He made a single slow nod of now it makes sense. “There’s chemistry in everything,” he said, still holding her gaze. Yes, there was no mistaking he had heard her one-sided conversation with Josh.
“Jordan and Luke’s mother was a teacher in your school,” Connie chimed in, addressing Hope.
“Yes, Libby told me,” Hope said, glad to have someone else to avert her gaze to.
“Riviera View’s school … Can’t say I miss it. It wasn’t fun being a teacher’s son.”
Hope had to revert her eyes back to him. “My daughters go there.”
She noticed his gaze drop to her left hand that was void of a wedding ring. He then looked back up at her.
“There’s someone here you know,” he said. “Avery Miles, she’s the vice principal there, I believe.”
“Yes, we met.” She had been surprised to come across Avery at the wedding and found out through Libby that Luke’s mom had kept in touch with the school after her retirement. The few words she had exchanged with Avery had been mostly her answering Avery’s questions as to how she knew the bride and groom and about the school’s summer program, which Hope was teaching in for extra income while Avery and others were on summer break.
“Didn’t you use to go out with her, Jordan?” Connie asked with a playful grin. “You seemed to be surrounded by all the pretty girls from your class back then.”
Jordan just smirked again. “Connie, it was wonderful meeting you again. I hope we get to see a lot more of you all. Don’t forget to tell Gabe hi for me.”
Hope hoped that her surprise at Connie’s question wasn’t written all over her face, especially since Jordan seemed to have deflected answering it.
“I sure will. Take care, Jordan. I hope you stop by Riviera View.”
“You bet. Unlike Wayford, Riviera View has a pulse. I miss it.” He nodded once with a smile toward her and David then left.
She watched his broad back as he walked away.
“He hasn’t changed,” Connie remarked to David as they turned to leave. “He’s always been charming and had a way with words. I wasn’t surprised he became involved in politics.”
“He’s a politician?” David asked, hooking Connie’s elbow in his.
“A political advisor. He works with them, but it rubs off on you, you know?”
A way with words. No wonder her incoherent mumbles to Josh had amused him. He was used to the sleek and smooth, to those who made speeches for a living.
“From what I could see, if he got it from anyone, it’s from his father,” David commented dryly. “The rest of them seem very down to earth.”
“Could be. Joe Delaney has always been a bit of a stuck-up, but his wife and kids aren’t. Gabe was friends with Jordan and liked him,” Connie replied.
They were just exiting the well-kempt garden out to the street. “I wonder if they employ someone to keep it this way. Patty used to have a little herb garden when they lived next to us. It was nothing this grand. Our kids were small, the houses were small. It’s so strange to see her living out in Wayford.”
“Being a stuck-up paid off for Joe.” David laughed.
“As long as he’s nice to my Libby …” Connie remarked.
Hope looked around as they climbed into the car, wondering which of the elements in the periodic table Jordan Delaney resembled the most. She detected some detached outer shell that wouldn’t bond with other elements. On the other hand, he seemed capable of creating explosions, even with the slightest contact, if her reaction to him was any indication.