Page 16 of Smooth Moves
“High school is hard. I never got on well with my parents. And I was on a real road to self-destruction.”
“What made you change direction?” Curiosity drove her to know more about Cash. She told herself it was just for her brother, but Jordan knew it was more than that.
“Reid needed me. That helped. Plus, I just wanted to escape. It seems like your parents care enough to try going the tough love route. And he’s got you.”
“Yeah. We all care. But I seem to be the only one who cares about makinghislife better, not just improving my own by sending him away.”
After a moment, Cash smiled. The look he gave her softened somehow. “You’re a good big sister.”
“I don’t know.”
“Yeah, you are. You’re taking care of his sorry ass whether he wants it or not. You could just dump him back on your parents.”
“Then they’ll just put him in that academy for screwups.”Let’s call it what it is.“And my sister is no help, so intent on her upcoming wedding and her own life she’s never seen the rest of the world as anything but something to serve her.” Jordan heard the bitterness but couldn’t censor it in time.
“Whoa. Now those are some family problems.” Cash leaned forward. “Tell me more.”
She had to laugh. “What is with you and drama? Between you and Heidi—oh, and Hector, don’t think I haven’t seen him egging you on for episode recaps—those train-wreck shows on TV take up a lot of talk at work.”
He shrugged. “Maybe it’s because it’s not my life that’s so fucked up. I don’t know. I guess I get a kick out of watching other people act stupid. It’s funny. Plus I don’t think even half of it is real.”
“That makes sense. Probably why people are so into reality TV and the old soaps. It lets you escape from life, you know?”
A shadow seemed to pass over his face. But he smiled, and she wondered if she’d imagined it.
He studied her. “You never seem up-to-date on quality TV.”
“No, I have you and Heidi for that.”
“What do you do for fun, Jordan? Besides moving other people’s stuff and watching your brother? Oh, and aggravating me. I forgot that.”
Hearing her name on his lips made her feel tingly inside, and she hated the moment of feminine awareness. She couldn’t wait to take Miriam’s empowerment class on Saturday. Time to own her insanity and stop yearning for something Cash would likely not have in him to give.
She pasted a smile on her face. “Aggravating you does make life worth living.” She had to laugh at the face he made. “Oh, I have a life. I just like to keep it separate from work.”
“Yeah? What’s so special you keep it a secret?” Cash paused, his gaze intent. “Some guy you’re afraid to tell me about?”
She just stared, confused, because Cash sounded almost…jealous. But that couldn’t be.
Could it?
