XxX

A knock caught Jordan's attention and fear froze her when she saw who her uninvited guests were. Her hippie boyfriend, a favorite description of Garret's, stood in the doorway with an equally hippie looking chick on his arm. She was decked out in every color under the sun with random feathers tucked in her hair and throughout her entire wardrobe. Jordan was sure her office would reek of patchouli for weeks to come.

"Hey, Jo." Tyler smiled.

Jordan quickly snapped herself out of it and hopped up, "Hey, Tyler, this must be your far-out bride. Hi, I'm Jordan."

"Jasmine." The girl giggled, quickly shaking Jordan's hand before clinging to Tyler's arm once more, "We figured we'd stop in on our way to Martha's Vinyard. Ty-Ty's parents got us a week there for our honeymoon, aren't they the sweetest?"

"I wouldn't know, I've never met Ty-Ty's parents." Jordan feigned a smile, willing this visit to be over soon, "Hey, I'm sorry I couldn't make the wedding. Ya know, work and all. Dead bodies never rest."

Before Tyler could say anything, Jasmine popped up as if she'd just woken up, "Oh, where is your man? Tyler told me all about him and I've been dying to meet him, I love Anglophiles. The accent is hot!"

Jordan just smiled, knowing the correction wasn't worth it, "Oh, he's around here somewhere, buried in research. If you find a computer, you will most likely find him."

"You two're still together, right?" Tyler asked, an almost sarcastic note to his tone.

Jordan narrowed his eyes, "Yes, we are still together." Without another word, she led the pair out, grating her teeth as Jasmine gushed over all their horrific wedding details. Jordan stopped listening after she heard tie-dye bridesmaid dresses.

She winced, then cursed, when she found Nigel exactly where she was expecting him to be in Trace, only very much not alone. Lily was assisting Peter as he searched for an ID.

Jordan all but willed Nigel to look at her, desperate to clue him in so they could pull this off once again. By chance, Nigel looked up as they walked by the window. It took him a second to register what was going on but he was smiling brightly by the time Jordan had pushed open the doors.

"Hey, luv, looks like you picked up a couple of strays." Nigel chuckled, swerving his chair towards the small group.

"Nige, you remember Tyler." Jordan replied, "And this is Jasmine, the newly christened Mrs. McNamara."

"It's lovely to meet you." Nigel purred, taking Jasmine's hand as she tittered away, "I'm sorry we missed your wedding; I'm sure it was a wonder to behold." Jasmine only giggled in reply.

Peter looked between the pair and then to Lily, silently asking if he was the only one going crazy. Lily simply gawked at the scene before them.

"So, what brings you lovely folks to our neck of the woods?" Nigel leaned back, ruffling his hair.

Jordan walked over and he shifted so she could lean into him, her arm resting on his shoulder, "They are heading out for their honeymoon, Tyler's parents got them a place in Martha's Vinyard for the week."

"Really? You'll have to share your review after. I've been thinking we should take a holiday to the Vinyard, maybe for Jordan's birthday. You know, we've lived in Boston forever but never really been anywhere the city's known for." He looked to Jordan, playing smitten.

"I'd like that. Though, arguably, Martha's Vinyard isn't a city sight."

"Po-tay-to, po-tah-to." He chuckled, hurrying to type something on the keyboard when the computer beeped at him.

When Nigel swung back around, Jordan surprised him with a kiss, and he did have to feign his grin.

"Be glad you're cute." She laughed, enjoying the flush warming his face.

"Would you guys like to grab some food before we head out? I'd love to hear all about the Emerald Isle." Jasmine tittered.

"I think we'll have to pass this time, pretty heavy case load right now. But, maybe we can grab dinner on your way back though?" Nigel smiled, always the charmer.

"I'd like that." The bride flirted.

After a few more pleasantries, Nigel and Jordan waved the pair off, making sure they saw them disappear through the lobby doors. They breathed a sigh of relief the moment they had.

"Well done, Nige!" Jordan gave him a high-five, her hand holding on to his a bit longer than necessary. Movement caught her eye and she turned to see a very amused Lily standing beside Peter, who was giving Nigel two thumbs up.

"So, how long have you two been a thing?" Lily playfully chided.

"Oh, we're only a thing when Tyler's in town." Nigel reached for his empty coffee cup and toasted the group before sneaking off to the break room, leaving Jordan to explain their ruse.

"Tyler popped in last October and Nigel helped me get rid of him by pretending to be my boyfriend for the night." Jordan forced a smile, trying to give credibility to her own actions.

Lily was enjoying this all too much, "I've found 'no' can work just as well in those types of situations."

"Wait-wait-wait, the whole night?" Peter shook his head, "Damn, I showed up a month to late."

Jordan's nose twitched, "Not like that."

"Nigel seemed to play the part pretty convincingly." Lily smirked.

Jordan sputtered a few nonsensical words before waving her hands and pushing past them. The pair exchanged a knowing look when she headed straight for the breakroom.

Jordan knocked on the door, smiling when Nigel turned to her, "Hey, Nige, thanks for what you did back there."

"No problem, luv." He grinned, foraging through the boxes on the table. He found a lemon filled donut which he offered to Jordan before grabbing an apple fritter for himself.

Jordan picked at the pastry, appreciating how thoughtful Nigel always was, "Hey, Nige?"

"Hmm?"

"Would you…would you like to come over," Jordan tried to play it cool, "For—for dinner sometime, tonight maybe? I feel like I owe you after everything." She smiled nervously, not wanting to show her hand.

"Are you going to try passing off Yang Chow's as home cooking again?" He chuckled into his coffee.

"Beats take-out and hiding from cats." She shrugged, giving her infamous smirk.

"You have a point there." He grinned, "7 o'clock?"

"7 it is." She nodded, "Oh, and you don't have to bring any of your stuff this time."

"I wouldn't dream of being so presumptuous as to think I'd get lucky on a second date." He winked and headed back to Trace, leaving a very charmed Jordan in his wake.

XxX