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Authors: Harley Brooks
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because I never checked house numbers. When you rolled on the grass moaning, I just wanted to get you some help."
"The last thing I remember is the screeching brakes. I thought the car hit Muffy. How did you get in the house?"
"Muffy. She ran back when I scooped you in my arms. I thought she might eat me, but instead, she led me to the back door. No one answered when I called out. She bolted to the living room and paced until I laid you on the sofa. I was paging an ambulance when your eyes opened."
"My dad's the only veterinarian in this area and he's on an emergency call. He usually takes Muffy out. I'm sorry I didn't thank you earlier. Maybe running me over was 'divine intervention?'"
"I did not run over you," he laughed. His eyes swept my face, settling in a serious gaze."Do you believe in fate, Marli?"
For some reason, undoubtedly madness , I pulled my hand away. Confusion clouded Jordan's expression. He slid his arm on the back of chair, his fingers lightly touching my shoulder creating a light shiver and I tilted his direction.
"I used to believe in happily-ever-after, but then I grew up." I quickly changed the subject. "Jordan? Your road trip—am I something to be 'sorted out?'"
He fingered the hair falling from my ponytail before tucking a stray strand, his fingertip lightly brushing the shell of my ear and sending a small ripple up my neck. He leaned on the table in front of me. My heavy gulp echoed.
"Yes," he replied. "I'm not a fan of this arranged setup."
"Me either," I said, fighting to not look at his mouth.
He gave me an odd glance and I sat back, knocking his arm off the edge of the chair. Crap! I insulted him. I tried to cover my blunder, hoping he'd offer his hand again as a gesture of good will. He didn't and I dropped my eyes to the tightly knitted fist in my lap.
"The Program scares me. I mean, you seem nice… more than nice, but I'm not ready to be permanently attached to someone."
Jordan eased his hand on my shoulder again, his finger wrapping in the wayward curl and lightly sweeping my neck. I held my breath, hoping the movement was purposely orchestrated and would continue, but his hand moved away and hung casually off the chair once more.
I lifted my eyes to his. He appeared contemplative, running his index finger slowly over his lower lip. "How would you feel about dating? Taking things slow and deciding for ourselves if this is what we want?"
"But we're assigned to each other. We don't have a choice."
"Until I notify The Program I'm accepting you, we're not bound."
Without hesitating, he reclaimed my hand, his expression serious, "Marli, if we decide to make things permanent, I promise I'll never let anyone, especially The Program, treat you as property . You and I will always be equal . "
For a second, I wondered if I imagined Jordan. Someone this good couldn't be real. "How will The Program handle us dating?"
His brow wrinkled. "They can't know. 'Committed or available' are the only options candidates have. I swear, though, if you don't want to be with me, I'll walk away. I won't put that kind of pressure on you."
We didn't even know each other, but the thought of a lifetime with Jordan Mason created a massive fluttering in my stomach. I loved his candidness and sincerity. Maybe I'd finally found someone I could trust again. I folded my legs into my arms and studied my wounded knee to avoid his intense eyes.
Jordan leaned forward, his arm sliding around my shoulders. "Does it hurt?" he asked, genuinely concerned. He blew across the scrape and my stomach tightened.
"A little," I lied, silently agonizing against the burning sting. But this was my protective position—the one I curled into whenever I felt insecure. "I don't know, Jordan. I'm still in high school. Then there's college—"
He eased back, a lazy grin curling his mouth. "Whoa, slow down. I'm not rushing you. I have things to work out, too. My second semester ends around Christmas. Let's see how we feel about
"The last thing I remember is the screeching brakes. I thought the car hit Muffy. How did you get in the house?"
"Muffy. She ran back when I scooped you in my arms. I thought she might eat me, but instead, she led me to the back door. No one answered when I called out. She bolted to the living room and paced until I laid you on the sofa. I was paging an ambulance when your eyes opened."
"My dad's the only veterinarian in this area and he's on an emergency call. He usually takes Muffy out. I'm sorry I didn't thank you earlier. Maybe running me over was 'divine intervention?'"
"I did not run over you," he laughed. His eyes swept my face, settling in a serious gaze."Do you believe in fate, Marli?"
For some reason, undoubtedly madness , I pulled my hand away. Confusion clouded Jordan's expression. He slid his arm on the back of chair, his fingers lightly touching my shoulder creating a light shiver and I tilted his direction.
"I used to believe in happily-ever-after, but then I grew up." I quickly changed the subject. "Jordan? Your road trip—am I something to be 'sorted out?'"
He fingered the hair falling from my ponytail before tucking a stray strand, his fingertip lightly brushing the shell of my ear and sending a small ripple up my neck. He leaned on the table in front of me. My heavy gulp echoed.
"Yes," he replied. "I'm not a fan of this arranged setup."
"Me either," I said, fighting to not look at his mouth.
He gave me an odd glance and I sat back, knocking his arm off the edge of the chair. Crap! I insulted him. I tried to cover my blunder, hoping he'd offer his hand again as a gesture of good will. He didn't and I dropped my eyes to the tightly knitted fist in my lap.
"The Program scares me. I mean, you seem nice… more than nice, but I'm not ready to be permanently attached to someone."
Jordan eased his hand on my shoulder again, his finger wrapping in the wayward curl and lightly sweeping my neck. I held my breath, hoping the movement was purposely orchestrated and would continue, but his hand moved away and hung casually off the chair once more.
I lifted my eyes to his. He appeared contemplative, running his index finger slowly over his lower lip. "How would you feel about dating? Taking things slow and deciding for ourselves if this is what we want?"
"But we're assigned to each other. We don't have a choice."
"Until I notify The Program I'm accepting you, we're not bound."
Without hesitating, he reclaimed my hand, his expression serious, "Marli, if we decide to make things permanent, I promise I'll never let anyone, especially The Program, treat you as property . You and I will always be equal . "
For a second, I wondered if I imagined Jordan. Someone this good couldn't be real. "How will The Program handle us dating?"
His brow wrinkled. "They can't know. 'Committed or available' are the only options candidates have. I swear, though, if you don't want to be with me, I'll walk away. I won't put that kind of pressure on you."
We didn't even know each other, but the thought of a lifetime with Jordan Mason created a massive fluttering in my stomach. I loved his candidness and sincerity. Maybe I'd finally found someone I could trust again. I folded my legs into my arms and studied my wounded knee to avoid his intense eyes.
Jordan leaned forward, his arm sliding around my shoulders. "Does it hurt?" he asked, genuinely concerned. He blew across the scrape and my stomach tightened.
"A little," I lied, silently agonizing against the burning sting. But this was my protective position—the one I curled into whenever I felt insecure. "I don't know, Jordan. I'm still in high school. Then there's college—"
He eased back, a lazy grin curling his mouth. "Whoa, slow down. I'm not rushing you. I have things to work out, too. My second semester ends around Christmas. Let's see how we feel about
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