Page 33 of The Best Man: Unfinished Business

Chapter Sixteen

Jordan

Jordan took a deep breath as she swapped places with the parking lot valet, stepping out of her car and tugging down her dress so it once again grazed her knees.

Nobu always looked stunning at night, even from here—the carefully placed lights illuminated the beige stone building like a modern palace set right on the Malibu coastline.

She walked quickly. The breeze off the ocean was full of moisture and nothing about her appearance was up for compromise.

Jordan knew she looked great and confirmed it in her own reflection in the glass pane of the large wooden door.

Cleavage sitting high, saying hello but not too much, figure and frame set, all curves and shoulders.

Her hair was cascading waves of glossy ebony strands, opening elegantly to reveal her subtly accentuated features. She was ready.

“Armstrong, party of two,” she said to the slightly distracted hostess.

The restaurant was full, bustling both inside and on the generous outside balcony.

She’d beat the reservation time by a full twenty minutes and was going to need a drink, at least to settle the fluttering in her belly.

Why am I nervous? It’s just Harper, she thought.

But just Harper? Was there any such thing?

“Lead with your pussy,” Shelby had told her.

Every time she thought about it, she had to laugh.

I’ll lead with my pussy when I’m good and damn ready.

It felt good to be in control, with her vagina tightly wrapped up in satin fabric and willpower.

Jordan followed the hostess’s directions to the adjacent bar, walking with enough intention to notice the various sets of eyes that followed her.

The attention was confirmation she’d come dressed to slay, on the outside at least. This damn panty line, she remembered; the only hitch in an otherwise flawless appearance, but the insurance she needed to not get carried away.

It was the parking brake to keep her pussy from rolling down the hill and crashing right into disaster dick.

At the bar, Jordan stood for only a split second, inhaling the salt air in the open room, appreciating the colorful décor and the ultra-premium bar with elaborate tequila bottles that looked like a row of blown-glass sculptures and probably cost just as much.

“My table is ready. Would you like my seat?” Jordan’s attention was brought to a once-occupied barstool and the gentleman now standing in front of it, all typical Malibu casual.

His arm was placed gently on the waist of a silent waiflike blonde, in high heels and enough makeup to signal who was in charge.

Tonight, I’m in charge, Jordan thought. She decided to take the seat and promptly a handsome bartender appeared with flirtatious eyes and a warm welcoming smile.

“What can I make for you?” he asked. He’s extra, Jordan thought, but appreciated the attention.

“I’ll have a sidecar.”

“Hennessy?”

Hell no, Jordan thought. Not tonight. “I’ll take the Rémy.”

“Sugared rim?” By now the bartender was smiling at her slyly, like he was offering her more than a drink.

“I’ll pass on that, just straight up.”

“You got it…gorgeous.” He winked and busied himself with making her cocktail.

Jordan stiffened at the compliment, a sure sign that she was still far too uptight for what the night called for.

The bartender was cute. Not her usual type, as she’d mainly been focused on the brothas lately, but he was brown.

Asian, she thought. Maybe Filipino. Interesting.

Loosen up, Jordan, she reminded herself and made an extra effort at smiling when her drink arrived.

She’d need a big swig of it if she was going to keep herself cool, calm, and under control while waiting for Harper.

“Cheers,” she offered, tipping her glass to the bartender.

“Enjoy,” he returned, with that same smile. Sexy, for sure. And the first sip confirmed he knew what he was doing. “Let me know how you like it,” he said.

That first sip was delicious. The burn of the cognac met her nose even before the first wave of sweet citrus hit her palate. He’d balanced it just right, the way she loved it, and her eyes closed in enjoyment and delight. “Mmmmm…it’s…delicious,” she granted.

“Damn, I’d like to be that drink.”

Jordan froze. She’d know that voice anywhere.

And all at once, time stood still. No more buzzing din of the bar patrons all around her in their empty conversations.

No more sound of the ocean outside. No more clinking glasses.

Just the sound of her heartbeat in her ears, the woosh of her breathing deep, and the long exhale leaving her body. And…Harper. He’s here.

Jordan took her time turning slowly on the stool, smiling now, because at her very core she was happy to see him, to have him close.

And too happy perhaps, because… damn. Damn, this man looked good.

For a moment, all familiarity was lost as Jordan took in the sight of him, standing there in his dark turtleneck and buttery brown skin, just a hint of low scruff on his face, smiling at her with those midnight eyes and perfect teeth.

Yes, this was her friend, and still, this man was fine, undeniablyso.

“Heyyyy.” Jordan opened her arms to take him in.

And of course, Harper came in at a strange angle and made the embrace awkward and slightly sideways.

The side of her face wound up on his chest, or rather, against the muscles of his chest, and as she gripped his arms, she felt how solid he was, how carved.

As she pulled herself away, reluctantly for sure, he came toward her and laid his lips softly on her cheek.

He smells good as hell, she thought as his sandalwood scent wafted toward her in the wake of his movement.

“What’s up, stranger?” Harper teased with an extra glint in his eye. He stood back while still grasping her shoulder to take her in. “You look… fantastic. California is treating you well.”

Jordan’s first reply was a reflexive look of side-eye at the “stranger” comment, but then she remembered the mission.

Lead with your pussy was starting to take on new meaning, and she had no intention of friend-zoning this experience.

Hell no. And the way he was taking her in, his lingering glances she caught, made her swallow the sarcasm and respond with flirtation.

“You think so?” she said, and capped it off with a sexy smile. “Thanks.”

“You look amazing.” His eyes definitely ran across her cleavage and back to her face before gesturing to her cocktail. “What you drinkin’? Wait, sidecar, right?”

“You know that’s my shit, Harper.” Jordan turned to retrieve her drink from the bar. “Want one?”

“Nah,” he replied casually, signaling the bartender. “Sable on the rocks, one cherry please?” he ordered.

Jordan leaned her back against the bar then and looked at Harper seductively over the rim of her glass.

She sipped her drink again, looking for a recharge of liquid courage against her suddenly active nerves.

What the fuck? she wondered. Why in the hell am I nervous?

It’s just Harper. Keep it business for now, Jordan, she reminded herself so she could at least try.

“So, what brings you to LA?” she asked. “Book signing?”

“Yep.” Harper retrieved his drink from the bartender. “Cheers.” He positioned his glass to clink against her own. “Paperback release of Pieces of Us. It was a good crowd over at the Grove.” He looked directly at her.

“Yeah, sorry I couldn’t make it.”

“I understand.” Harper shifted, leaning on the bar next to her despite the open seat.

The proximity was unnerving. She felt herself watching too closely every time he brought the glass to meet his mouth.

Every time the caramel liquid passed between his lips.

Seeing the moistening of his skin…the hint of his teeth, she wondered what it would be like to kiss him…

“I’m just glad I’m seeing you now,” Harper said, penetrating her thoughts.

“Oh…yeah…of course. I’m glad too…that we were able to make this work. And you had a studio meeting too, right? For the Unfinished Business sequel?”

Harper sighed and wet his lips again with a sip of his Sable.

Jordan focused on every drop of glistening moisture as his mouth moved to reply.

“Yeah, that was good. I had been struggling with that pitch, trying to find the right direction for it. But they liked what I had to say, so I feel a lot better about it.”

“That’s exciting.”

“Yeah, I guess…Yeah, it is exciting.”

Jordan perked up. “What’s that pause?”

Harper seemed surprised that she noticed.

But of course, she noticed. After thirty years, she had him memorized.

“Oh, I, um, I just wanted to think about how I really feel, rather than just give a stock answer,” he said.

“I’ve been doing that a lot lately. It feels good to just be real with someone… with you.”

With me? Jordan wondered. You want to be real withme?