Page 23 of Offside Attraction

“It’s fine. Coffees are free for staff.” Technically, he only got two free coffees a day, but he’d given up his morning cup so he could use both that afternoon.

They waited a moment, then took their drinks and found a corner booth.

"So last night was a little embarrassing." Rhonda tapped her fingers on her cup and took a sip.

"You know I regularly look at people's assholes, right?" he said. Rhonda nearly snorted out her drink, and Jordan grinned. "Sorry. It felt like saying something extreme would get my point across."

Rhonda searched for a napkin, but there weren't any on the table. Jordan stood and walked over to the dispenser and grabbed her one. When he returned, she'd mostly mopped it up with her fingertips, but her bottom lip was still wet. Jordan had the sudden urge to reach out and wipe it.

He set the napkins on the table and sat back down, forcing his hands to his lap.

"It was kind of a shock to see you there." Rhonda dabbed the napkin to her lips.

"Would it have been less shocking if you didn't have someone with you?" he asked.

Rhonda looked at him quizzically. "I doubt it. Would it have enhanced your experience?"

Jordan smirked. "I'm pretty good at keeping work and pleasure separate." The statement didn’t ring as true as it would’ve in the past. He did not enjoy seeing Aaron, or whatever the hell his name was, standing with his hand on Rhonda’s shoulder.

Rhonda’s pupils dilated just enough that he knew that comment hit. So, she didn't hate him enough to not be thinking about what had happened between them. Even when she was in the midst of a full-on anaphylactic attack. But it wasn’t good enough. He was still dying to know exactly what she thought about their prior encounters. Maybe if he had a little closure, the buzzing in his head every time she was in his vicinity would stop.

Jordan had never been one for finesse in conversation. He'd pissed off plenty of people in his personal life and at work because of his brusque nature. In his twenties, he may have cared, but in his mid-thirties, he just didn't give a shit anymore. He’d learned when to keep his mouth closed, but if he was going to open it, he was going to say what he thought. Or in this case, ask what he wanted to ask.

"Do you regret it?" He didn't need to know if the sex was good. That had been obvious.

Rhonda blinked, then set her drink back on the table. "Regret what?" she parried, knowing damn well what he was asking. He didn't give her the satisfaction of an explanation. He leaned back in the bench seat and waited.

Rhonda opened her mouth then closed it again. "I gave up regrets a long time ago."

That wasn't a full no, but it wasn't a yes, either. He would take it. "What made you stay in my hotel room that first night?"

Rhonda blew out a breath. "I actually came here to talk about?—"

Jordan held up a hand. "Yeah. I know. Doctor Mallory. But if I'm going to help you with this and we're going to be seeing each other again, I need to clear the air."

Rhonda raised an eyebrow. "Clear the air? Do you have a problem with me?"

Jordan nodded. "Yeah."

Rhonda's mild look of amusement turned to a frown. "I—" She looked down at her coffee cup. "Did I?—"

"My problem is that every time I see you, I want to strip your clothes off and lift you back onto the seat of my truck.” Jordan lowered his voice. Rhonda didn't look up, just tightened her grip on her coffee cup. He took a deep breath and continued. "That's not usually a problem for me. Once I've been with someone, I don't have strong feelings about whether I'm with that someone again. Considering how we met, I'm guessing it's the same for you?"

Rhonda swallowed. Her breathing had quickened, and if he had to guess, he would put her blood pressure right where it had been the night before when he pressed a stethoscope to the inside of her arm.

Her shoulders visibly relaxed, like she suddenly became aware of her own body and told it to back down. She looked up and met his eyes. "Yes. Same for me.”

“But you came with me in Okotoks."

Rhonda flicked her tongue over her lower lip just like she had in the bar that night. "I did."

"Why?"

She gave him a look. "It was a weak moment. And I still didn't know that you lived here."

"So . . . was that your plan then? I was satisfactory enough to hit up when I was in town?"

"I didn't have a plan."

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