Screwdriver (4 page)

She flushed at his question and tried to pull her hand out
of his. He wouldn’t relinquish his grip. Instead he tugged her closer.

“Why the blush?”

“Typical man. How on earth did you get from love and
marriage to sex?”

“It seems to me there’s an obvious connection between those
things.”

She gave him an incorrigible smile that told him she was
perfectly able to hold her own in the teasing department. “Fine. Yes, I want
sex. Lots and lots of hot, sweaty, hard sex. I think about it all the time.
Happy?”

Casey tried not to groan with pent-up need. “Hot
and
hard?”

She rolled her eyes good-naturedly. “Let go of my hand.”

He leaned forward. “No. So you think about it all the time.
You mean you have sex fantasies?”

She blew out a frustrated breath and he sucked in the scent
of her orange chicken. His mouth watered for a taste of her.

“If I tell you, will you let go of me?”

He nodded.

“Of course I have sex fantasies. Doesn’t everyone?”

“Are they hot
and
hard?”

She punched him on the shoulder with her free hand. “God,
you are such a pain in the ass.”

“Describe one of them to me.”

She tugged on her hand once more but he tightened his grip.
His cock twitched. He’d never get the fucker to go down at this point but he
didn’t care. He wanted to hear about Jordan’s naughty fantasies.

“They’re all the same.”

He was oddly disappointed. “All of them?”

“Apparently I’m boring in my fantasies too.”

“So what happens?”

She took a deep breath. “I’m always alone in my office above
the bookstore. Uh, a m-man…” She stumbled over the
man
part and Casey
instantly knew Gabriel was the star of her dreams.

“A man comes in, but he doesn’t speak. Instead he kneels in
front of me and pushes my legs apart. For some reason, I’m never wearing
panties and I’m always in a skirt. Neither of these two things is ever true but
that’s how I’m dressed in the dream.”

“I think you should go to work tomorrow in that short skirt
you bought today. And you should definitely leave off the panties.”

She grinned and then closed her eyes. Casey knew she was
seeing what came next.

“He bends forward and puts his lips on me.”

“Where?”

She shook her head.

“Tell me where he puts his mouth, Jordan.”

“My, um, my—”

“Pussy?” he whispered.

Her cheeks flushed the most delicious red. Casey wondered if
he could produce that beautiful color on other parts of her body as well.

She nodded.

“Say it, Jordan. Say the word.”

“Pussy,” she whispered, the word so quiet it was lost in the
din of the large food court.

They were in the middle of a mall, surrounded by people, but
Casey didn’t give a shit. This was the hottest conversation he’d ever had in
his life. “Then what does he do?”

“He kisses me, licks me. I’m so hot. I beg him for more, so
he pushes his fingers inside me.”

“How many fingers?”

“Two. At first. Then three. It’s a tight fit and he
stretches me, but it feels so good.”

Casey clenched his free hand into a fist. What would he give
to touch her that way?

“I beg him to take me. With more than just his fingers.”

“You want his cock?”

She nodded. He wanted to hear her say it, but he wouldn’t
press her. Yet. After today, he knew without a shadow of a doubt he wanted
Jordan in his bed. It was a foolish dream, one that was destined to ruin his
friendship with Gabriel, but he couldn’t let it go.

“He won’t give in to me. He keeps using his fingers, driving
me higher and higher until I come. It’s an amazing orgasm. I swear I see
fireworks, but when I open my eyes, he’s gone and I’m alone.”

Her eyelids slowly rose, her gaze landing on his face.

“I’m still here.” He wasn’t sure what compelled him to make
such a statement, but Jordan didn’t pull away, didn’t reject him.

“You’re here.” Her words were simple and the wishful thinker
in him heard approval in her tone.

“Jordan. I want to kiss you.”

She nodded. “I want that too. So much.”

He moved closer, his lips a millimeter from hers.

“Casey? Jordan?”

Gabriel’s voice broke the spell and reality crashed down on
Casey’s head like a ton of bricks. Fuck. What was he doing?

He turned and saw the hurt in his best friend’s eyes.

“Gabriel.” Jordan was the first to break the silence. “What are
you doing here?”

“I had a meeting.”

“Oh,” Jordan said. “That’s right. I forgot your family’s
company is a major shareholder in the mall.”

Casey was surprised by her steady voice and the distinct
lack of color in her face. She wasn’t blushing, wasn’t embarrassed to be caught
with him. Whether she realized it or not, she was playing into his original
plan perfectly. Gabriel was not happy to see them sitting together so closely,
the jealousy so thinly veiled Casey was surprised Jordan seemed oblivious to it.

“Did you change your hair?” Gabriel asked.

Jordan reached up to touch it. “Yeah. I’ve always wanted red
highlights. Casey likes them. What do you think?”

Gabriel looked at him, shooting daggers as if this new,
hotter Jordan was somehow his fault. “It looks very pretty. Of course, I liked
it the other way too.”

“You did?”

Gabriel smiled at her. “Yeah. I did. What are you two doing
here?”

“We’re just hanging out. Jordan was shopping and I offered
to come along.”

She looked at him, confusion in her gaze. Clearly she’d
expected him to call their outing a date. If he’d been smart, he would have,
but he was torn.

He wanted Gabriel to be happy. He wanted Jordan. Those two
desires were in direct opposition to each other.

Gabriel gestured to an empty chair nearby. “Mind if I join
you?”

“Not at all.” Jordan moved her packages out of the way as
Gabriel pulled the chair over and sat down.

“What are you shopping for?”

Casey gave her a friendly smile. “Jordan decided to update
her wardrobe a bit. She found some pretty smokin’ outfits. She’s going for a
new look all around.”

Gabriel frowned slightly. “What was wrong with the old
look?”

Jordan laughed and rolled her eyes. “Um, I don’t know. Maybe
everything.”

She’d clearly meant her words as a joke but they triggered
Casey’s temper. “I said the same thing, but the crazy woman doesn’t seem to
realize how pretty she is.”

Gabriel scowled. “You don’t think you’re pretty?”

Jordan blew out an exasperated breath. “I’m okay, I guess.”

Gabriel shook his head. “You’re more than okay, Jordy.”

She smiled at the nickname. “You know, you’re the only
person who’s ever called me Jordy and lived to tell the tale.”

Gabriel wiggled his eyebrows. “You realize every time you
tell me that it’s the equivalent of triple-dog-dare to keep it up. Listen, I
wanted to apologize for yesterday. I acted like an ass.”

Jordan shrugged, unconcerned. “I figured the heat just made
you crabby.”

Gabriel leaned closer and tugged on Jordan’s hair. “I don’t
get crabby.”

Jordan snorted, letting him know his words were bullshit.
“So how was your date? Or should I call it an orgy?”

Gabriel didn’t acknowledge her joke. Instead his smile
dimmed as his face sobered, becoming far too serious. “I didn’t go out with
either one of them.”

“Why not?” Jordan asked.

Casey watched the two of them converse, feeling like an
outsider. He’d invited Jordan out for the sole purpose of helping to move
things along with her and Gabriel. Now that his plan appeared to have worked,
he couldn’t help but feel…sad.

Gabriel looked at him. His gaze had lost its hardness, its
anger. “I didn’t want to go out with them.”

Jordan seemed oblivious to the change in Gabriel’s demeanor.
“Wow. Moving on so soon? I don’t think either of those women made it past the
first date, did they? You must be slowing down in your old age.”

Casey laughed at her jest. Jordan certainly had the friend
gig down pat. If she hadn’t confessed her feelings, Casey wouldn’t know of her
interest either. No wonder Gabriel had never pushed for more.

Casey’s cell phone rang. “Shit. Sorry about that.” He
recognized the number of the hardware store. “I have a feeling this is about
the part for your AC,” he said as he answered the phone.

Stepping away from the table, he spoke briefly to the clerk
about picking up the part while Gabriel and Jordan talked at the table. Gabriel
seemed friendly, lighthearted. For the moment, it appeared his old friend had
returned.

Gabriel watched Casey walk away from the table and knew his
time alone with Jordan would be short. “I really am sorry for acting like such
a prick yesterday, Jordy.”

“Gabe, it’s no big deal. You talk about your dates all the
time. If you want to start doubling up to save time—”

“Don’t. Don’t do that. Not today.”

She paused. “Do what?”

“Make a joke about my asshole lifestyle. I’ve let things get
out of control the past couple of years. God knows you’ve told me enough. I can
see that now.”

Jordan leaned back in her chair. “Wow. Who turned on the
light?”

“Casey said something yesterday and it’s sort of stuck with
me.”

She frowned. “What did he say?”

“Two things. He said you were interested in me beyond the
realm of friendship. Is that true?”

Jordan blushed and looked away. He thought he heard her
whisper, “He knew?” but he couldn’t be sure.

He turned her face to his with a finger on her chin. “Is it
true?”

She nodded.

“He also said I was going to lose you to someone else if I
didn’t open my eyes. Is that true?”

She nodded again.

“Have I already? Lost my chance with you because I was a
blind, stupid idiot?”

Her gaze drifted to Casey. “I don’t know.”

Gabriel couldn’t let her glance go without comment. “He’s a
great guy. He’d never hurt you, Jordy. I’m not sure I could say the same.
Lately, I seem to be a pretty bad bet.”

She reached out, grabbed his hands in hers. “Don’t be
ridiculous. Any girl would be lucky to fall in love with you.”

He shrugged. “You don’t see the me I show the rest of the
world.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Casey came back to the table but he didn’t reclaim his seat.
“That was the store. The part’s ready. I’m going to pick it up and head to
Books and Brew. You’ve already lost two days of business over this heat wave. I
figure you don’t want to make it three.”

Jordan started to rise but Casey waved his hand, stopping
her. “No, don’t rush. You haven’t finished your lunch. We both have our own
cars. There’s no reason why you can’t stay here. Gabe can keep you company.”

“I’d be happy to hang out.” Gabriel knew what his friend was
doing and he appreciated it. He also knew Casey didn’t want to leave her here
alone with him. Jesus. After nearly a dozen years of bachelor status and
friendship, they’d both found the perfect woman.

The
same
perfect woman.

What the fuck were they supposed to do now?

Casey waved and walked away. Gabriel couldn’t help but
notice Jordan checking out his friend’s ass during the departure. Strangely,
that covert look didn’t make him as jealous as he expected.

“There’s a charity event Friday night.”

Jordan’s attention returned to him. “I know. Sophie, our
little socialite, is on the planning committee. Isn’t it some big dinner and
dance deal at the Crawford Inn?”

Gabriel nodded. He’d been the one to offer the space for the
party. The inn had been built in the early 1900s and Casey had been
instrumental in helping him renovate it for private parties. It had a large
ballroom, a restaurant and a small pub, as well as a dozen quaint hotel rooms
for partiers who wished to stay overnight. “It’s sort of the grand opening of
the inn as well. I promised to take you on a tour of the place. Would you like
to go to the party with me?”

Jordan’s eyes widened. “It’s a thousand dollars a plate,
Gabe.”

“Which is a total rip-off because you don’t even get to keep
the plate.”

She laughed. “You know what I mean. That’s a lot of money.”

“You’re worth it.”

She sobered. “I don’t want to be part of your girlfriend
list—a name with a box beside it that you check off once you’ve been there,
done that.”

He winced at her painfully accurate description of his love
life. “There’s no box by your name, Jordan. There never will be.”

“Oh.” She bit her lip and looked around the mall.

Shit. He had a lot of crap to make up for. He’d been a
womanizing jerk for too long. Jordan was right to be distrustful of his
intentions.

“Will Casey be there?”

He nodded. He’d invited his friend personally. Told him he
deserved to hear what people said about the inn. It was a beautiful place. He
wanted Casey to revel in the praise. “He will. In fact, he’d probably give a
better tour than I could. Come with me and we’ll both show you around.”

She reached over and ran a finger down the side of his face.
The touch was innocent yet surprisingly intimate. He didn’t move. He barely
breathed, afraid to break whatever spell had prompted her to be so bold. When
she reached his chin, she blinked twice, her gaze meeting his, startled and
chagrined.

“Sorry,” she said, pulling her hand away. “I don’t know why
I—”

He gripped her wrist and pressed her palm against his cheek.
Then he reached toward her with his free hand and cupped her soft cheek. They
looked at each other for several quiet moments before he leaned forward and
rested his forehead against hers.

Her lips were close. He wanted to kiss her, but he didn’t
dare. “I don’t want to mess this up.”