Joanna Sims – A Match Made in Montana (страница 3)
Josephine hugged Ian; it made her feel really good that Jordan had found her perfect match in Ian Sterling. She had never seen two people as crazy for each other as they were.
“And who’s your friend?” Jordan had finally managed, after nearly a year of trying, to convince Ian to get a service dog.
“Shadow.” Ian rested his hand proudly on the dog’s head.
“Is it okay if I pet him?”
“At ease, Shadow,” Ian commanded gently.
Shadow’s body language changed on the command and he started to wag his tail.
“Shake, Shadow.” Ian gave the Lab a second command.
Shadow immediately extended his right paw to her. Josephine took the paw, smiled, and gave it a shake.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Shadow.”
Josephine had already set up her computer and unloaded her books in the short time it took for her sister to appear. Jordan plopped down next to her fiancé, tucked her long legs to the side of her body, and frowned at her.
“I hope it’s not going to be like this our entire trip, Jo,” Jordan complained.
“I’m not going to spend all of my time studying, but I can’t just pretend like I’m not in school for two months. The third year is a make-it-or-break-it year. That’s when they really try to thin out the herd.”
“You always say that about everything and then you always end up on top.” Jordan rolled her eyes.
“Quit bugging her about it.” Ian put his arm around Jordan’s shoulder and pulled her tightly to his side. “Not everyone waits to the last minute to get things done like you do, beautiful.”
Josephine smiled triumphantly at Jordan. She finished arranging her collection of items in an orderly and precise way: a book stand held a thick constitutional law book upright, her laptop and tablet were both charging, three differently colored highlighter pens were situated in a perfectly even row.
“There...” She surveyed her work. “This is perfect.”
“I need a drink.” Jordan stood up. “Anyone care to join me?”
“I’m good.” Josephine sat down in the large recliner and used the controls to adjust it perfectly to her body. “Shouldn’t we be getting ready to take off soon?”
“We’ll leave as soon as our fourth arrives,” Ian told her.
Josephine glanced at her sister. “Didn’t Jordy tell you that Brice couldn’t make it?”
“I told him.” Jordan poured herself a scotch on the rocks.
“Then who are we waiting for?” she asked.
“My best man is catching a ride with us,” Ian explained.
Josephine turned the swiveling recliner toward the couch. “Wait a minute. Dylan is coming with us? I can’t believe he agreed to come without Mackenzie and Hope.”
“Oh! That’s right! You don’t know...” Jordan returned to her spot next to Ian.
“Know what?”
“Mackenzie has been having some issues with her pregnancy and her doctors don’t want her to fly.”
“I didn’t know that,” Josephine said, concerned.
Ian’s best friend, Dylan Axel, was married to their cousin, Mackenzie, and they were expecting their second child together.
“So, Dylan had to beg off being Ian’s best man.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that. I had no idea that Mackenzie was having a rough pregnancy.”
Sometimes law school was like living in a bubble. There were a lot of times that she just didn’t have contact with the world outside of school. She would turn off her phone, ignore all forms of social media, and she would focus all of her energy on studying.
“I’ll have to call her,” Josephine said aloud to herself before she asked, “Who’s going to stand in for Dylan?”
“One of my old friends from high school,” Ian said.
Jordan smiled brightly. “You’re gonna love him, Jo! He’s such a cool guy. And what’s really funny is that he was actually there the day that Ian and I first met...”
“I think I hear him now.” Ian nodded toward the direction of the door.
Josephine heard two animated male voices coming from just outside of the jet. Then, she heard the sound of heavy, decisive footsteps heading up the metal stairs to the jet’s cabin.
Josephine looked at the doorway curiously; both Ian and Jordan stood up.
“It’s real nice of you to finally show up, Logan!” Jordan called out to the best man teasingly.
Logan Wolf, still in his uniform, stepped into the jet’s cabin.
“Hey...” Logan smiled charmingly at Jordan. “Don’t blame me, blame the San Diego PD.”
Jordan hugged Logan in greeting before he shook hands with Ian.
“I’m glad you could make it, man,” Ian said.
“I appreciate the invitation,” Logan replied. He could feel Josephine’s eyes on him, but he’d deliberately waited to look her way.
“Logan, I’d like you to meet my sister, Josephine.”
Josephine stood up and extended her hand.
“Oh...” Her eyes locked onto Logan’s. “Trust me...we’ve already met.”
“Wait,
“Officer...Wolf, is it?” Josephine slipped her fingers free of his.
Logan rested the duffel bag on the seat next to him and smiled warmly at her. “Lieutenant, actually, but I think it’s all right for you to call me Logan now, Josephine.”
“Hell-
“As it turns out...” Josephine paused, looked skyward with a little shake of her head, before she continued. “Logan is the reason why I was late.”
Logan told Jordan and Ian, “I pulled her over for speeding.”
Jordan’s eyes lit up, as did her face. First, she smiled broadly like a Cheshire cat, and then she tipped her head back to laugh out loud.
“You got a
Logan said, “She shared that fact with me during the stop.”
“Of course she did,” her sister chirped. “Trying to worm her way out of the ticket, no doubt.”
“Don’t you think that you’re just a little too happy about this, Jordy? I mean, really.” Josephine had her arms crossed over her chest, not enjoying this conversation nearly as much as Jordan.
Ian had taken his seat and Jordan flopped down next to him. “Oh, please, you know exactly why I’m enjoying this so much!” To Logan, her sister said, “You have to understand, Jo has been harassing me about my driving for
“In my defense,” Josephine explained to Logan, “Jordy has had her license revoked
“Irrelevant!” her sister exclaimed. “Because
“You are a menace to drivers everywhere.” Josephine had relaxed her arms as she relaxed into the conversation. “You ride that Ducati of yours like you’re a bat out of hell.”
“I’m a great driver.” Jordan put her hand on Ian’s leg to get his attention. “You trust me when I drive, don’t you?”