Midnight Kiss (Virgin River #12)(32)

Just then Jordan glanced into the mirror, and her gaze fastened on Will’s. He felt a visceral and very unwelcome punch, but he carefully kept his face neutral and merely lifted his beer in salute.

She arched one eyebrow, then pointedly turned away.

Friendly perhaps, but not to him. And didn’t that just stir the competitor in him?

David rose and clapped his hand on Will’s shoulder. “Look, I didn’t mean to talk out of school about Marly. We’ll be fine.”

Will jolted and blinked. “I imagine you will. You’re not a stupid man, and your lady is a queen among women.”

David grinned. “That she is.” Then he followed Will’s gaze and frowned. “I wouldn’t, my friend.”

“Wouldn’t what?” Will dissembled.

David shook his head. “Your funeral. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Will touched his forehead in salute. “Forewarned is forearmed.”

“You’d need some serious armor with that one. Well, see you.” He turned away, then back. “Oh—I’m supposed to find out if you’ll be around for Christmas.”

“That’s family time,” Will responded.

“Are you going home to Ireland?”

“No, not this year. One of my sisters is having a baby in January, so I’ll see them then.”

“Then come be with us. As you might have noticed, Marly has a generous definition of family. You won’t be the only non-Preston in attendance, I assure you.” He winked. “Jordan will probably be there, if you feel like living dangerously.”

“Does she have no family?”

“In name only. Parents are divorced, live on opposite coasts. They specialize in using Jordan as ammunition against each other. She’s usually with us on holidays.” David waved to him. “See you in the morning.”

Will nodded absently. There might be the explanation for Jordan’s behavior. Not that it was any concern of his. He should head out, as well. There was Sheetrock calling his name.

But just then he noticed Jordan on the small dance floor, smiling and flirting outrageously with her current partner.

Will pondered holding Sheetrock…or holding Jordan.

No contest. At any rate, one more encounter with her would surely cure him of this curious fascination. He threw some money down on the bar, and headed her direction.

As he approached, she glanced over her shoulder, then quickly turned her back on him, redoubling her attention on her partner, putting a dangerous sway in those slim h*ps he wouldn’t mind getting his hands on.

She’s a man-eater. Discards men like tissues.

Hadn’t he had his own taste of her sharp tongue? Indeed, but suddenly Will found himself smiling. She was bad tempered and difficult, but didn’t that add to the challenge she presented? His perfect woman hadn’t yet made her appearance, and while he was patiently waiting, maybe he would unlock the puzzle of Jordan Parrish. It wasn’t as though his heart would get involved, after all. He was saving that for the woman of his dreams.

Meanwhile, two could play Ms. Parrish’s game.

When Jordan glanced over and narrowed her eyes at him as if to warn him off, he stifled the grin that threatened and instead walked right past her toward a woman sitting with her friends. This woman was definitely more his type with her generous curves and sweet face. “Would you care to dance?”

“Me? I, uh…” She glanced at her friends.

“Only the one dance. I swear my mum would tell you I’m just a wee bit stubborn but on the whole, quite harmless.”

“You’re Irish,” said one of her friends.

“You are, aren’t you?” The first woman smiled. “I love your accent.”

“Ah, but you’re the one with the lovely dulcet tones.”

Her friend grinned. “If you don’t want him, Sue Anne, I do.”

He smiled right back. “Perhaps you two ladies would also favor me with a dance.”

“I’m taken,” said one.

“I’m not,” said the second.

“Get in line,” said Sue Anne.

Will laughed and drew her out on the dance floor where they chatted easily and he never once spared a glance for Jordan.

At the end of that song, he escorted Sue Anne back and claimed her friend. The third woman said her boyfriend was out of town, so she wanted her turn, too.

“Oh, but I would never nip another man’s woman. My mum would tan my backside.”

“Drat,” sighed the woman. “A gentleman.”

This time Will had a more difficult time ignoring Jordan completely because she somehow wound up right next to them. When he glanced her way, she gave him her best come-hither look, then redoubled her efforts to charm her current dance partner, her movements sinuous and seductive. When the man’s hands slid around to grab the derriere Will had admired, he had to contain a glower.

“Uh-oh,” said his partner. “Lovers’ quarrel?”

“Not a bit.”

“She keeps watching you, you know, when you’re not looking.”

Will bit back a satisfied smile. “You don’t say.”

“Want me to go tell her she’s stupid for doing what ever it is that has you dancing with us instead of her?”