Because he loved her.
With a cooler head, and without the issue of possible paternity clouding his judgment, he acknowledged that, given her past experience with men, Sera might easily have felt betrayed by his not initially sharing certain allegations with her. Instead, she’d found out the story from a paparazzo.
He was not that much better than Neil, whoever he was. And wherever the other guy was, Jordan wanted to plant his fist in his face.
Jordan figured his own playboy past hadn’t helped him in gaining Sera’s trust. He hadn’t even remembered their spring-break encounter at the beach, though she definitely had. But he wasn’t the same guy he’d been in his twenties or at the beginning of his relationship with Sera—or even a few weeks ago when he’d been brushing off Marc Bellitti’s teasing at the Puck & Shoot.
He’d closed himself off from deep involvement—wanting to have fun at the height of his fame and fortune. But Sera was different. She’d challenged him and made him think about the man he was behind the facade of the well-known professional athlete—until his only choice had been to kiss her and fall all the way in love with her.
Crap. His long-standing rule of keeping to casual relationships hadn’t protected him—from a gold digger, a paternity claim or anything else. And now, with Sera, he hadn’t just broken his rule, he’d exploded it with dynamite. By falling in love with a woman who currently wanted nothing to do with him.
He had to do something about that.
* * *
The Puck & Shoot was familiar territory, so it was ridiculous to be tense. She knew that booth two had a rip in its seat cushion and that table four had a chip on its corner. She’d been here a million times.
Except she’d agreed to help out Angus again—and Jordan Serenghetti had just parked himself at table four. Alone.
He looked healthier and stronger than ever. Firm jaw, perfect profile, dark hair that she’d run her fingers through while moaning with desire...
Damn it.
She’d underestimated the power of his appeal. The time that they’d spent apart had either dulled her memory or whetted her appetite.
Still, she tried to draw strength from the crowded environment. At least they weren’t completely by themselves.
Sure, she’d been doing some thinking since that night at the movie theater, but seeing him here now was sudden and she wasn’t prepared. She expected him to be keeping a low profile with the gossip in the press, and Angus had assured her that he hadn’t seen Jordan in a while.
Jordan turned, and his gaze locked with hers.
Steeling herself, notepad at the ready, she approached. “Are you ready to order?”
Her voice sounded rusty to her own ears. This was beyond awkward. Only the fact that she had a job to do kept her moving forward. When they’d parted, accusations had flown and feelings had been hurt. She’d nursed a bruised heart.
“Sera.”
Not Angel. Why was he sitting alone when a few of his teammates were at the bar? “What do you want?”
The words fell between them, full of meaning. Then recovering, she nodded at the menu.
“I want to explain.”
Flustered, she looked around them. “This isn’t the time or place.”
“It’s beyond time, and it’s the perfect place.” One side of his mouth lifted in a smile. “And unless you conk me on the head with a menu, I’m in great shape.”
She perused him. Unfortunately for her, he was as attractive as ever. Square jaw, laughing eyes, hot body. And Bernice had mentioned that he was continuing to recover well—though Sera had made a point of not asking.
“Fortunately for you,” she sniffed, “I’d hate for my hard work in whipping you into shape to be undone.”
Jordan laughed, and Sera crossed her arms.
“You have made me better,” he said softly. “In more ways than one.”
Sera swallowed and dropped her arms. Ugh. He could make her mad one minute and want to cry the next.
She glanced around, making sure they weren’t drawing attention. “I wish you the best of luck sorting things out with...” She didn’t know what to say. Your baby mama? Ex-lover? Former one-night stand?