Read Online Finding Forever by Michele Shriver - Free Book Online Page B

wasn’t a place Jake would have ended up in on his own, and he would have missed out on a surprisingly good meal. “It sure beats spending my day off from filming sitting around the hotel.”
    “There’s somewhere else I want to take you to after lunch,” Jordan said. “If you can stand the heat.”
    Jake insisted he could, but an hour later decided maybe he’d spoken too soon, as they strolled an outdoor market with the afternoon sun beating down on them. When Jordan said there was another place she wanted to show him, he hadn’t anticipated a shopping trip. Jake didn’t complain, though. He was happy to spend the time with her, wherever they were, and the quaint street market was an improvement over any indoor mall.
    “Are they open every day?” Jake asked as they passed by booths displaying everything from brightly colored woven blankets to clothing and jewelry, even leather belt buckles and handbags.
    “Just on Saturday,” Jordan said. “It’s one of my favorite weekend excursions, so thank you for indulging me.”
    “My pleasure.” There certainly wasn’t anything like it in his hometown, or L.A. for that matter.
    Jordan stopped at one of the booths, which featured an assortment of pottery in southwest colors. She picked up one of the pieces. “This would look good on my patio.”
    Jake glanced at the pot. “Do you garden?” He hadn’t pegged her for the type, but Jordan had already surprised him a few times.
    “In the desert?” Jordan shook her head. “No. I’d put a cactus in it. Not even I can kill them.”
    Jake chuckled at her self-deprecating humor and decided to buy her the pot. “We’ll take it,” he said to the vendor and pulled out his wallet.
    “You don’t have to do that, Jake,” Jordan protested.
    “I know I don’t have to. I want to.”
    ***
    It was late afternoon by the time they returned to Jordan’s condo. She unlocked the door. “Do you want to come in, or do you have somewhere else you need to be?” Jordan asked, hoping for the former. She wasn’t ready for the date to end.
    Jake didn’t hesitate. “I’d love to come in. I didn’t get to see the place earlier.”
    Thankfully, Jordan had given the condo a quick banzai cleaning job in the morning, just in case. As she stepped inside, Cujo appeared, rubbing against her leg. “Do you mind cats? I can put her in the spare room.” She usually did when Carl was over. He wasn’t fond of her fluffy companion and Cujo wasn’t fond of him.
    Jake shook his head. “It’s fine.” He bent down to pet the cat. “Hey, kitty.”
    Jordan watched with some trepidation, but the cat didn’t snarl or hiss at Jake. “Her name’s Cujo.”
    “No kidding?” Jake grinned. “That’s a great name.”
    “I figured you might like it.” Jordan set her purse and the bag containing the pot Jake bough t her on the table in the entryway. She still couldn’t believe he’d bought her a gift. Whatever the future held, Jordan would always have something to remember him by. “I have stuff to make a Cobb salad, if you’re interested.”
    “Sure, that sounds great.”
    Jordan went into kitchen. “Feel free to have a look around. We can call it a self-guided tour.” She opened the refrigerator and got out the ingredients for the salad while Jake wandered down the hall.
    Before long, he was back in the living room. “Nice place,” he said.
    “Thanks. I like it.” Jordan sliced the eggs she’d hard-boiled in the morning.
    “How long have you lived here?”
    “Almost two years. I think I’ve finally got it decorated the way I want.”
    He nodded as he looked around. “Is that where the expensive taste comes in?”
    “Yes. It doesn’t help that the design shows on TV are my guilty pleasure.” She arranged the sliced eggs on the salad.
    Jake walked to the shelf where kept her movie collection. After a minute, he pulled a DVD off of it and held it up. “You actually have this? I think they only sold five copies.”
    Jordan