Chapter Seven

Jordan sat speechless, listening to Woody's story, his confession. She didn't know what to say, but she had to see his eyes. He had turned away from her as he was talking. Just as gently as he had done to her, she reached out and took his face in both of her hands, turning it towards her, so she could see those blue eyes.

"I understand why you didn't say anything about your past...about Kewaunne," she began. "But I wish you would have. I wouldn't have brushed you off so much if I would have known.

"I don't know what to say, Woody. I could tell you I'm sorry all that happened to you. And I am. I truly am. But that won't really make it better. It won't bring back your mom or your dad. But it does make you know that I understand. And I do. God, when I think back about how many times I wrote you off as too happy-go-lucky, I could kick my own ass. I was so stupid. It amazes me how you could keep your sunny disposition and not become cynical like me...how you still look for the good in people. You're a much better person than I am.

"And I admire you...to take on the responsibility of your brother at such a young age... no wonder you and Cal are so close. He was lucky to have you. I don't think I could have done it.

"I'm sorry about Annie, and all the hopes and dreams you had with her. Her dad was an idiot. You're a fine man....you have so much more to offer than just material stuff. You're a man, Woody. A real man. You know about loss, you know what it is to work hard for something you want...you have the patience to wait for the right time to reach out and get something.

"But I'm not sorry you had to break up with her and I'm definitely not sorry you ended up in Boston. I would have never met you, otherwise, and there would always be something in my life missing. And that something would be you."

Woody looked into her whiskey-colored eyes. They were being honest. She wasn't just being sympathetic because she felt she had to. She wasn't pitying him. She was being truthful. He leaned his forehead against hers. "I just thought you needed to know," he said, feeling like a weight had been lifted from his back. Now he could really relax around her...be himself. Jordan hugged him close, gently brushing his cheek with her lips. "It's going to be okay, Woody. You're going to be okay."

"I know." The sun was going down and there was a chill in the air. "I'd better get you home before it gets too cold," he said. He felt like he may have said too much. He was afraid that in trying to get her to understand his past, he may have said too much and pushed her away. He was frightened he may have overburdened her.

They got in the car and started back to Jordan's apartment. She scooted over next to him and put her head on his shoulder. So much of scaring her off, he thought, as his right arm went around her to pull her closer.

He walked her up to her apartment door. She was still holding his hand. She hadn't let go of him since his confession. She opened her door and walked through, tugging him in after her. "Stay for a while. Please," she asked.

"Jordan...it's not that I don't want to...it's just that I think we should still take it slowly. I mean, we've covered a lot of ground tonight. Maybe we both need some time to think about how far we've come and where this is going to take us."

"And I think we've wasted enough time." She pulled him the rest of the way inside and shut the door firmly, throwing the deadbolt on at the same time. She slowly walked over to him. "I don't want to waste any more. We've both danced around the issues for three years. I didn't think you understood me. Now I find out that you understand me better than anyone else. I thought you were just patient. That wasn't it. You knew. You knew exactly how I felt...with everything. And I have some idea what you've been through. And you may not have felt wanted or loved as a child. But I want you to know now, Woody, that I love you...and I want you...for whatever it's worth. I'm not letting you out of my life. So when I say 'Stay for a while,' I mean it. In the literal sense."

"I don't want your pity, Jordan."

"It's not pity. It's never been pity."

He took a half-step closer to her. "Are you sure?"

She nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah. I'm sure."

He ran his fingers through his hair. "Now what?"

"Well...how about a good night kiss?"

She didn't have to ask twice. Woody pulled her into his arms and sought her lips.

And if all the trite clichés in the world were true, the ground literally moved beneath their feet. All Jordan could think of was making him realize just how much he meant to her...how much she cared. So when he ran his hands down her sides and across her bottom to pull her tighter to him, she simply moaned and molded her body more closely to his.

And he nearly lost it.

Jordan was already lost in the kiss, his touch...but tonight, however much he wanted her, she wanted to let him know beyond any reason just how much she wanted him – loved him. So when he tangled his tongue with hers, she slid her hands up under the t-shirt he was wearing, softly touching him...his chest, his back. Then he did lose it. The kiss became hotter, as he trailed his way down her neck and across her collarbone, all the while his hands kept pulling her closer.

Until her clock chimed the hours. The sound brought Woody to his senses. "Jordan," he whispered.

She opened her eyes to look into his...eyes that were now nearly smoky. She knew her own mirrored the same...the feelings. "Hmm....?" Was all she managed to get out as his hands began to gently rub circles on her back, slowing things down a bit.

"That was some good night kiss."

"I don't want to say good night."

"Jordan, I don't think you really know what you're saying right now. I think we've dealt with a lot of emotions tonight...and need a day or two to sort everything out. I don't want to do anything in the heat of the moment right now that you may regret next week or next month. I don't want you to feel like you have to run again....if things aren't everything you expected."

Jordan swallowed hard. He knew her past too well. Far too frequently, when a man offered her love in every sense of the , she would run. Until now, love wasn't a safe place for her. It was scary. It was unknown. And it seemed it was too easily taken away. "I know. And I want you to feel the same way...love hasn't exactly dealt either of us a fair hand."

Still holding her hand, he walked over to her door and unlocked it. "Good night, Jordan. I'll see you tomorrow. Lock the door behind me." And with a quick kiss, he was gone.