Forever And A Day (Montana Brides, Book #7) Page 5

  If she didn’t know better, Sarah could have sworn Jordan was blushing. But he didn’t have anything to blush over. Unless he found her depressing life story embarrassing. The only positive thing to come out of the whole mess was that she hadn’t married James. If they had been married, he would have gotten away with more than a prison sentence. He would have taken half of everything she owned.

  She picked up the last of the dirty laundry and closed the bag. “Thanks. I’ve got to go, otherwise I won’t have dinner ready for everyone on Alex’s ranch. I’ve left the meat and salads for tonight’s barbecue in the fridge. There’s ice cream in the freezer, and if you look on the bottom shelf of the fridge you’ll see a cheesecake and some rum truffles for dessert.”

  “Don’t worry about anything. I’ll make sure everyone is well fed and happy.”

  “I know you will.” Sarah put the laundry bag over her shoulder and headed downstairs. “Call me if you need anything.” And before he could reply she left.

  ***

  A week later, Jordan pulled himself out of his truck and headed across to Alex’s ranch house. A couple of years ago Alex had converted one of his barns into his home. During the remodel, Jordan had paid careful attention to what worked and what had been more difficult. He’d learned a lot, but that still hadn’t made the cost of his own conversion any better.

  For as long as he could remember, the same group of guys had been getting together each Friday. They alternated between playing poker and looking after the kids that started arriving after some of the guys got married. It was one of those in-between Fridays, the ones where they spent half the night chasing over-excited boys and girls around the house.

  Two of those boys were on their bikes, jumping over a ramp Alex had made in his front yard.

  “Hi, Jordan. You want to have a go?” Steven Matthews, ten years old and as sharp as a tack, stared at him from beneath a mop of black hair.

  “Not tonight, buddy. Where’s your dad?”

  “Inside with Uncle Chris. They’re getting the barbecue ready.”

  Jordan looked up when Emma appeared in the front door. She was two years old and full of grit and determination. Her blonde curls bobbed around her face, catching on the ketchup smeared across her cheeks. She ran toward the boys, squealing when Ben, her uncle, picked her up and held her under his arm like a football.

  “Not tonight, Em. You’ll get flattened.” Ben rearranged her arms and legs, earning himself a red-stained t-shirt in the process.

  Emma wiggled a bit more, then gave up when she saw Jordan. A smile lit her grubby face and Jordan grinned back.

  “What have you been feeding your niece?”

  Ben frowned at Emma’s face. He’d been looking after her since she’d been a few months old. His sister and her husband had died in a car crash, leaving Emma with no family except a twenty-five-year-old uncle who knew nothing about kids.

  “She got into the ketchup when my back was turned. You want to take over guard duty?”

  “Sure.” Jordan held out his arms and laughed when Emma clapped her hands. “She loves me.”

  “She loves everyone,” Ben grumbled. “Especially when she thinks she’s getting her own way.”

  “It’s a female thing.”

  “What’s a female thing?”

  Jordan turned and stared at Sarah. She had a huge chocolate cake in her hands and a frown on her face. But that wasn’t what made him look twice. She’d put on makeup, pretty makeup that made her eyes look twice as big and twice as blue. Eyes that a man could fall into if he was that way inclined.

  He cleared his throat and tried to pretend that the beautiful woman in front of him didn’t rattle his nerves. “I thought you were meeting the girls in town?”

  Her peach lipstick curved into a smile. “I’m just about to leave. Do you want this cake or should I take it to the ranch hands? I’m sure they’d appreciate the extra time it took to make it.”

  “Ignore him,” Ben said. “We’ll take the cake with gratitude.”

  Sarah smiled sweetly at Ben and turned her back on Jordan. “It’s nice to be appreciated.”

  Jordan didn’t have any trouble appreciating what he saw. Even with Emma squirming in his arms he could still admire the way Sarah’s t-shirt clung to her body and the way her jeans hugged her long legs.

  “Where are you going tonight?” He tried to make the question sound casual, as if her answer didn’t matter one way or the other. But he had a vested interest in making sure no one else appreciated Sarah’s long legs and blue eyes.

  She grinned and he began to get worried. Really worried. Gracie wouldn’t be with her, so that was one less crazy female to lead Sarah astray. But Jenny, Debbie, Tess, and Emily would be meeting her somewhere in town. That should be enough to give anyone heart palpitations.

  “We’re meeting at Charlie’s Bar and Grill. Emily wants to try their buffalo wings before we start looking at entertainment options for her bachelorette party.”

  “Entertainment options?” This was worse than he thought. He imagined a line of male strippers parading down a runway, earning extra brownie points for how well they filled out their g-strings.

  “Jeez, Jordan.” Ben pulled his arm and pushed him toward Alex’s house. “You’d better come inside before it’s too late.”

  He stared at Ben. “What do you mean, ‘too late’?”

  “Shut up and follow me.” Ben grinned over his shoulder at Sarah. “Have a good time.”

  “I plan to.”

  Before Jordan could ask Sarah exactly how she planned on enjoying herself, Ben gave him a shove from behind.

  “You’re letting us single guys down,” Ben muttered. “There’s only you, me, and Adam left.”

  Jordan watched Sarah sashay across the yard. “What are you talking about?”

  “You, you idiot. You’ve got the hots for Sarah. You could at least hold out for a while longer. Alex isn’t even married yet and I can already hear more wedding bells.”

  Jordan watched Sarah drive away. “Who’s getting married?”

  Ben shook his head. “Never mind. Just remember that kids aren’t cute forever. If you want some experience of sleepless nights and red gums, you can borrow Emma for a week.”

  Jordan closed the front door and put Emma’s feet on the ground. She took off across the living room, heading toward two boys playing with Lego on the floor. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but it sounds like you need something to drink.”

  “You’d better make it a double cola.” Ben sighed. “I’m going to need all the caffeine I can find tonight.”

  ***

  Jordan wasn’t sure what planet everyone was coming from tonight, but it wasn’t your average Friday without the ladies. Chris and Greg hadn’t stopped talking about what they were doing over Christmas. Most of it involved flying across the country to Hawaii and lying semi-naked on the beach all day.

  On December twenty-seventh, they’d be leaving their kids with their respective parents and taking off for what they both called their second honeymoons. Jordan didn’t want to even think about it. The visuals would leave him traumatized for life. It was bad enough imagining Greg and Chris in swimming trunks, let alone cavorting with their wives.

  Which brought him nicely onto one of his other friends who was having issues. Alex was freaking out about his upcoming wedding. As far as Jordan was concerned, it was a little late in the day to be having second thoughts. But Alex’s second thoughts had absolutely nothing to do with Emily, his fiancée, and everything to do with his dad.

  Mr. Green didn’t want to wear a suit to his son’s wedding. Alex had tried everything he could think of to help him change his mind, but nothing was working. Emily had designed all of the men’s suits. Alex was terrified of telling his bride-to-be that his dad didn’t even want to try his suit on.

  On any sane person’s list of priorities, that had to rank at minus thirty. But Alex had tied himself up in so many knots that it was a wonder he
hadn’t called the wedding off.

  And that brought him right on top of whatever bone Ben was determined to chew. The man practically had a seizure every time he talked about the last man standing. Jordan didn’t know if Ben was more worried about being one of the few single men in their group, or the fact that he hadn’t had sex in nearly three years.

  The two issues had gotten so tangled inside Ben’s brain that he wasn’t making sense.

  “I don’t know why you’re so worried,” Jordan said. “I haven’t had sex in over a year and I’m still a fully functioning adult male.”

  Ben scoffed. “Yeah, but you’ve got prospects. The biggest turn-on in my life is seeing Mary-Jane at the McDonald’s drive-thru.”

  Greg perked his vacation ears up at that little gem. “Mary-Jane? Isn’t she a little young for you?”

  “She’ll be nineteen in a couple of weeks,” Ben muttered.

  Jordan wound back the conversation. “What prospects have I got?”

  “Sarah,” Ben said with a sigh.

  That got Alex out of the fuddle his brain had dropped into. “You’re not messing with Sarah are you?”

  Jordan wasn’t messing with anyone. Not that the thought wasn’t appealing. It was. Big time. “Calm down. Nothing’s going on. It’s all in Ben’s sex-starved imagination.”

  “You were drooling when she brought the chocolate cake over. Alex did the same thing with Emily and look where he’s ended up.”

  Alex grabbed another can of sprite out of the bucket at his feet. “I’ve got two points to make before I go and see what the kids are up to. One…marriage isn’t a life sentence and, two…Sarah’s my housekeeper. I’m sharing her out of the goodness of my heart, so hands off.”

  “She’s working for me because she needs the extra money.”

  Alex popped the tab open on the can and glared at Jordan. “My point precisely. She’s your employee. She’s a good person. If you break her heart, I’m going to wring your neck.”

  “Said like a true bulldogger.” Chris saluted Alex with his can of cola.

  Alex sent a hand signal back before disappearing outside.

  Ben leaned forward. “So what are you going to do about Sarah?”

  Jordan had no idea. Especially if she was in the middle of evaluating bachelorette options. If any of those options came with big muscles and a fake spray-on tan he’d have to do something fast.

  “I’m not going to do anything. Not yet anyway.”

  “Thank God for that.” Ben glanced at his watch. “We’ve got an hour and a half left before the girls arrive home. Who wants to play a round of poker?”

  “Not me,” Chris said. “I’d better check on the boys. It’s about time they came inside.”

  “Me too, buddy,” Greg said. “Jenny will be peeved if our kids go home with colds.”

  Ben held his head between his hands and groaned. “I’m surrounded by henpecked males. What am I going to do?”

  “Find yourself a woman,” Greg said. “Then you’ll understand how stressful life can really be.”

  Jordan didn’t have a woman, but he did have stress. Ever since Sarah had called about the housekeeping job his life hadn’t been the same. If she could turn his life topsy-turvy in one short week, he tried to imagine what she’d do in a year.

  Ben poked him in the ribs. “If that goofy grin has got anything to do with Sarah I’d suggest you think of something else. Alex is on his way inside.”

  Jordan glanced at the scowl on Alex’s face. For a man about to be married he didn’t look all that pleased.

  “Someone’s picked all of the lavender Emily was growing for the wedding tables.”

  Emma waddled into the room clutching a fistful of purple flowers. “Pretty.” She waved her contraband in the air and grinned at Alex.

  Jordan held back a smile. Ben apologized.

  The whole lot of them were in serious need of some rest and recreation. Maybe even hot sex. The only two semi-normal males at Alex’s ranch were Greg and Chris and they had their hot sex scheduled for December.

  With more guests arriving on the ranch next week and a wedding coming up, there wasn’t a lot of time for recreational pursuits in his life. He thought about Alex’s wedding. He was one of his groomsmen. He didn’t have a date. Sarah didn’t have a boyfriend.

  Some recreational pursuits might be more achievable than he thought.

  ***

  Sarah laughed at something Emily said, then took another sip of her drink. The Long Island Iced Tea slipped down her throat. She felt giggly, and girly, and nothing like the mature, sensible, computer geek she used to be. Which was just as well considering Emily was lining up the fourth round of drinks for everyone.

  “I’ve got one Raspberry Margarita, a Mimosa, an Apple Martini, and a Cosmopolitan for anyone who wants to live dangerously.”

  Sarah grinned at the pretty colors glistening in the tall glasses. She licked her lips, ready to taste each of the cocktails before they disappeared.

  Tess glanced quickly at Sarah, then swung her gaze back for a more thorough inspection of her face. “You’re not drunk are you?” she whispered.

  “Nooo,” whispered Sarah back. “I’m having a great time.”

  Emily left the Cosmopolitan in front of Tess.

  Sarah looked at Emily to see what cocktail she’d be trying.

  “I don’t think so,” Emily laughed. “You’re sloshed up to the eyeballs and you’ve only tasted three drinks. It’s orange juice for you.”

  “But this is fun.” Sarah reached for Tess’ Cosmopolitan. It moved faster than Sarah could figure out where it had gone.

  “Did your eyes just crossover?” Emily stared at Sarah.

  She did the only thing she could. She smiled, grinned until her face muscles felt stiff and sore. Until no one was looking at the Apple Martini sitting all alone in the middle of the table.

  Jenny lifted the glass out of Sarah’s hands. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this isn’t juice.”

  Sarah snorted and dropped her head onto the table. “Funny. Real funny.” The wooden table felt solid and so nice that she didn’t want to move. She closed her eyes and drifted along to the music blasting out from the jukebox.

  “If you’re going to be sick, let me know.”

  Sarah frowned at the voice speaking over her head.

  “Jordan’s going to kill me,” Emily said. “I think they’ve still got guests staying on the ranch.”

  “We need to get her sober.” Tess swore when Sarah tried to lift her head.

  She landed on the edge of the Cosmopolitan, spilling the drink over the table. Sarah licked her lips and tried to sit up again. Her head felt heavy and dizzy and so darn hot that she dropped it back to the table.

  “She’s going to get a black eye if she doesn’t stop banging her head.”

  Sarah thought that was Debbie speaking. But she couldn’t be sure. Not when her eyelids wouldn’t open.

  “We need to get her home.”

  “What she needs is food.”

  That was definitely Emily. Emily with the pretty red hair, just like the color of her favorite cocktail.

  “Did you have dinner before you came out with us, Sarah?”

  Sarah smiled into the table. “Nope.”

  Debbie and Emily hoisted her upright, holding her against the back of the seat.

  “I’ll go and get food.” Tess wiggled out of the booth and headed across to the bar.

  “You’re wearing half of the cocktail.” Debbie wiped the side of Sarah’s face with a napkin.

  Sarah looked down at her t-shirt and frowned.

  “Not there, your face,” Debbie said with a smile. “How much alcohol do you normally drink?”

  Sarah held up her hand and made a big fat zero with her fingers. “I’m a good girl.”

  “A good girl that’s going to have a hangover in the morning.” Tess slid a basket of fries and a glass of orange juice across the table. “Start with this. Charlie’s fast-
tracking a burger for you.”

  Debbie lifted the juice to Sarah’s mouth and Emily made sure she ate the fries. Every last one of them.

  By the time she’d eaten the burger and drunk three more glasses of juice, Sarah felt a little less giddy and a whole lot like using the bathroom.

  She leaned across to Emily. “I need to use the bathroom.”

  Emily looked slightly worried. “I’m coming with you.”

  Sarah shook her head, then thought better of it. Even though she felt better, the room did a little jiggle and tilted sideways. Standing upright wasn’t much better, but as long as she held onto Emily’s arm and didn’t move too fast, she was fine. Sort of.

  Sarah felt so much better after using the bathroom. She walked slowly across the dance floor, dodging bodies as they bopped to the beat of the music.

  Emily stopped before they got to their booth. “Oops. We’re in trouble now.”

  Sarah stared at Emily. She didn’t sound too happy. Tonight was all about happy. Happy times, happy friends, and happy drinks.

  “What the hell have you done to Sarah?”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Jordan stared at the dreamy smile on Sarah’s face. She looked as though she didn’t have a worry in the world.

  “She only had three drinks,” Emily said. “We’ve been working out what cocktails we’re going to have at my bachelorette party. She dropped like a rock after the last drink.”

  Sarah smiled. She kept her eyes focused on the dimple in his cheek. She reached out, ran her finger along his jaw and across his bottom lip.

  Heat hit his body. He jerked back and scowled at the grin on her face. “You’re drunk.”

  Sarah leaned forward. “Only a little bit. Do you want to dance?”

  Her breath whispered along the side of his neck and sent darts of pleasure everywhere. He looked at Emily and groaned. She was enjoying Sarah’s cute and cuddly phase. He’d get into trouble, do something he’d regret in the morning if he didn’t step away.

  “Dancing isn’t a good idea.”

  Sarah rested her head against his shoulder and sighed. “You smell like a sparkly Christmas tree.”