Page 89 of Smooth Moves
He slid to the ground, hugged his knees, and spent the next hours killing time, waiting until he could go home and pretend everything was okay. For a little bit, at least. He’d take what he could get until he worked up the stones to run away. Then, and only then, he might be able to turn this mess around.
* * *
Jordan hadn’t wanted to leave Rafi alone, but Cash had stayed behind at his place because he said he was too tired to hang out with the guys after a long week at work. Personally, she thought he just wanted to keep an eye on her brother for her so she could go out. And Lord, she needed it. Friday night at Ringo’s was just what the doctor ordered.
Around her, the Vets on the Go! crew laughed and teased. The bar started to get crowded. In the corner, a group of older men swore as they pointed and yelled at a baseball game on TV.
Jordan glanced at her friends, aware no one paid her too much attention. A good thing or a bad thing?
She and Cash had worked well together all day, no strangeness after crashing on Cash’s couch last night. They’d driven in separately to work. No one had teased her about Cash or made any suggestive comments, so she didn’t think the guys knew about her and Cash being an item. Staying the night with him—sadly in separate rooms—had given her a great night’s sleep. She didn’t know what Rafi thought about their temporary quarters. He’d been quiet before he’d darted off to school in the morning. But he’d been polite to her and Cash, so who knew?
She stared at the scarred table, lost in thought.
“You look like you’re gonna cry, Jordan.” Lafayette pushed a beer her way. “Upset because your best girlfriends Hector and Cash aren’t here to lean on?”
She snorted. “I’m upset because Simon isn’t here. I could do with a little eye candy.” She gave him a disdainful once-over that had the others laughing.
Funny Rob, Stan, Finley, and Lafayette had shown up tonight, along with the surprise additions of Evan and Reid. Evan planned to start dropping by work the following week, and he wanted to get to know the group better, so, according to Reid, he’d forced Reid to bring him by.
“You want eye candy?” Finley batted his eyelashes. “I’m right here, Jordan.”
She grinned. Truth to tell, the guys were all good-looking in their own way. Finley was prettier than the rest, though Evan and Reid had that sophisticated-sexy thing going on. Lafayette was no joke with that build and that smile. Lucky, lucky Simon. Rob and Stan were about even, both cute ex–Air Force nerds who made her laugh.
But Cash…he by far outshone everyone. And her hottie had stayed home to look after her brother because he knew she worried. As pretty on the inside as he was on the outside. She had a feeling he’d die of embarrassment if she ever told him that, which made her smile. “Anyway,” she said, pointedly ignoring Finley, which made him laugh, “I thought this week went pretty well.”
Reid nodded. “It did. You guys are killing it. We have no shortage of jobs, and Evan’s run our numbers to show—”
“A numbers guy. Nice.” Funny Rob waggled his brows. “Do you like to cook too? As in, the books?”
Evan sighed. “This is like a bad—really bad—gangster movie. I’m an accountant. I do the bookslegallyfor the company.”
“Oh. Not so exciting then.” Rob looked disappointed.
“Nope. But where I come from, boring is good. That means stability, from which you generate income to start new growth. From growth can stem upward mobility or too little cash flow because you grew too soon, and debts pile up. But we’re not there yet. So right now, boring is good.” He grinned.
Handsome, lighthearted, and happy when not complaining about being overworked by a she-demon or nearly falling asleep for being too tired, Evan would have been perfect for the Leannes and Naomis of the world. He was a nice version of Troy.
And totally not her type.
However, hewasthe new guy on the team. She should properly welcome him to Vets on the Go! “It’s nice to have you with us, Evan.” She gave him a wide smile. Lafayette frowned, no doubt knowing her too well. Because that smile said shit was about to start. She ignored him and projected an air of innocent acceptance. “Say, Evan. Have you met everyone?”
“I think so. I met Heidi before she left for training. Tim and Martin checked in on their way to a new job a few days ago. Tim doesn’t say much, does he?”
The quiet pair worked well together and didn’t mingle with others, but Jordan liked them. Martin, small and scrappy, filled the silences Big Tim left in his wake. The guy was as tall as Cash but not as forceful a personality.
“He’s pretty quiet,” she agreed. “I was wondering… Have you met Miriam yet?”
The guys went still and zeroed in on her.
“No, why? Is she new?”
When Reid would have answered, Jordan cut him off. “No. She works down the hall from Vets on the Go! at that clothing shop. I was just thinking, since you’re our human resources guy and much more easygoing than half the people around here, you should talk to her. I don’t think she likes us.”
Funny Rob was the first to jump in, playing it cool. “Yeah. She always gives me dirty looks. I don’t think she likes Asians.”
“I don’t think she likes you giving her thatlook,” Stan corrected. “You know, the one that says you wonder what she looks like naked?”
Evan groaned. “It’s like I’m dealing with Cash but in bigger numbers.”
