By the time they got to New Haven it was nearly time to stop for another meal. Jordan and Woody had spent the car ride talking about everything from Jordan's secret affections for Radar on MASH and Woody's not so secret affections for Daisy Duke's shorts.
"…Why does that not surprise me?" Jordan asked as they drove through the small city towards the ocean.
Woody turned his head quickly, appalled. "Daisy Duke is an American icon…she was the first woman I ever looked at with any kind of positive feeling. She cured me of cooties!" he argued, bent on distracting her from the fact that he was pulling up to a hotel.
"Alright, come on, we'll just go check in real quick and then paint the town red." Woody announced. "I talked Lily into getting me a dress for you…she handled the shoes from her own closet." He said hurriedly jumping out of the front seat and handing the valet his keys.
"Well but….and you…" Jordan's mouth hung open as she sat stunned in the passenger seat. "You TRICKED me?" she asked and Woody just nodded.
"Uh huh, come on let's get going…your bag's in the trunk." He smiled charmingly and grabbed it out of the back and walked for the door. Jordan just watched him go for a moment before opening the car door with a defeated sigh. She had a feeling this was going to be a long ass night.
"Free will my ass." She mumbled as he held the hotel door open for her. When they reached the lobby the full implications of the situation finally hit Jordan.
"Woody…wait.." She said softly and took him aside at the check in desk. "I don't…I don't know what you were expecting this to be.." she said with a wave around the lobby and one between them. "But I just don't think it's…."
"Two rooms, single beds." Woody said with a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I'd never take advantage of you Jordan. Honest." He nodded and smiled softly at her. "Come on, my treat." He said putting an arm around her shoulders and kissing the side of her head as they went back to the desk.
"Hi there, reservation for Hoyt, two rooms." He said holding up the same number of fingers. The desk attendant nodded and scrolled through the names.
"Nice dress…glad you gave the job to Lily and didn't try and find one yourself." She said with a wink.
"Really? Still with the tie thing?" Woody teased and started to say more but the attendant clucked her tongue. "Oh…here we are, actually though it's ONE room with TWO beds…though I'm not sure why.. "she mumbled looking between the two attractive people in front of her.
"No no, that must be a mistake, it's TWO rooms, ONE bed in each." Woody assured her and nervously rolled his eyes at Jordan.
"Actually no…it's ONE room TWO beds…we're all booked up with a couple of weddings in town.." The attendant said tapping her fingernails on the desk. "Sorry hun, we can do a search at some other local hotels if you wanted to try.." Woody looked at Jordan.
"One room is fine." Jordan said after thinking a moment. "I have my mace with me." She smirked and punched Woody in the arm lightly before picking up her bag. Woody watched Jordan walk towards the elevator and shook his head.
"We'll take it." He said holding a hand out for the key cards.
"Are you sure you're okay with this Jordan?" Woody asked with a grunt as he dropped his bag onto one of the beds. "And more importantly were you serious about the mace?" he asked pointing at her with raised eyebrows.
Jordan loved being able to push his buttons and the longer she knew Woody the easier it became to find the right ones. "Let's hope you don't have to find out." She said ominously and dropped her bag on the floor. "So do I get the first shower being as I'm the lady?" she asked brightly.
"I don't know about that 'lady' part, " Woody teased settling in on top of the covers of his bed. "But sure, go ahead. I'll call around, see what restaurants aren't booked up." He said with a wave of his hand as he tried to sound flippant.
Once Jordan was in the bathroom he went into super planning mode though. He had talked about a lot with Jordan throughout the day and the car ride. He'd never admit it to her but New Haven wasn't a plan, New Haven was as far away straight down from Boston as they could go, right to the ocean and gave them enough time to talk and get loosen up to just enjoy each others company.
When he heard the shower start Woody smiled. At least she hadn't thrown herself out of the car into oncoming traffic.
Jordan emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a fluffy white towel shortly later to Woody's pleasure…and frustration. "All yours." She smiled and sauntered past him. Woody stood in the doorway of the bathroom a moment and watched her walk away before continuing in, his clothes for the night tucked under his arm.
When he was dressed and had checked his hair 6 times in the mirror Woody exited the bathroom to find Jordan brushing out the loose waves of her hair in front of the mirror. He stopped still a moment and just watched her without her knowing. The curve of her neck, the smoothness of her skin. Something in his chest almost ached to touch her.
"I still have the mace Farm boy." Jordan said dryly, jolting him out of his little fantasy.
"Funny, you..you…r-ready to go?" he asked and cleared his throat. Jordan nodded.
"One second." She said trying to fix her locket necklace back on to no avail. She jumped as Woody was suddenly behind her with his hands resting softly on her shoulders.
"Let me?" he asked beside her ear and Jordan had to fight a chill that ran up her spine. Without waiting for her permission those tender hands of Woody's gently covered hers and slipped the necklace from her fingers.
She could feel his warm breath on the spot where the side of her neck turned into the top of her shoulder and closed her eyes, bearing her neck unconsciously to him.
"There." Woody breathed and release the necklace before stepping back from her. "All done." He whispered and smiled when she finally opened her eyes and offered him her hand.
Woody watched her turn for the door. Free will suddenly took on a new meaning for him. He'd told Jordan she had free will but remembered in that moment as she started for the door that he had it to. He stood his ground and Jordan turned to look at him in question when she was jerked back at his refusal to move.
"Wha.." Woody cut her off, tugging her hand just hard enough to make her body and lips crash into his. He held her lips tenderly in a chaste kiss, only holding it a moment before he released them reluctantly and smiled.
"So…dinner." He nodded and gave her a little smile as he headed for the door himself, a little more of a hop in his step.
