Page 74 of Dreaming About Forever

She gave him a playful wink and reached for her notebook on the coffee table. “I need to write something down.”

Jordan flexed his arm. “Did my bicep inspire you?”

Alicia lowered the notebook to glare at him. “No comment.”

Jordan’s phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out. A lead weight sunk to the bottom of his stomach when he saw the name. “It’s Nathan.”

Alicia quickly lowered her notebook. “What do we do?”

Jordan had checked in with his boss through texts for the last few days, and it had been easy to avoid the talk they needed to have. Leaving out important information on a phone call with his boss was too close to lying for his taste.

Jordan’s thumb hovered over the button to accept the call. “Now is as good a time as any.” He answered, hoping his throat wouldn’t close up when his job was on the line. He’d come to grips with the reality that Nathan might fire him, but it still didn’t sit well.

“Hey, boss.”

“Hey, how’s the pop princess?”

Jordan glanced at Alicia and tried to put on a smile. “Safe and sound.”

“Did you get the Hawthorne file I sent you? He signed all the paperwork, and Jill booked your flight for the Thursday after next.”

Jordan gripped Alicia’s jean-clad leg in his lap. “I got the file, but there’s something we need to talk about before I sign it.”

“You’ve worked with him before. What’s the problem?”

Jordan inhaled a deep breath. “Alicia and I have violated the no fraternization policy.”

Nathan swore under his breath, something he never did. “Are you serious?”

“I don’t think I’d be confessing if it wasn’t the truth. It’s not something we can hide.”

Nathan let out a heavy breath. “Come on, Jordan. I know she’s Alicia Carver, but I thought you had better control than that.”

Jordan’s jaw clenched. “It’s not a lack of control.”

“What happened?” Nathan asked.

Glancing at Alicia, who was white-knuckle gripping the notebook, Jordan said, “I never thought I’d be one to kiss and tell.”

“Kissed? Anything else?”

“That’s all, but it’s not just a kiss. I love her.”

Nathan was silent for a moment. “And what does she think about that?”

Alicia nodded. Something about that small movement–that little reassurance–gave him the push he needed to handle business.

“She loves me too.”

Nathan grumbled. “What does this even mean? Your contract is up in a week.”

“I know. We have a lot to talk about.”

“Are you gonna sign the Hawthorne contract? It’s for three months.”

Jordan swallowed, not liking the way the conversation was going. “I guess that depends. Are you firing me?”

There was a beat of silence on the line. “I can’t make exceptions for you. I like you. I respect you. Always have. I’m glad you’re happy together, but how long could this really last?”

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