LITMIR.BIZ

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about her shoulders. Their eyes reconnected and Jordan slowly lowered his lips to hers…hesitant at first, sweet. He lightly brushed her cheek with his lips, then moved his kiss, feather soft, to her eyelids, before connecting again with her mouth.

      She reached out, touching his taut waist, pulling him closer. He groaned. His tongue parted her lips with an urgency, darting inside, demanding her response. Isabella didn’t resist.

      She couldn’t. Right now, there was no one else in this world but them. Nothing more she wanted than to forget the past, throw caution to the wind…

      The door burst open and Tyler bounded inside. Jordan quickly pulled away. Isabella caught the smile on Emily’s face as she entered behind Tyler. The young boy stared up at them.

      “Are you and Uncle Jordan getting married, Miss Stevens?” he asked innocently.

      Mortified, Isabella smoothed her hair as she knelt beside him. “No, Tyler. We’re not getting married.” She looked to Jordan for support but he seemed at a loss for words.

      “You were kissing,” Tyler insisted. “Mommy and Daddy are married, and they kiss.”

      Jordan finally interjected. “Miss Stevens and I are just friends, Tyler. Sometimes friends kiss each other.”

      Emily cleared her throat. “Now that’s settled, I’ve got to go visit a friend of my own.” She bent and kissed the top of Tyler’s head, winking at him as she pulled back. “You see? Your uncle Jordan was right.”

      She exited quickly. Tyler made his way to the living room as a children’s program diverted his attention. He lay on the floor by the Christmas tree, resting his chin on his hands as he silently watched TV.

      Isabella noticed Jordan’s gaze fixed on him.

      “He looks tired,” she said. “I’ll cook an early dinner, then get him into bed.”

      Jordan didn’t argue about her taking on the responsibility in the kitchen tonight, instead heading to the couch to watch the program with Tyler. And that hopeful picture, along with the still-tingling feeling from Jordan’s kiss, was enough to distract Isabella from her uncomfortable meeting with Abby Forrester.

      At least for now.

      ***

      Isabella welcomed the sharpness of the cold night air as it cooled her cheeks and cleared her head. After the unusual events today, she’d warmed a beef and potato casserole, then she, Tyler, and Jordan ate an early meal in relative quiet. Except for the few questions Jordan asked his nephew about their day at the shelter. Tyler was sleepy most of the afternoon and, after he’d had his bath, Isabella tucked him into bed. She casually mentioned that she was going for a run as she passed Jordan on her way to change into her sweats. She didn’t wait for his reply, scurrying away before she found herself alone with him again.

      The moon was full and bright, illuminating the snow-covered ground. Jordan’s home was situated on four acres, twenty minutes outside the Denver city limits, and Emily lived about half a mile down the road from him. He had a long paved driveway that led through a wrought-iron gate onto the road just outside the property. As Isabella exited the gate, thoughts of Abby Forrester crept into her mind, despite her best efforts to concentrate on her jog and the icy winter scenery around her.

      There was something about the woman that rubbed Isabella the wrong way. Kim Butler’s photos were so important to Abby at first, and it struck Isabella as odd how she didn’t want to take any of them, after all. Except for the one she didn’t find. Isabella made a mental note to look through the photos herself, see if Abby overlooked it somehow. Even though she dreaded seeing the images of Jordan with the woman he’d loved.

      Isabella closed her eyes for a moment, replaying the mesmerizing scene this afternoon, when he released her hair…then touched his lips to her mouth, her eyes, and, oh…her neck…

       Damn – she’d done it.

      Jordan Butler was in her head. He commanded her attention, even when she was alone in the quiet night. She couldn’t deny there was something happening between them, though it was too confusing for even the schoolteacher in her to understand. It was physical, not academic. Although she and Jordan hadn’t gone farther than kissing – two times, but who was counting – the chemistry between them was electric.

      She couldn’t help but indulge in the delicious fantasy tripping through her mind as she jogged…

      Until she literally tripped – on a log, by the side of the road.

      In a blink, she was flying forward, her hands reaching out to break her fall. She hit the frozen ground, a bit dazed. There were a few inches of powder with ice underneath. Isabella rolled onto her back for a moment, catching her breath. The moon was like a spotlight and she wondered if any neighbors had seen her stumble. She looked around, scrutinizing the houses within view, in the neighborhood Jordan had built. Thankfully, she seemed to have escaped the embarrassment of having witnesses to her clumsiness.

      Or so she thought.

      Moments later, the crunch of tires on the icy road and the familiar growl of a large engine sounded behind her. She quickly sat up and turned around to see Jordan stepping from his truck. Defeated, she flopped back in the snow, hoping he’d take the hint and go away. But she wasn’t surprised when he knelt beside her.

      “Isabella, are you all right?”

      She answered his question with her own questions. “Why are you out here? What about Tyler?”

      “It seems to be my duty to catch you when you fall,” he quipped. “Looks like I was a little late this time.” Jordan shook his head as she shot him a humorless glance. “Emily came over. She saw you jogging past her house and thought you’d slipped on the ice just before you were out of view, so I came to check on you.” His eyes sparkled and Isabella wondered if it was anger or concern in them. Or both. “I wouldn’t leave Tyler home alone,” he finished.

      Of course. Isabella knew that. Jordan was careful of Tyler’s safety – he just didn’t know what was best for him. Yet. And the part about it being Jordan’s job to catch her falls, well – Isabella’s embarrassment squelched the momentary rush she got from hearing it. Feeling like the biggest klutz on earth, she attempted to push herself to her feet.

      “Oh!” she cried out, falling back and grasping her right wrist with her left hand.

      Jordan cursed. “What is it?” He gently inspected her painful limb, causing her to wince. “Come on,” he said, putting his arms around her waist and lifting her to her feet. He helped her to his truck and opened the door for her. She seated herself, turning away as he got into the driver’s side. Without a word, Jordan drove down the road, toward town.

      “Where are you going?” Isabella asked sharply.

      “To get your wrist checked out,” Jordan replied.

      “I don’t need a doctor!” She stared at his profile in the muted darkness as he continued to look straight ahead. “Really, Jordan, this is completely unnecessary.” Though her wrist throbbed, her pride hurt worse. “I’ll be fine. Please, turn around!”

      Jordan glanced at her, his voice serious. “You’re staying on my property. I’m responsible for your safety and comfort. You’re injured, Isabella. I’m not taking you home until you’re seen by a doctor.”

      Isabella was suddenly too tired to argue. “Yes, you’re definitely responsible,” she managed to whisper as she laid her head back against the soft leather seat and closed her eyes.

      She wondered what Jordan would think if he knew what she’d been fantasizing about before taking a tumble in the snow – and was grateful the darkness in the truck hid the fiery heat in her cheeks. As they pulled up to the emergency room, Isabella grudgingly allowed Jordan to assist her inside, secretly pleased by the envious looks of some nurses. It did her self-esteem good – something she wasn’t accustomed to, since Phillip.

      Nearly

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