BAD REP(100)

“How the hell did you know that I love tequila chicken?” I asked, more than a little in awe of how thorough he had been this evening.  Jordan's lips curled up in an easy smile.

“I have my sources,” he teased.  Riley coughed.

“He means me,” she interjected dryly.

Jordan frowned at my best friend.  “Way to ruin the mystique, Riley,” he muttered.  I chuckled and started eating my dinner.  Riley rolled her eyes (her favorite expression) and left us alone.  Before Jordan picked up his burger he looked at me intensely.  I held a forkful of pasta poised at my mouth.

“What?” I asked.  Jordan stood up and leaned over the table, cupping my face in his hands.

“Thank you for taking a chance on me,” he whispered, dropping a kiss to my forehead.

Well, damn.  My fork clattered to my plate and I covered his hands with mine and tilted my head back, capturing his mouth.  We broke a part a minute later, each of us a little breathless.  “What choice did I have?” I whispered back with a smile.

Jordan grabbed my chin between his fingers and pulled me forward so that our noses brushed against each other.  “You've got that right, Mays.”  He grinned before sitting back down.  We ate our dinner.  We talked.  We laughed.  And we cemented why our relationship was worth the shit that came down like a firestorm around it.

I loved this man sitting in front of me.  I loved him with every beat of my heart.  Even though we had only been technically together for two weeks and known each other for less than half a year, there was no doubting what I felt.  It was as clear as day.

It was hard to imagine what my life was like before he came into it.  And I didn't want to even begin to contemplate an existence where he wasn't a part of it.  It scared me with how entrenched he had become in my life.  There was no ripping him out.  Not now.

“Maysie Ardin!  Please tell me you're here to take your old job back,” Moore called out, coming out of the back.

I lifted my hand in a wave.  “Maybe in the summer if you'll have me back,” I replied.  Moore walked over to the railing separating our booth from the bar area.

“I'm holding you to that, sweetheart.” He looked at Jordan.  “Any way I can talk you into playing a short set next Saturday?”

Jordan made a grimace.  “I don't think so, man.  We're on a bit of a hiatus.  But I'll let you know when we start booking shows for the new year.”

Moore grumped but accepted his answer.  “Fine, fine.  But I best be first on your list,” he warned, then reached over and gave Jordan an awkward fist bump.  Moore looked as though he had never given anyone a fist bump in his life.

“That guy is relentless,” Jordan said, taking a bite of his burger after Moore had left.

“You're telling me.  I can't wait until you play here again, though,” I remarked.  Jordan raised his eyebrows.

“Will you actually stay for the whole show next time?” he teased.  I kicked him lightly under the table.

“Low blow, Jordan Levitt.  Low blow,” I threw back at him.  Jordan laughed.

“I know, I know.  But I'm holding you to that.  Next time your ass is in the front row.  If I have to tie you to a chair, I will.  I wanna see your sexy face when I'm up there.  Knowing I'm the one that gets to see you naked will make it all that much better,” he said softly, his eyes holding mine.

I didn't have anything to say.  He had this crazy ability to make me lose all thought process.  “Um, okay...”  Then I shut up, any response quickly forgotten.  Jordan laughed even louder, enjoying the fact that I was visibly squirming in my seat.

Riley took our empty plates.  I had eaten everything and felt ready to burst.  I leaned back in the booth and groaned.  “I'm stuffed,” I said, rubbing my stomach.

“You better have room for dessert,” Jordan warned seductively.

“Oh, yeah?” I asked coyly, widening my eyes.  Jordan smirked and the heat in his eyes made my body tingle.

Riley and Jaz came to the table, each carrying a tray.  They started laying plates and bowls on the table.  “What is all of this?” I asked, not believing my eyes.  There was a plate of my favorite mini chocolate eclairs from Cup and Crumb.  In a bowl was another of my weaknesses, Swedish Fish.  Then there was a plate of chocolate croissants, something I kept in the apartment for breakfast at all times.  Then lastly, there was a huge slab of Barton's six layer chocolate cake, my favorite on the menu.