Page 3 of Last First Kiss

“We love our short kings.” She winks at him.

Jordan’s brows raise. HethinksJess is flirting. But maybe she’s just being extra playful? He’s not sure how to respond.

Thankfully, he doesn’t have to.

The waitstaff swoops in with their food. It’s a quick and efficient process.

Over a steaming bowl of pasta, Jordan watches Asa, the Last Pour’s sommelier, refill Jess’s glass. He takes another slow swig of his own drink, then says, “Are you an NBA fan?”

“Born and raised,” Jess says. “Who’s your favorite team?”

“Golden State.”

She frowns half-heartedly. “Oof. That’s a deal-breaker for me.”

“Don’t tell me you’re a Kings fan?”

“I wouldn’t dare! I’m a Chicago girl, all the way.” Jess leans over her plate. “What can I say? Ilikemy Jordans.”

Her tongue glides slowly across shimmery pink lips. Jordan almost chokes. Vodka burns at the back of his throat.

He blinks away the sudden tears. “Who’s your, um… favorite WNBA team?”

“The Aces.”

“A woman of taste,” Jordan comments.

“I’d like to think so.” The toe of her beige heel skims the inside of his ankle.

Jordan nonchalantly shifts his feet the other way. “What about work?”

“Uh-oh.” She laughs again. “Are we at the ‘let’s talk about our jobs’ portion of the date?”

“Should we skip it?” Jordan offers. He has a catalogue of other topics memorized.

Jess shrugs. “Not unless you want to skip right to the ‘past relationships’ conversation.”

He’d prefer not to. His last—his only—full-blown relationship was in high school.

“Let’s save that for the second date,” he suggests, taking in the way one side of Jess’s mouth lifts approvingly at his boldness.

“My job’s pretty boring,” she tells him.

“I doubt that.”

“You’re right,” Jess says. As if she was testing him. As if she wanted to see if he was going to make tonight all about him.

Highly unlikely. Jordan’s a professional at first dates. After that?

Well…

“But I’m never in the news for what I do.” She points her fork at him. Pasta hangs off the end. “Or trending on social media.”

And there it is.

Jordan expected this. For most of his twenty-five years, at least one conversation he’s had with someone new has revolvedaround 24 Carter Gold, the luxe event-planning company he now works for. Specifically,whoowns the company—his family.

Admittedly, he doesn’t have it as bad as his cousins. His uncle Kenneth is the one who founded the business. He’s been on more magazine covers, morning news shows, and red carpets than most B-list celebrities.