Read Online Designer Genes - The Boyfriend Cut by Harley Brooks - Free Book Online
Authors: Harley Brooks
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coffee until Muffy interrupted the spell when she sauntered in and plopped contently at Jordan's feet.
"You passed her trust test."
"What about yours?"
With my guard still high, I answered truthfully. "I haven't decided."
He sipped his coffee, never lowering his eyes from mine. "Fair and honest."
Muffy rested her head on Jordan's leg and when I reached to move her, his fingers wrapped my wrist. A surprise sizzle warmed my belly. He let go and started scratching behind Muffy's ears.
His voice squeaked a nervous pitch and a hint of a blush spread beneath his lashes. "I always wanted a dog, but penthouses barely accommodate children, let alone animals."
"Your mom acted surprised when I mentioned you liked animals."
He laughed and a piece of my guard chipped away. "Yes, I heard all about it. Sometimes she's overbearing, but she's just being protective."
"I doubt she could top Rick."
"Who's Rick?"
"My dad."
Jordan's brows pulled together then relaxed with recognition. "That's right. My mother told me you referred to him by his first name."
"I could tell she didn't approve. She probably thinks I'm weird."
"I think she called you 'unique,' which believe it or not, is a compliment. It's cool your dad's okay with it, though. You two must be close."
"I think so. We've been through a lot together." I swallowed the last gulp of my coffee, waiting for the inevitable subject of my mother or Daniel to be raised.
"My mom told me about your brother. I'm so sorry."
I muttered "thanks" and focused on the bottom of my empty mug, not wanting to break down in front of Jordan, although being around him already felt comfortable—safe . Like coming home.
A slow grin wandered over Jordan's lips. "You're easy to talk to. My life's so full of pretentious people it's nice to be around someone real for a change."
Aside from his fancy car, nothing about Jordan reflected an ostentatious lifestyle. Faded jeans covered his long legs, a well-worn navy-blue tee, snug enough to reveal he worked out, peeked from beneath his unzipped Cornell sweatshirt, and the toes of his sneakers were scuffed. He could easily blend in a crowd of teen boys, and yet, I knew I'd still pick him out.
"You do live a charmed life." I gestured aimlessly at the room. "This house is no oceanfront penthouse."
"You can live in this house. In mine, you exist. "
Muffy reached her paw out for Jordan to shake and I laughed. "It's bizarre how she's taken to you. She doesn't act this way around most people."
"I can't believe I almost hit her. Can you imagine what a dog her size would do to a Porsche?"
The memory of the car coming down the street became clear. A white Porsche . "'Sweet Sally?'"
"You remembered. Impressive. Then you also know I meant what I said about road trips cleaning the cobwebs out of your head and helping you sort things out."
Jordan placed his hand next to mine, his pinky stretching a tentative stroke over my little finger. I sucked my bottom lip under my top teeth. He rolled his hand over in an open invitation and when I let my fingers glide in over his soft palm and braid into his, the air crackled between us.
"Marli, I have a confession to make. I knew it wasn't allowed, but I wanted to meet you when you came to interview. A last minute change in my soccer tournament schedule, however, landed me in Arizona—probably to make sure I didn't show up in Florida.
"You and your brother have a problem with rules . "
"Jesse's doesn't believe they exist. But that's why he stuck around—to spy for me."
He did a little more than spy .
"I wanted to deliver your acceptance letter in person, except I haven't had a free weekend until now. My plan was to ask you out to dinner, but I arrived earlier than expected so I decided to find where you lived. Of course, I didn't count on a horse romping out of nowhere and a girl landing in front of my car." He cradled my hand inside both of his. "I was so scared I'd hit her— you. Only I didn't know it was you,
"You passed her trust test."
"What about yours?"
With my guard still high, I answered truthfully. "I haven't decided."
He sipped his coffee, never lowering his eyes from mine. "Fair and honest."
Muffy rested her head on Jordan's leg and when I reached to move her, his fingers wrapped my wrist. A surprise sizzle warmed my belly. He let go and started scratching behind Muffy's ears.
His voice squeaked a nervous pitch and a hint of a blush spread beneath his lashes. "I always wanted a dog, but penthouses barely accommodate children, let alone animals."
"Your mom acted surprised when I mentioned you liked animals."
He laughed and a piece of my guard chipped away. "Yes, I heard all about it. Sometimes she's overbearing, but she's just being protective."
"I doubt she could top Rick."
"Who's Rick?"
"My dad."
Jordan's brows pulled together then relaxed with recognition. "That's right. My mother told me you referred to him by his first name."
"I could tell she didn't approve. She probably thinks I'm weird."
"I think she called you 'unique,' which believe it or not, is a compliment. It's cool your dad's okay with it, though. You two must be close."
"I think so. We've been through a lot together." I swallowed the last gulp of my coffee, waiting for the inevitable subject of my mother or Daniel to be raised.
"My mom told me about your brother. I'm so sorry."
I muttered "thanks" and focused on the bottom of my empty mug, not wanting to break down in front of Jordan, although being around him already felt comfortable—safe . Like coming home.
A slow grin wandered over Jordan's lips. "You're easy to talk to. My life's so full of pretentious people it's nice to be around someone real for a change."
Aside from his fancy car, nothing about Jordan reflected an ostentatious lifestyle. Faded jeans covered his long legs, a well-worn navy-blue tee, snug enough to reveal he worked out, peeked from beneath his unzipped Cornell sweatshirt, and the toes of his sneakers were scuffed. He could easily blend in a crowd of teen boys, and yet, I knew I'd still pick him out.
"You do live a charmed life." I gestured aimlessly at the room. "This house is no oceanfront penthouse."
"You can live in this house. In mine, you exist. "
Muffy reached her paw out for Jordan to shake and I laughed. "It's bizarre how she's taken to you. She doesn't act this way around most people."
"I can't believe I almost hit her. Can you imagine what a dog her size would do to a Porsche?"
The memory of the car coming down the street became clear. A white Porsche . "'Sweet Sally?'"
"You remembered. Impressive. Then you also know I meant what I said about road trips cleaning the cobwebs out of your head and helping you sort things out."
Jordan placed his hand next to mine, his pinky stretching a tentative stroke over my little finger. I sucked my bottom lip under my top teeth. He rolled his hand over in an open invitation and when I let my fingers glide in over his soft palm and braid into his, the air crackled between us.
"Marli, I have a confession to make. I knew it wasn't allowed, but I wanted to meet you when you came to interview. A last minute change in my soccer tournament schedule, however, landed me in Arizona—probably to make sure I didn't show up in Florida.
"You and your brother have a problem with rules . "
"Jesse's doesn't believe they exist. But that's why he stuck around—to spy for me."
He did a little more than spy .
"I wanted to deliver your acceptance letter in person, except I haven't had a free weekend until now. My plan was to ask you out to dinner, but I arrived earlier than expected so I decided to find where you lived. Of course, I didn't count on a horse romping out of nowhere and a girl landing in front of my car." He cradled my hand inside both of his. "I was so scared I'd hit her— you. Only I didn't know it was you,
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