Shadow of Doubt (14 page)
Authors: Melissa Gaye Perez
“I'm just trying to be helpful,” Martin quickly covered.
“Then shut the hell up,” Jordan retorted through clenched teeth as Dolly slowly grabbed the handrail and started first up the now seemingly unending stairs. Then Jordan slowly followed behind her, afraid she might fall and he wanted to be able to catch her.
They finally made their way to the top and happily entered the comfort of home.
“Oh no you don't,” Jordan stated as Dolly sat comfortably on the couch just inside.
“What?” she asked wondering what she had done wrong now.
“The doctor ordered bed rest for
you
,” he then demanded strongly.
“For you too, but I bet your not gonna listen to him are you?” she smartly answered knowing he was too bull headed to do as he was told, so why should she?
“Maybe not, but I'm bigger than you are, therefore you had better listen to me,” he replied half laughing as her face began to redden against her blonde hair again. “And don't start that pouting stuff again, I can't stand it and I'm not falling for it this time.”
“Okay, but I'm hungry,” she answered as she used the arm of the couch for support to help her stand.
“You're always hungry, so what's new?” Jordan teased as he entered the kitchen area to see what he could do about cooking supper.
“Want me to fix it?” Martin offered.
“No. I want you to go home,” Jordan bluntly stated as he rummaged through the refrigerator never looking in his direction.
“Gee thanks a lot. Is that the gratitude I get for bringing you home?”
“I've taken you home more than once and you damned well know it,” Jordan replied growing angry again at his constantly mooching friend whom seems to seldom remember he has been helped out in the past too.
“Okay...I'll leave you two to suffer alone. If you need anything from town just call.”
Jordan didn't answer. Just went about his business as Martin showed himself out.
Dolly was glad to see him leave at last. She entered the kitchen with Jordan. “Need help?” she offered.
“You're supposed to be in bed,” he reminded with a half hazard smile.
“So are you,” she replied again as she neared him.
“Go on. I'll bring supper in to you later,” he then told her as he bent and kissed her forehead and went on about his meal preparations.
“All right, but I don't feel that bad anymore. My arm just aches a little. If you need help yell.” She tried to hold it back but a yawn came from no where.
She turned and gladly made her way to her bedroom. She didn't feel so hot, but didn't want Jordan to worry about her anymore than he already has. He seemed to feel badly enough about what had happened. Dolly laid back and propped her head cozily on her pillow and tried again to remember something from her past.
“Why did I say I had a brother? And if I do, why can't I remember what he looks like?” She laid there thinking and trying to fall to asleep, but couldn't. Now she was worried. She couldn't imagine having a brother out there somewhere and not knowing where. Was he worried about her? Evidently not or he would have come for her by now.
Then Jordan broke her train of thought as he cheerfully entered her room carrying a tray. “It's just an omelet and juice. Best I could do on short notice,” he said as he placed the tray over her and sat next to her on the bed. “You feeling any better yet?”
“Yeah...I'm okay,” she answered solemnly as she tried to pick up the fork but her right arm was the one in the cast and it hurt when she tried to use her fingers. “Ouch,” she accidentally blurted out loud as she dropped it again and looked shyly to Jordan.
“Here, I'll do it for you,” he said with a smile and picked up her fork and cut the omelet. “I'm getting kind of used to taking care of you already,” he added as he fed her a bite.
Dolly liked this. She only hoped that he really didn't mind. He didn't seem too as he continued to smile and place the food playfully in her mouth. Dolly felt like a little girl while this handsome creature babied her.
“I bet you would make a good daddy someday,” she then announced.
Jordan looked at her laughing and with much surprise. “Why would you say a thing like that?”
“Because you just seem to be the type. I can't believe you never married and had children.”
“Well, I didn't, and I don't intend too.”
Dolly didn't know if this was just a line he was used to using or if it was a direct hint for her to not even think about forming a relationship of any kind with him.
“I can't eat another bite,” she finally told him after nearly finishing the entire omelet. “And thank you.”
“Oh come on...one more bite,” he teased as he pushed the fork against her closed mouth.
“Quit it,” she replied as she pushed it away, trying not to laugh. “I told you I'm full.”
Jordan only laughed at her. “All right, insult my cooking would ya? See if I care.”
“I didn't insult your cooking. It was very good, really, I just can't eat anymore.”
Jordan smiled and removed the tray and carried it into the kitchen then he quickly returned to Dolly's side. She seemed a bit surprised to see him come back. She figured he was tired too and would have watched television or went to sleep.
“Does your arm still hurt?” he asked as he sat next her on the bed again.
“No, well, not much anyway. I'm just a little sore. How about you?”
“Hurts like hell, but I'll live,” he laughed back. “You know, I bet we look like a couple who just beat each other up or something.”
Dolly looked at him admiringly. “A couple?” she thought. “Does he think of us as that? I wouldn't mind that at all,” she thought as she felt him put his arm around her shoulder.
“You'd better get some rest now. Tomorrow you'll probably be twice as sore as you are now. Both of us probably will be.”
“I hope not,” she answered.
Jordan rose to leave the room. Dolly didn't want him to go. She looked at him anxiously. “Jordan?” she called out softly.
He turned and looked her direction. “What's the matter Dolly?”
“Will you...well, will you stay with me tonight? Just for a little while at least?”
Jordan wasn't sure if she was scared or just wanted some company. He really didn't care what the reason. He returned to her side and lay next to her on the bed, gently propping her head on his shoulder.
“I'm sorry again Dolly. For doing this to you I mean,” he whispered.
“It's not your fault. It's Martin's.”
Jordan looked up at her with mixed emotion. “Martin's? How do you figure that?”
“Well...if he wouldn't have been telling you all those lies about me and him, you never would've been angry with me in the first place.”
Jordan looked back down a moment then returned to meet her gaze. How he loves to look into those blue eyes of hers. “I still shouldn't have gotten so mad at you. I had no right. I don't own you.”
“I know you don't. Nobody does. But just exactly what has he been telling you Jordan? I
have
to know.”
He paused a moment. Dolly could tell he wasn't too sure he should tell her. “Well...he said that the other day in North Carolina...when you two were supposed to have been having dinner together...that you were actually at a motel room together.” His voice seemed to break as if he felt stupid for even believing the story to begin with.
Dolly's eyes widened in anger and Jordan actually thought they grew darker as rage took over her face. “What?” she yelled out.
Jordan smiled his lazy grin knowing now that it was indeed all a lie. She never could have purposely gained an expression like that otherwise. Nobody could.
“It doesn't matter now,” he cut in trying to change the subject as fast as he could.
“Doesn't matter? The hell it doesn't matter! I never slept with Martin Slater. As far as I know...I've...never slept with any man.”
Jordan tried not too, but laughed hysterically at her now. Dolly could feel his body jerking against hers as he did this and it made her grow even madder.
“What’s so damn funny?” she asked angrily.
“Oh...I don't know. It’s just that…it must be hell not to remember a thing like that,” he replied still laughing thinking the situation far too funny now.
Dolly finally smiled now too. “You better stop that. It's not funny that I can't remember anything. You shouldn't be making fun of me.”
“I know it, but I can't help it. Sometimes I wish I couldn't remember anything about my life either.”
They laughed together a while but Dolly just couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. Her lids were growing heavy and falling closed fast. She nearly fell asleep in mid sentence as she and Jordan tried to chat on. Jordan smiled when he realized she was now soundly sleeping so he reached down and grabbed the blanket from the foot of the bed and covered her before creeping back to the comfort of his own room.
The next few days were joyous for Dolly. Every morning Jordan brought in a tray and fed her breakfast in bed. Her arm wasn't hurting anymore and Jordan seemed to be enjoying pampering her and she didn't mind either. Just sat back and let it happen, hoping it would last forever. It took nearly a week for the soreness to begin leaving both their bodies and they finally began walking on the beach together whenever possible.
Jordan had finished the third bedroom while Dolly rested most of the time, but occasionally she would sit and watch him. For some reason it didn't seem to bother him anymore to have her looking over his shoulder while he worked. Actually he seemed to be pleased that she was there with him now to keep him company.
“Well, I hope you’re in good enough shape to travel,” Jordan then told her as they strolled hand in hand on the beach with Myron tugging at their feet.
“Why's that?” she asked unknowingly, feeling so serene as the warm salty air was blowing through her hair.
“Well...” he began with her hand still gently in his and began strolling toward the house. “Tomorrow we need to leave for Georgia. It's a pretty good race and carries a nice little pot for the winner.”
“You're actually gonna drive that car with your side all bruised up like that?”
“Of course, I'm not that sore anymore anyway. You can barely see the bruises,” he answered as he pulled up his shirt to show her.
Dolly shyly looked at his flesh. He was right. They were nearly healed up now but she could still see shades of blue. She couldn't believe either that he was so comfortable around her now, actually lifting up his shirt without hesitation.
“Well, mines almost gone too, but I'm not about to pull up my shirt and show you,” she slyly teased as they entered the living room.
Jordan laughed. “Why not? Don' you think I might enjoy the view?”
“I'm sure you would, but I'm not that kind of girl. At least I don't think I am,” she chuckled.
Jordan looked at her again as if he felt badly now. “Look, Dolly about the other day. I really didn't mean to imply that you and Martin...”
Now it was Dolly who felt bad for bringing it up again. “I know...just forget it,” she replied cheerfully. “I've gotta pack anyway. How long are we gonna be gone?”
“About a week. I'm tired of traveling all the way there, turning around and coming right back. It's mid August now and the weather's beautiful, I thought we'd enjoy it while it lasted. Stay awhile after the race.”
“Sounds great to me. It's getting kind of boring around here anyway.” Dolly smiled widely the whole time she packed. “He actually wants to spend extra time with me. I can't believe it.”
Then Dolly thought about facing Martin Slater again after they reached Georgia. He'd surely be there and after the lies he told Jordan about her she wasn't sure she could face him again. “Of course I can,” she then thought bravely. “He's the one who outta be ashamed, not me.”
Then she wasn't sure how he and Jordan would get along now. Jordan knew the truth. She hadn't slept with Martin. Jordan didn't seem concerned about it when they discussed it last, but surely he was furious at his best friend’s deceit. How could he not be? Now Dolly was afraid the two would argue over it, or worse, but didn't know if she should be concerned or not. Martin deserved to be confronted and hopefully he hadn't told anyone else his dreadful stories.
That night Dolly showered and dressed for bed in her oversized t-shirt as usual. Jordan came in to talk to her before she retired for the night.
“Excited?” he asked from her bedroom doorway.
“Yes. I can't wait. I love to see you drive that car,” she answered excitedly as she sat up on the bed indian style pulling her shirt down between her legs to cover herself and looked back at him with admiration.
Jordan walked in and sat next to her. “Maybe if we get a chance after the race...maybe...I can take you for another spin around the track.”
Dolly's eyes widened and her face lit up now. “Oh would you? Please?” she asked enthusiastically.
“Did you really like it that much?” he asked a bit surprised.
“Oh yes. It was awesome. I can't wait to do it again.”
Jordan stared admiringly. He found himself leaning over and kissing her softly on the lips then staring into her shining blue eyes. He couldn’t stop. Before he knew it he wrapped his arm tenderly around her neck and laid her back on the bed, his mouth still caressing hers. He was now lying next to her on the bed, kissing her hard without a second thought. She wrapped her arms cozily around his sturdy neck and didn't resist.
“Jordan, stay with me tonight,” she softly invited. He drew his head back and smiled into her eyes.
Without an answer they inched their way under the blanket and he quickly perched himself on top of her. Dolly felt her breathing speed as they kissed like never before. His tongue parted her lips gently and a rush took over her body that felt like flames burning throughout her. She felt his warm tender hands scanning every inch of her flesh through her night shirt as his mouth slid down her neck and back to meet hers.
Then she heard him whispering to her. “Dolly...I don't know if I can do this. What if...”
“I don't care about anything else Jordan...I love you,” she proclaimed at last.
Jordan stared into her eyes when he heard this. She wasn't sorry she had finally said it. Relieved at last, she meant it and didn't care if he loved her back or not. She had wanted this man since the day they had met and nothing was going to stop her from having him now.
He kissed her softly on the lips. “I love you too Dolly...but...”
“Then show me,” she demanded in a whisper. “Show me how much you love me Jordan.” Her left hand was on his cheek, her eyes pleading for him.
Before she finished speaking she felt her clothes being carefully peeled from her body. She seemed in a trance of love realizing now that both their bodies were bare beneath the cover as he stroked every inch of her tanned silky flesh and trailed his hands with his lips across every inch of her. Dolly could hardly move. She had waited so long for him...it seemed like forever.
“I do love you Jordan,” she whispered over and over again as he made her feel like never before.
“I love you too,” he quickly assured her as he gently made love to her at last, finding out quickly that she had reason not to remember sleeping with any other man. She hadn't. He felt her hold tighten when he first entered her body and knew she hurt, but couldn't stop, his fantasy of her was finally fulfilled. He loved her more than any other woman he'd met and wanted to prove that to her now.
“Are you all right?” he whispered gently into her ear.
“Yes...as long as I'm with you, I could never be harmed.”
Jordan didn't know her name…he didn't know where she was from. All he knew was that he loved her and didn't care anymore if she ever regained her memory. They now had new memories together and a new life and he intended to make sure she never forgets him.
Dolly's sudden pain turned to sheer pleasure almost instantly. At last she had the man she loved so much. They were together at last and her craving for him finally fulfilled. Never again would they sleep apart.