Page 24 of Jordan
"Caleb-"
"If I see one sad look on that beautiful face of yours, I'm coming for him."
"It's just an arrangement," she reminded him.
"Hmm." He had seen the look on Wainwright's face and recognized it for what it was. At dinner, he couldn't keep his eyes off her and he used every opportunity to touch her. A little bit here and there. Light touches so that it would not be too obvious. Because the guy did not want to overplay his hand.
It was going to be interesting to see how this plays out, he mused.
*****
She watched him through the mirror as she methodically brushed her hair. The silk of her rose-colored robe slid against her skin, causing friction. One hundred strokes. Every night without fail as she had been taught by her mother. The woman had never extended a loving hand or even a casual embrace but had drummed it into her head about the one hundred strokes.
"Unkempt hair is uncalled for."
Now seated around her exquisite vanity, with the carved heirloom brush in her hand, she watched her husband prowl around the room restlessly. They had had an argument after supper in the privacy of her sitting room about their son and the options opened to them and he had been of little help as usual.
"Would you mind telling me why you're wandering around the place?" But she knew. She saw the look on his face. He wanted to go to bed. She almost laughed at that. As if she would make him touch her. He was welcome to his whores as long as he left her alone.
Coming up behind her, he placed his hands on her slender shoulders, eyes meeting hers in the mirror. "I don't like fighting with you."
She tried to shrug him off, but he only held on. And she wasn't in the mood to play tug of war. She wasn't into anything that uncivilized. "Then you should do something about the catastrophic event that's about to happen in our family. We simply cannot allow Jordan to marry that girl. What will people think?"
He managed a small grim smile as he kneaded her shoulders. Her skin was soft and white and delicate, and he could feel it through the wispy thinness of her robe. He wanted her. Had decided against going to Joani tonight. It had been so longsince he felt his wife's silky skin against his and he wanted to experience it again.
"I don't think people will care one way or another." His touch turned intimate and had her eyes narrowing.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Caressing my wife." He continued to do so, his eyes holding hers. "Trying to recreate magic." His voice dropped to a husky baritone. "Trying to get you in the mood."
She actually laughed. Pushing him away, she rose, putting the brush down. Slipping out of the robe to reveal an exquisite lace nightgown, she made her way over to the bed. The maid had turned the sheets precisely the way she wanted it. Sliding between the cool sheets, she waved a hand at him. "Turn the lights out when you leave."
Staring at her in mute despair, he turned on his heels and left without doing so. With a sigh and not even a ripple of annoyance, Jacquleine turned the lamp off.
Chapter 7
The announcement in the papers caused quite a ripple. Not onlyin the small town of Winter's Peak, but in several prominent newspapers as well. Jordan saw to it. He wanted it big, wanted it out there so his parents' hands were tied.
His mother had requested another meeting with him, and he had reluctantly granted it, knowing what it was about.
The wedding plans were underway. To his surprise, Julesa herself was taking an active part in the planning. He had insisted on hiring a local wedding planner. And she was going ahead and doing everything local.
Their upcoming nuptial was the talk of the small town. In every bakery shop, at the florist, who was beaming in delight over the order she had received. The ceremony itself would be family only, but there was to be a reception on the lush grounds of the manor. People were speculating over the unexpected turn of events. The heir to the vast fortune flouting tradition by marrying a black woman! Not to mention that the woman was the daughter of a former maid. It was titillating enough to have the town talking for weeks or even months. It was a well-known—if carefully concealed—fact that the Wainwrights were partial to their 'own kind'.
Could this be love? The questions and speculations flew far and wide, even though no one would dare repeat or even think of mentioning it in the presence of Jacquline Wainwright or any of the other members of the family for that matter.
The family was too powerful, and they had a hand in every damn pie in town. One word and people would start losing their jobs and their livelihood.
And Julesa Simpson was not one to stop and gossip. She was polite and friendly enough but was not open to any discussions concerning the wedding. They were proud of her of course. Despite the scandal surrounding her daddy, she had managed to make something of herself. Imagine becoming a real-life author of books and having those books going on the big screen. And now she was marrying a multi-billionaire. Her mother must be laughing herself silly, wherever she had managed to land on the other side.
It was that kind of talk, which had Jacquline fit to be tied. She could not attend any function without it being the topic of conversation. Her chess club and tea planning parties were inundated with the loathsome topic, forcing her to smile and pretend as if she was pleased at what was about to take place.
"I was on my way out."
"You can surely find time for an important discussion." She sent her secretary away with a dismissive wave of one hand, without giving the woman a glance.
Pushing back her chair, Joani clamped down the resentment and left, closing the door behind her. But not before Jordan noticed the hatred on the woman's face.
