Bradley stood at the outside bar by the pool, drinking down his second double scotch on the rocks when Warren approached him.

"Where did Jordan go after you spoke to her?"

He shrugged, "I don't know. I don't care." He finished it off in one drink, motioning to the bartender to re-fill it.

Warren put a hand on his wrist, "Don't you think you've had enough?"

"Enough?" Bradley laughed, "Don't you think you've had enough? Things were going well between us until you decided to force my hand in a proposal."

"She was spending too much time with him. She needed to be reeled in."

"Well you did a good job of that, didn't you? All you did was make him more appealing by telling her what a bad boy he was." He swayed slightly. "Don't you know anything about women? You tell them something that can't have and they just want it all the more." He motioned drunkenly with his hand around the party, "Now neither of us even knows where she is," he leaned in, "but we also don't know where he is, so my guess is their together." He patted Warren's shoulder. "Good job!"

Warren pushed his hand off, "Don't you worry about that. Jordan will be back, I can assure you of that."

"Not with me she won't," Bradley announced. He took a drink of his freshly poured scotch. "So what do I get for being the loyal one? Huh? The plan was that I'd run the company. I suppose without a marriage then there is no plan," he said bitterly.

"It's not my fault you couldn't hold that relationship together." He poked him on the shoulder. "You should have been there on Maui when she woke up in the hospital! Maybe then she wouldn't have wanted to see him. That's when it all started, with that goddamn visit to his hospital room. Why did it take you so long to get there?"

Bradley recalled turning his cell phone off when he got to the girl's apartment, not wanting to be disturbed while he was having sex with her. Only to be stunned by the news of Jordan's plane crash the next morning when he finally turned it back on. "I already told you. I had lost my phone. It doesn't matter now anyway. I want to know about my status in the company."

Warren shook his head. "How can I let a man run my company who couldn't even close the deal with my daughter." He slapped his hand into the back of his palm angrily. "I gave her to you. All you had to do was love and take care of her. You brought this all on yourself Bradley by your own negligence." He pushed the glass of scotch away from him. "Maybe my mistake was setting her up with you in the first place."

Bradley leaned back against the bar, watching the old man walk off. "No old man," he whispered angrily, "you brought this on me and it's not over yet."

Warren cased the party for Jordan. He couldn't believe that she would just leave like that in the middle of her own birthday party. He knew what she felt for this man was nothing more than a crush, a schoolgirls crush. He was unlike anyone she had ever met and filled her head full of wild fantasies, but in the long run he would run out of things to say. Warren did know about women, regardless of what Bradley thought and he knew that every girl had her moment with the 'bad-boy', and that's all this was he convinced himself, a moment. It would never amount to anything more. He thought of his wife and her moment with the 'bad boy'. It could have been Steve they were so similar. He knew it was the same with Jordan. It pained him to relive that memory but it also fueled his anger over this relationship.


Jordan came inside Steve's house holding his arm.
"Do you remember the layout?" he asked, "I can take you around again."

"No, I got it." She put her hand on the leather sofa. "Couch here, coffee table, TV." She walked by herself forward, trusting his words. "You said there was nothing in the way from the living room to the kitchen."

Steve quickly ran up and grabbed her around the waist. "Except that wall." He lifted her hand, putting it on the edge, showing her. "You have to go around the wall that the TV is on."

"Oh," she giggled, "I guess I'm not quite ready yet."

"In time you'll know this place better than I do." He kissed her cheek from behind. "Do you want something to drink?"

She nodded, holding his arm as he led her into the kitchen and up to the island in the middle.

"Beer?" he asked, glancing inside the fridge. It was all he had besides water. He made a mental note to find out what she liked. Diet Coke he knew.

"Sure." She glided her hands over the small island. The top was butcher block. "Do you cook a lot?"

Steve twisted the top off of her beer and chuckled. "That depends. Do you consider frozen food and the microwave as cooking?"

She grinned, taking the beer in both hands as he set it down in front of her. "You have to eat better than frozen food. You're in too good of shape." She slid her fingers up the bottle, finding the top and took a drink.

He stood next to her, taking a swig of his beer. "I do. I'm exaggerating a bit, but I'm limited. I can cook chicken two ways, on the stove and on the BBQ."

Jordan put her hand over her heart, "Thank God you can BBQ," she teased, "I was going to use my new GPS and hightail it out of here otherwise."

He laughed at that. "I am the master of my grill."

"Really?" she said, brushing up close to him. "Now that is impressive."

"As a matter of fact," he said, putting an arm around her waist, smooth talking her. "I have chicken and BBQ sauce in my refrigerator as we speak. I could cook you something right now and share with you my talent."

She laid her head on his shoulder, playing along. "You would do that for little ole' me?"

"It would be a pleasure."

"Well I am hungry. I didn't know chasing men down in the street would give me such an appetite."

"You didn't chase me down," he argued, going to the fridge and opening it. "You jumped out in front of my car like a crazy person."

She laughed, "It got your attention."

He looked over his shoulder at her. "You always have my attention so please, no more jumping out in front of my truck."

She smiled, believing that to be the truth. "I won't."

He admired her a few seconds longer in the dark blue dress that looked like it had been designed just for her. He closed the fridge. "You look so pretty Jordan." He toyed with a piece of her long dark hair mesmerized by her. "I don't feel right keeping you in on your birthday, looking the way you do. Would you rather go out someplace nice and have dinner?"

She fumbled with the beer sitting on the counter. "I like this place," she smiled shyly, with her head bent, "and it doesn't matter where I am. I'm just glad I'm with you."

As soon as she looked up at him he kissed her. She didn't falter as if she knew it was coming. She felt that same weakness in her knees from the last time he had kissed her like this, standing over by the stairs. The same day they decided to move forward together. She didn't want to go anywhere else. She didn't ever want to leave this place. She liked it here.


Jordan rinsed out the beer bottle and set it next to the other three empty ones on the counter. Steve closed the dishwasher and put both arms around her waist, turning her so her back was against the counter. He grinned down at the familiar shirt she had on and basketball shorts that were tied to keep them from falling down on her smaller frame. "So, was it everything you expected?"

"Better. You are the master," she said wholeheartedly.

He glanced at his watch. "It's getting late. Do you want me to take you home, to Patsy's, anywhere, nowhere?"

She put her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder. "I don't want to go home. I don't want to go to Patsy's." she was quiet, feeling nervous all of a sudden.

"You can stay here Jordan," he suggested. "I have the spare room, but I'm not sure I can take it having you that far away all night in the same house." He could sense her uneasiness about it. "I have a better idea. Why don't we sleep on the couch? It's big enough. It's comfortable. I've slept there. Danny's slept on it lots of times." He pulled back so he could see her. "It's neutral territory," he joked, "What do you think?"

She bit her bottom lip; glad that he had gone out of his way to make her feel comfortable. "Okay."

He brushed the back of his had over her flushed complexion. "Okay."


She snuggled up against him as he wrapped the blanket they laid on across them. He tucked his arm under the shared pillow from the bed and put the other over her waist. "Comfortable?"

She reached down and held his hand, pulling it up under her chin, "Yes. Are you?"

"Very."

The house was quiet and Jordan listened to the noises of the strange place wanting to really get a feel for it. She not only felt comfortable lying next to him, she felt comfortable in his house. She felt more in place in his life than she ever did in her own. It made her sad to think that she had missed out on so much, but thanked God for bringing them together in that plane. She griped his hand tighter, realizing what if she never had met him. That proposal tonight would have been the beginning of a life with a man she hardly knew. She never would have been as happy in that life as she was right at that very moment.

She stroked his arm with her fingertips, thinking about their time on the surfboard, sitting in the water close like they were now, and just floating. It had been the beginning of what she knew was going to be an adventure with him.

Steve relaxed next to her, enjoying the soothing motion of her fingertips. Her body fit perfectly into his, giving him a good feeling that needed to be reciprocated. He pulled her closer and kissed her on the shoulder.

Jordan grinned over that sweet gesture and returned it by kissing the palm of his hand, gently rubbing her fingers over it. He had such strong hands, knowing his touch already without having to guess.

He wrapped a leg around both of hers, bringing her in still closer, wishing he could wrap his skin around her and pull her inside, then she just might feel close enough. He felt her hand reach behind and stroke his neck as if saying thank you. She moved up into his hair and he kissed her shoulder again, moving slowly to her neck, breathing in her perfume. His heart rate accelerated, spreading that good feeling to every part of his body, which only heightened the awareness of her touch and the curve of her body against his.

Jordan tilted her head back allowing him the freedom to continue. She could feel his warm breath on her neck between kisses. He moved patiently as if each one meant something. She was unable to control the soft moan that escaped from her throat as he touched her hand that was buried in his hair, slowly gliding his fingertips down her arm and then over her body, making her tremble. The heat from it was burning her up inside. She stroked her hand over his neck, encouraging him as another moan came from deep inside her while his hand traveled back up her body and under her shirt, gently caressing her back with his fingertips.

She was perfect, and he told her so in a voice that even he didn't recognize because he was in a place he'd never been before, feeling such raw emotions that had him pleading with himself to try to control yet at the same time wanting to beg her to let him unleash them. It was as if she heard his plea as she rolled over facing him. They kissed each other at the same time, ultimately accepting the situation that thought they could elude.

He shifted his weight as she slid underneath him. Her hands roaming over his bare back and shorts as if she were reading him like a book, memorizing him, all the while her tongue danced with his, provoking that need he had to be inside her. She pulled down on his hips as she pushed up into him, telling him she wanted it too.

He sat up taking her with him, pulling her up on to his lap, holding her around the waist with both hands as she slid her borrowed shirt over her head, dropping it on the floor. She put her hands on his face, touching his lips that were warm like hers. His whiskers tickled her palm as she gave him soft kisses over and over while her hand drifted down his throat until he moaned from the pleasure of it.

"Let's make love," she whispered to him, not feeling any of the shyness she had earlier but only wanting him more than she'd ever wanted anything in her life. She felt his lips form a smile, lighting her up inside. "Yes?" she asked playfully, but knew the request was equally desired.

"Yes," he replied, laying her back down on the couch again. "We're going to feel so good together Jordan," he whispered confidently, kissing her as he untied the string that held her shorts on.

She liked that answer and told him so by the kiss that turned fierce and hot. She held onto his neck pulling him in, enjoying his reaction that halted him from the duty of getting her shorts off, moving his concentration to the kiss that was racing through him. He moved up on her, getting a better angle and returned the enthusiasm. His whole body erupted as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He could feel the climax building that caught him by surprise never having had this happen before from just a kiss. He pulled away from her, but continued the frenzy that was engulfing him by tearing into her neck. "Jesus Jordan," he moaned almost breathless, "you're going to finish me off before I even get your clothes off."

She giggled, thrilled that she could make him feel that way. "I'll be more careful," she replied, pulling down on his shorts, agreeing with him wholeheartedly that they were going to feel so good together. He already had blown Bradley out of the water, the comparison was comical she thought, kissing him again as that name drifted out of her mind forever.


Jordan breathed in short quick gasps still holding tightly around his neck, her body quivering and wet with their combined sweat. She could feel his hot breath on her neck as it drifted down to her breasts and between their bodies that were still nestled closely. It actually felt good against the wetness, cooling her off.

Steve lifted his head off her shoulder feeling as if he had a hundred pound weight on his back. His muscles felt weak, hell his whole body felt the impact of what she had done to him. He looked over at the coffee table that lay on its side, scarcely recalling pushing it out of the way as they moved from the confines of the couch onto the floor. He tried to think what was on it before it tipped over when her hands began to stroke his hair. The insignificant detail of the contents was quickly forgotten as he moved up on her, searching out her lips first.

His hand drifted over her breasts that were still erect from their lovemaking as his mouth made a path to them. He'd never been so completely enamored of a woman's body as he was hers. She tasted like sugar; sweet and delicious that left him craving for more as if he might go into withdrawals without it.

Jordan moaned as he played with her, arching her back encouraging him, enjoying the after life of their liaison. Her body had responded to his exactly as they both had anticipated. The first few minutes were unbelievable once the connection was made. She'd always been very aware of her senses that were amplified to compensate for her blindness, but she never could have imagined the impact that another human being could have over them as well. Steve fulfilled that the moment he entered her. She would never forget that feeling for as long as she lived.

He moved back up on her, brushing her hair away from her face and over her head, kissing her cheek. "You're amazing Jordan."

She smiled up at him, "Happy Birthday to me," she sang out in a low sexy voice.

They both cracked up over it, giggling like teenagers.

He reached up on the couch and pulled down the blanket, covering them up as the sweat turned to a chill. He braced his head in his hand, still partially laying on her, tucking the blanket under her shoulder. "Better?"

She slid her hands over his backside under the blanket, "Very nice," she commented.

He laughed shyly over her compliment, "I meant the blanket."

"Oh," she acted surprised, "yes, that's better too."

"Naughty girl," he teased, running his hand up between her breasts and then back down again, caressing her stomach. He couldn't help but touch her.

"I feel naughty and adventurous when I'm with you. That's entirely your fault you know."

"Me?" he chuckled, "I don't think so." He leaned down and kissed her. "I think you've always been adventurous, you just needed someone to play with."

She slid her hand up and down his arm, feeling his strength that was just as obvious on the outside as it was on the inside. "What exciting thing do you have in store for me next."

He grinned, "Actually I did have something in mind, but I wasn't so sure you would be up for it. It's not for everyone."

She was intrigued and very interested, knowing it must be something spectacular. "What? Tell me."

"Would you ever consider skydiving?"

She felt a wave of fear soar through her just over the thought of it, but at the same time the idea was exhilarating. "How will I know what to do? I'm not sure that I would be…"

"You don't have to do anything," he explained, "you'd be attached to me. We'd do a tandem jump. I would be in control of everything."

She grinned, liking the sound of that, knowing if he were in control she had nothing to fear. The idea was sounding less scary and more thrilling. "Would I be on your back then?"

"No, you'd be strapped to my chest, with your back against me. I'd have control of all the cords all you'd have to do is have fun."

"Have you ever done anything like that before?"

"Sure, I think I have a little over two hundred jumps."

Jordan blushed, "Oh yeah, I guess when you're a Navy Seal they teach you that sort of thing."

He chuckled, kissing her, "Yes they do. But Jordan," he said seriously, "this isn't for everyone, so please don't feel like you have to or you that should do this. There's no shame is saying no."

She was glad that he was giving her the ability to say no without feeling like she should accept because of the other things they had done. He was so good about letting her make up her own mind. "Were you scared the first time you did it?"

Steve laughed over the memory, "I threw up on the plane."

Jordan laughed out loud over that. "Oh my gosh, you poor thing. That must have been awful."

"It was pretty bad. My brothers gave me shit for a long time over that."

The word 'brothers' caught her off guard knowing he just had a sister, and then realized it meant his Seal brothers. There was still so much she wanted to learn about him. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to laugh."

"Why, its funny," and then corrected himself, "funny now, not so funny back then."

"Who will pack the parachute?"

He smiled; pleased that she was asking all the right questions, which meant she was really considering it. "I will, if that makes you more comfortable."

Jordan took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Ok, I'll try it, but if I get there and change my mind is that all right?"

Steve leaned over and kissed her. "If we are two seconds from jumping out and you change your mind, that's all right. It's entirely your decision."

She put her hands on his chest, admiring the build and the hair that was just the right amount. "Are you always so easy going?"

"Only with you Jordan." He moved on top of her as her arms went around his neck. "Only for you."

"Are we going to make love again?" she asked hopeful, wrapping her legs around his waist.

"Do I have a choice?" he asked playfully as she roamed her hands over his backside, enticing him.

"No, not really. I was just being polite by asking."

"What a nice person you are," he whispered, running his hand up the back of her leg as she kissed his neck.

"Only with you Steve. Only for you."

"Smart ass."

She yelped and squirmed beneath him as he playfully bit her neck and tickled her waist. "Steve, stop!" she giggled and begged.

His nibbling on her neck turned to kisses as he searched out her mouth.

She moaned over it as her body reminded her of the earlier pleasures that she was so looking forward too again.

"Let's go up to my room," he whispered to her. "I want you in my bed."

It was a simple suggestion, but just the tone of it was the sexiest thing she'd ever heard. "Yes," she agreed happily, eager to follow him anywhere.