Page 19 of Jordan
"That remains to be seen. I have to hang up now, I have a flight to book."
"Caleb--"
"You're not talking me out of this Jules, so forget it."
"What about your case?"
"It can wait. This is an emergency." He hung up before she could say anything else. Putting down the phone, she refilled the glass and had to wait until her hands were steady to pick up the glass.
What had she expected? She wondered bleakly. That she would announce her upcoming nuptials to a man she barely knew, and her brother would be okay with it? Was she okay with it? She was marrying a complete stranger. Not only that, but the son of her mortal enemies.
She had been reminded how bigoted the Wainwrights were tonight. She had seen the scarcely concealed looks of distaste on their faces, had felt the animosity filling the room and the way they looked at her.
She was black and it did not matter how successful she had become. To them she would always be the daughter of their maid. A woman who had cleaned up after them and nothing more.
She was tainting their clean-cut white family and to them, that was unforgivable.
Picking up the phone, she dialed Jordan's number. He answered immediately, making her realize that he had been waiting for her call.
"Well?" His voice was cool and casual as if waiting for her to tell him she was not going through with it.
"My brother is coming here tomorrow. He's flying out in the morning."
"Does he want me to pick him up from the airport?"
She had to laugh at his attempt at humor and felt the tension easing from around her heart.
"I think he would rather hoof it."
"I don't know, darling." His slow drawl had her smiling. "The man's going to be my brother-in-law--wait, is he going to be my brother-in-law?"
"Are you trying to find out if I changed my mind?"
"Have you?"
Taking a sip of the wine, she realized that the sound of his voice had managed to quiet the butterflies that had lodged themselves in her stomach.
"Not a chance."
He let out a quiet breath of relief and closed his eyes as the tension drained out of him. He had been waiting for her call and had not been able to relax.
"Then I'll see you tomorrow."
"Jordan, there's no need--"
"Oh, I wouldn't miss the confrontation for anything. Get some sleep."
As if she could, she thought wryly. But she had to admit that she felt much better.
Chapter 6
She had scrubbed the house from top to bottom and when she was finished, she had started on the windows, tearing off the peeling paints and making mental lists for the things she would need to start repairing the place. She had not said anything to Jordan yet, but for the time they were tied to each other, she wanted to make the place home.
It would require a lot of work, but it could be done.
She had heard from her brother via text. A terse- "My flight leaves at six. Will be there at noon. Don't bother picking me up. I've arranged for a car to be delivered to me."
That was it. The message – the abrupt nature told her clearly how furious he was. She wasn't looking forward to it. Last night had been an eventful one. One where she had twisted and turned in the narrow bed and reminded herself repeatedly that she was an adult and free to do whatever she pleased. But it had not worked.
