Chapter Eight

"Tyler…" Jordan barely breathed the word. "What are you doing back in Boston? Last I heard from you, you were getting married. So where's the Mrs.?"

Tyler laughed…Jordan had forgotten what he sounded like when he laughed…almost a seductive sound. "Didn't last too long."

"Get tired of coming home to the same woman every night?"

"Nope…she decided she liked sleeping with her boss better than sleeping with me."

"Ouch. That hurt. I'm sorry, Ty."

Tyler shrugged and sat down on the corner of Jordan's desk. "It's over and done. I thought it would last. I hope it would…but it didn't. So…I was in Boston and thought I'd look you up."

"And why are you here in Boston?"

Tyler reached out and took a strand of Jordan's hair and curled it around his finger. "Well, I could say that I was heartbroken and thought time with you would make me feel better….I could say that I only married her to get over you, and now that I'm not married, I've decided to come and see if you'd take me back….or I could be completely honest and tell you I'm here on business for the week." He grinned at her. No dimples, but a great smile.

"Business? What kind?"

"Sales. I sell sound equipment. I've been given the East Coast area for a while."

"Oh. That's great, Tyler."

"So, Jordan," he continued, taking her left hand… "You're still not married…not engaged…seeing anyone?"

She shook her head. "No…not really."

"Would you like to see me this week….for old time's sake?"

Jordan smiled. Suddenly the plan of making babies the old fashioned way moved back to the forefront of her mind. Tyler wouldn't mind cooperating….he wouldn't even have to know the dilemma she had been in. She knew what he expected…and she also knew that he would leave her at the end of the week. And even if he ever did find out that the baby was his, he would be happy just to let her raise it alone….he hadn't changed that much.

"I'd love to see you this week," she said, gently squeezing his hand.

Woody watched Jordan and a man leave the morgue together. He had assumed that it was work related….a victim's family member, perhaps a medical sales rep. But then he had saw them laughing and talking….and then the man's arm went around Jordan's waist…and she leaned into him. He swallowed hard. The guy wasn't a detective…he had never seen him before. A small shiver of jealousy ran up his spine. Sternly, he told himself he had nothing to be jealous over. He and Jordan had no commitment with each other but the friendship they had pledged.

And she was his friend…she had played that role perfectly. But as the days went by, especially since the failed insemination, he had grown closer to her…he knew just how much she hurt over the loss of Joy…how much she longed for a baby…something in her life that was all her own that she could give to unselfishly. Woody had slowly come to the realization he was still in love with her. He hadn't said anything, trying to give her time to get her life back on stable ground after the recent disappointments. But evidently her feelings had changed for him…it was truly friendship for her and nothing else. Still, the thought of her being with another man rankled his normally pleasant personality. Who was this guy? Determinedly, he walked over to the morgue. Nigel would know. Nigel knew almost everything about Jordan's relationships.

"Morning, Nige," he said to the tall Englishman.

"Good morning, Woodrow. What brings you to our morgue so bright and early today…Jordan's not here. She's gone out with a friend."

"That's what I came to ask you about Nigel. Is there somewhere we can talk privately?"

"Sure, Woody…my office." Nigel wondered what was up.

Woody paced…a sure sign he was agitated. Then he ran his fingers through his hair. Nigel watched in silence, slightly amused at the detective. He had no idea how high the stakes were with this flirtation. "Who is he, Nigel?"

"The man with Jordan?"

Woody nodded.

"That's Tyler. Jordan's known him for years."

"Then why haven't I seen him around?"

"Because Tyler lives in California…LA to be exact, I believe. He and Jordan lived together when she was out there. He followed her to Boston shortly after she first returned, but she spun him around and sent him back. He's here on business for the week. I get the feeling Dr. Cavanaugh is entertaining him for 'old times sake'."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Really. And I'm glad for Jordan. She's been upset since they took Joy away. Today is the first time I've seen her laugh and smile in months."

Woody nodded, his expression grim.

"I mean…Tyler's a great guy…he's good-looking, makes her laugh, and from what I understand they used to have some wild times in…"

Woody cut him off. "That's enough, Nige."

"Why Woodrow….are you jealous?"

Woody's expression gave him away.

"I thought you just wanted to be friends with Jordan?" It was a statement couched as a question.

"I did, too. But I was wrong."

"Good luck, mate. She was very glad to see Tyler."

Nodding again, Woody left the morgue…wondering just what he was going to do…and what was Jordan going to do.

Jordan shut the door to her townhouse behind her and leaned up against it, running a hand down her tired face. She and Tyler had been out for the past three nights. First it was dinner and dancing…then it was dinner and a movie…then they had gone for drinks at the Pogue tonight. She was having a great time with him…her former lover.

Tyler had been good…very good at being her lover so many years ago. He knew just how to touch her face or that sensitive spot at her waist to get her full attention…he remembered, even after all these years. He knew just how she liked to be kissed. He knew … and remembered all too well. He could seduce her in a second….if she would let him.

Letting him…that was the issue. For as much as she wanted to fulfill her desires for motherhood, this seemed so wrong. For once in her life, Jordan Cavanaugh was thinking about using sex to get what she wanted…usually it was the other way around. She kept telling herself this was just to get pregnant…just to have the baby that her heart longed for.

The only problem was, that no matter how much she kept chanting this to herself, she didn't believe it. Every time she looked into Tyler's brown eyes, she was upset and shocked that it was his blue ones. And was bitterly disappointed that it wasn't his arms…and lips. But that couldn't be. Not now. Not ever. Woody didn't want her that way again. She pulled away from her door and mentally shook herself. There was no use or need in castigating herself over something that she couldn't have. She needed to concentrate on Tyler…and she only had two more nights.