Jordan paused as he headed to the door of my office. “What question did you really want to ask me earlier?”

My heart was both raw and hopeful, and though I knew it was probably a nosy question, I asked it anyway. “Where is Hunter’s mom?”

His blue eyes frosted over. “Left. Couldn’t handle it.”

“Handle what?”

“Hunter is sick.”

My hand came up to my throat. “How sick?”

Jordan shook his head and I knew. I knew.

“I’m sorry.”

I dropped my gaze to my hands. Such inadequate words. So useless. So stupid. Why had I pushed?

“Abby?” I glanced up.

“Thank you for caring.”

I nodded. “Go get some rest.”

He started to leave, paused again. “Dinner later?”

“I don’t know what time I’ll get off,” I said, feeling behind already. I’d come in an hour early and that time was now gone.

Not that I’d take any of it back, I just knew that this project was important to Jordan and didn’t want to screw it up.

“Email me when you’re done.”

“And you’ll, what, be waiting around for my message?” I rolled my eyes and sank down into my office chair, rolling it with my feet close enough to my desk to reach my keyboard.

“Something like that,” he said with a smirk.

I sighed. “You know there are advantages to having a cell phone.”

He crossed his arms, leaned against the doorframe. “Name one.”

“Sexting.”

His jaw dropped open before he turned to leave.

“Where are you going?” I called.

“To get a new phone,” he called back.

Laughing, I shook my head and got to work.

I shut down my computer and stretched my arms behind my head.

“All right?” Rich asked, knocking on the doorframe.

“I’m great,” I told him honestly. “I’m loving this job.”

“Two days in and you’ve still got the rose-colored glasses on?”

I laughed. “So far, so good.”

“You out of here?”

I nodded.

“Cool. Me too. I’ll walk you to your car, if you don’t mind. I wanted to pick your brain about the placement of the new logo on the website.”

“Sure,” I said. “I noticed the parking lot was pretty dark on Friday.”

He nodded. “I just approved a work order for new lights. They’re due to start the end of the week. In the meantime, have someone walk with you.”

I slipped my feet into my flats and picked up my purse and briefcase. “Is there a reason that everyone keeps mentioning that?”

“We had a few robberies around the time of the buyout. I think that’s why Heather brought in the new security.” He lifted a shoulder. “I haven’t heard of any issues lately, but I don’t think it hurts to be cautious.”

“Of course.” I flicked off my light, smiling. “And thank you.”

He smiled back. “It benefits me, you know. I get a little more time with that graphic design genius brain of yours.”

I scoffed. “I’m far from a genius.”

“How about a natural? If you won’t give me genius, then at least give me that.”

“You’re a charmer, aren’t you?”

He grinned. “Twenty years ago and minus one wife. Yes. Nowadays, I stick to honest.”

My cheeks felt hot, but I ignored them . . . along with the compliment. We walked down the hall, and Rich pressed the button to call the elevator. While we waited, I asked, “Doesn’t this building have any stairs? I feel like I’m always waiting for these metal death boxes.”

He snorted but nodded to a door I hadn’t noticed before. It was tucked into the corner near the bank of elevators. “Right there. But this old man has bad knees, five flights and I wouldn’t be walking for the rest of the week.”

“Oh no,” I said. “What happened?”

“Football. And too much of it.”

The doors dinged open and we got on. “I hear that can be a brutal sport.”

“It sure can,” he said, then grimaced. “Without risking monopolizing your after-work hours, can I get your opinion on the logo placement?”

I pictured the mock-up of the website the junior designers had emailed just before the end of the day. There was a lot of good in it: fun colors, clear tabs and font, but the logo wasn’t right.

“I don’t think it’s the placement so much as the proportions. It’s too big.”

Rich pulled out his phone, accessed the link, and held it up so I could see the screen. “Damn, if you’re not right.”

“Words a woman lives to hear.”

“Don’t I know it?” We shared an amused gaze as he put his phone away.

“So tell me about this wife of yours.”

“Well, she . . .”

I listened as we rode down, laughing at Rich’s description of his wife and kids and their latest vacation, then at the misadventures of a new puppy at home that the three kids “just had to have.”

“So then the dog took off through the house, one stiletto in his mouth, a pair of my daughter’s underwear around his neck, just as she and her new boyfriend walked through the front door.”

We were both chuckling as we walked off the elevator and into the lobby.

“Oh.” Rich paused then patted my arm. “I don’t think my escort services are needed. See you tomorrow.” He turned for the exit.

I hardly saw him go.

Because my eyes were on Jordan.

Whose smile took my breath away. I found that I couldn’t make my feet move, not toward him, not away. I just stood still and waited for him to approach, my heart thudding. Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

“Hi,” I whispered when he was close.

“Hi.” He put out his arms as though to hug me. “No deodorant. I promise.”

I laughed, the spell that had surrounded me shattering. “Thank God for that.”

“I got something for you,” he said, taking my briefcase and my purse, slinging the former over his shoulder and holding the latter in his fist. I marveled again at how he made it seem so small.

Then again, what was the saying? Large hands, large . . . hammer?

I huffed out a laugh and Jordan gaze skimmed over me.

“You’ll have to share what’s so funny with me later,” he said.

“Not happening.” I grinned when he frowned. “What are you doing here? I thought you were waiting for my email.”

“With bated breath.” He tangled my fingers with his. “Don’t you want to know what I got you?”

“Sure. But I like surprises too.”

“Noted.” He released my hand and reached into his pocket.

What he pulled out made me laugh.

“Isn’t that more for you than me?” I asked of the shiny new cell phone.

“It is if you hold up your end of the sexting bargain.”

My cheeks went red-hot. “Now wait a minute. I never said—” I broke off when I caught his mischievous expression and smacked his chest. “You’re terrible.”

“You like it,” he teased and held the door for me as we left the lobby.

“Nope.” But I did. I liked this version of Jordan a whole lot.

I could only hope he stuck around for a long, long time.

Or maybe even indefinitely.