Designer Genes - The Boyfriend Cut (58 page)

I stared into the same eyes that mesmerized me almost a year ago from a video feed, feeling the same thrill chase my racing heart, my bones turning spongy and my body tingling. I watched the lips hovering close, remembering all the thoughts that raced through my brain back then—what they'd feel like touching mine, soft or hard? Would I be a good kisser? Even the worry about my breath passed, the memory leaving the taste of bubble gum on my tongue. All those questions answered in our first kiss an eternity ago, against my kitchen counter.

Now I stood in Jordan's bedroom months later, wearing a bikini I knew drove him wild, feeling his warm skin press the length of mine, arms wrapping me tenderly, protectively, holding all these emotions inside me, plus a few new ones I'd discovered when we're this close. My dream had come true, despite everything I did to fight it happening.

Jordan Mason, Candidate 2255—my
assigned
destiny, the one, if given the chance again without interference, I'd still choose. My prince charming came to rescue me after all. I just didn't know he'd be clad in surf shorts with hypnotic hazel eyes playing hide-and-seek between damp locks of bronze colored hair. His only armor…strong brawny arms meant to fit perfectly around my body.

So why couldn't I pin my faith to him? Because the same day an innocent kiss rocked my world, a boy begged me not to break his heart.

A light knock on the door broke the spell between us. "Dinner in thirty minutes, Miss Davis."

"Thank you, Burton."

Without realizing, I'd stepped from Jordan's embrace, my arms crossed and shielding my naked chest. The swimsuit top I wore moments ago stretched into a forbidden satin line between our feet. I hooked my thumb toward the bathroom. "I need to shower." Jordan remained fixed in place, an odd expression clouding his face. "You should go. I'll see you at dinner."

Jordan left the room in a huff and an awkward feeling lingered. A few hours ago I rode a wave of elation, but at this moment, I stood on shaky ground. I fingered the pink princess-cut diamond, running my thumb along the diamond-crusted edge. This ring had to have cost a fortune. A high price to pay for someone who suddenly wondered if she just made a monstrous mistake.

Meg lifted my plate, nudging my shoulder. "You okay, girl? You hardly touched your food."

Eva Mason reached out and took my hand, beaming. "She's probably just worn out from all the excitement, aren't you dear?"

"She didn't sleep much last night," Jesse mumbled, stabbing the last remnants of his chicken with enough force to chip the china plate.

"How do you know that?" Jordan demanded.

"You know I'm right here," I clipped, easing my hand out of Eva's and touching Jordan's arm. "Jesse found me this morning right before you did. I confessed how afraid I was of skydiving and couldn't sleep."

Jordan tipped my chin with his finger and kissed me gently. "But everything turned out okay, didn't it? You survived."

"And engaged!" Eva exclaimed. "I had no idea my son was such a romantic."

"It was pretty amazing," I replied. "I don't think I believe it's all real just yet."

"Well, it is," Jesse snarled, picking up his plate. "Your 'match' is official. Congratulations. The Program will be happy to know their golden couple is tying the knot. A year from now, you can give them the 'golden egg,' too. Tell us, Jordan. How many copies can they make of a kid before—"

Jordan jumped out of his chair, toppling it backwards.

"Enough!" Jordan's father's voice threatened to crack the ceiling. "Jesse, you're out of line. Apologize to your brother and Marli."

"For what? Telling the truth?"

"No, for taking a cherished memory from Marli and turning it into something ugly. Son, you crossed a line. From here on out, keep your personal opinions and feelings to yourself. Understood?"

"Yes, Sir." Jesse put his plate back on the table and leveled his eyes to mine. "Mars, Dad's right. Jordan worked hard to make his proposal special. He wanted it perfect for you and anguished about it for weeks. I shouldn't have spoiled your moment."

"It's all right, Jess," I said, turning away when a tear leaked from the corner of my eye.

"No, it's not. I swore I'd never hurt you, but I just did." His finger traced a swirl on the linen tablecloth. "Bro…I'm an ass." Jesse lifted his head, his face reddened and eyes wet. "God, I'm sorry. Really. How can I make it up to you?"

Jordan picked the chair off the floor and walked around the table. Standing in front of his brother, his expression remained hard, unreadable. "I'm not sure you can, but agreeing to be my best man would be a start. You've been beside me through all the important things in my life, but this one's the biggest. Don't let me down."

Jesse grabbed Jordan by the neck, wrapping his arms tight around his shoulders. Jordan's arms circled back. When they parted, both rubbed their eyes.

"It would be an honor for me to watch you marry the girl of our dreams."

"You're such a loser," Jordan laughed.

"Yeah, this time, I am."

Eva clapped her hands. "See! Everything's just as it should be." She turned my direction, catching me swiping under my eyes with a napkin. "Marli, I'm thinking April. Somewhere on the Cape. The temperature's not too warm then and the flowers will be in full bloom. I'll see if I can rent the grand ballroom at—"

"No!" I shouted over her, silencing the room.

Jordan rushed to me, confused. His voice lowered to where only I heard. "Marli, what's the matter?"

"I don't want to get married at eighteen. Can't we at least wait until after my birthday? Don't I get a say in this?"

John Banks removed a slice of cherry pie from the tray Meg placed on the table. "Of course you have a say, Marli. It's your wedding, right Eva?" he said with an edge demanding obedience.

Eva shot back an equally powerful glower to her husband. "I know the decision is Marli and Jordan's,
dear.
I merely offered a suggestion."

"How about July?" Jordan interjected, deflecting the intensity growing. "We'll still have a couple of months for a honeymoon before school starts." He smoothed my hair back, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and blotting my cheeks. "Hey, I don't care where or when. I just want to marry you, okay?"

"Okay," I sniffed, threading my hands through his hair and holding his forehead to mine. "I love you," I whispered.

"In spite of my crazy family?"

"Yes and because of them." I stretched my hand to Eva. "Would you help me plan my wedding? My mother isn't around and I need you."

I meant to finish the sentence with "your help" but somehow, the truth snuck into my words. I needed Eva Mason, in fact, Jordan's entire family. When I called Rick, he accused me of the same things Jesse had. Even Jordan's gallant gesture of asking for his blessing didn't soften his snarky reaction. I hated that my "congratulations" came wrapped in an argument.

"As long as you promise to tell me if I become overbearing. I have tendency to want to control things."

"You? Controlling? There's no 'tendency' there, Mom. It's a fact," Jordan laughed.

The room erupted in jovial sound, dissipating the tension. Meg passed out pie slices and Jordan spooned vanilla ice cream into my mouth while I sat on his lap, listening to the chatter.

John wandered over and placed a kiss on my cheek. "Welcome to the family, Marli. I'm so glad I picked you." His reminder, more than any other, dulled the shine from my happy moment.

Jordan and Jesse headed for the media room, arguing over which action movie to watch. I begged out of joining them, telling Jordan I was too exhausted and wanted to go to sleep. He settled for a kiss goodnight at the bedroom door. When I stepped inside, I flipped the lock.

My heavy eyes had barely fluttered shut when my receptor chimed on the night table.

"Hello?" I answered through a sleepy haze.

"Pumpkin? It's your old man. Got a second?"

I leaned against the headboard, rubbing the slumber from my eyes.

"Yeah. What's up?"

"I didn't handle things very well, did I?"

Painful tears circled my eyes. "You hurt me, Daddy."

A couple of large sighs sounded on the other end. "I'm sorry I let you down. Hell, it's not like I didn't see this coming. Watching the two of you in California—the tender way he treated you through everything, and then showing up on the porch that morning when you were in Italy, I knew the poor sap was hopelessly in love with you and not going away. To be honest, I couldn't ask for anyone better to take care of my little girl."

"You should be telling this to Jordan."

"I did. I called him a few minutes ago to apologize. He said you'd gone to bed, but I had to talk to you."

A wide yawn made a squeaky sound in my jaw. "Sorry. Today kind of wiped me out."

"Sounded pretty spectacular." A silent moment passed. "So, when's the big day?"

"July."

"Good. I get custody of you for Christmas."

"And Jordan."

"Yes and Jordan. Guess I'm going to have to get used to the package deal. Are we okay? I really am sorry and happy for you. I love you, Pumpkin."

"Yeah, we're good, and I love you, too." We were about to disconnect when I remembered my earlier thought. "Dad? I need to find Mom."

After tossing and turning for what felt like hours, I climbed out of bed to walk off the restlessness. A full moon pressed against a black velvet backdrop and its radiance cast the kitchen in a lustrous grayish white, giving the room a sterile appearance. The white marble counters glowed, the dark cherry cabinets ebony black in the muted shadows. Even Meg's favorite teakettle on the stovetop lacked the depth of its blood red brilliance.

I pulled out a stool and settled at the work island with a cup of instant herbal tea. My toes curled over the brass foot bar on the stool, the cold metal sending a chill up my bare legs. I stared at the glowing orb, distorted through the faceted glass, imagining myself on the edge of a deep lunar crater, ready to leap. When I lifted my mug, the pale amber ring left behind looked odd, glaringly out of place on the countertop, just like the ring on my left hand.

July.
Eight months from now, I'd be Mrs. Jordan Mason. Marli Davis would become past-tense and the idea played havoc with my heart. Since the notorious day my candidacy became official, life had been a roller coaster ride and this last turn brought me to an abrupt halt.

I fingered the sparkling stone garnishing my finger. By accepting Jordan's proposal, I surrendered much more than my heart and soon, my body
.
I became submissive to whatever fate The Program decided.

I turned when the door creaked, expecting Jordan. Not Jesse.

"Are you stalking me?"

"I couldn't sleep."

He tore open another tea packet, filled a mug with steaming water, and perched on the stool next to me. He blotted the tea stain with a paper napkin, cleaning up another one of my messes.

"Sorry about dinner," he muttered before a noisy slurp.

"Don't beat yourself up. You're forgiven."

"Am I?"

Jesse took my hand, slowly rolling my engagement ring between his fingers. His eyes were hooded, his expression hard as stone, and his whispered breaths heavy on my skin.