Chapter Two

Gone with the Wedding

And despite Jordan's hoping and praying, tomorrow did come. And the day after. And the day after that. And the envelope with Kim's wedding invitation stared at her like some ill-boding omen each evening after she came in from work.

Finally, with Kim's biological clock and her own watch of desperation running out of time, Jordan swallowed her pride and her better judgment and called Woody the next evening after work. Hopefully, he would remember that he did owe her a few favors…albeit they were much smaller than the ones she owed him…Nervously, she punched in his apartment number….it rang…and rang….until finally the answering machine picked up: Hi…This is Woody. You know what to do, so leave your info and I'll get back with you as soon as possible…BEEP.

"Uh…Wood….this is Jordan…and … um…I need to talk to you…I have a favor I need to ask…it's not a big one, honest…Nothing like going with me to LA…" She laughed nervously. "As a matter of fact, you can stay close to home for this one…Call me…please?" She was more than aware that the last word held a tone of desperation that was normally not heard in her voice. At least she hoped so.

But Woody not only heard that note of desperation, he recognized it when he checked his messages after work. He heard the same note in her voice her voice when she was imprisoned in LA after she chased Herman Redding across country…and again when she begged him to go with her there to free Faye. He groaned and found his own inner Scarlett O'Hara. He would wait until later…and then maybe play the Rhett Butler card…"Frankly, Jordan, I don't give a damn…" because he was just about sure whatever it was that was bothering Jordan would require him getting on a plane at least at some point in the next few days.

So…whether it was his inner Boy Scout or just plain curiosity, after a quick meal of left over Chinese and a shower, he found himself in front of her big red door, hesitantly knocking. She opened it with a jerk and a surprised expression. "Woody?"

"You did call and tell me you needed a favor…I was just checking to see what it was…and how far I needed to go this time."

"Oh." Jordan shot him a confused look. "But…you don't have to go anywhere…."

"Then how many laws will I have to break?"

"None."

Woody gave her a skeptical look. "Then what is it you need me to do for you that you can't do yourself?"

Jordan took a deep breath. "I need you to go to a wedding with me."

Woody looked at her like she had lost her mind. Was that what all her fuss was about? A stupid wedding? It didn't make sense…and obviously his expression told her that because she rushed ahead.

"You remember my best friend Kim?" she asked. Woody nodded. "Well, she's getting married again…and she asked me to be her maid of honor…again. See I was her maid of honor at her first wedding…and talk about a nightmare of a bridesmaid's dress…it was awful…pink with these huge shoulder pads…"

"I don't think you need me to help you pick out a dress to wear Jordan. Of course I'll go with you to the wedding. It's customary that the maid of honor have an escort, and I don't mind being yours." He started to walk away and then stopped. "It's really not that big of a deal, Jordan. I don't know what you were getting yourself so worked up over. You should have known I'd say yes…I can never say no to you…but you could have saved me a trip and left a message on my voice mail…" He reached out to put his hand on the doorknob..

"There's more to it than that," she blurted out.

The tone in her voice caused him to stop in his tracks and turn slowly….slowly…to face her. He knew it…he should have known it all along. There was a catch to this seemingly simply situation. "What is it?" he asked, his mouth dry.

Jordan nervously twisted her fingers together and looked at the floor. "Ummm. It's like this…sort of…"

"What is it, Jordan. Shoot me straight…it's late … I'm tired….just…what is it?"

If possible she lowered her chin a notch more. He had to strain to hear her mumbled words. "I sort of told Kim that I was dating someone special…that I had a boyfriend…so she kind of expects us…to…be…to be…"

"Together. Really together."

Jordan nodded, her heart in her throat. Now what would he say?

"So why did you lie to her about…a boyfriend?" Woody asked, trying to hide his amusement at her discomfort about her situation.

Jordan sighed and flopped down on her couch. "Ever since I came back to Boston, Kim has ridden my back about my dating life…or lack of dating life. More specifically 'piss poor lack of it.' I sort of exaggerated what friendship we had to get her to shut up."

"And now it's bit you in the butt."

Jordan nodded miserably. She wasn't sure what she would do if he said no…her options were sadly limited.

Woody watched her for a minute…acutely aware of her discomfort…and realizing with a blazing moment of inspiration, he could use this situation not only to help Jordan, but to his own definitely advantage with the woman he had chased for years.

And by God, he wasn't above doing it…nor was he ashamed to admit it.

"I'll do it," he said quietly.

Jordan wasn't sure she had heard him correctly. "You'll do it?" she asked, the range of incredulousness making her normally contralto voice jump range to the soprano area of the scale.

"Sure...that's what friends do for each other..help each other out." Plus the idea of holding her, dancing with her….for hours. Just her and him…and Jordan would have to let him…she couldn't run, she couldn't say no.

"You do realize that while it won't be far outside of Boston, it will be overnight and Kim has us a room reserved together…"

"I would imagine so…the reception after an evening wedding can go on for hours…people are too tired to drive home…they've drank too much. It's a wise idea."

Boy, was it…

"You wouldn't have to stay….we could tell Kim that you are on duty and had to go back early…"

"Yeah…sure…that would work," Woody replied with a dimpled smile. Leave, hell no. Jordan…alone with him all night…having to be alone with him through a web of deceit she spun herself….

Things couldn't have been planned any better ….