Page 23 of Jordan
"You're a Wainwright," Caleb pointed out grimly as if that explains everything.
"So, I am." Shoving away from the bench, he wandered over to the flowering plant and watched as a bee industriously gathered pollen. He could feel a low-grade headache coming on and wished he could just go somewhere and lie down and forget who he was.
"I care about her. It started out as an arrangement but has been upgraded." He turned to look at the other man and wondered why the hell he was telling him this. "She hates the name, but miraculously, does not hate me." He hunched his shoulders as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his denims. "I could notbear it if she did." His amber eyes lifted to stare at Caleb as if daring him to question his motives.
"What the hell are you saying?" he demanded. But Caleb already knew. He had seen the way the man looked at his sister and recognized the look. He really cares.
"Nothing that's any of your business. I won't hurt her."
"Of course you will," Caleb snapped out impatiently. "You're human and being human, you will of course hurt her without meaning to." He turned away abruptly, not willing to accept what he was seeing with his own eyes. Wainwright could have any woman he wanted and even though Julesa was an exceptionally beautiful woman, she was not one of them. His sister had a heart of gold and had been disappointed too many times in life.
She also had a lousy track record when it comes to relationships. It was his job to protect her, whether she wanted it or not.
"Do we have your blessings?"
Instead of answering, Caleb fired a question at him. "What do your parents think of all this?"
Lifting his chin, Jordan looked him straight in the eyes. "They are beside themselves with distress."
"Good." Caleb's voice was grim with satisfaction. "I hope it burns their asses to have a black woman in their family."
"It does."
"Then you have my complete blessing. Let's go and ease my sister's mind."
*****
"What did you two talk about?"
Jordan had left a few minutes ago after sitting with them for a meal she had prepared.
Now Caleb was stretched out on the faded rose patterned sofa, his head propped on a cushion on her lap. He was half asleep and could feel the jetlag combined with the heavy lunch and dinner settling on him like a warm cloak.
"Hmm?"
"You and Jordan, what did you talk about? I expected to be marching out there to play referee, only to see both of you being civilized. What happened?"
He grinned at her. "We're civilized men."
"Caleb." He winced as she poked him in the forehead.
"You're assaulting an officer. There are penalties attached."
"Lock me up. Are you really okay with what I am doing?"
"Not a hundred percent. I think you're in over your head."
"I know what I'm doing."
Tilting his head back, he studied her face. "Do you?"
She nodded. "I want you to trust me."
"Unequivocally."
She gave him a grateful smile. "Thanks."
"Don't thank me yet," he warned. "If he hurts you-"
