Designer Genes - The Boyfriend Cut (33 page)

I did the same as if could magically feel the touch of his skin. "Me too. I hate this long distance stuff."

"You're killing me, Marli. I haven't been whole since the day you landed in front of my car. Now tell me, what's up with the 'baby' talk?"

"I talked to Chuck today. He pulled out The Program's crystal ball and told me my future."

Jordan stayed silent for what constituted an eternity. His expression changed with his thoughts, frightening me. He knew what Chuck revealed.

"What do you want for the future, Marli?"

"A normal life where I have you,
and
I can be a veterinarian. I want to raise puppies…for a while anyway."

"Any particular breed? I mean if we're having a canine family, I should get a say."

"Labradors."

"What? No Great Danes? How about a fluffy Newfoundland? I thought you loved a challenge?"

"That's you, not me. Besides, making you happy is the only challenge I want."

"You make me happy, babe." Our fingers reached out again. "A normal life and puppies before babies. I think we can manage that. You do realize, though, when you become a veterinarian there'll be two 'Dr. Masons' in our household. Someone requiring emergency brain surgery could get us confused."

"I think where we place a thermometer will keep us separated."

We laughed hard and I forgot about the bleak future Chuck painted. As long as Jordan shared it with me, I knew he'd keep me safe from The Program's tentacles.

A major case of the hiccups replaced my giggles.

Jordan quieted again. "I'm still don't like the idea of you alone with Peterson in Italy. Tell me again why you can't take your receptor?"

"In all f-airness to Doug, you can't have c-ontact with me until I return. Sorry. Another idiotic r-ule."

"Marli, close your eyes and concentrate on my voice."

I lay back on the pillows and did as instructed. "K-ay."

"
One
, breathe in and hold.
Two
, release it slow.
Three
inhale and hold.
Four
, release." He repeated the counting exercise in a low timbre until he reached ten.

Then he screamed.

"Damn you, Jordan!"

Blood pounded in my ears. Jordan folded over his desk, laughing so hard, tears rolled from the corner of his eyes.

"Don't you
ever
do that to me again!"

"Sorry, babe, really. But your hiccups are gone, aren't they?" I waited, trying to force one just to prove him wrong. "See. All better." I scrunched my nose and huffed. "Come on. Don't be mad. I
heeealed
you," he said in some contrived spooky accent and I couldn't stop the smile pulling my mouth.

Jordan's voice deepened. "I'm crazy about you, girl."

"I kind of like you too."

"Marli, when you get back, can you come straight to the island? In fact, pack a suitcase and I'll have a courier pick it up while you're gone."

"What about my luggage from Europe?"

"We have a storage locker at the hangar. I'll leave instructions with Mike. He'll be flying you to the island in the helicopter."

"
Helicopter?
I've never flown in one! What if—"

"You'll be fine. You
are
fine and I miss you so much it hurts."

"Jordan? You trust me, don't you? I haven't changed my mind about Jesse. I'll end things with him this weekend and after Italy, I'm through with Doug."

"Yes, I trust you. Enjoy Italy. It really is beautiful and you deserve a vacation. I'll have you the rest of the summer."

"Sure you can handle me for a whole summer?"

"I'm sure I can
handle
you just fine." My cheeks warmed instantly, putting a smile on Jordan's handsome face. "You look exhausted. I should let you go."

"Stay on the phone until I fall asleep? Please? It will feel like you're here. Dad's gone one more night and I'm kind of nervous."

"You'll hold me close to your heart?"

"I'll put you inside my shirt if you say 'yes,'" I teased.

"You don't play fair, and when it comes to peeking
inside
your shirt, Miss Davis, I want to be there in person."

No hint of regret mingled in his sinful chuckle. I placed my cell receptor in the docking station on my night table, so I could watch him. He flipped pages in a large book, entering notes on his digital pad.

"What are you working on?"

"An essay on my latest research is due by the end of the week." He glanced at me, his eyes following a path through cyber space from New York to Maple Heights, "You look soft and sleepy. I wish I lay beside you."

"I wish so, too." I yawned wide. "Hum to me, Jordan. Like the other night. I want your voice in my head when I fall asleep."

He smiled sheepishly. "
Hum
to you? What have I started?

"Pleeease…"

"Fine, but eyes closed. No more talking."

I watched him for a few minutes as he continued studying, while humming in his pitch perfect tenor voice. Every now and then a phrase to a chorus actually escaped his heart shaped lips.

I longed to taste those lips…to hold him and feel him holding me. Drifting into a lazy dream state where the mind reaches out to pick the last thoughts for your dreams and the last noises for a soundtrack, my eyes sealed shut.

I pictured myself in the middle of a meadow holding a daisy with one last petal. I plucked it.
He loves me
.

19

PARK CITY

W
e rolled between the rows of private planes to the hangar where a familiar Lear jet waited to depart. I hadn't seen Jesse since the day Rick kicked him out of the house, and butterflies tickled inside my stomach. I checked my breath against my palm.

Are you crazy? You're not kissing him.

My heart stopped for half a beat when I spied Jesse walking from a door at the far corner of the hangar. He had the same build as Jordan, with a gait that also held a confident, sexy sway.

I'm so going to kiss him.

Jesse paused midway, his eyes locking on mine as he tugged the lapels of his jacket. He smiled wide and held out his arms, "Marli!" We collided at a halfway point, locking lips.

"I've missed you." A slower, gentler kiss found my mouth. "Thanks for coming," he whispered.

"I feel guilty for missing you, too," I confessed.

"Let's hope you feel guilty for a lot more reasons after this weekend."

Another hangar awaited our arrival. As we claimed our baggage, the sound of a horn bounced off the corrugated metal walls. A custom painted motor coach with the band's name "No Regrets" spread the length of the hangar opening. Three guys bounded from various doors, one larger than the others.

"Who's the giant?" Alex asked.

Jesse motioned
giant
over. "Alex this is Hank, or as we call him,
Moose.
"

Moose
lifted Alex a good foot off the ground until her wide eyes leveled with his. "Nice to meet you Alex." He dropped her, gently, and Brittany and I doubled over in laughter.

"I hate you both," she snarled, stomping away.

Brittany took off after her, but Jesse curled his arm around my waist. "Brittany can handle Alex. We need to board."

Inside existed a mini luxury home on wheels. Jesse led me to a back bedroom, closing the door behind us. He climbed onto the bed, pulling me to his side.

"Jess, I don't think so."

"Relax, Mars. You're wound up tight enough to break in half. I'm not going to try anything,
yet.
"

I wrapped both hands around a taut bicep. "I may not be able to fight you off. So tell me 'Mr. Muscle,' where did you get these arms?
Rock stars
aren't known for being buff."

A playful grin tugged the corners of Jesse's mouth. "Weights and running. I need to be prepared. Never know when I'm going to have to rescue a beautiful damsel in blue satin. Jesse eased me underneath him, stroking a finger down my throat and across my collarbone. "If memory serves me right, this position worked well for us."

He seared my lips with a long kiss. My toes
twitched
. How could I follow through with my plan? How could I not? I loved Jordan and with that love came with a price. Break Jesse's heart.

Alex and Brittany decided to check the gift shops downtown while the band set up. I bowed out, claiming a headache and welcoming some time alone. Nervous energy crackled around me, knowing what I faced before moving forward with Jordan. However, the
want
for Jesse played the stronger demon. I called Jordan to regain my focus.

"Hey there. How was your flight?" Jordan sounded suspiciously chipper.

"Good, and I miss you already. In fact, I keep looking around to see if you're lurking around some corner."

"My life was threatened if I came within a hundred miles."

"Sorry, but you can't follow me everywhere I go."

"Watch me."

"This is Jesse's weekend. We agreed you'd let me do this my way."

"
We
didn't agree to anything. In fact, I'm thinking of taking the first flight I can get and ignore your demands."

A small part of me wished the same thing, but I promised Jess—no, Jordan.

"So, has he kissed you?"

At least he asked if Jesse kissed me—not the other way around.

"Subtle, Mason." I blew a rushed breath, knowing my answer wouldn't be what he wanted. "Not that I need to tell you, but
yes
. Jesse kissed me."

Sucked my lips off
.

"I knew it! Did you tell him his brother will kill him if touches you again?"

Twenty-four hours hadn't passed and Jordan could already spit rusty nails. I couldn't imagine how foul his mood would be after two weeks of me being in Italy
.

"Stop the jealous tirade. I'll take care of things after the concert."

Jordan said nothing. The bridge of his nose would be bruised by the end of the weekend from endless pinching.

"I miss you." Still nothing. A sliver of loneliness tugged at my heart and I wished I had a signal for video feed. "What are you doing right now?"

"Lying on my bed and wishing you were here next to me. I miss you too."

"What if I told you your wish may come true? I've been accepted to Cornell."

Welcome laughter sounded in my ear. "Right when I think I'm on the verge of losing you, I get a glimmer of hope."

"Why would you think you might lose me?"

"I know my brother, Marli."

"So do I. Dust off your 'trust button.' I can handle Jesse."

Yeah right. Whom was I kidding?

"For your information, Miss Davis, I'm wearing my 'trust button' and the damn pin keeps sticking me in the heart."

Suddenly, Brittany and Alex burst through the door, followed by the band and Jesse, interrupting our call.

"Mars!" Jesse called out. Jordan cursed in my ear. Jesse grabbed the receptor out of my hand, "Hey bro, don't you worry. I'll keep Marli safely tucked in my arms and give her lots of
personal
attention."

He snapped the cell shut and dropped it in my outstretched palm. "You promised this weekend would be about us. If I'm going to do a 'threesome,' it certainly won't be with my brother."