Page 128 of Smooth Moves
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Ask. I’d definitelyaskyou.”
She laughed. “I’m still angry with you.”
“I deserve it. Damn, Jordan. I fucked up. But let me apologize, okay? Don’t…” He cleared his throat. “Don’t leave me.”
She wanted to yell at him for thinking so little of her that she’d ditch him at the first sign of trouble between them. But hadn’t he told her about his mother and another woman he’d loved? “Cash, I hate to break it to you, but you said I could have a cheap place to live. And that’s worth its weight in gold.”
“Oh. Yeah.” He brightened. “Good.”
“And I love you, you moron. Why would I leave you over your inability to make sound decisions? Because I’m pretty sure you’ll keep messing up. If I leave you every time that happens, we’ll be worse than Latoya and Roger.” From his silly reality TV show.
His wide grin made her so damn happy. “Yeah, that’s a good point.” He looked her over as if memorizing her features. “I’m sorry I was an ass. I promise to communicate better.”
“O-kay.” Who was this Cash? “It’s the brain injury making you sound different—sane—isn’t it?”
He chuckled. “Probably. Why don’t you kiss it better?”
She leaned close and kissed his cheek with a tenderness she felt deep inside, only for this man. Then she continued to kiss every bump and bruise she could see, and there were many.
“I feel better already.”
“Liar.” She lay down with him, careful not to hurt him. “But I accept your apology.”
“Was it the ‘I’m sorries,’ the vouchers, or the flowers? The candy?”
“How about all of the above? And does it really matter?”
“Hell no. I’m just making sure I have the answer right now for when I screw up again.” He kissed the top of her head. “Jordan, I missed you. When I thought you might leave, it about crushed me.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“Yes, but I’m your idiot. You have to keep me. No one else will.”
That he believed that nonsense bothered the heck out of her. “You’re gorgeous, strong, and smart, and you protect people. Women are always eyeballing you, and everyone at work is in mourning because you’re not there bossing them around.”
“Yeah?”
She smiled against his chest. “Don’t sound so happy about it. Even Smith was more mopey today than usual.”
“God, don’t mention him.”
“You have to deal with him sometime.”
“Yes, but not today.”
She nodded. “Okay. Today is just for us.”
“Help me up, would you?”
She got them both into a sitting position. When he patted his lap, she straddled his thighs and sat carefully so she could look into his eyes when she set the rules.
“Now, you shush and listen to me.” She stared him down, waiting for him to nod. “I love you. Period. That means the good parts and the bad parts. And you said you loved me back.”
“I—”
“Save all questions ’til the end, Marine.”
He smiled and remained quiet.
