Thank you. You’re … not going to give me the touchyfeely speech about being your top agent again, are you?”
Davis chuckled. “No speeches. Just a question: violent motorcycle gang or insider trading?”
“Is this an opinion question? Generally, I frown on both.”
“Good. Because one of them is going to be your next undercover assignment. Figured I’d let you pick. Personally, I’d go for the insider trading just for the cushy lifestyle. You’d be pretending to be a hedge fund trader, so we can probably get you something even better than the Lexus. Although Pallas made me promise that he gets to teach you how to ride a bike if you pick the motorcycle gang.”
Despite the teasing, Nick remained silent. Another assignment. It was all happening so quickly.
“Still there, McCall?”
“Yes. Just thinking that this conversation seems a little premature. I’m not finished with the Eckhart investigation yet.”
“According to Huxley, you guys are close. He seemed fairly confident we’d be able to wrap things up after Eckhart’s meeting with Trilani on Tuesday. Do you disagree?”
Nick paused. “No.”
“Glad to hear it. In addition to tying you up, I’ve had three agents practically living in a van outside Bordeaux for the last two weeks. The sooner we can finish this, the better,” Davis said. “I know you’ve got your New York trip coming up, but as soon as you’re back I figured we can start prepping you for your next case.”
Nick knew this was how it worked. It was how he’d done things since he’d begun working undercover several years ago. He went from assignment to assignment and didn’t think twice about it. But now …
He looked through the window and saw Jordan standing next to the bed, packing the white dress into her open suitcase.
Like it or not, it was decision time.
JORDAN WAS BEGINNING to get nervous.
Nick had been acting strangely ever since he’d received the phone call at the resort. It was just like the time he’d gotten the call from “Ethan” at Eckhart’s party – she knew something was up. Sure, he’d put forth a good effort during the drive from Napa to the airport, and again during their flight home, but she could see it in his eyes.
She’d asked him twice what was wrong and had gotten nowhere. She’d begun to think she needed to break out some seriously badass interrogation tactics – and then realized she had no such tactics. Although he did respond well to the thong and high heels technique.
Something to keep in mind.
When they got back to her house, Nick left his suitcase by the front door and carried hers upstairs to her bedroom. Jordan waited in the kitchen, eying that suitcase by the front door and becoming more worried as she contemplated its meaning. If she was reading between the lines and speculating about Nick’s mysterious behavior – something she didn’t want to do, but since he wasn’t telling her anything she had no choice – she would have to say that it didn’t appear as though he planned to stay the night.
Suddenly, she had a bad feeling she knew why Nick was behaving so oddly. She had only asked him for a weekend, and now that weekend was over.
She heard him coming down the stairs and pulled herself together. She was overreacting, obviously. She had to be. He liked her, and they’d just spent an incredible two days together. There was no reason to start getting all worried and presumptuous now.
She threw on a smile when he entered the kitchen. “Thank you for carrying that upstairs for me,” she said, referring to her suitcase.
“Just how many bottles of wine did you stash in there?” he asked.
“Actually, it’s the shoes.” She tried to look casual. “So, should we talk about this thing you’ve been avoiding all day?”
Standing at the opposite end of the counter, Nick nodded. “Yes. Sorry – I’ve been mulling a few things over in my head.” He took a moment, as if deciding where to begin. “That call this morning was from my boss. He wanted to talk about my next undercover assignment.”
Jordan blinked in surprise. “Your next assignment? You haven’t even finished the one with Xander yet.”
“Eckhart plans to meet with Trilani on Tuesday morning,” he said. “I think we’ll probably be able to wrap things up after that.”
Jordan’s heart sank. So soon. Sure, she’d known the end of the investigation was looming, but she hadn’t realized it was this close. “When do you begin your next assignment? I assume you at least get some time off, right?”
Nick shook his head. “Not much. I’d planned to go to New York to spend a few days with my family, and when I come back my boss wants me to start getting up to speed on the next assignment.”
What about us?
Jordan caught the words just before they spilled out of her mouth. Nick’s expression was unreadable, and it occurred to her: perhaps she hadn’t been overreacting to the suitcase by the door. Perhaps, despite all the sweet words and the really, really fantastic sex and her gut instinct, she’d been wrong to think that her weekend with him had become something more than just a weekend.
In other words, perhaps she’d just become a Lisa.
Nick hadn’t made a single promise to her over the weekend. In fact, he hadn’t once brought up the subject of what might happen once they got back to Chicago. For her part, she’d deliberately avoided the issue, not wanting to look too pushy or needy. Besides, she’d figured, she was the one who’d taken the first step and asked him to go to Napa with her. Which meant the next move was his.
And now he seemed to be making that move. Backward. Right out her front door.
Still, she wasn’t ready to give up just yet. She kept her cool, resolved to hear whatever it was Nick had to say. Assuming he had something to say.
“What kind of assignment is it?” she asked. There – she’d even managed to pull off sounding casual.
He shifted uneasily. Not a good sign.
“I could choose either a motorcycle gang or insider trading,” he said.
You could choose neither, she thought.
But she didn’t say it.
Instead, she decided to try a different tactic. The hell with beating around the bush. “So where does that leave us?”
Nick hesitated, then dodged the question. “Where do you think that leaves us?”
What Jordan wouldn’t do right then for those badass interrogation techniques. He was being far too cagey. Also not a good sign.
Still, she pressed on. Hell, she would make this as easy as possible for him – she’d even start him out. “I think that this was an incredible weekend.” She paused, waiting for Nick to pick up from there. Me, too, Jordan, he could say. And I want to keep it going. I don’t care what it takes – we’re fantastic together. Something along those lines. Anything.
She stared at him expectantly. He stared right back at her. Undoubtedly the second longest amount of time they’d ever gone without talking.
Then … the strangest look of resignation came over his face. And he finally picked up where she left off. Except he didn’t say what she’d wanted to hear.
“But we both knew it was just a weekend,” he finished, his voice noticeably flat.
Jordan felt the ache – a sharp pang – cut through her. It meant a lot more than that to me.
But she didn’t say that, either.
Instead, she put on a brave face. She was getting pretty good at telling lies these days; she could handle one more. “You said your job made things complicated. I suppose this is the complicated part.”
Nick watched her closely with those amazing green eyes of his. “I’d been hoping, actually, that things wouldn’t have to be so complicated,” he said quietly.
Ah, she got it – he didn’t want her to make this awkward . Probably the reaction he was accustomed to from all the other Lisas in his life. But she had her pride. As she’d told him before, she was a big girl. She wouldn’t yell, she wouldn’t cry, she wouldn’t beg him to stay. But she needed him to leave.
Her eyes stung at the thought.
Now. She needed him to leave now.
“We’re both adults, Nick. This doesn’t have to be a long, drawn-out discussion. We had our weekend together, and now we’ve come back to the real world. You’ve got your job and all the trappings and rules that come with that.”
He stepped toward her. “So that’s it?”
Jordan guessed that he’d expected her to at least ask him to stay one more night. But every moment she spent with him would only make this harder. “I think it’s probably better to make a clean break. Given the inevitable.”
“The inevitable.” He stood up straight and folded his arms across his chest. “I have to say, this was not how I saw this conversation going.”
She cocked her head at that. “Well, is there any other option?” Although she kept her expression carefully neutral, inside she felt anything but. Say you don’t want to leave.
Nick studied her for a long moment. “No, I guess not.”
A silence fell between them.
“I think, all things considered, that it’s best if you go now.” Jordan forced herself to meet his eyes, then had to look away before he could read too much in her own.
He nodded. “Yeah, I think so, too.” He edged his way toward the front door, then paused. “Should I call you on Tuesday to let you know how things go with Eckhart?”
“Sure.” Jordan followed him and watched as he grabbed his suitcase. The image of him leaving her place, suitcase in hand, would likely stay burned in her brain for a long time. But for now, she kept her chin up. All she had to do was keep it together until he walked out the door.
Nick rested his hand on the door handle, and when he looked at her one last time, what she saw surprised her.
His eyes blazed with anger.
“Well, Rhodes, thanks for the weekend,” he said, his jaw clenched tight. “I’ll be sure to send you a check for my half of the hotel room. Hell, maybe I can even write it off as a business expense.”
Now that was a slap in the face. And Jordan was confused. Why would he be mad at her? “That’s a little cold. You don’t have to be an asshole about things.”
His expression was incredulous. “I’m the asshole?”
She pointed between them. “Is there something I’m missing here? Because all I said was – ”
“Don’t bother, I heard you the first time,” Nick said, cutting her off and yanking the door open. “I heard every word you said.” He stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Jordan stood in her living room, staring at the door in confusion.
Well.
No clue what that was all about.
