First Love by C.J. Harte Page B

to both of us.”
    “Okay, let’s watch again. No winks. Not even non-boyfriend Brandan gets a wink.”
    Drew reluctantly admitted Jordan didn’t wink at anyone else. “But she may have just blinked. It may not be a wink. She could have had something in her eye.”
    “Mmhmm. She definitely had you in her eye.”
    “You’re determined to not survive medical school, aren’t you?”
    Mark acted surprised. “Whatever can you mean?”
    “I mean you won’t live through tonight if you don’t drop the editorial comments.”
    Mark grinned and quickly changed the subject. Primarily because Jordan was again walking up to them.
     
    *
     
    “Sorry. I wanted to check on the rest of the guests. Can I get you anything?” She tried to include them both, but she could only look at Drew. Drew caused goose bumps, nice goose bumps.
    “Jordan, we’re fine,” Drew said, then smiled. “Just sit down. If I need anything I can get it.”
    “Really, I don’t mind.”
    “Please sit.”
    Being around Drew was disconcerting. Jordan was still stunned that she had winked at her. She wasn’t ready to call it flirting, but she knew she was acting strangely. When Drew’s lips grazed her finger as she fed her, Jordan experienced a tingling that quickly spread through her body. It was part of the reason she needed to walk away. These feelings were so foreign to her. Jordan needed to put space between them.
    Out of the corner of her eye, she had watched Drew and Mark as she walked around. They were watching her. No, Drew was watching her. She could feel Drew’s gaze as surely as if it was a touch.
    She sat down and talked with Drew. Drew’s eyes were so expressive. They held her captive. Her hands were in constant motion when she talked. Jordan loved the way they danced through the air, like punctuation marks. Drew leaned back in her chair and stretched those long, jean-clad legs. Jordan found swallowing difficult.
     
    *
     
    Drew watched a range of emotions dance across Jordan’s face. Her eyes dance when she smiles. Drew mentally stepped back. Those thoughts were way too personal! “How about if I get you something to drink?” Drew needed to create distance—emotional and physical—between them. She couldn’t think with Jordan so close.
    A hand on her arm stopped further thoughts. She stared down at Jordan’s hand.
    “I’m fine. I’d like to just sit and talk with you.”
    Jordan’s hand burned on her skin. She was sure there would be a permanent imprint.
    “And Mark.”
    Drew tried to swallow, but it was useless. Jordan was unsettling, and she needed to run. As fast and as far as she could. Keeping things business was becoming more and more difficult. Too many other thoughts, and feelings, were eroding her good intentions. “I’ll grab some drinks and be right back.”
    By the time she returned, Drew had her emotions under control. “I wish you had told me about your birthday.”
    “I just wanted to have an informal, small”—Jordan put her air quotes around the word—“gathering where I could get to know you, and Mark, better.”
    Drew watched the flush creep up Jordan’s neck and finally encompass her face. She’s embarrassed. Why? “Maybe we can get together for dinner later this term.”
    “When’s your birthday?”
    “May twenty-fifth. Why are you grinning?”
    “I was just wondering what kind of cake to make for your birthday.”
    It took every ounce of her western good manners to not jump up and run. There was something in the way Jordan looked at her that was much too tantalizing.
     
    *
     
    When they were back at the apartment, Mark offered a truce. “Okay, I won’t say anything, unless it’s ‘I told you so.’” Drew threw a book across the room but missed him by several feet. “Oh, honey, I didn’t know you had such poor aim.” Mark turned to walk into the kitchen but was stopped by a much more accurate loaf of bread.
    “Believe me, I hit what I aim at.”

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