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Nicole shrugged. “There are ample opportunities to demonstrate how demanding the job can be.”
“And demeaning?” he found himself asking.
“Sometimes. Of course, models who feel the work is beneath them usually don’t last since they can be hard to work with.”
“So in modeling it’s important to work and play well with others.”
She grinned. “Sure, the same as everywhere. Lessons learned in kindergarten. A lot of the things they taught apply throughout our lives.”
“Be a team player. Clean up after yourself. Say please and thank you.”
“No name-calling,” she added. “Hold someone’s hand when you cross the street. Don’t take things that don’t belong to you. Share and play fair. Strange how some people forget those lessons.”
“Yeah.” He yawned.
“You don’t look seriously engaged with this interview,” Nicole said with a smile.
“Suggesting the boat probably wasn’t the best idea. All I can think of is taking The Spirit out for a sail.”
Her nose wrinkled. “That sounds wonderful, but I’m not dressed for it. Especially in my heels.” She lifted one of her legs, displaying a pair of stylish pumps.
Jordan leaned forward. “If you’re serious, Terri keeps fresh clothing on the boat. She hates my condo and doesn’t like hotels, so she usually stays here. I’m sure her stash includes casual outfits and boat shoes. If the shoes don’t fit, you could go barefoot.”
“Won’t she mind if I borrow something? We just repeated the lesson about not taking things that don’t belong to you.”
“It isn’t one of her hang-ups.”
Nicole got up from the deck chair. “In that case, I’m ready to play hooky for a while. Just not for too long, I don’t want to be late getting home to Toby. He has the dog door so he can go outside, but I think he gets lonely.”
“Gotcha. Check in the cabin. I’m sure you can find something more comfortable.”
Jordan was pleased. Sailing might help them loosen up so he could get the kind of interview he needed. Of course, as he watched Nicole carefully descend the steps into the cabin, he also wondered if it was smart on other levels, but he was tired of second-guessing everything. In fact, he was tired of trying to be smart and careful in the first place.
* * *
NICOLE ADMIRED THE well-designed cabin, which had a cooking and eating area, along with a sleeping compartment and a full lavatory. It wouldn’t be a bad place to spend a few nights, though she wouldn’t be comfortable staying there alone. Terri was clearly bolder than she was on several levels.
After a short hunt, she located some women’s clothing. If they’d belonged to a girlfriend of Jordan’s, she wouldn’t have touched them, but she didn’t mind wearing his sister’s clothes. A pair shorts and a T-shirt didn’t take long to don, along with a pair of boat shoes. They were a little large, but not too bad.
The Spirit was already moving out of its mooring as Nicole made her way to the deck. Not being an experienced sailor, she sat and watched as Jordan managed the boat; it was obviously a task he loved. His face grew relaxed and he looked happy as they sailed away from the shore.
They talked little as the boat skimmed across the water, and it was a surprisingly easy silence. Nicole reminded herself not to make too much of it. This was an unusual situation, as if they’d agreed to take a break from reality. Desire still simmered beneath the surface, but it was possible to pretend it wasn’t there…which probably wasn’t realistic. Wisdom suggested this time with Jordan was a bad idea, but wisdom hadn’t gazed at the lake recently and wished she could go sailing.
“Have you ever steered a sailboat?” Jordan asked after a while.
“Not with a tiller.”
He grinned. “Come on, give it a shot.”
Nicole jumped up from her seat. “I’m game.”
Taking the tiller in her hands, she felt the energy of the wind and the water. Jordan placed his hand over hers and it seemed as if they swayed together with the boat as she experimented with how their movements changed their direction. It was almost like dancing.
