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it. That's all that
matters.'
    'You need to
get a few certificates for that don't you?'
    'Yes. I
studied by correspondence when the time arrived. My aunt didn’t know though.'
    'She sounds
like a witch of a woman.'
    Zoe laughed.
'I don't like speaking ill of anyone, but she wasn't a nice person.'
    'I can't
believe she didn't let you finish school.'
    'She had her
reasons and I compensated.'
    'You did a
great job.'
    'Thank you.'
She glanced at him. Jordan was so appealing it scared the life out of her. She
pulled her gaze from the dangerous undertow shadowing his eyes. There was
something about his eyes. The river blue changed with his moods and little
needles of fire purred low in her belly each time they made eye contact.
    She returned
her gaze to her coffee cup, picked it up and took a sip.
    'Have you had
a chance to report you're not missing?'
    Zoe thought
about it. 'Sort of. To the local constable. Um...I forget his name.'
    'Constable
Matthew Berry.'
    'Yes, that's
him. I went with him to the police station after meeting you and Jade. The
sergeant is away on holidays and the constable said I might have to go and make
a full statement when he returns. I don't want to make a statement. I've had
enough dramas in my life.' Zoe looked over her shoulder toward the road, and
back again.
    'But shouldn't
you tell them what happened to you?'
    'They know I'm
safe and not missing any more. That's all they need to know.'
    'Well here
goes, there's only one way to start this.'
    He appeared
hesitant. His jaw line hardened. Zoe drew in a slow breath as her anticipation
rose.
    'We knew each
other before you left here.'
    'How?'
    'We went to
the same school, and we used to sort of hang out together. You were thirteen
and I was fifteen.'
    'And?'
    'This is
difficult to say, but there's no way around it. Do you mind if I take your
hand?'
    She frowned,
but held out her hand. 'Go on. What have you got planned?'
     
    'It's not
planned.' He took her hand, and his mind swung back to when they were kids. He'd
dreamt of this moment. His heart was killing him. The pressure was
unbelievable.
    'We kissed
once, but that's all.'
    She raised her
eyebrows. 'What was it like?' She grinned, a cheeky playful grin that had his
heart of the verge of busting through his chest. 'Well, sweet, nice, not so
nice, hot, longing, not long enough.'
    He chuckled.
'It sounds weird doesn't it?'
    Zoe laughed.
'Just a tad.'
    'There's no
way around it. It was a knock out.'
    He edged
closer, and slipped a hand around her waist. She glanced up at him but before
he could say any more, his lips were over hers. The sensuality of warmth,
softness, and pure female enticed his mind to soar, while parts of his anatomy
filled with heat.
    The kiss
continued, long, breathless and fulfilling. Jordan broke from the kiss and
their gaze locked for several heart-stopping seconds. Her glassy eyes sparkled
like early morning dew over green grass. God, she was so feminine. Yet earlier
he would have believed she didn't hold a feminine bone in her body by the way she
lifted the cleaning equipment from her ute, but the curves under her jeans gave
her away.
    'Well, how do
I rate in your books now?' she said on a whisper.
    'You have
always rated tops, Zoe. Always.'
    His arm
remained around her waist, and somehow her legs ended up over his, resting
close against his stomach.
    'You have
answers, don't you?' She kinked an eyebrow.
    'Yeah, some.
They're hard to explain.'
    'If it's too
difficult for you to talk about, don't. I can find out from the local police,
the sergeant when he returns.'
    Jordan didn't
know if that was a good idea or not, as his heart continued to pound in the
after effects of their kiss. He'd loved the girl, and here she was a woman, one
he wanted to get to know much more deeply. 'I could fill you in a bit at a
time.'
    'Sounds good.'
She smiled and god she'd knock him off his feet if he were standing.
    'Could we take
it slow?'
    Zoe grinned.
'Isn't it the woman who wants to take it slow?