We quickly pulled into the hotel's back lot. Jordan parked in one of the reserved spots. He helps me out, and he wraps his arm around my shoulder as we walk to the door with two new guards stationed at the door. Typically, the guards didn't bother me. If anything, they set me at ease because I knew they would keep us safe. Now I wasn't feeling at ease. It was bad enough with the reason why I was there, but then I noticed the female guard sneering at me. A shiver went through me as I remembered how badly this woman used to bully me in school. When the whole Chad thing happened, she was like a kid in a candy store with all the new ways she could torment me with.
"What is wrong?" Jordan asked; he must have felt how my body reacted to seeing her, and remembering all the awful things she did to me. I didn't want him to know about any of it. It wasn't his problem to deal with. It was mine.
"It is nothing... Just cold." I quickly lied. He looked at me for a moment longer than needed. Like he could see the lie on my face.
"If you say so," his tone suggested he didn't believe me. His easy-going nature was not present for a moment. "Hold on," he spun me around back to his car. He opened up the trunk and handed me a hoodie. It might be a bit big, but if you are cold, this will help." His bright smile and body language returned to his usual easy-going nature.
"Thank you." I gave him the best smile I could manage without it seeming too forced. I quickly pulled over the hoodie. The warmth of it and his familiar smell helped relax my nerves. It felt almost like a shield. His scent was safe and familiar. He placed his arm back around me, walking back to the door with the guards. Kayla was still giving me a nasty look. Why did she so openly hate me? The other guard was an older man, I would guess Garrett's age. He seemed just as serious as he was, too. I stiffened as we got to the guards. I didn't want to show fear. Jordan must have felt my body's reaction and gave my shoulder a slight squeeze. When I looked up at him, smiling down at me. It helped knowing he had me.
"Hey, Kay and Ed." Jordan greeted them cheerfully.
"Mr. Holloway," Was all Ed said in acknowledgement to Jordan's greetings. Kayla just kept glaring at me, Her sweet cherry perfume making me feel sick. So I shot my gaze down to my feet as I waited for us to go through the door. I tried to think about anything but the bullying she did to me. It was almost impossible. But I felt Jordan start to rub soothing circles on my shoulder. So I focused on that.
"Always so talkative, Ed," I could hear the smile on Jordan's face as he teased the older man.
"Why the Fuck is she here with you?" I bristled at the sheer anger in Kayla's voice. Suppose I looked up from my feet. She would still be giving me a very hateful look. I didn't bother to look. I knew exactly what it looked like when she began her tirade on me. I felt Jordan pull me closer to him. I could feel the heat of anger building inside him. I knew instinctively it wasn't because of me. He has never been anything but playful and happy with me.
"You will not disrespect Dani. She is family. She will always be welcome here and always with me. If you do not like it, quit. If I find out that you do or say anything to her or about her from now on. I will personally kick you out, and you will never be welcomed here again." The cold anger in his voice scared me more than the reason why I was here. I have never heard him angry before. The stunned silence filled the air between the four of us. I gathered my courage and looked up at Jordan. His arm was still wrapped protectively around me, holding me as close as possible to him. I saw the slight shock that was on Ed's face as he looked at Jordan, but Jordan's focus was solely on Kayla. Kayla's mouth was open and her eyes as wide as possible as she looked at Jordan. Clearly, everyone was shocked by his declaration. Jordan kept his glare on Kayla until she looked down at her feet. I noticed her face was a little red as she mumbled out an apology. I also noticed that Ed had moved to open the door for us. Jordan gave Kayla one last murderous look as he passed. He even growled with pure animalistic anger at her to drive home a point I didn't understand. She just lowered her head further as she shrank more into herself as we passed.
If Jordan was not already pulling me along with his arm around me. I probably wouldn't have been able to walk with how much my legs shook in fear from his opposite behavior.
Once through the doors and into the elevator, I felt Jordan relax, but he did not let me go. He instead turned me to face him. Regret filled his eyes, and his expression softened as I looked up at him. I was not sure what I would find on his face, but I did not expect to see regret.
"I'm sorry I scared you," Jordan said, looking like a sad puppy at me.
"I know...I'm not scared of you," I tried to steady my voice. I wasn't scared of him. I just never heard him speak like that.
"Then why do you sound terrified..." He sounded so hurt.
"I just never heard you speak like that... It was just a shock." I turned into him, hugging him. To prove I wasn't lying.
"As long as you're not scared of me now… I just can't stand the thought of someone mistreating you." I felt him rest his head on my head. I felt him take a deep, relaxing breath. Then he stiffened.
"Dani... your scent... You smell..." Jordan mumbled more to himself than to me.
"Yeah... I know I haven't showered since I got out of work... Joel made a similar comment," I said, feeling self-conscious. I tried to push away from him, just as I had with Joel, but unlike Joel, Jordan didn't let me go; instead, he held me tighter.
"Nahh, don't worry about how you smell, it's a beautiful thing to me. I was just caught off guard because I didn't notice it before." Jordan said as he rubbed his face on my head. Soon after that, the door dinged open, and I almost didn't think Jordan was going to let me go, but after a moment longer than usual for him, he let go enough to escort us out of the elevator.