not practicing for marching season, we have jazz band or symphonic orchestra. It’s a non-stop operation.”
“Wow,” he said. “Tell me when and where, and I’ll be there.” He glanced over at Melody who appeared amused with a smirk on her face. “If it’s okay with your mom.”
Luna batted her lashes at her. “Mom?”
“Band practice has a way of sucking you in,” she said, “so, go at your own risk.”
Jordan laughed. “I’ll take my chances.”
MELODY
As Melody walked Jordan out to his car, she had the urge to pinch herself. She couldn’t believe everything was real. Her mom didn’t have cancer, and Jordan Aria had just finished having dinner with her family. Tears prickled at her eyes and her chin quivered. Happy tears. The kind of tears a girl had when she was overwhelmed with emotions that tugged at her heart. Thankfully, they just teetered on the edge of her eyelids and didn’t fall for the first time today.
“Is this really happening?” he asked as he leaned against the driver’s side door of his SUV. He reached for her hand again, like he had earlier that morning. And, again, she felt the tingles all over her body.
The nervous energy came over her in waves as he held her hand. When he brought it to his lips and kissed the inside of her palm, she had to lock her knees or she would have fallen into a pile of mush on her street.
She closed her eyes and soaked in the moment of intimacy. “Yes,” she said. “It’s happening.” Her eyes fluttered open. “It’s almost unbelievable. I considered pinching myself earlier.”
Jordan stood up straight and closed the distance between them. He placed her hand on his chest. “Can you feel that?” he asked, gazing down into her eyes. “My heart is racing as fast as it was the first time I met you. I’m a grown man, and you still make me feel seventeen.”
She licked her lips and gave him a half smile. “Jordan, thankfully you’re a doctor. I’m about to have a heart attack, and you’re going to have to resuscitate me.”
“Mouth to mouth,” he said with a chuckle. “I can do that.”
“Would you just kiss me already?” she said, looking up at him and placing both of her hands on his chest.
“As you wish.”
Jordan held her in his arms as his mouth closed in on hers. Their lips joined, and it was everything she had imagined it would be for the last twenty years. Sparks flew. Fireworks ignited. Butterflies fluttered in her belly. Warmth radiated throughout her entire body.
His lips were familiar. They were unforgettable. Her teenage memory was spot on. This was so worth the wait. When they broke the kiss, she missed it instantly. She didn’t want it to end. She wanted to kiss him goodnight every day for the rest of their lives. Like he said earlier, all he had to do was tell her when and where, and she would be there. For him. With him. Always.
Chapter 8
JORDAN
Jordan was still flying high from the night before. He had called Millie on his way home to tell her everything. Melody was starting to win her over, and they hadn’t even met yet. She did point out one thing to him—he needed to man the hell up. Annie had invited him over for dinner. Luna had initiated not only one, but two dates for him and Melody. And then Melody told him to kiss her.
“Come on, Jay,” Millie had said. “Take some action. Ask her out. Grab her and lay a panty-dropping kiss on her. I know you have it in you.”
He was still laughing about their conversation as he drove up to Luna’s school and got out of the car. He was sure the opportunity to ask Melody out would present itself. And if it didn’t, he would create one.
“Jordan!” He heard his name and looked around at all the kids holding instruments on the field. It took him a moment to pick her out, but there Luna was, with both arms in the air, waving at him.
He waved back with a smile and headed to the bleachers. He arrived just in time. A few minutes after he sat down, the band took the field and got started. He was surprised by the number of kids who gave up their summers to practice. There had to be well over a hundred of them out there. And they sounded great. It took him a bit, but he was able to