“Who’s going to replace your coach?”
“Are you thinking of playing for the Cowboys?”
Katie had no idea how Jorlan answered, but whatever he said charmed the pants off everyone. (Thankfully not literally.) They oohed and aahed.
Apparently, Jorlan was the night’s VIP. Very irresistible playboy.
“I didn’t know you had an accent,” some girl said. “I love it!”
Finally she reached the front of the crowd. Jorlan sat in the same chair as before, but his posture was much more relaxed. A pretty purple-haired woman occupied Katie’s seat, eyeing the otherworlder like the last fillet at the market.
“I’ve never met a professional ballplayer in here, but give me a chance, and I’m certain I can come up with something to do with you,” Purple said, leaning into him.
Enough! “Mr. Calman just wants to relax. In private.”
Jorlan didn’t react in any way, telling Katie he’d sensed her presence, he just hadn’t acknowledged it. Why? Gauging her reaction? Well, news flash, he was seconds away from having to surgically remove his testicles from his throat.
Unlike so many others, Katie did not blame the woman for flirting with a taken man; she blamed the man.
Purple toyed with the ends of his hair, snipping at Katie, “Are you his bodyguard or something?”
“Maybe. Let’s play two truths and a lie,” Katie said, settling into the empty seat beside her. “I’m either his bodyguard, the mother of his three sons, or the woman who broke a magic curse, turning our Jo—Calman into a real boy instead of a stone statue.” No one in their right mind would believe that last one, the honest-to-goodness truth.
The crowd burst into another round of laughter.
“Whatever you are, you’re getting on my nerves.” Focusing on Jorlan, Purple said, “Is she the mother of your sons?”
At last Jorlan slid his gaze her way. “No,” he replied to Purple while staring at Katie. “She is not.”
Was this punishment for refusing to give him an answer?
The woman got real smug real fast. “Why don’t you ditch the tagalong, then, and go home with me? I’m super-good with balls.”
“Yes, Jorlan. Why don’t you ditch me, your landlord, chauffer and moneybag, and go home with her?” What had gotten into the man? Had something happened while she’d fetched drinks?
“I must stay,” he told Purple, who pouted but didn’t shuffle away.
For the next hour, Jorlan talked and laughed with everyone but Katie, soaking up attention as if it was oxygen he needed for life support. Purple eventually left, allowing Katie to return to her original chair. But other women came over, one after the other.
She downed the rum and Coke. Then another and another. Every once in a while a brave man approached Katie to drop a flirtatious line, but her snappy retorts sent the would-be hookups scurrying away. Or maybe Jorlan’s prepare-to-die glares caused the retreats? But anytime she found herself alone again, Jorlan would turn back to whatever woman he was flirting with and ignore her.
What kind of lesson was he hoping she’d learn here? That she needed to snatch him up before someone else did?
When the fourth man beat feet, she leaned into Jorlan, even though another girl had come over to get his autograph.
Katie whispered, “What lesson are you trying to teach me here? That my choices are you or no one? That there are plenty of women for you to marry if I say no? That you’re a douche and I’m better off without you?”
He didn’t look away from the woman who stood before him, even as he directed his response to Katie. “If I knew what a douche was, I’m sure I would be properly chastised.”
Jerk! “Men were leering at me? That’s so…wonderful.” She fluffed her hair. “Which ones? I should probably go say hi.”
The girl had just launched into a rambling speech about her great love for football when Jorlan turned away from her to peer at Katie.
“Say hi, and they die!”
Do not grin. “And now you’re jealous again.” She tossed up her arms as if exasperated. “That’s just great.”
He narrowed his eyes and worked his jaw. “You called me jealous earlier, too. And, as you strolled to the bar, I had to watch different males leer at you. I wanted to murder each one. I was jealous, I admit it. Then and now. But by Elliea, I will not be the only one.”
The girl glanced between them before backing away, leaving them alone at last.
“You’ve ignored me because you were man-pouting?” Katie demanded.
“Yes!” he roared. “And you let me. You never once tried to send the females away, which means I want you more than you want me.”
“I sent Purple away.”
“Did you, though? Or did she walk away of her own volition? Listen,” he said before she could respond. “Our relationship is more unbalanced than either of us realized, just not the way you feared.”
Many people turned to stare at them.
Both relieved and annoyed, Katie stood and extended her hand. The tempo of the music had slowed; there was no better time to couple up. “I’ve been jealous, too, okay? So let’s stop trying to balance things out and just enjoy each other’s company. Will you please honor me with a dance, Jorlan?”
At first, he revealed no hint of his thoughts. Just peered from her hand to her face. Then, a wicked glint shone in his eyes. “I will so honor you, Katie.” He accepted her hand and stood. Side by side, they strode to the dance floor.
As he wrapped his strong arms around her, the building seemed to tilt. She rested her head on his shoulder, relaxing against him.
Had anything ever felt so right?
“That was quite a display, warrior woman,” he said.
“Well, you’re important to me. And handsome. And sexy. Did you know that?” Wait. Why had she admitted that aloud?
His husky chuckle reverberated along her nerve endings. “Tell me more. What do you like about me?”
For some reason, answering honestly sounded like the best idea in the history of ideas. “Well, if we’re talking outward appearance only, I love how tall you are. Your muscles make my mouth water. And your butt! I just want to squeeze it!”
“Hmm.” He caressed the ridges of her spine. “What else?”
So much! “The first time I saw you, you were naked. Remember? I kept looking down, and all I could think about was how big your penis is and how wonderful you’d probably feel buried deep inside me.”
He jolted, then he stilled, his inhalations turning ragged. “’Tis very intriguing, that desire of yours. If you wanted me so badly in the beginning, why did you deny me?”
“’Cause I didn’t know you, and I was afraid of developing feelings for you. Duh.”
With one hand, he continued to stroke her spine. With the other, he squeezed her butt the way she’d hoped to squeeze his. “What do you like about my personality now that you’ve gotten to know me better?”
Why was the room spinning? “You’re courageous. And stubborn. A lot of people consider stubbornness a bad trait, but not me. You won’t give up when things get tough. You’re honest. Oh! You aren’t affected by my disease.”
“Disease?” The word lashed like a cat-o’-nine-tails, but she didn’t mind. His irises had darkened to the color of a starless night, blue and black and the perfect midnight fantasy. “Why did you not tell me you are sick? You must come to Imperia. I will pay a healer, and she will make you well.”