Meeting Jordan

 

                        CHAPTER 8

MAZIKEEN.

  “I don't know…unless you're saying our meetings tonight have been nothing but coincidences….”

“They are,” I replied quickly.“I don't even know who you are.”

He pursed his sinfully full lips as he studied me silently for a few seconds then nodded,as if satisfied.

Then he grabbed his drink and drained the whole thing in one breath.

“What do you think about my performance ?”

“I…it was good,” I sighed to still myself. Why was I so on edge around this man?

“You’re Spanish?”

“Do I look Spanish?”

I shrugged. “I don't know…I don't think Spanish people have a specific look.”

There it was,the smile;no, grin…even better.

My heart stuttered as I took in his straight teeth,and the dimple on his left cheek.

“My mother's from Granada.” He finally answered,his gaze never once straying from my face.

“What's your name?”

“What's yours?” I threw back,and he smiled again.

“I'm Jordan,and you are...?”

It hurt, my throat cinching as I raised my hand and wiggled my fingers in his face, “and I'm engaged.”

Jordan stared at the ring on my finger for seconds that felt like minutes then chuckled as he leaned his side against the counter.

“What's that gotta do with me—or anything?”

“I…I just thought it'd be good to mention it before you start getting any ideas.”

His eyes lowered and my breath caught in my throat.

God,he was so painfully beautiful.

“What kind of ideas are we talking about here?”

“None.” I blurted out dryly as I finished my drink and turned away.

“Would it make it better if I told you that I was already getting ideas from when I saw you at the food stall?” He asked, following after me as I rushed towards the exit.

“Oh yeah? Is that why you acted like you didn't notice me then?”

He laughed,a soft, rich sound.“Oh I noticed you alright, I just thought you were following me.”

Again,I felt my brow furrow as we stepped outside and I shot him a sideways glance. “Why'd you even think that?”

Jordan shrugged. “I saw you follow me to the food stall,then I saw you at the street corner and then in the karaoke ba…”

“Do you always think the world revolves around you?”

“Usually,yes…but I'm guessing you don't think that.”

I scoffed. “Do know you're being a creep right now,Jordan?…you're the one following me.”

“I'm aware.” came the simple reply and for some reason it made me want to chuckle,but I didn't.

I adjusted the strap of my purse on my shoulder as I tried not to breathe in too much of his scent….it was something far more alluring than citrus—it was something more intimate.

“You smell really nice,” he whispered like he'd heard my thoughts about him,and I cleared my throat as heat licked through me, making my face and my neck hot.

“Thanks?”

He chuckled. “You're welcome—you still haven't told me your name though.”

I don't know why I did it,but before I could think better about it,I blurted out, “Shayla.”

I cast him a sideways glance as we crossed the busy street and our eyes met.

He nodded, “so where’re you headed?”

“Home—to my man.” I answered and there was that knowing grin again.

“Why do you keep mentioning him so much? Seems like you're trying to overcompensate for something….are you quite happy with him, darling?”

I huffed out a breath as I shook my head at him. “How's that the first thing you think about,rather than the fact that I probably love him a lot and that's why I keep mentioning him? Perhaps that's why I'm trying to get you off my back?”

“If you want me to leave you alone,just say that.”

“Y.. you're literally following me around like a…a dog,” I blurted and Jordan chuckled deeply again,longer,until I began to wonder what was so funny.

“You've yet to tell me to leave you alone, Shayla…just say those words and I'll poof! disappear.”

“Well you…” I trailed off at my phone's sudden buzzing, feeling my heart sink with nerves as I fished it out of my purse.

I panicked inwardly when I saw Graylin's name flashing across the screen,and I swallowed at the thought of him, pacing around angrily,wondering where I was.

My wrists tingled from the memory of the last time he'd gotten really upset with me, and I'd been ignoring his texts all evening—he was probably beyond pissed.

“Hey,you alright?” Jordan queried as I watched the call end, a worried tilt in his voice.

“I have to go,” I told him, already ordering a ride.

“My car's packed in front of that stall,” he replied, pointing in that direction. “I can drive yo…”

“No.”

“Oh,” he nodded then sighed as I finished my order and put the phone in my purse, before looking up at him.

He was rocking lightly on his feet in a back and forth motion, watching me like he could see more than I was showing.

I self-consciously brushed a hand over my sleeked back hair, fiddling with the ponytail end under his heated scrutiny.

“I really wanna see you again, Shayla,” he murmured in the softest voice I'd ever heard a man use,it was so dang potent—I wanted him to keep speaking to me like that,wanted that velvet voice to whisper to me while I drifted off to sleep.

My thudded in my chest with so much force,I wondered if he could hear it.

“I…” I opened my mouth to tell him that it wouldn't work,I was getting married soon. But the words got stuck in my throat as I stared into his eyes,the nearby street lights, bouncing across his beautiful features.

“Give me your phone,” I told him. And he immediately pulled it out of his left side pocket and handed it to me,a small, happy smile on his face as I took it and typed my number in.

“Text me, tomorrow…not tonight.”

He seemed to ponder the last part for a split second as he took his phone back,but he didn't point it out.

“You sure you don't need that ride? Offer still stands.”

I couldn't help but smile. “My ride will be here in five minutes—bye Jordan.”

He lifted his hand in a silent wave then turned away, casting one look back as he walked off.

I felt the sudden urge to run after him and throw my arms around him.

But I tamped it down as I let out a sigh.

“Get it together, Maze.”