Page 75 of The Price of Forever

“So you know some Spanish, too.” I eyed the steaming panini hungrily before I took a bite, noting the warm, gooey explosion of mozzarella first, followed by roasted red pepper and seared chicken. She and I smiled at each other as we ate; I already had so many memories of us like this, one of us sitting on the stool, the other eating while leaning against the island mid-clean up, too eager to enjoy the food and too reluctant to break eye contact or step away from the moment.

“Holy shit, this is good,” I mumbled between bites, inhaling the food in record time. Jordan was barely a third of the way done when I put my plate in the sink. “I win.”

She laughed as she chewed, elbowing me.

“You take your time. Me and my tea are going to continue recuperating on the couch.” I scooped up my mug and wandered into the living room. Our cohabitation had always been charged with sexual tension, but now, I realized that was only part of the picture.

I’d always felt buzzy and aware around her because somewhere inside, I knew the danger that lurked. That if I dove headfirst into her, I’d be swallowed whole. An effortless gulp that would dissolve me and any progress I’d made.

It was happening already. Our easy banter and teasing that transitioned into sharing secrets. Her taking care of me while hungover. That was just the beginning. I felt it deep in my bones. The electric excitement that Jordan inspired was a promise, but it was also a warning.

If you go deeper with Jordan, you will drown.

I settled onto the couch carefully, taking a sip of my tea. Perfect temperature. I drank it slowly while Jordan finished her food. After the sounds of a quick kitchen clean up, I felt Jordan’s weight on the couch next to me. She’d curled up, head on the back of the couch, mere inches from me. Her angle was clear—but she wasn’t overstepping it.

“So tell me, Greek god.” She gestured at my bare torso. “When you’re built like this, why on earth don’t you date?”

I sighed, shaking my head. “I was just over here trying to enjoy my tea…”

“I think it’s a fair question.”

“Do you date?”

She blinked. “Well, no.”

“See? Point made. Everyone has reasons. It’s unrelated to perfect physique.”

She smirked. “All right, now I’m gonna call you Eleven.”

“You inflated me; this is what you get.”

She bit her bottom lip. I could see the gears of her dirty mind turning. “I did inflate you, you’re right. Especially the other night.”

I dragged a hand down my face. This was a minefield. Every turn was going to be fraught with innuendos and tension. If I followed that path, then I’d have minutes, maybe only seconds, before I pulled her onto my lap and started grinding against her.

But the hangover, mixed with the light of day and plenty of time to distance myself from those back-of-the-restaurant kisses, had helped to knock some logic back into me.

“That’s not what I meant. Jordan—” I drew a deep breath, setting down my tea on the coffee table. I turned to her, drinking in her tiny frame, her dark blonde ponytail, the fresh heart-shaped face of hers that felt like both coming home and the most insane turn on.

“What?” she asked.

“We can’t…do this.” I gestured at the dissolving inches of space between us. Her knee was against me, her warmth sinking into me. “Living together is just making this harder. But the truth is: I was hired to protect you. Not fuck to your brains out.”

Her eyes lit up. “Was that an option?”

I gritted my teeth. As far as my cock was concerned, it was the only option.

“I want things to go smoothly,” I went on. “Which means not ruining the most important business contact I’ve made in my entire professional career.”

Her face softened. “I don’t see how you and I could ruin anything for your career.”

“You might not feel it yet, because I know you’re unsure about them, but your brothers are crazy about you. If they found out that they hired me to protect you and I turned around and started fucking you instead? Jordan, that’s not how I operate. I don’t know how else to explain it to you. I do not fuck my clients. Not even when she’s the most beautiful girl I’ve seen in my entire life.”

Her gaze dropped, her lips turning downward. “Do you really mean that?”

“What part?”

“The last bit.” Her voice came out barely a whisper.

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