Midnight Kiss (Virgin River #12)(50)

His eyes caught hers, and warmth spread through her, a sense of contentment she’d never before experienced.

It should scare the living daylights out of her.

In some ways, it did.

“What are you thinking, love?” Love. I love you, he’d said in the heat of their joining.

Oh, Will, don’t do that to yourself. I won’t be good for you.

“Nothing.”

“Somehow I doubt that.” He lifted one foot and slowly peeled down her sock like a striptease. “But whatever is putting that frown on your face, let’s see if we can change it.” Never taking his eyes off her, he placed a slow kiss on her arch.

Jordan’s nostrils flared. She couldn’t help squirming in delight.

“That’s more like it,” he said smugly.

“You think you have me right where you want me.”

He waggled his eyebrows, then turned and began to prowl his way up her body. “And do I not?”

Jordan closed her eyes. Drank in the feel of him popping the snap on her jeans, lowering the zipper, micron by micron. “You’re killing me,” she said.

He bent his head, nipped at the curve of her hip. “Now, why would I want to do that, love?”

Love. “Will…” She had to warn him. “This is just…we’re only…”

His jaw tightened. “Your protests grow tiresome, Jordan. You care, I know that. I feel it. I see it in your eyes.”

But I don’t want to. Can’t afford to. “But…” she began.

He hushed her with a kiss.

Just then, his phone rang.

“Bugger that,” he muttered and melted her bones with another kiss.

The phone soon stopped. He slid his fingers into her panties, and Jordan moaned.

The phone rang again.

Will dropped his head. “’Twill be my family.” Blue eyes apologized. “I must take it.”

She found a smile. “I’ll be right where you left me.”

His eyes were serious. “Will you?”

She made her smile bright. “Are you kidding? I’m not done with you, lover boy.”

He examined her closely, too closely, then shook his head. “I’ll be back. Stay right there.”

Then he was gone.

Jordan felt too exposed, lying there half-dressed. Quickly she pulled up her jeans, refastened them.

Her sock, though, she clasped in one hand as if she could feel the warmth of him.

And maybe transfer it into her heart.

“Yes, Mum,” she heard Will say from the kitchen. “It’s only midmorning here, you know. I’ve not yet had Christmas dinner, but I will.”

A silence. “No, I’m not alone. As a matter of fact…”

No. Jordan tensed. Don’t do it.

“There’s someone special,” he finished. “You’ll like her.”

Will, you can’t…

Bits and pieces drifted in.

“She’s a lawyer.”

“No, Mum. She’s not Catholic. I don’t think.”

“I doubt she wants to live in Ireland. It’s too soon to ask that.” Exasperation. “Mum, you’ll meet her when she’s ready, not before.”

Will, don’t do this to yourself. To me.

A sigh. “I love her. That’s all you need to know.”

Jordan jumped to her feet. Slipped on her shoes. Looked around for her purse, so she could get her keys and—

Will had driven her here in his truck.

She could walk. Or call a cab. Surely they operated on Christmas Day. But she hadn’t brought her phone. She’d been so sated on sex she hadn’t even noticed.

With mounting horror, she listened as Will exchanged greetings with others in his family, and she heard the homesickness in his voice. Cringed when she heard herself mentioned.

She had to make him stop. Right now, before—

“Yes, Da,” she heard. “There’s someone special now.”

A chuckle. “Not exactly. She’s…maybe not the type of girl you expected me to marry, but Da, she’s exactly what I want.” Another pause. “No, she doesn’t—I don’t know. I’m working on it.”

Jordan chided herself for listening in, but someone had to look out for him. His family, who obviously adored him, was too far away. They couldn’t prevent him from making this mistake.

This huge mistake.

She had to break things off immediately, before he got more involved.

Because she couldn’t bear to disappoint him, and she would. Not intentionally, no. If anyone had ever tempted her to give love a try, to forget all she knew about how it could go wrong, how unrealistic the notion was…

Will was that person.

But it would come to no good end, and that big heart of his would suffer.

She was hardly an angel, and most times she didn’t really care about the fallout of her actions, but—

This was Will. She had to be better, for his sake.

Jordan watched him pace the kitchen, sometimes laughing, sometimes with the saddest expression on his face.

She wanted to run, without a word. But if she did, she was positive he would chase after her, the thick-headed fool. He brought new meaning to the word stubborn.

She would have to break his heart a little now so that later, she wouldn’t break it more by not measuring up to his cockeyed vision of her.