14. Jordan

Jordan

I walked out of work Friday afternoon to see something that didn't compute. Jim was standing there looking aggressively at…my ex-husband?

"Matthew! Oh my God!"

I ran across the sidewalk and took a flying leap into his arms. Matthew caught me easily, swinging me around while hugging me tight to his chest.

When he set me down, I squeezed his biceps. My ex had always been good looking, but he looked especially fine today.

"What are you doing here looking like a hot Suit Daddy?"

He rolled his eyes. Matthew was one of the only people who knew I liked to read billionaire boss romances from time to time. Thanks to his lucrative job with a private equity firm, he only wore expensive custom tailored suits.

"I had business in Houston, so I thought I'd drive down and surprise you."

I heard a throat clearing next to us and turned to see Jim glaring at Matthew, his hands curled into fists like he was considering punching him. I'd seen joking Jim, turned on Jim, serious Jim, freaked out that he just crashed a forklift Jim, but this was a Jim I'd never seen. He was so puffed up with aggression he seemed two inches taller.

"Jim, did you meet Matthew? Matthew, this is my…friend Jim."

"Ah, so this is Jim," Matthew chuckled. "That explains a lot."

Matthew and I were close enough that we told each other everything, which is why he knew about the horseback riding trip and the sanitized version of what Jim and I did there. Or didn't do.

Jim continued glaring at him, which only made my ex-husband look more amused.

"What's with that face, Jim?" I asked, waving my hand in front of him.

"You never mentioned that you had a husband," he grit out.

I laughed and smacked Matthew on the belly. "What have I told you about scaring off guys by pretending that we're still married?"

"It's a good test," Matthew said with a wink.

"Matthew and I have been divorced for what? Over ten years? He's married to someone else now."

"Then why is he here?" Jim asked suspiciously.

I kind of liked this overprotective version of him. Way more than I should. Technically Jim had no reason to question my visitors and quiz me about my relationships.

"Matthew is my best friend," I said. "Anyone who's in my life has to accept that."

Jim's eyebrows rose at the implied warning in my tone, then he took a deep breath and, in an instant, easy going Jim was back.

"Nice to meet you, man."

The words were good, but his tone was a bit forced. Jim stuck his hand out to Matthew and as the two men shook hands, I could see them both gripping the other way harder than they needed to.

"Okay, well if y'all are done swinging your dicks, I could use a drink. It's been a day and it's hotter than the gates of hell out here."

"Hey, that was your first y'all," Jim said proudly. "That deserves a drink."

"Do you want to join us?" Matthew asked.

Jim looked between us, then gave me a small smile. "Nah, I'll let you two catch up."

Matthew's eyebrows rose in surprise, and I saw a hint of grudging respect on his face. "Okay, well maybe I'll see you around, Jim."

Matthew followed me to my apartment, waiting in the living room while I changed out of my work clothes. With him in a suit, I didn't want to look schlubby next to him, so I changed into a cute sundress and a pair of sandals, glad that I'd shaved my legs recently.

"You look gorgeous, Jordy," my ex said when I came out. "Where should we go?"

"There's a pretty nice brew pub a couple of towns over that Jim's friend Lillian told me about," I said. "They're supposed to have great burgers."

"That sounds perfect."

Matthew drove his rental car while I navigated from the maps app on my phone. He waited until we were seated and had both ordered a beer before he asked about Jim.

"So that's Jim," he said. "He's kind of protective."

"I've never seen him act like that," I defended. "I'm sure it didn't help that you riled him up with the husband bit."

My best friend smiled smugly. "That always works. But I will say I was impressed that he wasn't threatened by us going out without him."

"Well, it's not like we're dating."

"Just feeling each other up on horseback rides?"

I felt my face heat. "Rude!"

Matthew winked. "How much longer does he have until he transfers back to his regular job?"

"Three weeks." It felt like a lifetime.

Matthew studied my face. "You have feelings for him. I knew you had a crush, but your face says it's something more."

I looked around to make sure no one I knew was around, which was ridiculous because I didn't know a lot of people and we were twenty minutes away from home.

"I think I'm falling in love with him," I confessed. "Or maybe I already did."

"Wow, that's big." He looked pleased with himself. "Although I'd suspected as much, with how much you talk about him."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, I just don't know what I'm going to do about it."

We paused to order food, then Matthew picked up the conversation right where we left off.

"Remember when I met Marlene and I was all like, I love her, but I don't know if I can be what she needs, or if I'm ready for something serious again?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"You told me then that I was an idiot not to lock her down while I could," he reminded me. "You pointed out that I was different with her than I was with you, and that true passion didn't come around every day. You told me that if I had a second chance at love, I needed to grab it. Remember?"

I nodded. "That does sound vaguely familiar."

"Great, then I'll throw your advice back at you."

I opened my mouth to respond, and he held up his hand and gave me a stern look.

"Your work excuse will be non-existent soon, and we both know your concern about the age difference is just another way to protect yourself and keep him at a distance. You're a beautiful, loving woman who deserves to be happy, and Jim clearly has it bad for you. Either accept what this guy is offering you or let him go before he gets hurt."