"Not worthy. You can be a real jerk sometimes, youknowthat?"
"You're stunning. You really are," he said, smiling before he kissedherlips.
She felt herself melt with his words. Jordan had a hard time letting people in. After all the disappointment and heartache she experienced with her family, she believed no one could truly love her. She had a hard enough time lovingherself.
Dylan was the first person she ever really let in. He didn't know any of her secrets though. Talking about that wasn't something she ever thought shewoulddo.
Normally she kept people at arm's length, but Dylan kept hitting that stone wall she had up until there were cracks. It made her wonder if he would be the one to break all the way through herarmor.
"Are we eating downstairs in the restaurant?" she asked as she grabbed herroomkey.
"No, we're on a date. I'm takingyouout."
"Out? Have you ever been to Dallas before? Where are wegoing?"
"I told you my mom and I were like gypsies. There isn't a place I haven'tlived."
Even though he said it casually enough, she knew there was more going on in his past than he let on. It made her feel closer to him, knowing they were bothdamaged.
"So thenwhereto?"
"Dinner andashow."
"Really? Okay," she saidsuspiciously.
She was curious to know what he had in mind, but she knew him well enough not to bother asking. He laced his fingers between hers as they walked through the lobby and outside where they got into a taxi the bellhopcalled.
"Samuell-Grand Park please," Dylan said to the driver. "We're stopping at Whole Foods on Greenville ontheway."
As the car pulled away from the hotel, Jordan couldn't keep her mouth closed anymore. She needed to comment, ask, learnsomething.
"Whole Foods? The grocery store? When you said dinner and a show, is this your way of getting me to make youdinner?"
"Alright fine, I'll tell you. Geez, you make surprising you very difficult,youknow."
She grinned cutely at him then batted her lashes beforelaughing.
"They have sandwiches and stuff there. I thought we'd get some sandwiches and watch Shakespeare in the park. I know how much youlovehim."
"Seriously? Which play?" sheasked.
"Midsummer Night'sDream."
She giddily bounced in the seat. "I've always wanted to see that. I can't believe you went through so muchtrouble."
"I'd do anything for you, Jordan." He leaned over and kissed her. She couldn't stopsmiling.
After choosing sandwiches and snacks at Whole Foods, they found a spot on the lawn and Dylan laid a blanket down that he brought with him. The smell of the freshly mowed lawn hung in the warm air. Set against the trees of the park, the stage seemed organic. Holding hands, they admired the sun setting through the trees as they waited for the performance tostart.
Jordan was amazed. Never would she have guessed he'd remember a passing comment she made once about something she read in school. She was so enthralled by Dylan that the play was a blur. She spent the entire time holding his hand and wishing time would stop at that perfectmoment.
Feeling a bit melancholy, she didn't say a word on the ride back to the hotel. She never asked him if there were other girls or what he did during other tours. She didn't want to know. And Jordan never spoke about thefuture.
Knowing they were spending the night together, she began to have doubts. She worried it would ruin how things were between them. Jordan assumed Dylan would get his prize and leave like a child at thecountyfair.
As they entered the hotel, her shoes clicking on the marble floor, Dylan slipped his arms around her shoulders and pulled herclose.
"Are you okay? You've been quiet. More so than usual,"Dylansaid.
