Chapter Twelve

Woody rose earlier than normal the next morning….he had a hard time getting to sleep the night before…despite a cold shower. Jordan had invaded more than his beach house…she had invaded his dreams, too. He woke more times than he wanted to count, still feeling her in his arms, thinking she was there…only be bitterly disappointed. So he had gotten up, showered, and made coffee...walking out on his back porch to look over the ocean...into the horizon and think.

She had changed. Grown. Matured. She was peaceful and warm and inviting…Before she had been attractive, alluring… seductive in her own way, but that Jordan couldn't hold a candle to this Jordan. She was a woman now….And she had been sweet enough last night not to hold the end results of the "game" against him. "You just got into character too much, Woody. It happens. It's okay. And my side is fine…you didn't hurt it," she had told him before she had gone into her bedroom.

He wished he was that innocent. He wished he had just gotten too much into character…but he knew that wasn't all of it. He wanted her. He wanted the same feelings they had for each other years ago…before white collar crimes…before Devan. Only he wanted more…he wanted permanence…he wanted her for forever. Did she realize she maybe wanted the same thing?

And how did Eddie Winslow fit in all this? He had heard what the MSBI agent told her at the Pogue… that he was more than willing to move back to Boston…make life sweet for her…

Well, he be damned if that would happen. Woody swallowed the rest of his coffee….Winslow may have been her first love, but he was going to be her last. The only question he had for her, as he opened the door to go back inside, was how willing was she to go along with his plans? Was their past far enough behind them that she could let go of it and grab hold of a future together? How far was the past behind her or him? He didn't know.

"Good morning," Jordan greeted him, as she entered the kitchen, still in her tank top and girl boxers. She looked wonderful in the mornings…hair tousled, sleepy-eyed, and still a little unsteady on her tiny feet with her perfectly painted toenails. He swallowed hard…

"Morning," he managed to get out, a little gruffly.

"You're up early…"

He was about to tell her the reason why he was up so early when his cell phone ringing cut through the early morning quiet.

"Hoyt," he said.

"Hoyt," said the voice on the other end. "This is Eddie Winslow. Just wanted you to know….we've found Cynthia Hough. We're going after her now….you may want to tell Jordy that it's almost over."

Jordy…what on earth gave the man the right to call her that? "Thanks. I will," he replied, before quickly flipping his phone shut.

"That was Eddie Winslow," he finally said to her, as she was fixing herself a cup of coffee.

"Oh. What'd he want?"

"He said to tell Jordy that they know where Cynthia Hough is and they're closing in. He'll let us know when she's caught."

"Oh. Good. Then I guess it's almost over?"

"Yeah. Almost, Jordy. What the hell kind of nickname is that?"

Jordan grinned. "I've known Eddie since I was in high school…that's what everyone called me when I was younger."

"Jordy?"

'Yeah…Jordy, Jo, Dan, sometimes even Danny, Jordan Marie Cavanaugh when I was really big trouble, but most of the time, usually just Jordy."

Woody was momentarily relieved. So it wasn't Eddie's pet nickname for her…"So I can call you that, too?" he asked.

"Only if you want your ass kicked. I outgrew that nickname years ago," she said as she saundered back to take her shower.

Jordan passed most of her day getting caught up on some paperwork she had brought with her to Woody's beach house. He seemed preoccupied…probably glad this is almost over and I'll be out of his house again, she thought. He hadn't said more than a dozen words to her all day. She wasn't sure if he still felt awkward about last night and the game getting out of hand, or if he was just happy the case was about closed. She sighed and tucked her hair behind her ears, continuing to work until the doorbell startled both of them out of their thoughts.

Woody got up and pulled his service revolver, going to the front door and cautiously opening it. It was Eddie Winslow. "Can I come in?" he asked.

Wordlessly Woody backed away from the door.

"Jordan," he said, as he caught sight of her in the den.

"Eddie…have you caught her?" she asked, meaning Cynthia Hough.

"We know where she's at and we have her under surveillance. I came here to talk to you…think we could take a walk on the beach?"

Jordan hadn't been on the beach the whole time she had been at Woody's. He hadn't offered, she had reasoned, because he didn't feel it was safe. Now things were different…the case was about closed….Eagerly, she got up and took Eddie's hand. "I'd love to see the ocean…"

Woody watched them walk down to the sand….he suddenly felt like his world had gone out with the ocean's tide…and there was nothing he could do about it.

Eddie loosely held Jordan's hand, being careful of the stitches still in her side and shoulder. "How are you feeling, Jordy? Are you healing up okay? Do you need anything?"

Bo,y that's a loaded question, she thought. "I'm doing fine…I can take my stitches out today or tomorrow…and I don't need anything other than to get this woman behind bars so I can go home."

Eddie chuckled. "I figured that much….but how's it going being with Hoyt? Is he treating you right? Are you managing?"

"Woody's …..well…..he's okay. It's kind of weird being with him like this…at one time it could have been so different between us…and now…well, it's obvious he's moved on and is ready to get me out of his life again."

Eddie looked at Jordan. He couldn't imagine anyone wanting Jordan out of their life… but still, if Hoyt hadn't made a move yet, that meant that the door was still open for him. "You know my offer still stands, Jordan."

"You mean the one about the house and the fence and the swing set in the back yard?"

"Yeah."

Jordan turned to Eddie. "I'm sorry, Eddie. I do care for you…but not in that way. You'd only end up disappointed and I'd be short changing both of us….You need someone who will love you completely….My heart's been too broken by Woody for me to even think about…." Her voice caught.

Eddie pulled her to him and gently hugged her. "Oh, Jordan. I'm so sorry, baby. You and I … we could have had something at one time…I guess I waited too long….I'm so sorry he's hurt you. Do you still love him?"

He felt Jordan nod against his chest. Eddie blew out a sigh. He had heard rumors about her and Hoyt….and why he left homicide…and what Woody had done since. He didn't know if Jordan could deal with Woody now…he had heard Woody was one cold son of a bitch. And he didn't want her hurt again, regardless. "Look, I know it's tough being here with him. Why don't you get your things together and go back with me? Hough should be apprehended in a day or two…." He began to steer her back to the house.

"No. I'll stay here…like you said, it won't be long….I'll be fine." Truth was, she wanted to be near Woody for as long as she could….it was both heaven and hell, but in the end, it would add to her store of memories…which may be all she had left.

Eddie walked her to the ridge of the beach, the part right before she would turn and go up the path to Woody's house. "I've got to get back, Jordan. As soon as we have Cynthia in custody, I'll let you know so you can come back home. Take care of yourself…and if you need me, call me," he said, before he bent down and lightly kissed her lips. "I mean it, Jo," he said.

Jordan smiled at him. "I'll be fine…don't worry. Now go get that woman behind bars."

Eddie grinned at her and walked back up the path. Jordan sank down on the ridge, pulled her knees up to her chest, and crossed her arms over them. She didn't want to go through the rest of her life alone…Eddie's offer was tempting…but she knew she didn't love him. She knew it as sure as she was breathing. Her tattered heart was still Woody's despite all the work she had done to try to mend it and make it her own again. She didn't know if she would ever get over him. She wasn't sure she wanted to.

Woody understood her better than anyone. He could read her moods….make her laugh…and knew when she needed to be held without her saying a word. Or at least he used to. It had been so long since they had been together…it was difficult to know if he still remembered. From all appearances, he had seemingly forgotten about everything they used to do together except her father's role playing game. He had put everything behind him.

She hadn't been that lucky or that determined to forget. She held her memories of him around her like a warm, fuzzy blanket on a cold night. They were her comfort, her solace…her means of keeping sane. She stood back up to walk to the house. She guessed she hadn't been as successful as he had been in forgetting and starting a new life. Her past wasn't behind her at all….she wrapped herself in it everyday.