Part 13 (2/2)
Jordan turned around and saw blood in Haden's eyes, but she didn't back away or look for help. She could hold her own. She stood her ground and waited to see what the crazed woman would do. She was ready for anything.
She didn't get the opportunity to find out. One second Haden was flying toward Jordan, and the next second Jordan was staring at Noah's back. How he'd gotten in front of her so quickly was beyond her.
Haden was blaming her for everything but the heat. As a parting shot she yelled, ”This isn't over.”
”Yeah, it is,” Noah a.s.serted.
Jordan tapped Noah on the shoulder, but he didn't turn around until Haden was out of sight.
”Yes?”
”You didn't need to get in front of me. I can take care of myself.”
He gave her the famous Noah Clayborne smile. ”Is that right?”
He brushed the hair over her shoulder and gently patted the side of her face. ”If you can take care of yourself, how come your cheek's swollen?”
He had her there. ”It was a surprise attack,” she said earnestly. ”I wasn't ready.”
Only after she gave her explanation did she realize how truly lame it sounded.
”I see. So when you're ready and it isn't a surprise, then you can take care of yourself? How much warning would you like to have?”
She didn't think the sarcastic remark required an answer. Besides, she couldn't come up with anything.
”Didn't your older brothers teach you how to defend yourself?”
”Of course they did. They taught Sidney and me all about gun safety and shooting and fighting, clean fighting and dirty fighting.” She added, ”And all sorts of other things we weren't at all interested in.”
”Why weren't you interested?”
”Because we were girls, and we liked girly things.”
”Is building a computer a girly thing to do?” he asked, smiling. ”Nick told me you were always drawing and designing.”
”I still did some girly things,” she insisted. ”But Sidney and I paid attention to our brothers' lessons too. Really.”
He abruptly moved to another topic. ”Are you hungry?”
”I'm starving,” she said. ”And I've found the most perfect restaurant to take you to for dinner. You'll love the food. Can we just take off though? Did Chief Davis-”
”He knows where you're staying tonight. We can leave.”
The restaurant was just a couple of blocks away.
”My gla.s.ses are in my purse, and my purse is in my rental car,” she said as they walked along. ”Do you think that when Nick drives back, he could bring them?”
”Nick isn't coming back to Serenity.”
”Why not?”
They crossed the street and turned south. ”Doctor Morganstern called him and wants to meet with him in Boston. Nick doesn't know why.”
”Do you have to go too?”
”No,” he answered. ”I've been ordered to stick with you.”
She pushed into his side. ”You don't need to sound so disgruntled. Am I such a pain then?”
Noah looked down at her. Ordinarily, he would have relished this situation, and even jumped at the opportunity to spend the night watching over a beautiful woman, but this was no ordinary situation, and Jordan was no ordinary woman.
”Am I?” she asked when he didn't respond. He shrugged in answer. ”Why would Nick ask you-”
”Nick didn't ask me to stay,” he said. ”Morganstern ordered me to stay with you.”
She tilted her head. ”Why? I've been cleared of all charges. Yes, I know the professor was placed in my car, and I know what you're thinking...”
He grinned. ”I don't think you do.”
”What about my rental car? Do you know when it will be released?”
”No, I don't. An FBI agent from this district is driving another car here for us and picking up your things first in Bourbon,” he said. ”A friend of his is following and will take him back home. He'll call me when he gets here.”
”What about the rental agency?”
”They'll have to figure out a way to get the car from Bourbon. It's no longer your problem.”
”And why is that?”
”Nick had a little chat with the owner. As soon as he mentioned a lawsuit, the guy folded. Your brother's law degree comes in handy on occasion.”
They reached Jaffee's restaurant. Noah pulled the door open for her. There were only two tables occupied, and both were by the front window.
”Hey, Jordan.”
”Hey, Angela,” she replied.
The waitress was carrying an empty tray back to the kitchen.
”Your table's ready,” she called out.
Noah followed her to the corner table. ”You have your own table here?”
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