Page 20 of Dreaming About Forever

Jordan stood next to the front door in his parents’ home and kept his attention on the phone in his hand. Alicia was changing clothes and getting ready to go out for a tour of the ranch, and he needed to use the time to check his emails.

He’d been staring at the screen for three minutes, but his vision wouldn’t focus on anything.

Probably because his mind wasn’t on emails or work. It was on the raven-haired beauty upstairs.

He opened a new screen and browsed the latest headlines about Alicia. Most of them were about her recent breakup with Ashton Warner.

Jordan didn’t know anything about Alicia’s relationship with the guy, but he knew she deserved better. You’d have to be heartless to dump someone the day she got robbed by her parents.

The headlines were good for one thing. He needed a reminder to keep Alicia at a safe distance. She wasn’t here for romance or a fling or a rebound.

She was off-limits anyway. He could lose his job. After losing the job he really wanted, he couldn’t lose his runner-up career too.

Everything about this trip was a mess. He was mixing his personal and business lives by just being here. His attraction to the client only made matters worse.

And Clint–he was going to push Jordan over the edge before the week was out.

Jordan shoved his phone in his pocket and let his head rest back against the wall. Clint was the golden child. He was Mom’s favorite, even though she swore she didn’t have favorites. Everyone loved him.

Everyone didnotlove Jordan. He was the one people called when they needed help, but Clint was the friendly one. They pushed each other about most things, but they’d never gone toe-to-toe over a woman.

And they wouldn’t now. Alicia was the client. She was not up for grabs, and all of the Taylors needed to keep their distance.

For Jordan’s sanity at the least.

A door creaked open upstairs, and Jordan lifted his head to face the music. Alicia appeared at the top of the stairs wearing a thin white shirt, tight black pants, and gray boots. She’d pulled her dark hair back into a high ponytail, and a thin belt encrusted with diamonds and jewels wrapped around her small waist.

Way too fashionable for the ranch, but Jordan’s pulse kicked up to running speed instantly. He’d changed out of his suit and into work clothes–ranch work clothes. She’d dressed for the Hollywood version of a rodeo.

It was her smile that kicked him in the gut. Excitement radiated from her in waves as she gracefully descended the stairs.

She bounced when she hit the bottom, bobbing her ponytail to one side. “You ready?”

No, he was not ready. He needed a quarter of an hour to settle his heart rate. He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “Dad left us the four-wheeler. My truck is parked in the South barn.”

Alicia’s eyes widened. “The what?”

“Have you been on a four-wheeler before? I’ll go slow.”

Alicia straightened her shoulders. “I haven’t been on one, but if you’re sure it’s safe…”

“It’s safe. I promise to be careful.”

He would be more than careful. They might not hit ten miles per hour. The thought of causing her an injury turned his stomach.

She peeked out the window and studied her less-than-fashionable ride. “Okay. I’m ready.”

“Do you have a coat? It gets pretty chilly with the wind.”

Alicia looked down at her outfit. “Um, I have one, but it’s not really for warmth.”

Jordan pulled his mom’s coat off the hook beside the door. “Use this one. I don’t think Mom is going out for a while. I can take you to town to get a new one later.”

Alicia accepted the coat and slid her arms into it. “Thanks. I’d love that. I wasn’t prepared for this trip, so I assumed I could buy some things once we got here.”

His mom’s coat was a little big on her, but she wrapped it tight around her middle and looked down at herself.

“You want to do that now?” Jordan asked.

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