Page 71 of Stella's Christmas Rescue
I frown. “What’s that have to do with you?”
“Solidarity. If she can’t drink, then I can’t drink.” He sighs loudly. “But maybe a sniff of bourbon?”
“That seems like self-torture, Wes. But, whatever you want.” I get him the bottle and he takes a long, lustful sniff. I ask, “And speaking of whatever you want, how long did you think it would take me to figure it out?”
“Figure what out?”
“That you set us up.”
Wes frowns. “I don’t know what you mean, Stella.”
“How long did you worry about Jordan? I can only guess this little ruse started out with you worrying for him. He’s told me you always gave him a hard time for not being married at his age.”
“Jordan Waters is the kind of guy who needs a mission. Just so happens that this mission had the side benefit of revolving around a beautiful woman. Put Jordan near a beautiful woman, and there’s a very good chance something will happen.”
“Is that a fact?”
He quickly says, “Not since getting with you, Stella.”
I giggle. “I didn’t think so.”
Wes says, “I’ve never seen Jordan so happy. Not ever. That’s your doing.”
“No. You set us up. I’d say you have a hand in that, too.”
He laughs. “I can’t take credit for how it all went.”
“You risked your job to get me here, I haven’t forgotten that. Thank you, Wes.”
“I’m just glad it all worked out in the end.”
“How did you know it would work out?” I wonder.
He says, “I didn’t. But I know what kind of woman Jordan always liked.”
“So, I’m his type?”
He laughs, “Oh God, no.”
“What?”
“You’re beautiful and all that, but personality and all that, you’re the total opposite of the flakey chicks he used to date. That’s why I decided to risk it. I thought, if he could finally find someone who actually suited him, then it would all be worth it. I owe Jordan my life. The least I could do is give him some happiness.”
I smirk and tell him, “The way he tells it, he owes you his life.”
When Jordan gets home, the party is in full swing. I kiss him at the doorway and sing, “Good evening, Husband.”
“Good evening, Wife,” he says, then smiles at the crowd. “I think we’ve been invaded.”
“I know, right? Most of my family made it, Mrs. Black, a bunch of people from church, there’s even a rumor that Michael and Katie might end up over here, but I sort of doubt it, considering what today is for them.”
“I’m going to get changed, before anyone notices me.”
“Jordan Waters! Did you think you could sneak past the mistletoe?” Mrs. Black stops him before he escapes.
“Merry Christmas, Mrs. Black,” he says, then gives her a kiss on her rosy round cheek. “I’ll be happy to chat, once I’m more appropriately attired.”
“Fine, fine, go on, then,” she says. He runs up the stairs, and she asks me, “Darlin’, how is married life treating you?”
