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The consequences of her falling for him would be catastrophic. The last thing she wanted was another broken heart.
“Right.” He nodded slowly. He took a slow breath and his bedroom eyes faded. “Shouldn’t we finish this last table now? Or can we leave it for the morning?”
Jordan looked at the table, and as much as she wanted to get out of here before she made a poor decision, he was right. She knew that table needed cleaned. Leaving it for the morning crew was unacceptable.
She returned to the table and they cleared the rest in silence. Each time she got close to Noah, her heart raced and her mouth became dry. The affect he had on her was overwhelming. Her feelings weren’t simply the light, fun, casual ones that she was supposed to have. And that had to stop.
“I guess that’s it. Everything looks good,” Noah commented.
“Yep, let’s call it a night.” She led the way to the kitchen, where they disposed of the dish bins.
She went through her normal procedures for closing the restaurant, while Noah sat at the bar and watched her every move, even though he’d seen her do this many times.
“It’s late,” Noah said, standing in the doorway of her office. “Let me walk you to your car.”
“I didn’t drive,” she said, as she grabbed her purse and moved towards the door. She turned off the lights, then purposely didn’t make eye contact with Noah as she exited the office and brushed by his large, muscular body. His hot breath on her cheek gave her goosebumps. If he caught her eye with his heavy stare while she was practically pressed against him, she’d be a goner.
Quickly moving into the hallway and a few steps from him, she added, “I took the bus.”
“It’s almost midnight. C’mon Jordan, it’s not safe for you to be taking the bus at this hour.”
“It’s only a fifteen-minute bus ride, and at this hour it’s probably quicker.” Taking the bus would give her much needed space, but she didn’t disagree that the bus at this hour was not her best decision, not in any city.
“Well then, it’ll only be a short drive for me.” He paused at the elevator after pushing the button. “Please let me drive you home.”
Jordan rolled her eyes, feigning annoyance with his request. She was no damsel in distress. She didn’t need him, she reminded herself. But deep down, she thought his protectiveness was an attractive quality.
“That would be very nice of you, thank you. Unnecessary, but appreciated.”
“You can pay me the bus fee, if it’d make you feel better,” he teased, as they stepped into the elevator.
She could only laugh and shake her head, as the elevator doors closed and his cologne surrounded her.
As he drove up to her building, she gathered her coat and bag. “You can just let me out in front,” she said, before he could turn into the parking lot.
“You sure you don’t want me to walk you in?”
She quickly hopped out of the car, waving him off. “No, I’m fine. I’m just going to shower and crash.” She took a step backwards towards the building. “Thanks again for your help. And the sandwich. Bye!”
He frowned. “Okay,” he said slowly. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Jordan
Jordan was a self-made, confident woman. But every time she thought about last night, her stomach clenched. After Noah dropped her off at home, she’d done a lot of thinking, and none of it made her feel any better. It didn’t matter how she felt about him; this thing she had started with Noah was a mistake, any way she looked at it. That is, unless he had changed his mind about being casual. And she didn’t know how he felt. She was tired of thinking.
She stood up from her desk, straightened her skirt, adjusted her blouse, and took a deep breath. The morning paperwork complete, it was time to make rounds in the dining room.
Jordan finished checking the alcohol delivery in the back room. She carried a few bottles out to the bar to help Mo restock, although it was unnecessary because their bar staff were always on top of things.
Any busy work was welcome to keep her mind from wandering back to her dilemma.
That’s when she heard his voice. A tingle arose in her belly as she turned to see Noah walk behind the bar and grab a bottle of water. “Hey.” He winked at her, and took a seat at the bar. “I hope you got plenty of rest last night.”
Actually, she’d spent the night tossing and turning. “Yes,” she lied. “Slept like a log.”
She turned to go back to the office, but Noah jumped up and followed her. “Jordan, got a minute?”
