Finding Jordie: Things aren't always what they seem. (The Love Lies Bleeding Series Book 1) (22 page)

“Nathan! Really, I don’t, I don’t like being pinned down this way.” I tried my damnedest not to sound like I was in a panic. I guess I didn’t do that great of a job because he hopped off of me immediately and I turned over quickly.

“This way better?” When he got back on top of me I noticed a hint of sorrow in his expression.

“Ah yes, much better.” I gave my best smile while I fought off the bad memories. It wasn’t very hard to do once Nathan began to kiss me everywhere, and I was lost in a matter of seconds.

It was just about two in the afternoon when I woke up. Nathan was still asleep next to me so I snuck out of bed to use the bathroom. When I washed my hands I noticed the two toothbrushes next to one another and smiled. I grabbed the bathrobe off the hook and left the room quietly. Coffee was already made and there was a breakfast buffet set up. Silver tins and everything.

“Fancy,” I muttered and took a sip of coffee. I saw Frank out on the balcony in a lounge chair and headed out there.

“What a view,” I observed out loud.

“Good afternoon, Jordie.” He nodded.

I lit a cigarette and smiled. “Good afternoon, Frank. Is everything still okay with Emma?” Even I could hear the stress in my voice.

“Never better,” he assured me. “Nate still asleep?”

“Like a log.” I laughed. “Frank, would you mind if I used your phone for a sec? I don’t want to wake Nathan up by going back in for mine.”

“Of course.” He handed me his phone.

I dialed Rachel and her voice mail picked up.

“Rach, it’s me. I need you to reconcile the till from last night and drop a bank bag for me. I’m so sorry to put this on you—I’ll make it up to you by paying for half your plane ticket to Egypt. I just really need you right now until I get all this straightened out. I love you. Holler.”

I handed Frank back his phone. “This is one bad ass phone you have here, big guy.”

“Top of the line security right there. Uncrackable, untraceable, un... unbelievable. I can’t believe I didn’t think of this last night.”

“Uhhh what?” I shook my head, confused.

“Oh, it’s nothing.” He scowled as he dug through his bag and pulled out a notepad.

I made my way over to the buffet and snuck a peek under one of the tin covers.
Yummy, pancakes!
I took a plate and put a pancake on it.

“Did you change your house and cell phone number from your house line?” Frank was still scowling.

“What are we talking about?” Nathan joined us.

It took every ounce of self-control not to throw myself at him. He looked so damn sexy in his jeans hanging below that muscle line, no shirt, barefoot, and the “I got laid a few times” hair.

“Frank was just asking me where I changed my phone numbers from. Yes, I did it from the house phone.”

“Jordan, write down your old numbers here, please.” He handed me the notepad. He pulled his cell out of his pocket and speed dialed someone. “Excuse me, you two,” he said when I handed him the notebook back.

“Uh, Frank needs some more sleep I think.”

“Maybe.” Nathan followed Frank with his eyes. Once Frank was out of sight he looked back at me. “Afternoon, love.” He kissed the top of my head and pulled the tie on my bathrobe.

“What are you
doing
?” I laughed nervously with a mouthful of pancake.

“He won’t be back for a bit. He’s onto something. I know that look.” He slipped his hands around my waist between the robe and my nighty. He went to kiss me but I had to stop him.

“Nathan! I need to swallow my food.” I laughed even harder.

He looked up in the air and tapped his foot jokingly.

“Not here!” I smacked his arm lightly.

“Okay.” He pouted, closed up my robe, and turned to the coffee bar. He fixed a cup of coffee, took my hand, and led me out on to the balcony. It was cold out there but there was one of those heated lamp things that looks like a metal umbrella over to the right. I hadn’t noticed it earlier. He led me over that way and sat down, tugging me onto his lap. “You know what?” His eyes were wide with excitement.

“What?” I answered, just as excited.

“I love you.” He smirked.

“I love you, too.” I leaned into his shoulder, resting my head on it.

“When I woke up and you weren’t there, for a second I panicked. I couldn’t get my bearings straight. But then when I rolled over I could smell you on the pillow and I was calm.” He exhaled loudly and ran his fingers through his hair. “You’re stuck with me, Jordan. I got it bad.” He smiled up at me.

I kissed his neck.

“You’re who I have been waiting for. A week ago, when people asked me where I saw myself in ten years I’d say something silly like eating at the In-N-Out, old, fat, and alone. From now on when someone asks me where I will be ten years from now, I’ll say with the only love of my life and her great kid.” He leaned his head against mine.

If it was at all possible to combust from happiness I would have at that moment. Sure there was some lunatic out there who tore up my apartment and wardrobe, did a profoundly disgusting thing to my undies, and was apparently stalking me. But that blue-eyed gorgeous man had somehow made that all disappear. I knew I was self-sufficient enough that I could deal with the situation if I was alone, but he made it... bearable.

“And maybe a kid or two of my own.” He grinned and derailed my entire train of thought with that one. I gave him a quick kiss, moved from his lap to the chair next to him, and lit a cigarette.
Kids. Could you imagine having another kid after all these years? You are too old to be running around after kids. Although, they would be some adorable kids. I bet Nathan would be a great dad. How would Emma feel? All she knows about her father is he held her a few times, went back out to war, and died when she was around one. Would Nathan treat her differently than his own child? Of course he would, she isn’t his kid. Ugh. Just stop.

“Not that we are actually having this discussion one week in here, but I’m too old to have any more kids, Nathan. You should consider that before we take this any further if you want children.” I stared past him out at the view of the city.

“We aren’t discussing this now but if we were, you are not too old to have more kids, Jordan.”

“Yes, I am. I don’t want to be like fifty at my kid’s graduation.” I rolled my eyes.

“Whatever you say, Jordie.” He gave a small laugh.

Frank appeared by the door, putting the kibosh on that conversation. Thank the Lord.

“Excuse me.” He stepped out onto the balcony. “Jordan, would you mind if I met an old buddy of mine at your place today? I’d like to have something checked out.”

“Yeah, sure. No problem. Can you give me like fifteen minutes? I’d like to come with you. I need to start cleaning up. I want to have it finished before Emma gets home tomorrow.” I put out my smoke and stood up. Nathan and Frank exchanged glances. I could have sworn Frank gave a little head nod but who knows. Maybe I was just being paranoid.

“Yeah, fifteen minutes. We’ll join you.” Nathan got to his feet. “Then you can explain whatever it is you have up your sleeve,” he said to Frank as we walked back in.

WHEN WE PULLED UP
to my building I sighed at how undisturbed it looked from the outside. Last I’d seen it, there was police tape all around. Now there was no sign of any trouble. There were a few paps out there, including Todd. He stood against the small tree on the sidewalk holding a manila envelope. Frank and Ronnie pushed the eager photogs back.

“Nate, Jordie! You need to see this!” Todd shouted as he waved the envelope in the air. Nathan told Frank to let him up in a few minutes, as long as he agreed to no camera and off the record. I got to my door upstairs, took a deep breath, and unlocked it. When I opened it I was shocked once again.

“Who? How? When?” I spun around to face Nathan and he shrugged nonchalantly.

“I don’t know.” He smirked.

Liar.

The place was immaculate. The pictures were all reframed and hung on the wall just as they were before the break in. Everything that had been scattered around the place was in perfect order. I went inside and stalked into the kitchen. It was as if nothing had happened. I opened the cabinet to find all new glasses and the next one I opened had new dishes stacked neatly.

“Nathan, seriously. How?” I was bewildered.

“Frank called a crew he knows in Staten Island. They worked all day, finished about an hour ago. Jordie, we couldn’t let you do this. It would be too hard for you to...”

“It would be too hard to clean up my apartment? Nathan, honestly, I appreciate this, but it’s too much. This is over the top. How much did this cost? I’m not loaded like you.”
Whoops.
I sounded like a true ingrate.

He stared at me like I just kicked his puppy or something.

“Ahhhhhh, no, don’t look at me like that, please. I’m sorry. You just need to understand, I’m not used to other people fixing my problems. I have been on my own for
so long.
” I walked over and wrapped my arms around him.

“So have I, Jordan. I’ve been doing things for myself
alone
for a long time as well. I want to do things for you. I want to make you happy.”

“You already do make me happy, the happiest I have ever been in my life, Nathan. I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to come off ungrateful.” I crinkled my eyebrows while I attempted to find the right words. “I guess I just need to adjust to not having to do things alone.”

“You know, the money comment wasn’t necessary.” He scowled at me.

“It kind of was. You’re spending an obscene amount of money on security, hotels, clothes, and now this?” I made a hand gesture around the apartment.

He looked down at me. “If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t pay for the apartment clean up.”

“Uhh, who did then?” My tone made it clear that I thought he was full of shit.

He bent to whisper in my ear. “Frank did.”

“Oh no!” I tried to back out of his arms, but he squeezed me tighter.

“Don’t, Jordie. I promised him I wouldn’t tell you.”

“What? Why? Why would he do all this for me?” I asked.

“Shhh, because he feels as if he failed, and this is the least he could do to try and make it less stressful for you.” He said it quickly as we heard Frank and Todd coming in.

Todd held up the envelope I’d noticed earlier. “Here, these are some pics I took last night. I stopped in to see Isobel on her break. When we were outside she told me the guy that stole her camera was in the bar just a few minutes prior, but he left. I was just about to leave when we spotted the guy walking back past the bar and she pointed him out. I was going to approach him but he looked... well, he looked fucking crazy, man. So I just stayed back and tailed him and took these.” Todd handed Nathan the envelope. “I kept up with him to the end of the block. When I turned the corner he had disappeared. I looked everywhere. He’d just vanished.”

Nathan handed the photos to Frank one by one as he looked at them. “Get your guy on this, please.”

“He’s already on the way.” Frank’s mouth was set in a straight line.

“Please bill me for whatever this is you are doing,” I said.

Nathan just smiled at me and shook his head. “Okay, Jordan.” His rueful smile told a whole different story though.