Unlike the way Will’s music had made her feel exposed.

She frowned at the thought of him.

When the last notes trailed off, Jordan bent forward. “Would you…do you want to come up?”

He smiled and let his gaze slide over the length of her. “With legs like those, I won’t say it’s not tempting.” Then he shook his head. “But that’s not what you need, is it?”

Jordan chewed at her lower lip, then shook her head. “I think I can sleep now. Thank you.”

He slanted a lazy salute. “That’s thanks enough for me.” Turning to go, he looked back one more time. “Sleep tight, pretty lady.” Then he shambled off.

With a lump in her throat, Jordan climbed back inside her loft, closing the window behind her.

CHAPTER THREE

THE COUNTRY-WESTERN bar where Will let himself be dragged after work several days later was one frequented by an odd mix of cowboys, construction workers and white-collar types who liked to kick back a few and dance. With its live music and core crowd of regulars, it was, in some ways, as close to the little pub in his village as he’d encountered in the States.

For some of the guys from David’s jobsite, this was their usual after-work stop, and Will found himself not averse to indulging in a beer on this day. Even if he’d sell his soul for a good Guinness.

Uncharacteristically, David had accompanied them. Will sat beside him at the bar, raised his glass of the brew they had on tap and studied it. “There is much I like about this country,” he mused aloud. “But what passes for beer cannot be counted among that company.” He shook his head. “Swill, pure swill.”

“Hey, now,” complained the man next to him.

“Maybe you should open your own bar,” David suggested, staring down into his drink. “You like to gab enough. You’d make a good bartender.”

“Possibly, but I need the fresh air and sunshine.” Will glanced over. “You know, I can’t recall ever seeing you accompany the men before.”

David continued to stare morosely. “I usually go home after work. I like doing that.” He rested his head on one fist. “You don’t join them often, either.”

“I’m remodeling a house in my spare time,” Will reminded him.

“You’d have an easier go of it if you leveled the place and started from scratch.”

Will smiled. “But where would be the challenge in that?”

“You do seem to like a test.” He paused, then spoke again. “Speaking of adversity, let me give you a friendly word of warning—stay away from Jordan. I saw you together at our place. She’s bad news.”

“What makes you say that?” Not that he disagreed.

“I’ve spent a good ten years watching her discard men like used tissues. A man-eater, that one. I have no idea why she and Marly are friends.” David fastened his eyes on the bar. “But then, I’m not sure I know any thing about Marly these days.”

Will was honestly shocked. “Your wife is an angel.”

David shrugged. “She is. But something’s bothering her, and she’s not sharing it with me.”

“Women have their secrets.”

“Not Marly. We’ve been together forever. I know her mind like I know my own.” He shook his head. “At least, I thought I did.”

“Could her friends help you?”

“I would have said no, that Marly confides everything in me, but…” He sighed. “I could ask Fiona, I guess.”

“What about talking to Jordan?”

David snorted. “She’s the last person I’d take advice from when it comes to human relationships.”

Again, Will couldn’t argue.

“I mean, she’s sexy as hell, no question, and if you want a roll in the hay, I have no doubt she’s very talented. She always has a string of men ready to do the honors.”

Will frowned. “I thought she was a good friend. Your kids like her.”

David’s jaw flexed. “I used to like her fine, too, but lately I wonder about her influence. Maybe Marly’s regretting what she missed because we married so young and started having children right away. Jordan’s life probably looks very attractive to her, no responsibilities, nothing to tie her down.”

“I wonder. I have a sense that Jordan might be lonely.”

A bark of laughter. “Jordan? Get real.” David glanced in the mirror behind the bar, and his brow wrinkled. “Speak of the devil…she does get around, doesn’t she?”

Will followed his stare and spotted Jordan striding across to the bar on those long, long legs, her lithe figure showcased in a tight black pinstriped skirt and severely tailored red silk blouse. Work clothes, he supposed, but with the addition of red stilettos, she looked anything but buttoned-up.

She was quickly welcomed by the bartender and offered a stool by one of the regulars. She gave each man around her a smile that seemed genuine, bantering with them and making every man near her vie for her attention. Man-eater was not the right description for her; Jordan Parrish was a siren, yes, but with a surprising dash of friendly chum mixed in. In no time she had her audience eating from her hand.

“I’d better shove off.” David signaled the bartender to bring his check. “I’ll be late for Joseph’s game if I don’t get cracking.”

Just then Jordan glanced into the mirror, and her gaze fastened on Will’s. He felt a visceral and very unwelcome punch, but he carefully kept his face neutral and merely lifted his beer in salute.

She arched one eyebrow, then pointedly turned away.

Friendly perhaps, but not to him. And didn’t that just stir the competitor in him?

David rose and clapped his hand on Will’s shoulder. “Look, I didn’t mean to talk out of school about Marly. We’ll be fine.”

Will jolted and blinked. “I imagine you will. You’re not a stupid man, and your lady is a queen among women.”

David grinned. “That she is.” Then he followed Will’s gaze and frowned. “I wouldn’t, my friend.”

“Wouldn’t what?” Will dissembled.

David shook his head. “Your funeral. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Will touched his forehead in salute. “Forewarned is forearmed.”

“You’d need some serious armor with that one. Well, see you.” He turned away, then back. “Oh—I’m supposed to find out if you’ll be around for Christmas.”

“That’s family time,” Will responded.

“Are you going home to Ireland?”

“No, not this year. One of my sisters is having a baby in January, so I’ll see them then.”

“Then come be with us. As you might have noticed, Marly has a generous definition of family. You won’t be the only non-Preston in attendance, I assure you.” He winked. “Jordan will probably be there, if you feel like living dangerously.”

“Does she have no family?”

“In name only. Parents are divorced, live on opposite coasts. They specialize in using Jordan as ammunition against each other. She’s usually with us on holidays.” David waved to him. “See you in the morning.”

Will nodded absently. There might be the explanation for Jordan’s behavior. Not that it was any concern of his. He should head out, as well. There was Sheetrock calling his name.

But just then he noticed Jordan on the small dance floor, smiling and flirting outrageously with her current partner.

Will pondered holding Sheetrock…or holding Jordan.

No contest. At any rate, one more encounter with her would surely cure him of this curious fascination. He threw some money down on the bar, and headed her direction.

As he approached, she glanced over her shoulder, then quickly turned her back on him, redoubling her attention on her partner, putting a dangerous sway in those slim h*ps he wouldn’t mind getting his hands on.

She’s a man-eater. Discards men like tissues.

Hadn’t he had his own taste of her sharp tongue? Indeed, but suddenly Will found himself smiling. She was bad tempered and difficult, but didn’t that add to the challenge she presented? His perfect woman hadn’t yet made her appearance, and while he was patiently waiting, maybe he would unlock the puzzle of Jordan Parrish. It wasn’t as though his heart would get involved, after all. He was saving that for the woman of his dreams.

Meanwhile, two could play Ms. Parrish’s game.

When Jordan glanced over and narrowed her eyes at him as if to warn him off, he stifled the grin that threatened and instead walked right past her toward a woman sitting with her friends. This woman was definitely more his type with her generous curves and sweet face. “Would you care to dance?”

“Me? I, uh…” She glanced at her friends.

“Only the one dance. I swear my mum would tell you I’m just a wee bit stubborn but on the whole, quite harmless.”

“You’re Irish,” said one of her friends.

“You are, aren’t you?” The first woman smiled. “I love your accent.”

“Ah, but you’re the one with the lovely dulcet tones.”

Her friend grinned. “If you don’t want him, Sue Anne, I do.”

He smiled right back. “Perhaps you two ladies would also favor me with a dance.”

“I’m taken,” said one.

“I’m not,” said the second.

“Get in line,” said Sue Anne.

Will laughed and drew her out on the dance floor where they chatted easily and he never once spared a glance for Jordan.

At the end of that song, he escorted Sue Anne back and claimed her friend. The third woman said her boyfriend was out of town, so she wanted her turn, too.

“Oh, but I would never nip another man’s woman. My mum would tan my backside.”

“Drat,” sighed the woman. “A gentleman.”

This time Will had a more difficult time ignoring Jordan completely because she somehow wound up right next to them. When he glanced her way, she gave him her best come-hither look, then redoubled her efforts to charm her current dance partner, her movements sinuous and seductive. When the man’s hands slid around to grab the derriere Will had admired, he had to contain a glower.

“Uh-oh,” said his partner. “Lovers’ quarrel?”

“Not a bit.”

“She keeps watching you, you know, when you’re not looking.”

Will bit back a satisfied smile. “You don’t say.”

“Want me to go tell her she’s stupid for doing what ever it is that has you dancing with us instead of her?”

Will laughed heartily and was pleased to see Jordan’s head whip in his direction. “A friend of mine calls her a man-eater.”

The woman glanced over. “She looks like one. Sue Anne’s much nicer.”

“I’m sure. And much more my type.” Will sighed. “But there’s that stubborn part of me my mum would warn you about. I’ll play this hand out.”

“My advice? Get Sue Anne’s phone number first.”

Will chuckled. “Perhaps I shall.” The music stopped, and he escorted her back to their table, pausing long enough to visit for a few minutes, leaving with not one but two phone numbers even after Sue Anne’s friend told Sue Anne the score.

Will left them, debating simply leaving now.

The band began again, a slow, smoky tune, and he reversed course, snagging Jordan from her current companion. “My turn, mate.”

The man protested, but Will’s expression stopped him. He shrugged and moved off.

Jordan jerked in his grasp. “I didn’t say I wanted to dance with you.”

“Hush.” He drew her into him and began moving.

She remained stiff. “What, you want to give me another lecture?”

He merely held her more snugly against him. “Sh-h. I like this song.”

He saw the mutiny in her eyes along with the confusion. Bit by bit, though, she relented, and he smiled to himself, tucking her head into his shoulder and swinging them around so that she had no choice but to hang on to him.

Soon she quit resisting completely, then swiveled her h*ps against him in a blatant invitation Will badly—badly—wanted to pursue.

Instead, he whirled them again.

And began to sing to her.

Jordan lifted her head, a line forming between her eyebrows, and he could see her working up an argument.

But to his amazement, she subsided and simply danced, their bodies surprisingly attuned to each other. Once in a while, she’d look at him, baffled.

But she didn’t move away.

They danced that dance and two more before the band took a break, exchanging not one word the entire time.

As their bodies separated, Will could see her gearing up again to seduce him, to make him simply one of the many, so he seized the initiative to keep her off balance. “Good evening to you, Jordan. I’ll see you soon.” He kissed her knuckles when he wanted to kiss her beautiful mouth. “Would you be needing a ride home first?”

Her lips parted, her eyes at first confused, then anger reappeared. “Of course not. Anyway, the night’s barely begun.” She studied his reaction with a sideways glance.

I do believe I have your number, Ms. Parrish. “Tomorrow’s a work day,” he said blithely. “You’ll need your sleep.”

“Bed perhaps,” she all but purred. “I don’t need much sleep.”

He clamped down as every instinct he had prodded him to drag her out of there and seize what she so blatantly offered.