Eventually he released his grip on her shoulders and stood back, his gaze fixed on her in a way that told her he was taking in her flushed cheeks and the kiss-swollen lips that clearly told him the effect he had on her. For once, though, he seemed more dazed than smug.
Observing him, Kelly thought how ironic it was that they were so instantly attuned physically, while all the years of straight talk had abandoned them and left them suddenly incapable of communicating in words without bickering.
She gathered her composure and drew herself up. “I think it’s time to go,” she said in a voice that shook.
For a moment she thought he might argue for staying right here, for settling their differences in bed, but he didn’t. After a bit, he just nodded curtly.
“I’ll get the bags into the car,” he said.
“I’ll clean up in here and be right with you.”
It was all so cool, so polite and civilized that she wanted to scream. Instead, the instant he was gone and she was left alone with soggy pancakes and cold coffee, she felt tears welling up in her eyes.
She’d had the wedding of her dreams the day before. She was married to the man she’d always loved. She’d discovered a passionate side to herself and to him that had filled her with ecstasy.
And she’d never been more miserable in her entire life.
* * *
Jordan would rather have faced a firing squad than Luke and Jessie’s worried, accusing looks. Their gazes darted between him and Kelly, their eyes filled with questions that only Dani’s presence had kept silent since their arrival.
“So, you’re driving back to Houston?” Jessie said with obviously feigned cheer, her gaze penetrating. “Do you have to be back in the office first thing Monday? You are supposed to be on your honeymoon, after all. Surely the incomparable Ginger could hold down the fort a few days longer.”
Jordan glanced at his wife. Kelly’s cheeks were flushed with embarrassment. She’d looked everywhere but at him since they’d arrived. He couldn’t decide whether he wanted to console her or to shake her.
Dammit all, he hadn’t wanted to head back to Houston today any more than she had. He still wasn’t quite sure how it had happened, except that she’d dug in her heels and then he’d dug in his and their disagreement had escalated from there. Somehow he’d forgotten how often that used to happen to them as kids. They were both quick to anger and stubborn as mules. It had always taken Luke or Cody to coax them out of their funks.
He glanced at his older brother and caught a grin tugging at Luke’s mouth. Obviously he was recalling the same thing. The amused reaction left Jordan feeling faintly disgruntled. Clearly he couldn’t count on much help from that direction. Luke seemed perfectly content to let him and Kelly work this fight out all on their own.
“I’m sure Jordan and Kelly have their reasons for going to Houston today,” Luke observed, confirming Jordan’s opinion of his brother’s intention to stay the hell out of this argument.
Jessie didn’t appear to have the same reticence. “What reasons?” she demanded, frowning. “Dani’s perfectly fine here with us, aren’t you, sweetie?”
Dani nodded. “I’m helping Consuela take care of Angela. She’s messy.”
The comment drew a faint smile from Jordan. “I can vouch for that,” he murmured.
“Hey, that’s my daughter you’re maligning,” Jessie said. “Dani, honey, why don’t you go check on her? She’s with Consuela.”
As soon as the child had run off to the kitchen, she turned her determined gaze back on Jordan. “Okay, explain.”
Jordan swallowed hard under the scrutiny. “I don’t think so.”
Jessie looked from him to Kelly. “Kelly?”
“Ask Jordan.”
Luke laughed out loud at that. “Maybe their reasons are none of our business,” Luke suggested.
Jessie did not seem pleased by her husband’s observation. “Of course, it’s our business. We’re talking about your brother and my friend.”
“That doesn’t give us inalienable rights to interfere,” Luke shot back.
Suddenly, to Jordan’s astonishment, Kelly chuckled. “Stop it, you two. The next thing we know, you’ll be fighting and you won’t even know why.”
Jessie regarded her intently. “Do you know why you’re fighting?”
Kelly considered the question thoughtfully. “I know,” she said. “I’m not so sure Jordan does.”
He frowned at that. “Hey, don’t make me into the bad guy here.”
Luke gazed heavenward. “How many times have I heard those words from you two? You’d think after all these years, you’d learn to fight fair.”
“I’m not the one…” Kelly began.
“Whose side are you on, big brother?” Jordan demanded.
“Ah, the sweet sound of two stubborn personalities butting heads yet again,” Luke said. “Jessie, maybe we should back off and let them fight it out.”
“Not in my living room,” she countered. “I do have a compromise, though.”
At the mention of compromise, Kelly’s gaze caught his. He wasn’t sure but he thought he detected amusement dancing in her eyes. “Bad idea,” he told Jessie. “I’m afraid compromise is what got us into this argument.”
Jessie wasn’t about to be put off so easily. “That’s not possible. Compromise is good.”
“Not necessarily,” Kelly muttered.
“Well, you’ll just have to listen to mine,” Jessie declared. “If you two absolutely must go to Houston, wait and leave in the morning, let Dani stay here until you come back. At least you’ll have some privacy for the next week or so. It may not be a honeymoon in the Caribbean, but it’s the best I can offer on short notice.”
Jordan glanced hopefully at Kelly. Given time, he knew they could work this disagreement out. It would go much more smoothly if they didn’t have Dani to worry about. It was Kelly’s call, though. He wasn’t about to start their marriage by forcing her to leave her daughter behind. He didn’t ever want her to think that he wasn’t interested in all of them being a family. Unfortunately, she didn’t look overjoyed by the suggestion.
“I don’t know…” She looked at him, clearly struggling with
