When Sparks Fly (92 page)

I smooth out my black, white and gray striped maxi skirt and black lace tank top before the elevator opens. Everyone is meeting at the poolside cafe for dinner. I didn’t really care about seeing anyone else. There’s only one person that I hope to see here.

I walk over to the tables pushed together to accommodate the large party. My eyes drift over the faces, some I recognize, others new to me. Not one of them is Grant.

“Excuse me.” A sexy voice I know is behind me. I have dreams about it, recall it saying my name over and over while we made love.

Grant’s here.

I turn and his eyes widen. He’s holding two large fruity drinks in his hands and nearly dumps them.

“Hi, Grant.” A huge grin slides across my face. I’m sure I look ridiculous. I don’t care. He looks even better than I remember. He’s tan and his black hair is a little longer – still short, but grown out some.

We stare at each other for a moment longer, then his face goes blank.

“Jordyn.” Flat. No emotion. Eyes a mix of pissed, sad, and tired. He moves around me and takes a seat next to Carly with the fake boobs. She giggles as he sits down and slides one of the drinks over to her. He leans in, whispering something in her ear. She nods her head vigorously and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

My heart drops to my stomach. I force back tears. This is not how I hoped it would go. I had visions of him taking me in his arms, all smiles and happiness, kissing me long and hard. Telling me how much he missed me and how happy he was to see me again.

How stupid am I?

He didn’t answer my letter. Didn’t have the decency to even respond with a fuck you, go to hell, I’m no longer interested. What I had gone through, on my way to see him and tell him I was ready to move on with my life and with him – meant nothing.

Fuck you very much, Grant. You can have Pass Around Carly and her silicone enhancements. Hope you got your shots or you’ll be leaving here with an infection that will make your piss burn.

I glance around the table for an empty seat. There’s one next to a woman I don’t know. She smiles at me and I take that as an invitation to sit down. A large man is on the other side of her with his arm draped across the back of her chair.

“Hi,” I say, stopping next to her. “Is this seat taken?”

“No, please, sit.” She has short, strawberry blond hair with big curls, and bright blue eyes. “I’m Cindy.” She puts her hand out to me. “And this is my husband, Tom.”

“Hi, I’m Jordyn.” I shake both of their hands and watch as Tom looks across the table at Grant.
Great… they’re friends
.

The evening actually goes better than I expect. My eyes inevitably wander to Grant. Sometimes I catch him already looking at me, but he quickly turns away. Sometimes he’s sitting there, letting Carly hang all over him.

Cindy excuses herself to call her mother, who’s taking care of her and Tom’s daughter. Tom slides over next to me and taps the rim of his beer bottle against mine.

“Here’s to a great weekend, Jordyn. Are you excited to be here?”

I glance over at Grant, who looks at Tom and me and then turns away. “I was…” I murmur without thinking. My eyes dart over to Tom and I smile. “So, your call sign is?”

“Beeper.”

Ahhh… great. As in Grant’s best friend. Lovely.

Beeper leans in closer to me and lowers his voice. “He’ll come around, Jordyn. He’s not had it easy this past year, and he’s working through some shit of his own. But I can tell you I have never seen him happier than when he would talk about you.”

“Before Chicago,” I say, meeting his eyes. “He’s not the only one who’s been through a lot this past year. That doesn’t seem to register with him, though.”

“Well, you two crazy kids are going to have to fight it out.” He takes a drink of beer. “But, Jordyn, I can tell you – he’s the best man I’ve ever known, and you would be crazy to let him get away.”

“I don’t think it’s my choice. He seems to have made his decision on that front already.”

I point to Grant leaving with Carly firmly affixed to him. Beeper shakes his head and mutters something I can’t make out.

Apparently, no one knows the real Grant.

*

Grant

Beeper nearly kicks my ass when I see him at breakfast. And Cindy looks as if she wants to slap the crap out of me.

“What the fuck are you thinking? Taking a piece of trash like that to bed?” Beeper fumes.

“I didn’t do anything. I got to her room and told her to have a nice night. Then I went to my room. Alone.” I down the orange juice and start on water.

“And the point of that was?”

I exhale through my nose, gritting my teeth.
Surely I don’t have to explain this to him?
“To piss off Jordyn.”

“Yeah, well, it worked. Only she wasn’t pissed, she was hurt.”

“Good, she can get a taste of what I went through when she dumped me in Chicago.”

“You have all the answers, huh? Not even willing to consider that you may have it all wrong? That she didn’t marry that guy? That something else happened?”

“Nope, and here’s why. She never once tried to contact me after she left me hanging in Chicago. It wasn’t until I tried to call her on Valentine’s Day – when I interrupted her perfect little life by inserting myself again – that she tried to explain what happened.”

“And what happened?” Beeper asks, his eyes drilling into me.

“What?”

“What happened? I’m assuming you read her letter and know what happened. So, tell me.”

I drain my coffee cup, my stomach doing flips. “I didn’t read it.”

Beeper lets out a long hiss. “You dick.”

I flip him the bird.

“You know, I spent a lot of time talking to her last night, so did Cindy. Something else is going on and you owe it to yourself to find out what, because if you let her go without knowing for sure, you’re passing up something incredible. The one thing you’ve been wanting for a long time.”

I stand, hang close to his ear and whisper. “Save it for someone who gives a flying fuck, Dr. Phil. I’m not interested in anything she has to say.”

I stalk over to the bar and order a Bloody Mary. Might as well get drunk. Seeing Jordyn again is even harder than I thought it was going to be, and I expected about ten levels of hell.

A guy takes the stool one down from me and orders a gin and tonic. “Are you here for the big wedding?” he asks.

“Yep,” I answer, hoping he’ll catch a clue and leaves me the hell alone. I just want to drown my sorrows in peace.

“Me, too. My girlfriend’s a bridesmaid. I came in this morning to surprise her, but I haven’t seen her yet.”

“Yeah? And who’s your girlfriend? Maybe I can help you locate her…”
so you can get the hell away from me
.

“Jordyn Keyes.”

Sucker punch to the stomach, throat and groin all at once.

“Jeremy?” I hear her voice behind me before I have a chance to catch my breath.
Great… now I get to witness the lovers happy reunion
.

“Hey, sweetheart. Surprise.”

“What the hell are you doing here?” I glance at her just as her eyes slide to mine. “And I’ve told you not call me that.”

Jeremy looks over at me, and something clicks for him. I can see the instant glint in his eye. “Calm down, honey. I was just having a drink with my new friend.”

Jordyn’s face pales. Her eyes are wide. I want to tell her that we’re not friends, but instead I just shrug and turn back to my drink.

“Fabulous,” she says, turning her attention back to Jeremy. “Finish your drink with your new friend, and then go home.” She turns on her heel and storms out of the bar.

Jeremy sighs next to me. “Women…” he snickers and rushes after her.

I watch in the mirror behind the bar as he grabs her elbow and spins her around. Her hand swings up and hits him hard enough to knock him off balance.
Damn!! That doesn’t look like a woman happy to see the man she loves.
When he regains his balance, she puts her hands on his chest and pushes him away. He stumbles backwards, but quickly comes after her again.

His hand is around her wrist, pulling her into him. She struggles against him. I can see her face contort and twist. Can see her mouthing “Stop” and “You’re hurting me.”

And that’s it.
A surge of rage rips through my body, forcing me out of my seat and across the bar to the lobby. I grab his thumb, bending it back until he releases his hold on her and drops to his knees.

“Mind your own business, man,” Jeremy grunts between his clenched teeth.

“You don’t touch a woman in anger, or didn’t your Momma teach you that?” I flip my grip over, grasping him around the wrist and flinging him across the lobby.

I step in front of Jordyn.
Damn, she’s just so beautiful
. My eyes travel over her face, down her body. I take her hand gently in mine, checking her wrist. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

She’s quiet. I gaze into her eyes and am lost there for a moment. All the memories of us together flood me, overpower me. Nearly knock me on my ass.

“I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me.” Her eyes are speaking to me. Pleading with me. For what, I have no idea.

There’s movement behind me. Jeremy’s on his feet, coming towards me fast. “Get your hands off her, asshole.”

I drop Jordyn’s hand, spin around, blocking her with my body. My hand goes to his throat. His eyes bulge just a bit, more from surprise than pain, but I have him where I want him.

“She asked you to leave. Now, unless you want about fifteen more of me escorting you out of town, I suggest you go on your own. If I have to call my buddies, it’s going to be a real pain in your ass. Do you get what I’m saying?”

His face drops. He nods his head and I release my hold on him. He straightens out his clothing and looks at Jordyn. I move to block his view and feel her hand rest on my back. It warms me, and for the first time in months, I feel alive. I want to take her in my arms and hold her forever.

“I’ll be there when you get back, Jordyn, and we will figure this out. There are plans in place for our future. Don’t blow it over a weekend fling.”

Jeremy storms out, and with him goes all the warmth I felt just seconds earlier. Jordyn is not mine – and never will be.

I turn and her hand grasps my arm.

“Thank you.” So much emotion fills her eyes. But it’s all a lie.

She used me. I’m not falling for it again.

I pull my arm free of her grip and walk away.

‡
Chapter Two

Jordyn

The rehearsal was uncomfortable. The wedding is torture. Grant does his level best to make me feel as if I’m a leper and the last person in the world he wants to be near. God, it hurts so much. I’m so pissed at him. Questioning how he could be the Grant I was falling in love with less than a year ago, and flip the switch – becoming this person I don’t recognize.

By the time the reception rolls around, I’m about to kick my own ass for wearing high heels instead of flats. My back started cramping up during the wedding. Now, pain is shooting from my sciatica, surging down my legs. I’ll make it through the bridal party dance, but that’s probably about it.

The DJ calls us to the floor and I’m actually surprised to see Grant walk up to me and wrap his arm around my waist. The music starts and he pulls me close against his body. We sway slowly to the music. My heart is about to explode in my chest. This feels so right, being here in his arms. But he still seems so distant and out of my reach. He’s such a contradiction. One minute pissed at me, the next acting like nothing has changed between us.