She Belongs to Me (20 page)

She looked in the mirror and wondered if it was too much. She sucked in a breath and wondered if her new husband found her as sexy as she felt.

When she arrived at the restaurant, Jordan was leaning against a wall, arms folded over his chest, legs crossed at the ankles. She couldn’t help but imagine he looked like a 007 agent and anticipated an English accent to emerge from his lips, with a little country twang, naturally.

He was dressed in a dark suit with a crisp white shirt and a tie clearly selected to complement her gown. His smile lit up his entire face when he saw her. She wondered how many women
had
already attempted to proposition him, but his smile was for her, and it was apparent he liked what he saw.

“Wow…” he drew out the word. Warmth filled her cheeks, no longer an unusual occurrence. He reached his hand out to brush it across her cheek. “You look amazing. Not that you don’t always, but I was correct, that green on you is breathtaking, and your skin is radiant, my little Florida girl.”

Over dinner, Jaynee learned more about Jordan, more than she ever knew about her previous boyfriend in their three years together.

She knew any minute her alarm would detonate, and it would be time for college and then work and that cycle would repeat daily. But for now, she was inside a gondola, traversing the waters around the hotel. What a magical place he had chosen.

Her thoughts drifted while leaning back in Jordan’s embrace. She was nervous about meeting his family. What would they think? Would they accept her? Would they think she was crazy? That thought calmed her a bit. They couldn’t think her crazy without thinking Jordan insane as well. Luckily, they couldn’t accuse her of being pregnant after only a few days, even though she knew some would…why else would anyone marry so quickly?
Love
… she giggled to herself.

Jordan glanced down. “What’s funny?” He smiled and pulled her tighter.

“Nothing, I was just thinking how crazy this all feels.” She peered up at him. “Good crazy,” she amended.

He nodded in understanding and rested his chin on her head, relaxing with her in his arms while the gondolier did the work.

Her thoughts returned to their whirlwind romance. Did anyone believe in true love or love-at-first-sight? Jordan alleged it was something mor
e powerful, and she had felt it
too. The electricity that soared through her and still did every time he touched her, but would it be
enough to make them last? Jordan had a dog and cat. What would they think? Okay, she had lost her senses…she was worrying about animals for Pete’s sake!

She nestled into him further. She wouldn’t agonize over the inconsequential. She would just breathe in his affection, accepting he knew best.

The next morning when she awoke in Jordan’s arms again, he was already awake as usual, just lying back staring at the ceiling.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked when he looked down at her.

He pulled her chin up to kiss her. “You, mostly, how fortunate I feel…but also how I’m going to get you to
wakeup
earlier?” His mouth turned up in a sideways grin.

“What time is it?”

“Seven.”

Her eyes shot up. “That’s late?”

“Seven…
Pacific Time
…and when you have to be ready by eight, it is. I am an early riser, Jaynee, usually between three and four.”

She scowled at him. “So, you have just been lying here these mornings,” she paused, thinking through the days…had it been three mornings, no, four she thought, “waiting for me to wake?” She rather liked that, but it still embarrassed her.

He tightened his grip around her. “Actually, yes, I enjoy you waking in my arms.” Once again, his charm curbed any frustration.

She traced circles on his bare chest. “So, what are we doing today?” she asked, knowing he wouldn’t divulge his plans.

He flashed an enormous smile. “Nope…It’s a surprise….you said surprises were acceptable.”

“Okay then….what should I wear?”

“Jeans and a shirt will be fine, but bring the jacket.”

She attempted to roll out of his arms, and he stopped her. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“But you said…”

“We have a few minutes to play around.” He rolled her over on her back and nuzzled her neck while moving his hands across her body. “Just
a foreshadow
of later…unless you could get ready in fifteen minutes.”

“I think I can manage.” She shivered as his hand
trailed down her neck and sides,
n
ot fr
om cold, but from the
goosebumps
his fingers raised on her flesh.

It was fifty-five minutes later. She
’d finished her shower,
had just pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and was stepping into her flip-flops as he pushed her out the door.

“Hey, mister, it’s your fault we’re running late.
Stop being so pushy.”

He pulled the door closed behind them. “I didn’t hear any disagreements from you,” he teased.

“How could you? You seemed completely, otherwise absorbed,” she offered, giggling.

“I’ll rephrase. It didn’t feel as if you had any complaints.”

“I didn’t.” She latched onto his arm and let him drag her down the hall.

He grabbed the elevator door before it closed, pulled her in and pressed the button for the lobby. When it landed, he led her through the atrium to the entryway. Once outside, he spotted a limo and walked toward it, pulling her in his wake.

“We’re taking a limo?” she asked, the shock in her voice apparent. Would he ever cease to amaze her? The night of their wedding she
’d
expected as much, but what
could they
be doing today that warranted a limousine.

He scooted next to her in the backseat of the stretched Lincoln. “Yep, but that’s not the surprise.” He turned to the driver. “Don’t suppose you could run through a drive-through, could you? My wife gets irritable without her latte and muffin in the morning.”

He reached his hand through the opening, handing the driver
,
which surely must have been a generous tip
,
because he smiled saying, “Whatever you
want
,
sir
.
W
e have plenty of time.”

Jordan turned back to Jaynee with a Cheshire grin and a wink. Yep, he was accustomed to getting his way.

Fifteen minutes later, they pulled into the parking lot of an airport. The chauffeur parked alongside other limos and cars, next to a metal building advertising Helicopter Flights over the Grand Canyon. Scores of people milled around awaiting instruction.

“We’re going in a helicopter?” It was impossible to contain the excitement in her voice.

His eyes brightened at her enthusiasm. “Yes, will you like that?”

“Heck yeah, I will!” She practically jumped up and down. “My dad was a pilot, amongst other things. When I was fifteen, he taught me to fly his Cessna. But I always wanted to go up in a helicopter,” she shrieked, unable to contain her overwhelming delight.

A gentleman approached, directing them to the front office where they needed to review their itinerary and supply copies of their drivers’ licenses. In no time, they were boarding a chopper. The pilot, Jonathan, went over safety information, putting everyone at ease—but mostly the other couples who looked as if they might get sick.

Jonathan was comforting, assuring everyone the weather was perfect for a flight, and it should be smooth sailing.

As the helicopter took flight, Jaynee squeezed Jordan’s hand. He rubbed small circles into the back of her hand, reassuring her of his presence. The sensual action soothed her, and soon she forgot about the flight. Heck, she almost forgot to look at the scenery.

The pilot was entertaining and informative, taking every opportunity to break into the prerecorded information inserting his own personal anecdotes about Nevada’s history and his personal experiences of the region. He remembered everyone’s name, and when there was a point of interest on that person’s corresponding side, he would use their name as he pointed it out.

Jonathan directed their attention to Lake Meade as they passed over the lake and all its tributaries, explaining how for a change of venue you could rent a houseboat and vacation there opposed to the typical
hotel stay. Jaynee wondered if he was giving Jordan ideas…as if he needed any. He also pointed out the Hoover Dam named after President Herbert Hoover after years of politics and countless debates over naming the structure Boulder Dam or Hoover Dam.

Forty-five minutes into flight, Jaynee felt them drop. She winced, and Jordan was quick to notice and explain. “We are descending into the canyon. It’s about a three thousand foot drop, and we’ll be able to get out, have lunch and look around.”

She never thought for a second that she’d be able to walk on the canyon floor. But then again, everything Jordan did managed to surprise her.

Lunch was delightful. They sat under Native American structures evidently built just for such purpose and ate from individual picnic baskets. Each lunch included champagne to toast the adventure. Jordan took a sip of his then slid his glass in front of her.

On their return flight, the pilot flew over the strip. What amazed Jaynee was how the surrounding desert seemed dead and desolate, and then Las Vegas appeared. It must be beautiful to fly into at night, she thought.

63

Jaynee rested her hands on her hips. “Dare I ask?” she mused as they arrived back at the hotel four hours later.

“What do you mean?” Jordan said innocently, wrapping his arms around her waist and leading her into the lobby.

“What you have planned next,” she teased, “dining in Paris, skiing in the Swiss Alps?”

His eyebrows shot up. “Would you like that? I’m sure that could be arranged.”

She burst out in a laugh. “No, I would not! It was meant to be funny, Jordan. I just meant you are so chock-full of surprises as if you are going off some menu from a book, ‘how to make a girl fall in love with you in ten days or less’.”

“Ah, but that was ‘
How to Lose a Guy
’.” He chuckled. “I won a girl, and I believe I did it in three.”

“Uh—” she started to speak, but he held his finger up for her to hold that thought as he motioned for the valet to retrieve their car.

Then, he continued before she had an opportunity to voice her opinion. “Actually it was instantaneous…it just took three days for you to acknowledge your feelings,” he said, a smile in his voice.

She sighed, exasperated, it was no use. He was r
ight;
he was always right. “So…where are we going as you clearly just requested the car?” she asked again.

“Shopping, we need to get you some cold-weather clothes. Not that I don’t love the cute little sundresses, shorts and flip-flops. They’re just not practical in North Carolina year round; it gets rather cold in the winter.” He pulled her closer while they waited for their car.

She leaned back so she could look at his face. “Jordan, really…I can purchase my own clothing
;
I do have money. We don’t have to squander time shopping.”

“You’re right, you do…half of everything I have, and I expect you to use it. But, I
want
to go shopping with you, and I’m afraid it won’t be as simple when we return home.” His brow furrowed as if he
were
contemplating the situation.

Jaynee didn’t like the sound of that. “Won’t we have time together?”

His expression turned worried as if she would run away from him in that instant. How could he not perceive the hold he already had over her. “Yes, I didn’t mean we wouldn’t see each other. It’s just...I’ve been gone so long. I know there will be a lot of catching up.”

She leaned into his side. The last thing she wanted him to think was that she was needy. “I understand.” Clearly, Jordan was an extremely busy man, and yet, he was taking additional time off work. “Well, you don’t return until Monday. So we better enjoy the remainder of our week, don’t you agree?” she encouraged, reaching up on her tiptoes and pecking him on the cheek.

The look in
his eyes warmed up. “I do. And
we need to get you another dress. We’re going dancing tonight.”

Their car was pulled up outside, and Jordan nudged her through the doors to their rental. As he held the passenger door for her to enter, he exchanged a tip for the keys. The young valet’s eyes beamed with appreciation. Jaynee shook her head. He wasn’t just like this with her; he was like this with everyone. He seemed to brighten up the room wherever he went with his smile. She wondered again how he had escaped the clutches of some prettier, richer girl than herself. She had done nothing to entice him to fall in love with her.