Page 127 of Smooth Moves
Chapter 24
Jordan knocked and waited then walked inside when she didn’t hear anything. The door to Cash’s home was unlocked, which wasn’t like Cash.
Her brother had left for their parents’ half an hour ago, needing to be home to talk to the educational therapist they’d arranged for him. They were still working with a specialist to diagnose his learning disorder. But now knowing of Rafi’s issues, the therapist could figure out how to help him.
It still amazed her how much better Rafi acted after that big conversation with her and the family. So much tension from keeping secrets.
To her parents’ credit, they’d done better the past two days about communicating. And her mother hadn’t once, in any of their conversations, bugged her about her job.
“Cash? Hello?” Jordan continued into the house and stopped when she saw the kitchen island occupied by a bottle of wine and two glasses. A vase of red roses sat beside it with a card made out toJordanpropped against it.
She looked around. Still not seeing Cash, she opened the envelope.
I’M SORRY.
She liked the apology. And the roses and the wine.
In the living room, she saw a box of chocolates on the table and another card next to a small, wrapped box. I’M SO SORRY.
Hmm. She liked this even better. After unwrapping the box, she found a coupon book of vouchers. One for a backrub. A few apologies on bended knee. Some groveling too. Oh, and of course, a bunch of sex coupons, courtesy of Cash Griffith. The big idiot. Behind all that, at the back and embossed in gold, there was a marriage proposal written in Cash’s bold hand.
FOR WHEN YOU’RE READY, TURN IN FOR AN I DO.
Her heart stopped.
Okay, the rest had been nice. Appropriate and even funny. But a marriage proposalin a voucher?And so soon? “Cash,” she yelled, not so amused by this game anymore.
She found him finally in his bedroom, noticing the neatness and lit candles. And the still body lying on the bed.
Worry set in. “Cash?” She moved toward him with dread, not seeing his chest rising or falling. Hell. What had Rafi said about a brain injury? “Cash, wake up!” she yelled as she reached him and felt for a pulse.
The speed with which he grabbed her wrist surprised her, and she tried to twist out of his hold, yanking him with her so that she fell over his body.
He groaned but didn’t release her and said, his voice groggy, “Jordan?”
She peered into his eyes, now open and glazed with pain. “Oh shit. I’m all over you.” She would have moved back, but he groaned again.
“Don’t move, please.”
She stayed still.
“Sorry. I was sleeping. I meant to be awake when you came, but I think your sneaky brother drugged me with a pain pill to make me drowsy.”
“Oh.” She stayed still but knew she had to be hurting him, lying against his ribs. “Should I get up?”
“Slowly, okay?”
She gradually slid off him, taking care not to jostle his splint, and sat next to him on the bed, looking down. The swelling around his eye had lessened, but the color had deepened. His bruises had to hurt, and she knew his ribs and arm pained him.
And he’d gotten hurt trying to help her brother.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered before she could berate him for getting himself injured again. “I respect you, okay? And if you had pulled some kind of interfering shit on me, I’d be pissed as hell.”
“Well, okay.” She had to admit, she liked him knowing he’d done wrong. “Will you do it again?”
“Yes and no. I’d help you or Rafi again, no question. But I’d tell you about it first.”
She sighed. “You mean you’daskif I wanted the help?”
