Page 22 of The Keeper and I

“Coming right up!”

She scribbled Laci’s name across a cup and got started. Jordan drummed his fingers along the side of his cup, willing Laci to look his way. When she did, he took a deep breath. Had she gotten prettier since he saw her the night before? Maybe it was because she was no longer wearing a fucking Chelsea shirt.

“Jordan, hi,” she said sweetly, making her way over to his table.

He stood up as she approached and cleared his throat. “Hey.”

“Thanks for coming,” she said. “You’re awfully kind.”

“I dunno about that,” he replied, dropping his gaze to the table as they sat, hoping she didn’t notice his cheeks had warmed.

“I do. You’ve been more than accommodating about a situation that is not your fault, and I’m afraid I’ve got to ask even more of you.”

He looked up, meeting her eyes again. “Have you?”

She nodded, her lips tightening into a grim line. “I, uh…this might sound completely mad, but—the whole pretending to be my boyfriend thing…would you mind maybe—carrying it on?”

He drew in a deep breath. Did he mind? Not at all. Did it worry him? Abso-fucking-lutely. This was a one-way ticket to Hurt Feelings Station, and that wasn’t a train he was eager to board.

She must have sensed his hesitation because she said, “It would only be for a few months. I’m leaving for the States in the summer, so we’d only need to pretend until then.”

As it was early October, that left the winter and spring to get through. That was a lot of time to pretend. Not that it would be pretend in Jordan’s case, but he couldn’t exactly tell her that. Though he hardly felt he could refuse, especially with the way she was looking at him, all soft desperation behind her baby blues.

“I know it seems—drastic, I suppose,” she went on. “But, this Dane person is becoming more and more persistent. He knows where I live, and I’m not too proud to admit that I’m a bit frightened.”

“He what?” Jordan shook his head. “How’d he find out where you live?”

“He followed us after the pub,” she explained, glancing at her hands. “I had no idea, but when we didn’t kiss goodnight or anything, he made it clear he wasn’t convinced, not by the photo after the match either.”

“I see.”

This seemed like a lot to try and convince one person, but Jordanwasconcerned that Dane knew where Laci lived. There was no way that would end well, especially if she dealt with it alone. Plus, the arrangement would be temporary. Maybe with an end in sight, he would be able to keep his feelings in check. But even so…

His thoughts were interrupted when the manager appeared at the table, which Jordan gleaned because he was dressed in a button-down instead of an apron, but it still had the shop’s logo on the chest with his name, Kenny, stitched underneath. He set Laci’s coffee in front of her and then began gesturing at her. Jordan’s brow furrowed though Laci did not appear confused at all. She was smiling.

“Thank you,” she said while also motioning with her hands. Jordan connected the dots—it was sign language. Laci continued, “I’m so happy everything went well. And your wife is feeling alright?”

Kenny nodded and signed some more.

“That’s lovely,” Laci replied. “Congratulations to you both.”

Kenny made the thank you sign in return, then he nodded, patted Laci’s shoulder, and went to help the barista behind the counter.

“You know sign language?” Jordan questioned, amazed.

“Yeah, the whole family learned it when we realized Tate—the brother you didn’t meet—was deaf,” she said, and she sipped the latte with a satisfied hum. “That’s why I get my coffee here. The whole staff is fluent in sign language. Kenny’s hugely generous to the deaf community, so I bring him business whenever I can. Plus, he and his wife just had their first baby, so they need all the help they can get.”

Jordan wondered if it was possible for someone’s heart to turn to mush and flutter at the same time because he was certain that’s what his was doing. This woman was not only stunning but kind as well? Kind enough to patronize a coffee shop purely out of love for her brother and a desire to help a community. How could he turn her down in her hour of need?

“So—what’s with the service?” he asked.

“Oh, the card and all that?” she clarified, and he nodded. “His wife’s American. He loves how they do customer service over there.”

“That explains it.”

Before she could respond Kenny came back over, talked to Laci again, but this time he pointed to Jordan.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, I should have introduced you,” Laci said, getting to her feet, and Jordan joined her. “Jordan, this is Kenny.” They shook hands. “Kenny, this is Jordan. He’s my…”