Chapter Four

Making Up for Lost Time

"Come here," he finally said, listening that tiny voice in his head that said now was the time to make his move.

She looked at him closely for a beat, then sat beside him on the couch. "What?'

He reached out and took her had, rubbing soft circles on the back of it. "Can you honestly see us comparing dating notes? Be real. The only thing that would end up happening is that one of us would get so insanely jealous that they'd end up killing the other person."

She smiled softly, looking down at their hands. "Maybe."

"So, do you like this Troy?"

"He's okay. Someone to spend some time with."

"Has he been good to you?"

"Yeah."

"A perfect gentleman?"

"A perfect gentleman."

"Stupid bastard."

Jordan looked at him again. "Come again?"

"Stupid bastard. Do you think if I had you in this apartment…like we are right now…and we were dating…that I'd behave like a perfect gentleman?"

"Yeah, but Woody, you've let me know for a while you were ready to move on…you were tired of this 'game' we've played for a couple of years. I've tried to honor that…and let you go."

He was quiet for a moment. "Yeah. I did."

"And like you said…it's all for the best. We'd end up killing each other inside of a week, right?"

He looked deep into her eyes. "No…you and I both know that wouldn't happen…" Woody let go of her hand and inched his way up to her waist, pulling her closer. "Would it?"

"Woody…" Damn. Her voice sounded weak, even to her. She had nearly forgotten what affect his touch had on her. Between the tingles his light touch was causing to run up and down her spine and the smell of his cologne, her brain was turning to mush.

"What?" His lips were less than an inch away.

"We need to stop this now…"

"No…not this time…" he lowered his lips and softly caressed hers until he felt her respond. Then he gently traced her lips with his tongue. She opened her mouth…and her world spun. Instinctively she reached out for his shoulders just to maintain some kind of hold on her world…which was quickly whirling out of control when his hand gently traced her leg from her calf to her knee…stopping there and stroking behind it. When she felt fire streak up her thigh and begin to pool below her navel, she broke the kiss.

"Woody…" God…her voice not only sounded weak, it sounded breathless. "You can't…" his lips were now on her neck. "You mustn't…." he softly nipped her shoulder. "The doctor said…"

"I know," he whispered in her ear…gently stirring the fine hairs at her neck and causing cold chills to run like Niagara down her spine. "We don't have to…" he found her lips again, and for a long moment they clung to each other. When he finally lifted his head from hers…she was soft…and willing….

Jordan opened her eyes and looked into his blue ones, still slightly dazed by what had just happened. His hands were still beneath her shirt, stroking her back. "So much for moving on," she said.

"No…I think we have…just moved on to another place in our relationship. Face it, Jordan. It's there. We both can fight it…try to ignore it….date other people until we're blue in the face. We were meant for each other. And no matter where we go…what we do…we'll always find our way back to each other…You can't deny it."

She sighed and gently traced his cheek with a finger. She couldn't ignore the feelings he caused…or what her heart was telling her…and just the very fact that he was right. "I know…" She pulled his head back down for a full kiss…and began to unbutton his shirt.

She admitted it… the voice in his head was going haywire. Finally! And he couldn't do a damn thing about it…not now. "Jordan," he said, trying to stop her searching hands. "Jordan…don't you remember what the doctor told me…"

"Yeah. I do. And like you said we don't have to…That is unless you don't want to…"

He chuckled and pulled her close. "Oh no…I want to…"


The next four weeks were the slowest in Woody's life. He had her. But he couldn't make her his until the doctor gave him the okay. The days crawled by…until finally the four weeks were up…and he was given a clean bill of health. He stopped by her office to give her the good news.

She wasn't there.

Nigel said she had left for the day…she had some things to take care of.

He went by her apartment.

She wasn't there, either.

He headed back out to his car when his cell phone rang. "Hoyt," he said. Gee, this better not be work…not tonight…the voice inside his head raged.

"Farm Boy…where are you at?"

"I'm looking for you. I've tried your office…your apartment…"

"Oh? I figured you'd be going home now…since your doctor said everything could now function normally…."

He stopped for a beat. "How did you know that?" Curiosity tinged his question.

"It helps when you have inside sources…I went to college with his nurse."

"Oh…so where are you?"

"Gee…in some man's apartment…waiting on him to come home…seems he made me a few promises I intend to make him keep this evening…even if it takes all night…."

"My apartment? How did you get in?"

"I am a resourceful woman, Woody. I thought you knew that about me by now." She heard him chuckle. "There's just one thing I can't seem to find…"

"What's that?"

"Something suitable to wear…I guess I'm going to have to settle for just this towel…."

He gulped. "You're…you're only wearing a towel?"

"Uh-huh…"

A picture of Jordan wrapped in a towel went front and center in his mind. Forget the French maid outfit…this was even better.

"Did you hear me, Woody?' she asked.

"What?"

"Did you hear me…I asked you how soon can you be home?"

"Ten minutes. Tops."

"I'll be waiting…."

"Good. Hold that thought… I'll be right home." He pulled out of her parking lot and made it home in five. She answered his door wearing nothing but a towel and a grin.

Slamming the door behind him, he reached for her, but she danced out of his reach. "Say it," she commanded.

"Oh…come on, Jordan…"

"Nope…say it."

He blew out a deep sigh. "Okay…I was wrong. I don't want to just be your friend any longer…"

"And…"

"And I want to be your lover…and your friend…"

"Now was that so difficult?"

She allowed him to take her then, squealing as he picked her up and took her to the bedroom. "No…that wasn't difficult at all…however…." He began to take off his shirt and tie, working his way to his pants as she caught her breath from where he had tossed her on the bed. "I hope you are rested up…and your cell phone is off…because tonight. Dr. Cavanaugh…I intend to make up for four weeks of lost time…"