Finding Love /Jordan Knight FanFic/NKOTB

XI

Jordan

IT'S WEIRD TO have a girl here in my condo. Other than my mother and sister, Caroline's the first one. Granted, I've only lived here for a year, so that's not a lot of time to make a ton of memories, but still, no matter where I am, I have strict rules about not bringing dates home. From the very first day I walked onto the field at Syracuse, I've been warned and heard enough stories to know that nothing good can come from women knowing where you live. It creates extra drama, and quite frankly, there's the issue of security. 

But, after this morning, it's security that I'm wanting for her. I don't know why that guy thought it would be okay to come over and walk into her home the morning after our wedding, but hearing her father had the same plan was all I needed to suggest leaving. 

I understand they don't know me and aren't happy with how things went down, but to have such a complete lack of respect for her boundaries—and hell, even mine—means the answer is no and always will be no. We do not need that in our lives, period. 

I've just given Caroline a tour of the rest of the condo and showed her which room will be hers when the front door opens, slams against the wall, and in rushes Zeus. Large black paws thunder against the ground and a floppy tongue heads straight for me—that is, until he sees Caroline and changes his course, sliding across the hardwood floor. 

"Jordan," she yells while backing up, eyes big and frantically looking for an exit plan. 

"Zeus, no!" I command, but it doesn't matter. The seventy-pound fur ball leaps into the air, slams into Caroline's chest, and they both go flying backward. She ducks her head and rolls into the fetal position to keep from being trampled. 

"Oh my God! I'm so sorry." Jack and I both move at the same time. He runs over and grabs Zeus by the collar as he drowns Caroline in slobbery kisses. Giggles and squeals peal out from under him as I bend down and pick her up. The dog is almost as big as she is. 

"It's okay, no worries." She laughs, wiping her face off before moving to scratch behind his ears. His tail thumps hard on the floor, and I swear the dog is smiling at her. 

"Dude, what are you doing here?" I shake my head and give him a look that straight up tells him I'm pissed. 

"Zeus heard you come in and wanted to say hi." He shrugs his shoulders then narrows his eyes, as if to say, What the hell is going on? I ignore him and instead glare at the dog, who really does look happy to see me. The fury coursing through me recedes, and I squat down so Zeus can pad over and get some love. 

Jack and I have always had an open door policy, but now that she's here, it needs to be amended. "Whatever. Caroline, this is Jack." I stand and wave at him. "Jack, Caroline." 

She steps forward and holds out her hand. "Hi. It's nice to meet you." 

He looks at her hand, chuckles, and then pulls her into a giant hug as he plants a huge kiss on her cheek. She again squeals and I abruptly move to pull her out of his arms and into mine. She feels so small up next to me, so foreign. Not only do I not bring girls home, I never cuddle with them either, not in private or in public. It gives them the wrong impression, but with Caroline, it's different. She is different. 

"What the hell." I glare at him. 

"Just showing the lady here where Zeus gets it from." He grins and she smiles back, one of her real smiles, not the stiff socialite expression. 

"Well, stop. Not cool." I rub my free hand across my hip to shake off some of the uneasiness I just felt. All of this is pushing my senses into overdrive, and I feel out of control. We may have played the part yesterday and slept together last night, but touching her is not something I'm used to, and yet I can't seem to stop.