Chapter 21

Luke had been on a four-day streak of waking up with a beautiful woman beside him, and he had zero complaints.

He really didn’t complain about the way she’d taken to waking him up—slow, hot kisses on his chest, her slim hand stroking his cock to readiness before she’d climb on top for dream-like woman-on-top sex.

This morning, though, he woke up first. Jordan was the first woman he’d slept with who wasn’t a cuddler and, as was her usual, had wiggled her way over to the far side of the bed, messy hair splayed across his pillow.

She always started the night cuddling, her cheek on his shoulder, but sometime during the middle of the night she liked her space.

He was happy to give it to her, but for now his body had something a bit closer in mind.

Luke moved over to her side of the bed, careful not to disturb the blankets too much. He’d left the window open a crack last night, and the crisp chill in the air signaled that summer was now officially behind them.

He shoved the thought aside. The passing of seasons meant the passing of time; the passing of time meant Jordan’s inevitable departure.

His hand found the soft fabric covering her waist. The past few days, she’d started bringing a bag with her when she came over in the evening, which meant nightgowns instead of nakedness.

He liked naked Jordan better, but he couldn’t complain about the way the silky fabric clung to her lithe curves. Luke kissed her shoulder as his hand slid down over her hip to her knee, back up again, taking the nightgown with him until his fingertips hit the lace edge of her underwear.

She stirred awake, and he moved closer, lips finding the warm column of her neck as his fingers teased back and forth along her hip.

“Morning,” she murmured, arching her back slightly so her butt pressed against his hardening cock in invitation.

He loved this about her—the way her desire matched his own, the most responsive woman he’d ever touched.

His hand drifted up over her side, kneaded her breast in slow, easy caresses until she gave a frustrated groan and reached up to shove the nightgown strap off her shoulder.

He accepted the invitation, palm touching bare skin, fingers finding her nipple and pinching it lightly, feeling it harden at his touch.

Jordan moved against him until he realized she’d wiggled out of her underwear, as eager as he.

She tilted her hips back once more, her wet readiness brushing against him, and though his body ached to thrust home, to take her from behind, he wanted to savor her even more.

Luke eased Jordan to her back, his tongue sliding over her nipple. Her hands lifted to his head, but he gently wrapped his fingers around her wrists, pinning her hands to the bed while his mouth teased one nipple, then the other, until she was writhing beneath him.

Her body was his, and they both knew it.

His hands still on hers, holding her helpless, he slid down her body. Her arching movement had caused the silky slip to ride up around her waist, and Luke skimmed right over it until his tongue was poised over her wet heat.

He paused, waiting until he heard his name on her lips in a soft plea. The second he did, he touched her with his tongue, a lingering kiss that had her hips bucking off the bed.

Luke buried his face between her thighs, his shoulders spreading her wide so he could discover every spot that made her moan, the taste of her imprinting on his memory.

Jordan’s hands tugged beneath his, but he held her still, taking control of her body until she shattered against his mouth, her cries echoing off the walls.

Luke pressed a last kiss against her inner thigh before moving up her body, grabbing for a condom on the nightstand, rolling it on even before she caught her breath.

He hooked his arms beneath her legs, nudging her knees upward before burying himself all the way inside her.

Every part of Jordan’s body welcomed his completely as she surrounded him with her legs, arms, and her tight warmth.

He paused, just for a moment, eyes squeezed shut as he pressed his face against her neck, let himself be present, knowing his moments like this with her were limited.

Jordan must have sensed it too, because her arms wrapped around him even tighter than usual, her fingers grasping at him in ways that went beyond physical need.

He’d meant to take her fast and hard, and though his body ached for release, he needed something else even more—to make it last.

Luke pulled back slowly, but instead of thrusting hard, pushed back in just as slowly, so they both groaned.

He held out as long as he could at the torturous pace, until her nails were digging into his back, until his arms shook with the effort of his restraint.

Jordan’s hands moved from his shoulders to cup his face, the tender gesture so intimate that his chest tightened.

She tugged his face down to hers, kissing him with unabashed passion, and his restraint shattered.

He took them over the edge, capturing her moans with a kiss, even as she did the same for him, as though the real pleasure came from experiencing the other person’s.

When the bliss subsided, Luke ordered his body to roll off hers, but his body disobeyed, reluctant to move any sooner than he had to.

Finally, Jordan wiggled beneath him with a little laugh, pushing on his shoulders. “All right there, big firefighter. Can’t breathe.”

He let her push him off, and she rolled onto her side, one hand propped beneath her head, blond hair a sexy mess as she grinned down at him.

Luke tried to grin back and failed. Not because he wasn’t happy, but…well, because he was too aware that the days of feeling happy like this were numbered.

She seemed to understand, because her smile faltered a little, her eyes pleading with him not to force that conversation. Not yet, not now.

“I brought my running stuff,” she said in a husky voice. “If you’re interested.”

“In kicking your ass?” he said, rallying to keep the mood light even as his chest felt heavy. “I still maintain you cheated yesterday. Insisted I bring the dog, who slowed me down on the home stretch.”

“Pathetic, blaming poor Winston,” she said, rolling over to the edge of the bed and standing, arms stretched above her head, before she reached for her overnight bag.

Apparently hearing his name, Winston thumped at the other side of the door.

Luke sighed and rolled out of bed as well. “Guess that’s my cue. Coffee before or after the run?”

“Coffee before, breakfast after,” she said, shimmying out of her nightgown and pulling on a black sports bra.

Luke was pulling on running shorts when Jordan’s cell rang. She dug around in her purse until she came up with the iPhone, her face wincing at the name on the caller ID. “It’s my boss.”

Ah. “She’s up early.”

Jordan shrugged, her eyes still on the screen. “Not so much. It’s past eight in New York.”

New York.

Her home.

“I’ll get the coffee started,” he said, acting casual as he pulled a running shirt over his head. “Take your time with the phone call.”

Luke stepped into the hallway, closing the door just as he heard her say, “Raven, hi!” in a tone that was far too bright and false.

There was a tension in her voice, and he understood it. Work was paying for her to be in Montana to recruit him—not sleep with him. And no matter how bright her smile, he knew her well enough now to see the guilt that lurked in her eyes. The tension written all over her face at the knowledge that they were on borrowed—no, stolen—time.

Winston’s wagging tail thumped against Luke’s leg, and Luna made a rare upstairs appearance, meowing loudly and rubbing against his other shin.

As though the animals were trying to reassure him that they’d still be here when she left.

And he never doubted for one second: Jordan would leave.

“What the hell, Jordan,” her boss said into her ear. “I’ve been trying to get ahold of you for days.”

Raven sounded annoyed but not pissed, which was better than Jordan had expected.

“I know, I’m sorry. I’ve…”

What?

Been spending more time with Luke—in bed?

Learning that not only was Luke not a candidate for Jilted but neither were his first two brides? That one was happily married, the other a lesbian in love with her best friend?

That she should have been back in New York days ago?

Maybe even weeks ago?

“It’s been busy,” she said, wincing at the lie as she pulled on running pants. “And, actually, Raven, there’s something…I want to be honest.”

“ ’Kay,” Raven said distractedly. “Hold on just a sec.”

Jordan put on a running shirt as she listened to her boss’s muffled voice order her usual triple grande almond soy latte.

“Okay, sorry. What’s up—I know that tone. You’re feeling guilty about something.”

Jordan took a breath. “I’m wondering if I can retroactively take the past week as personal time. I haven’t been working as much as I should, and it feels wrong to pretend that I’ve been here completely for work purposes.”

Raven made an intrigued sound. “Jordie, baby. You having a fling with a cowboy? That’s delicious.”

Jordan winced. “You sound like Simon.”

Raven cackled. “No denial, I love it. Look, do whatever you want to do about the past week; you’re entitled to a vacation, and nobody’s going to lose their shit that you dinked around in Montana on the company dime. I’ve seen your expense reports—it’s not like you’re ordering expensive champagne in a five-star Paris resort and calling it work.”

Yeah, but I’m sleeping with the candidate. So much worse.

Before she could figure out how to tell her boss that, Raven threw her a curveball.

“I’m actually glad you got some break time in,” Raven was saying, “because shit’s about to get crazy.”

“How do you mean?” Jordan said with a frown.

“So you’re off the hook on the firefighter, because I think we found an even better candidate for season one, and the execs are ecstatic.”

“Really? Who?” Jordan asked, her professional pride stinging a bit at the realization that she hadn’t come through the way she should have.

“He was basically dropped in our laps. I’ll fill it all in when I get there.”

“When you get…where?” Jordan asked, struggling to keep up.

“Okay, that’s the other thing,” her boss was saying gleefully. “We’ve already got our second spin-off figured out, and it’s all thanks to you.”

“I’m…totally not following.”

“This is why you should have picked up my calls! It turns out that your firefighter’s third bride—the one you couldn’t get any intel on? She’s a total babe. Like, the camera’s going to freaking love her.”

Jordan’s stomach dropped. “You found Eva?”

She knew she was supposed to be happy. It was what the show wanted—needed. But the thought of Luke coming face-to-face with his ex made her want to throw up. Whatever Luke felt for this Eva woman was undeniably complicated.

What if Eva coming back into his life made him rethink…everything?

“Eva found us,” Raven clarified gleefully. “Apparently she heard about you sniffing around in the middle of nowhere and got in touch with the corporate offices, offered to do a tell-all about being left by the firefighter on her wedding day.”

Jordan put a hand against her still-fluttering stomach. “Wait, so—”

“It’s going to be so juicy,” Raven rambled on. “Not only is she the perfect candidate for season two, but since we have plenty of time, we’re going to do a whole backstory, get plenty of before footage of her and the firefighter.”

“His name is Luke, and what do you mean, before footage?”

“I’ll be there with a film crew. I’ll need your help organizing everything.”

Jordan couldn’t think. Couldn’t breathe. “I’m not following. What am I organizing?”

“We’ll need your help on the where, but my vision is this: We get into town, with Eva. And get the reunion of her and Luke on camera. It’ll be perfect. The guy who left her at the altar having to see her face-to-face for the first time?”

“You’re bringing Eva here?”

“Her idea, and I think it’s sort of brilliant. We can do a whole before episode, air it right after the finale of season one, have people dying for season two.”

Jordan didn’t move, her running shoes forgotten at her feet.

“So, what do you think?” Raven demanded impatiently.

I think it’s the worst idea I’ve ever heard. I think it’ll turn Luke inside out.

“The people of Lucky Hollow don’t seem to be the biggest Eva fans,” Jordan said slowly. “I don’t know how much happy reception you’re going to get.”

“Oh, we can edit all that out. Or maybe I’ll bring a few extras to pretend sympathy for her—I’ll think about it. The key will be getting Luke’s reaction on camera when she confronts him about breaking her heart.”

Jordan pulled at her hair. “I’m not so sure that’s what happened.”

She sensed her boss’s frown. “But he did leave her at the altar, right?”

Jordan closed her eyes. Yes. Luke had told her as much. The first two failed weddings had been mutual; the last had been him. But she just knew there was more to the story.

“Well, yes, but—”

“Sweetie.” Raven’s voice was soft. Kind. Because although she could be an ambitious ballbuster, she was a nice person, in her way. “Do you have a thing for the firefighter?”

Jordan winced. “That obvious, huh?”

Raven sighed. “I’ve been wondering. Simon told me he’s hot, and of course you would feel guilty about noticing.”

“You do realize as my boss you’re supposed to get pissed.”

“Can’t. I’m a romantic. Or maybe just horny.”

“When do you get here?” she asked Raven.

“Tuesday or Wednesday. All I need from you is help figuring out where the firefighter will be. Heck, maybe it’s a good thing you’ve gotten to know him. You can figure out how to get him to a place that will play nice for the camera.

“And, Jordan…” her boss continued, “whatever it is between you two, you need to put it aside. This thing with Eva, it’s got legs. It’s good television.”

And there it was. Romantic or not, Raven was always about good television, no matter the cost.

Now Jordan just had to decide for herself—how much was she willing to pay?