Midnight Kiss (Virgin River #12)(33)

Will laughed heartily and was pleased to see Jordan’s head whip in his direction. “A friend of mine calls her a man-eater.”

The woman glanced over. “She looks like one. Sue Anne’s much nicer.”

“I’m sure. And much more my type.” Will sighed. “But there’s that stubborn part of me my mum would warn you about. I’ll play this hand out.”

“My advice? Get Sue Anne’s phone number first.”

Will chuckled. “Perhaps I shall.” The music stopped, and he escorted her back to their table, pausing long enough to visit for a few minutes, leaving with not one but two phone numbers even after Sue Anne’s friend told Sue Anne the score.

Will left them, debating simply leaving now.

The band began again, a slow, smoky tune, and he reversed course, snagging Jordan from her current companion. “My turn, mate.”

The man protested, but Will’s expression stopped him. He shrugged and moved off.

Jordan jerked in his grasp. “I didn’t say I wanted to dance with you.”

“Hush.” He drew her into him and began moving.

She remained stiff. “What, you want to give me another lecture?”

He merely held her more snugly against him. “Sh-h. I like this song.”

He saw the mutiny in her eyes along with the confusion. Bit by bit, though, she relented, and he smiled to himself, tucking her head into his shoulder and swinging them around so that she had no choice but to hang on to him.

Soon she quit resisting completely, then swiveled her h*ps against him in a blatant invitation Will badly—badly—wanted to pursue.

Instead, he whirled them again.

And began to sing to her.

Jordan lifted her head, a line forming between her eyebrows, and he could see her working up an argument.

But to his amazement, she subsided and simply danced, their bodies surprisingly attuned to each other. Once in a while, she’d look at him, baffled.

But she didn’t move away.

They danced that dance and two more before the band took a break, exchanging not one word the entire time.

As their bodies separated, Will could see her gearing up again to seduce him, to make him simply one of the many, so he seized the initiative to keep her off balance. “Good evening to you, Jordan. I’ll see you soon.” He kissed her knuckles when he wanted to kiss her beautiful mouth. “Would you be needing a ride home first?”

Her lips parted, her eyes at first confused, then anger reappeared. “Of course not. Anyway, the night’s barely begun.” She studied his reaction with a sideways glance.

I do believe I have your number, Ms. Parrish. “Tomorrow’s a work day,” he said blithely. “You’ll need your sleep.”

“Bed perhaps,” she all but purred. “I don’t need much sleep.”

He clamped down as every instinct he had prodded him to drag her out of there and seize what she so blatantly offered.

But that would make him forgettable like all the others.

Oh, no, sweetheart. We’ll play this my way. “I’ll wish you sweet dreams, then.” He turned to go.

“Good night and good riddance.” Vexation filled her tone.

Will didn’t let himself turn back.

But he left with a smile on his face.

CHAPTER FOUR

SHE WANTED TO SIT ON HER windowsill, damn it. Jordan stared in frustration at the cold drizzle that had set in before she arrived home from work the next night. She needed to think, needed more space to prowl. The walls of her loft were closing in. The weather was nasty, but she had to get out of here, away from the silence. CDs didn’t get it; TV was worse. She’d picked up two different books and thrown both of them down in disgust.

Making up her mind quickly, she strode toward her coatrack, but the sharp crack against the window drew her up short. What the—?

There it was again. Pea gravel. Sharp little clicks against her window.

Why didn’t whoever it was just use the buzzer?

When the third shower of stones clinked, Jordan strode across the floor in a huff, jerking the window open.

She leaned out. “Why don’t you use the stupid buzz—?” The words dried up in her throat at the sight of the man on the sidewalk. Will Masterson. Jerk.

Under the hood of his coat, his face creased in a smile. “If you wouldn’t be answering the phone when I call, why should I expect you to answer the buzzer?”

He’d walked out on her the night before, when she wasn’t through with him. And yes, thanks to caller ID, she’d ignored a phone call earlier. “So you threw rocks at my window?”

“Ah, but gently, sweetheart, with exactly the right touch. Just as I’d treat a woman, you see.”

“You probably think that.” She shrugged indifferently. “Men often overrate their performance.” Now he’d be insulted and go away.

But of course he didn’t do that. Instead, he threw back his head and laughed, that deep, rolling sound that reached right past every barrier she could put up.

“Does that work with your usual sort? If so, I’m thinking you’ve not met the right man yet.”

“Are you applying for the position? I’ll warn you I don’t keep anyone around long.”

His eyes widened in mock horror. “The poor lads allow you to send them away?”