A Better Man by Candis Terry Page B

tanding on the front porch of Lucy Diamond’s little two-­story Victorian cottage, Jordan realized he might be overstepping his bounds. Well, there was really no might in it. He was definitely breaking boundaries. She’d given him her phone number, not her address. He’d taken it upon himself to find out where she lived. He hoped she wouldn’t see him as a stalker. Then again, that’s exactly what he’d think, so he could hardly fault her if she did.
    The soft glow of the porch light provided enough illumination to see the surrounding rosebushes and the blue trim on the door frame and windowsills. A clean white picket fence bordered the yard. And from the large tree, an old wooden swing swayed in the gentle breeze, which made him wonder if Lucy had kids.
    He hadn’t thought of that.
    The house was the kind of place one would picture in a fairy tale, and it didn’t exactly fit Lucy’s straitlaced-­teacher, kickboxing-­tough-­girl image at all.
    Night had fallen hours ago and the air was crisp and cool as he knocked on the door. It took a minute, but then from behind the barrier, he heard the sound of scuffing footsteps approach. A long pause hinted that she might be peering at him through the peephole. Finally the door op ened.
    â€œJordan. What are you doing h ere?”
    The response tangled on his tongue as he looked her up and down.
    Lucy was dressed in a pair of baggy plaid pajama bottoms and a white tank top with straps so thin they looked like spaghetti noodles. By the sheerness of the fabric and the dusky hint of her nipples showing through, he knew she didn’t have on a bra.
    Not that he mi nded.
    Her hair was still pulled up in that sexy, messy bun on top of her head. Her dark framed glasses had slipped partway down her straight nose. And she wore a pair of fuzzy slippers on her feet. She held an open paperback book in her hand, and from somewhere in the house the sultry beat of JT’s “What Goes Around” pl ayed.
    â€œHel -­lo?”
    He dragged his gaze up from her black and yellow bumblebee slippers. “ Huh?”
    â€œI asked what you’re doing here.” The book in her hand snapped shut—­a romance judging by the couple kissing on the front cover—­and yanked his attention back to where it should be. “And how did you know where I live any way?”
    â€œWhich one do you want me to answer fi rst?”
    She sighed, and he realized that for the most part, the females in his life seemed to constantly be frustrated with him.
    â€œCuriosity begs to know all of the above,” she said.
    Before she could close the door on him, he made the quickest, most ridiculous, and most desperate move of all time. He stuck his foot in the door. “I have something really important to tell you. And Goo gle.”
    â€œPeople were so much safer before the age of the Internet.” She shook her head. “And this ‘something really important’ is . .  . ?”
    â€œYou’re trying not to smile.” He pointed at her luscious lips. “I can t ell.”
    â€œYes, well, we all have our mome nts.”
    â€œMind if I come in?”
    â€œIt’s late. This can’t wait until tomor row?”
    â€œYes, it’s late. Yes, I shouldn’t have just appeared on your doorstep. Yes, you should slam the door in my face.” He took a breath. “But I hope you wo n’t.”
    At that moment the gods of mercy took pity on him when a golden retriever ambled to the door. Jordan grabbed the opportu nity.
    â€œHey. Nice dog.” He moved past Lucy into the house, where the dog swept his tail from side to side. Jordan leaned down and gave the dog a nice rub over the top of his large head. “What’s his n ame?”
    â€œZiggy. I’m thinking of getting a second dog.” Lucy closed the front door. “Probably a German shepherd or something with sharp teeth and