Chapter Three

It was bound to happen. Them getting too close.

And one Sunday afternoon it did.

Sundays were Jordan's only real day off, if you could call it that. On Saturdays she was at the Pogue from mid-morning until early dawn on Sunday….checking stock, ordering food and liquor, getting the books caught up, then working from the time the bar opened until it closed.

Sundays was her day to get caught up on her sleep, the housework, laundry, and shopping. Woody had tried to help. He cleaned his part of the house the first of the week.

He cleaned her part of the house Saturday when she was working. He was afraid to touch her laundry…the piles of delicates were a bit intimidating. And he had no clue what to buy at the grocery store.

However, he was there to help her unload the bags of food and put the stuff away. Until she had tried to set one knee on the counter and reach up to place something on a high shelf and lost her balance, falling right into Woody's arms.

Talk about opportunity knocking…or in this case, falling…

He had steadied her and slowly let both feet touch the floor…but unable to take his eyes off her face, or her wide eyes. "You need to be….you need to be more careful, Jordan," he had said, his breath shortened at the feel of her body next to his.

"I know…I'm sorry," she replied, her voice just as breathless as his….but making no move to disengage herself from his arms.

"That's okay….no prob…" his voice was failing him, "lem." Instincts took over. His arms tightened around her and his lips tentatively sought hers.

Sweet Jesus, it was better this time than any of those kisses in the desert. He backed her into the counter, still holding her and kissing her. And feeling her respond…not retreating from him or his caresses…instead, nearly encouraging him to continue….after all Lily had said take advantage of the opportunity. She was.

But Woody was confused. She had indicated she only wanted a platonic roommate.

And these kisses were far from platonic. Especially when she made no objection to his tongue gently skating against hers. He finally broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers as he waited for his breathing to return to normal. Hereluctantly took a deep breath and said, "I'm sorry, Jordan."

"Sorry?"

"Yeah. I told you I could behave….that this roommate thing would be perfectly friendly and nothing else. I've broken my promise and I'm sorry. If you want me to leave, I understand."

"Leave?" Her lips were still tingling far too much for her to form many words. Damn, he never let on he could kiss that good. What else had she been missing?

"Find some other place to stay, if you don't feel you can trust me."

"Trust you?" Oh God, she sounded like a parrot, repeating everything that was said to her. She really just wanted him to shut up and kiss her again.

"I understand, Jo. Just, can I wait until tomorrow to leave? Give me a day or two to find some other place to stay?"

She took a deep breath and placed her hand on his chest. "I don't want you to leave, Woody. I really don't. What happened here….just now….I guess it was a result of curiosity…" she looked up into his blue eyes. Hell, she'd tell him there really was an Easter Bunny it if would get him to stay. "I mean, I know I've been wondering what kissing you would be like again since we got back from LA."

He solemnly looked in her eyes. "You're right. I guess that goes for me, too. And the way things happened…."

"Yeah. I just kind of fell in your arms…."

"And it really was all an accident.'

"True. And no one can take the blame for an accident."

"Right…so my curiosity is satisfied…how about yours?"

One last quick kiss and he's happy? She thought. I must a lousy kisser. God, he knows how to hurt a girl. "Oh, yeah, sure," is what she really said out loud. "So we don't have to worry anymore….you can stay here until you find another apartment."

"Alright…if you're sure you don't mind?"

"No. I don't mind at all." Just don't go, was what her mind said, still reeling from the assault on her lips.


So he stayed. For three more weeks. He did regularly flip through the rental ads in the paper, looking for an apartment. He even went and saw a few of them.

But there was always something wrong with them. Not close enough to work. Rent just five dollars too high. Landlord was a real pain in the ass. Jordan commiserated with him. "Don't move until you're sure you can live with your choice," she had told him over her shoulder, one Saturday as she was getting ready to go into work at the Pogue. "I'm fine with you staying here for as long as you need to." If it possibly means you still care about me, she thought, her eyes lingering on his lips just a moment too long. Or if it means I could rekindle the flame with you…just please… don't leave me.

"Thanks, Jordan. I really appreciate it. What time do you think you'll be home?" he asked, trying to act casual. Inside, his heart was turning somersaults. She wasn't pushing him away.

"Probably about two. It's Saturday and I don't close until one."

"Be careful. Want me to stop by and make sure you're okay?"

"Nah…you have to work tonight. If something happens you'll know about it."

"Jordan…" he warned.

"No worries. In all the years that the Pogue has been on West Centennial, nothing has happened."

"Are you closing up by yourself?"

"I won't know until it's time to leave tonight."

Woody grunted. "Call me if you get scared, okay?"

"Will do. But I'm fine."

And she was. Until about fifteen minutes before she was supposed to leave the bar.