Make Your Move - By Samantha Hunter Page 0,46
with Dan had put her in the potential position of losing everything she’d worked for. She also knew that she had spoken the truth to Jason—Dan would never compromise his ethics, not even for her. And she wouldn’t want him to. She would never ask that of him.
But couldn’t she at least ask Dan about it?
It wouldn’t go over well, she knew, but she had to at least ask him. What happened then would, like Ginger and Scott, tell Jodie what their relationship was made of.
WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON, Jodie had almost forgotten that she had a date with Dan that evening. He’d insisted on taking her out for dinner, like a couple.
At the time, she had agreed it was a nice idea, but now, at the end of her horrible day, after thinking about everything, including what Jason had told her, she knew that she and Dan had to talk. She looked in the mirror as she put her hair up and realized how far away from “just sex” they really had traveled. And they couldn’t go any further until she knew what was going on.
Sliding her dress off and throwing jeans back on, taking her hair down, she breathed deeply and settled her resolve as the doorbell rang. Dan, here to pick her up.
She pulled open the door and saw him frown. He was dressed very sharply in a handsome brown suit that couldn’t help but distract her for a moment as her eyes slid over him. She knew what was under that suit, but he also looked incredible wearing it.
And he had flowers—damn.
“Uh, did you forget our date?” he asked tentatively, leaning in for a kiss, handing her the flowers.
Regret and confusion completely strangled her resolve as she struggled to maintain the strict decision she’d made mere seconds before.
“The flowers are gorgeous,” she said, holding the fragrant gardenias to her nose. How had he known she loved gardenias? They also must have cost a fortune.
“Hey, are you okay? Not feeling well?” he asked, stepping inside and taking the flowers from her, laying them on the table. “We don’t have to go anywhere.”
She couldn’t seem to say anything. It only upset her more. What was happening to her? She’d never had this bad a time setting the record straight with men who wanted too much.
But this was Dan, and whether she liked it or not, she wanted more, too. She wanted to have put on a new dress and watched his eyes light up when he saw it, and she wanted him to take it off when they got home later.
“I am such a complete screwup,” was the only thing that came out of her mouth as he took her in his arms, gathering her up close and letting her cry all over his expensive suit.
“Not by a million miles, sweetheart,” he said, and held her, letting her sob it out.
Why was she crying again?
Maybe it was more than the deal on the bakery being doomed? Had she allowed herself to feel anything but lust these past years?
She could almost think that must be preferable, if it didn’t feel so damned good to be held, to have someone who was just there, when they didn’t even know why.
“I am so sorry, Dan,” she finally managed, sniffling and pulling away, going in search of a tissue.
She groaned when she looked in the mirror again, and found herself all red eyed and puffy, her nose looking like Rudolph and her hair…well, she wasn’t going to go there. Putting a little cold water on her face, she blew her nose and straightened her back, returning to the main room, where Dan had taken a seat on her sofa.
“So, tell me who made you cry so I can go beat them up,” he said with a sympathetic smile.
She plopped down on the sofa next to him. “That could be a little tough.”
“Why’s that?”
“You’d have to sock yourself in the eye.”
A moment of silence, and he said, sounding understandably confused, “I made you so upset? How did I manage that?”
Jodie let out a sigh, and leaned on a sofa cushion, turning her head to meet his curious, concerned gaze.
“It’s not you—well, kind of, but not really.”
“That clarifies things. Thanks.”
She nearly smiled. She was in so much trouble if the man could make her smile even on a day like this. First she told him about Ginger, and how their friendship had complicated work.
“Jodie, what does this have to do with me? Just lay