Читать книгу Christmas Wish Come True: All I Want For Christmas / Dreaming of a White Wedding / Christmas Every Day - Gina Rochelle - Страница 16

Chapter Eight

Isabella nearly dropped the cup she was holding, which didn’t go unnoticed by her guest. Abby put her hand on Isabella’s shoulder.

“You do know about it.” She sounded relieved and worried at the same time, especially when Isabella didn’t immediately confirm it. “Please, Isabella. The chest is filled with old photos. I’d like to look through them – for one, in particular.”

“Well,” Isabella conceded, “I have the chest.” She searched Abby’s face. Abby genuinely seemed to miss her best friend, judging by the enormous importance she placed on a few photos. “But – Jordan said the pictures belong to Tyler, when he’s old enough…”

“And I shouldn’t have any of them. Is that it?” Abby’s remark startled Isabella, who eyed her suspiciously.

Abby immediately apologized. “I’m sorry, I’m just stressed-out over…all this. I don’t want all of them…” She looked toward the living room again, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Kim was a notorious pack rat – she never threw anything out. There are even a few photos of her and Jordan in there that might confuse Tyler. I don’t think Jordan would want them, but…whatever you decide. There’s really just the one that’s extra special to me. It’s of Kim, baby Tyler, and me. It was taken at the hospital, right after he was born.”

Isabella had wondered about the photos, but didn’t give in to her curiosity. As much as she wanted to know more about Tyler’s mother, she couldn’t convince herself to invade Kim’s privacy. And she wasn’t sure if Abby had the right either.

“I think we should clear it with Jordan first.”

A cold glint flashed in Abby’s eyes. It made Isabella uneasy – and unsure of Abby’s sincerity. As if reading Isabella’s thoughts, Abby sighed softly.

“I’m not here to argue. I’ll ask Jordan, if that’s what you want. But why open old wounds? I’ll leave any photos with Jordan in there, and just take the one. There should be several others of Tyler and his mother, without me in it.” She smiled warmly when she noticed Isabella’s softening expression. “It would mean so much to me.”

Isabella’s better judgment told her to refuse. But Abby was right. Kim would probably want her best friend to have the photo. “All right. You can look through them, see if it’s in there.” But she wouldn’t allow her to take any others, without Jordan’s permission. “Follow me. The chest is in the guesthouse.”

As the women made their way past the men, Isabella caught Jordan’s curious look. “Just girl stuff,” she said vaguely in explanation. Jordan nodded, then turned back to his conversation with Zach.

Abby stepped just inside the doorway as Isabella retrieved the box from the bureau.

“I hope it’s in there,” Isabella said.

Leaving her post by the door, Abby quickly stepped forward. “I do, too.” She took the chest from Isabella and sat down in a chair by the door. When she opened it, Isabella thought she saw a touch of disappointment flash across her features. Abby glanced up, catching Isabella’s stare.

“It’s bittersweet seeing her so happy, and knowing how it ended. I hope I don’t break down… We were so close.” There was something resembling desperation in her eyes. “You understand?”

“Of course,” Isabella replied as she watched Abby remove the photos from the box. After such a heartfelt statement, she was surprised when Abby shuffled through them so quickly, without lingering too long on any of them. When she’d finished, she set the stack on the side table and inspected the empty chest. “It’s not here,” she whispered, almost to herself.

“Oh, that’s too bad,” Isabella said. “Is there another one you might like to take?”

“No. Just that one.” Abby stuffed the photos back into the chest and handed it to Isabella. “Thanks anyway.”

She turned to leave as Isabella placed the box on top of her dresser. This whole scene with Abby Forrester had left her feeling strange. Definitely not ‘points’ in Mrs. Forrester’s favor.

The men stood as the two women re-entered the main house.

“We should go, Abigail,” Zach said to his wife.

“Oh, darn. I’m sorry we didn’t get to visit with Tyler today.” Abby looked almost as disappointed as she had over the missing photo. She was hard to figure out, Isabella thought to herself. But there was no doubt she cared about Tyler. And, in the end, that’s what mattered most.

***

“Well?”

“Well, what?” Isabella shifted her gaze, connecting with Jordan’s sparkling eyes. She wondered if he noticed the fluttering pulse in her neck as they stood in the foyer, mere inches apart.

“You and Abigail seemed to hit it off,” he said. “I assume that means the Forresters have your approval?”

“You know what happens when you assume, Jordan.”

Her voice was prim, matter-of-fact. Isabella expected him to be annoyed with her remark, and was surprised when he laughed. Deep, sexy, amused. “This isn’t funny,” she insisted, though the beginnings of a smile tugged the corners of her mouth.

Jordan noticed and laughed again, causing Isabella to break into a fit of giggles. It felt so good to share a light moment with him – for once. She held his gaze, trying to suppress her outburst, covering her mouth with her hand. A strand of hair fell from her ponytail, capturing Jordan’s attention. He reached up to touch it, his own laughter halted as he rolled the silky strand between his thumb and forefinger.

“Your hair…is beautiful,” he whispered. “You shouldn’t pull it back.”

Isabella was mesmerized by his movement as he reached around and released her hair from its band, letting it flow about her shoulders. Their eyes reconnected and Jordan slowly lowered his lips to hers…hesitant at first, sweet. He lightly brushed her cheek with his lips, then moved his kiss, feather soft, to her eyelids, before connecting again with her mouth.

She reached out, touching his taut waist, pulling him closer. He groaned. His tongue parted her lips with an urgency, darting inside, demanding her response. Isabella didn’t resist.

She couldn’t. Right now, there was no one else in this world but them. Nothing more she wanted than to forget the past, throw caution to the wind…

The door burst open and Tyler bounded inside. Jordan quickly pulled away. Isabella caught the smile on Emily’s face as she entered behind Tyler. The young boy stared up at them.

“Are you and Uncle Jordan getting married, Miss Stevens?” he asked innocently.

Mortified, Isabella smoothed her hair as she knelt beside him. “No, Tyler. We’re not getting married.” She looked to Jordan for support but he seemed at a loss for words.

“You were kissing,” Tyler insisted. “Mommy and Daddy are married, and they kiss.”

Jordan finally interjected. “Miss Stevens and I are just friends, Tyler. Sometimes friends kiss each other.”

Emily cleared her throat. “Now that’s settled, I’ve got to go visit a friend of my own.” She bent and kissed the top of Tyler’s head, winking at him as she pulled back. “You see? Your uncle Jordan was right.”

She exited quickly. Tyler made his way to the living room as a children’s program diverted his attention. He lay on the floor by the Christmas tree, resting his chin on his hands as he silently watched TV.

Isabella noticed Jordan’s gaze fixed on him.

“He looks tired,” she said. “I’ll cook an early dinner, then get him into bed.”

Jordan didn’t argue about her taking on the responsibility in the kitchen tonight, instead heading to the couch to watch the program with Tyler. And that hopeful picture, along with the still-tingling feeling from Jordan’s kiss, was enough to distract Isabella from her uncomfortable meeting with Abby Forrester.

At least for now.

***

Isabella welcomed the sharpness of the cold night air as it cooled her cheeks and cleared her head. After the unusual events today, she’d warmed a beef and potato casserole, then she, Tyler, and Jordan ate an early meal in relative quiet. Except for the few questions Jordan asked his nephew about their day at the shelter. Tyler was sleepy most of the afternoon and, after he’d had his bath, Isabella tucked him into bed. She casually mentioned that she was going for a run as she passed Jordan on her way to change into her sweats. She didn’t wait for his reply, scurrying away before she found herself alone with him again.

The moon was full and bright, illuminating the snow-covered ground. Jordan’s home was situated on four acres, twenty minutes outside the Denver city limits, and Emily lived about half a mile down the road from him. He had a long paved driveway that led through a wrought-iron gate onto the road just outside the property. As Isabella exited the gate, thoughts of Abby Forrester crept into her mind, despite her best efforts to concentrate on her jog and the icy winter scenery around her.

There was something about the woman that rubbed Isabella the wrong way. Kim Butler’s photos were so important to Abby at first, and it struck Isabella as odd how she didn’t want to take any of them, after all. Except for the one she didn’t find. Isabella made a mental note to look through the photos herself, see if Abby overlooked it somehow. Even though she dreaded seeing the images of Jordan with the woman he’d loved.

Isabella closed her eyes for a moment, replaying the mesmerizing scene this afternoon, when he released her hair…then touched his lips to her mouth, her eyes, and, oh…her neck…

Damn – she’d done it.

Jordan Butler was in her head. He commanded her attention, even when she was alone in the quiet night. She couldn’t deny there was something happening between them, though it was too confusing for even the schoolteacher in her to understand. It was physical, not academic. Although she and Jordan hadn’t gone farther than kissing – two times, but who was counting – the chemistry between them was electric.

She couldn’t help but indulge in the delicious fantasy tripping through her mind as she jogged…

Until she literally tripped – on a log, by the side of the road.

In a blink, she was flying forward, her hands reaching out to break her fall. She hit the frozen ground, a bit dazed. There were a few inches of powder with ice underneath. Isabella rolled onto her back for a moment, catching her breath. The moon was like a spotlight and she wondered if any neighbors had seen her stumble. She looked around, scrutinizing the houses within view, in the neighborhood Jordan had built. Thankfully, she seemed to have escaped the embarrassment of having witnesses to her clumsiness.

Or so she thought.

Moments later, the crunch of tires on the icy road and the familiar growl of a large engine sounded behind her. She quickly sat up and turned around to see Jordan stepping from his truck. Defeated, she flopped back in the snow, hoping he’d take the hint and go away. But she wasn’t surprised when he knelt beside her.

“Isabella, are you all right?”

She answered his question with her own questions. “Why are you out here? What about Tyler?”

“It seems to be my duty to catch you when you fall,” he quipped. “Looks like I was a little late this time.” Jordan shook his head as she shot him a humorless glance. “Emily came over. She saw you jogging past her house and thought you’d slipped on the ice just before you were out of view, so I came to check on you.” His eyes sparkled and Isabella wondered if it was anger or concern in them. Or both. “I wouldn’t leave Tyler home alone,” he finished.

Of course. Isabella knew that. Jordan was careful of Tyler’s safety – he just didn’t know what was best for him. Yet. And the part about it being Jordan’s job to catch her falls, well – Isabella’s embarrassment squelched the momentary rush she got from hearing it. Feeling like the biggest klutz on earth, she attempted to push herself to her feet.

“Oh!” she cried out, falling back and grasping her right wrist with her left hand.

Jordan cursed. “What is it?” He gently inspected her painful limb, causing her to wince. “Come on,” he said, putting his arms around her waist and lifting her to her feet. He helped her to his truck and opened the door for her. She seated herself, turning away as he got into the driver’s side. Without a word, Jordan drove down the road, toward town.

“Where are you going?” Isabella asked sharply.

“To get your wrist checked out,” Jordan replied.

“I don’t need a doctor!” She stared at his profile in the muted darkness as he continued to look straight ahead. “Really, Jordan, this is completely unnecessary.” Though her wrist throbbed, her pride hurt worse. “I’ll be fine. Please, turn around!”

Jordan glanced at her, his voice serious. “You’re staying on my property. I’m responsible for your safety and comfort. You’re injured, Isabella. I’m not taking you home until you’re seen by a doctor.”

Isabella was suddenly too tired to argue. “Yes, you’re definitely responsible,” she managed to whisper as she laid her head back against the soft leather seat and closed her eyes.

She wondered what Jordan would think if he knew what she’d been fantasizing about before taking a tumble in the snow – and was grateful the darkness in the truck hid the fiery heat in her cheeks. As they pulled up to the emergency room, Isabella grudgingly allowed Jordan to assist her inside, secretly pleased by the envious looks of some nurses. It did her self-esteem good – something she wasn’t accustomed to, since Phillip.

Nearly two hours later, Jordan and Isabella returned home. Emily pushed Isabella onto the couch and clucked over her, then headed for the kitchen to make some herbal tea. Jordan sat next to her, his eyes trained on the splint around her arm. Emily returned with the tea, then fluffed the pillows around her. Exasperated, Isabella addressed them both.

“Really, I’m all right. It’s just a slight sprain. I’ll be good as new in a few days.”

“Thank goodness it wasn’t worse,” Emily agreed. “You need rest. Drink your tea while I run a warm bath for you.”

She exited the room again and Jordan spoke for the first time since he and Isabella had left the ER.

“I’m sorry,” he said, surprising her.

“For what?”

Jordan shoved his fingers through his dark hair. “For laying a guilt trip on you, asking you to stay here until Christmas,” he said.

“Don’t apologize, Jordan,” she insisted. “I want to be here – for Tyler.”

His eyes pierced hers. “I shouldn’t have asked you to help me with my nephew.”

Emily returned and shuffled Isabella to her bath before she could respond to Jordan’s statement. As she soaked in the huge bathtub just across from Jordan’s bedroom, she played his words again in her head. What had brought this on? she wondered. She fell and suffered a minor injury. She felt like an idiot, so why was Jordan apologizing to her?

Then she remembered.

She was upset over his insistence that she see a doctor, and she inferred that he was responsible for her injury. If only he knew what she’d really meant. A smile lifted the corners of her mouth. Yes, Jordan was responsible for her tripping on that stupid log. But not in the way he thought.

She looked around, noting that Emily had placed a towel and her robe on a chair just a few feet away. She absently tried to push herself to a standing position, then cried out in pain as her wrist gave out on her. She heard the door opening and looked up, meeting Jordan’s stare. She watched his concern turn to relief, then fire. His gaze traveled down, lingering on her breasts – bare, except for the bubbles clinging to them. Her skin sparked with electricity, and she made no attempt to cover herself.

As Jordan dragged his eyes back to her face, Isabella smiled faintly. “Are you going to help me out, or not?”