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Jordan bit her lip to keep from sighing aloud.
“Blythewood is twenty to twenty-five minutes away. You could just drive home after?—”
Jordan brushed past him and gave him a small elbow to the side.
“You do remember how it was to go out to concerts and party at twenty, right?” Jordan snickered. It was her turn to wink at Nova. It was obvious that her and Jen would be out to have fun with their friends. She slid her hand down his arm and entwined her fingers with his. “Have fun, Nova, and be safe. If you need anything, call us.”
Nova bounced up and down in place with a wide grin.
“Thanks, Jordan. You’re the best!” She raced over to them and gave Jordan a tight hug before turning to her father. She wrapped him up in one. He released Jordan to return it.
“Don’t get into trouble, kid,” he grumbled and kissed her cheek.
It was obvious the man had a hard time letting his daughter do grown-up things. Jordan recognized the look. She’d seen the same expression on her father’s face whenever it was her or Omara leaving to go do something. It was that protective nature of being a good man and father that brought out those instincts.
Jordan felt herself falling for this man even more. Her heart swelled with the notion of having a future with him.
Even children.
And that scared her shitless.
What if Rhys didn’t want any more kids? He’d done it already with his previous wife and had that life. Would he want to do it all over again? That was something that stuck in the back of her mind, and she had been too afraid to bring it up.
“You don’t have to worry about me. I won’t do anything you wouldn’t do.” Nova giggled and spun on her heel, dashing out of the kitchen.
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” Rhys reached up and tunneled his fingers though his hair.
“And what is that supposed to mean?” Jordan gasped dramatically. Not her Rhys having a sordid past of extreme partying she didn’t know about.
“Maybe one day I’ll tell you what I was like at Nova’s age.”
The grin that spread across his face brought an instant fire to Jordan’s belly. Holy hell. What was this man like when he was twenty? She was sure he was a heart-stopper. Hell, at forty-five he was. A younger version of Rhys, Jordan just about swallowed her tongue thinking about it. Rhys gave her a swat to her butt. Her heart skipped a beat. She grinned and spun around, walking backward away from him.
“Shower. Now.”
That authoritative voice of his just did it for her. She stood straight and gave him the perfect salute. “Yes, sir.”
Jordan spun on her heels and jogged out of the room. She headed upstairs and ignored his grumbles and Honor’s barking. Today, she was going to relax and enjoy her man.
4
Rhys watched Nova’s car speed down the long driveway heading toward the main road. He folded his arms across his chest and stared until he no longer saw her vehicle. His daughter was setting him up. He could feel it. There was no other reason why she shouldn’t be coming home after going out other than to give him and Jordan privacy. He ran a hand along his jawline and chuckled.
His little girl had certainly grown up.
He’d have to find a way to thank her.
Honor roamed the yard, sniffing every divot in the ground. If he wasn’t certain she was pure German Shepherd, he would assume she had a hound mixed in there. She was always tracking something.
“Honor, come,” he commanded.
He patted the side of his leg, signaling where she was to sit. At his order, she immediately trotted toward the house and arrived on the porch to sit in front of him on the side he’d patted. Jordan had only been upstairs about ten minutes. He could catch her and join her in the shower.
Her offer of shower now and food later had stayed on his mind. He had forgotten his daughter was in the house. Had shenot walked in when she had, their flirtations may have advanced to something more in the kitchen. He barked a laugh at the thought. He knew Nova desperately wanted him to settle down, but he doubted she wanted to catch her old man in a very compromising situation.
He signaled for Honor to follow him into the house. Once inside, he kicked his flip-flops off, leaving them by the door. He led her through to the family room where her crate was positioned in the corner. He opened the door and motioned for her to enter. The dog backed away with a whine. Her eyes did that funny thing that usually caused Rhys to cave.
“It’s not working today, girl,” he said. He motioned again for her to get in the crate. The dog’s ears fell back against her head. Rhys chuckled and shook his head. He wasn’t going to fall for it. She was laying it on heavy. “Now.”
