Page 35 of An Unexpected Love

She meant to tell him then, to blurt out that she was engaged to Ralph, but she wasn’t given the chance. Before she could utter a word, before she could even begin to explain, Jordan captured her mouth with his own.

His lips were hard and desperate as they claimed possession of hers, firing her senses to life. She moaned, not from pleasure, although that was keen, but from regret.

Ralph had kissed her that night, too. Jill had tried to reassure herself their marriage would work. She’d puther heart and her soul into their good-night kiss and hadn’t felt even a fraction of what she did with Jordan.

It was so unfair, so wrong. She was marryingRalph, she reminded herself. But her heart, her foolish, romantic heart, refused to listen.

Nothing Jordan could say was going to change her plans, she decided, trying to think of Ralph and the commitment they’d made to each other a few hours earlier.

If only Jordan would stop kissing her.Oh, please stop, she begged silently as frustration brought burning tears to her eyes. If only he’d leave, walk out of her life forever so she could start forgetting.

But she had to push him out of her arms before she could push him out of her life. Yet here she was clinging to him, her arms curved around his neck. And she was holding on as though her very existence depended on it.

Jordan obviously felt none of her hesitation, none of her doubts, and soon, far too soon, Jill was returning his kisses with equal fervor. Raw emotion overwhelmed her until she was so weak she slumped against him, needing his support to remain upright. Her breath came in shallow gasps as his lips trembled against hers.

“Oh, Jill,” he breathed, his voice a husky caress. “The things you do to me. I’ve frightened you, haven’t I?”

“No.” He had, but for none of the reasons he knew. She was terrified by the things he made her feel. Terrified by the rush of need and love that crowded her heart.

She hid her face in his shoulder, wanting to escape his embrace even as she submerged herself in it.

“I never knew love could be like this,” Jordan said hoarsely. “I’ve never been in love, never experienced itbefore you.” He rested his jaw alongside her cheek in a gesture of tenderness that moved her deeply.

Jill swallowed and blinked through a wall of tears. “Please…” She had to say something, had to let him know before he spoke again, before he convinced her to love him. She’d set her mind, her will, everything within her, to resist him and found she couldn’t.

“I realize we haven’t known each other long,” Jordan was saying. “Yet it seems as if you’ve always been part of my life, always will be.”

“No…”

“Yes,” he countered softly, his lips grazing the side of her face. “I want to marry you, Jill. Soon. The sooner the better. I need you in my life. I need you to teach me so many things. Loving me isn’t going to be easy, but—”

“No!” Abruptly she broke away from him. “Please, no.” She buried her face in her hands and began to sob.

“Jill, what is it?” He tried to comfort her, tried to bring her back into his embrace, but she wouldn’t let him.

“I can’t marry you.” The words, born of frustration and anger, were meant to be shouted, but by the time they passed her lips they were barely audible.

“Can’t marry me?” Jordan repeated as though he was sure he’d misunderstood. “Why not?”

“Because…” Saying it became a nearly impossible task, but she forced herself. “Because… I’m already engaged.”

She saw and felt his shock. His eyes narrowed with pain and disbelief as the color drained from his face.

“You’re making it up.”

“No, it’s true.” She held herself stiff, braced for the backlash her words would bring.

“When?” he demanded.

She heaved in a breath and squared her shoulders. “Tonight.”

A shudder went through him as his eyes, dark and haunting, raked her face. Jill’s throat muscles constricted at his tortured look, and she couldn’t speak.

It took Jordan a moment to compose himself. But he did so with remarkable dexterity. All emotion fled from his face. For a breathless moment he just stared at her.

“I’m sure,” he said finally, without any outward hint of regret, “that whoever it is will make you a far better husband than I would have.”

“His name is Ralph.”

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