A test of Love - Navaura Campbell (best management books of all time .txt) 📗

all, it wasn't your fault things happened this way, so why hold it against you?"
Jordan narrowed his eye brows, who was this reasonable girl? "Ok."
"So, what did you do these two years?" She asked, her voice filled with curiosity. She pulled a pack of shells off the shelf. Jordan glanced into the cart, wondering exactly how much of this stuff they actually needed at her house.
"Do you always have to ask questions?" He pondered, bemused.
Denise grinned sweetly, "Am I being intrusive?"
Jordan laughed, remembering the first time he'd told her that. They'd been sitting in a coffee shop.
"Yes, you are."
She laughed, "I'm sorry, I just want to know that you're ok, that's all."
Jordan nodded, "Well, that's fine. I'm doing good. I think the pain's starting to dim a bit."
A nod, allowed him to see that she got his drift.
"So, what about you? How have you been doing ?"
Denise cleared her throat, "Pretty damn good if I may say so."
Jordan smiled at her choice of words. "Oh really?"
"Yeah, since I'm not angry at you anymore, and I'm working, I'm doing good."
"Did you ever get your scholarship back?"
"It slipped out of my grasp. A partial scholarship to NYU, gone."
Jordan swallowed and glanced over at her again, "That's my fault, I'm sorry."
Denise shrugged, "It's not your fault, it's because of choices we both made. Not just you. I mean, I was really selfish. Maybe it's good I didn't get it."
"You're really good at Hstory, Denise, you could have made it."
Denise laughed softly, "What do you mean made?" She put her hand on her hips, "I'll still make it. I'm going to go there this fall, I may be a little set behind on my schedule, but it's alright, I'll achieve."
Jordan stared at her, quite impressed with how much she'd come to terms with in the last two years. His heart swelled with pride. He had always known there was more to her than brains.
"What?" She asked, her gaze meeting his.
"You're so beautiful, even more than you were in high school."
Denise cleared her throat, "Really?"
"Yeah." His tone was barely audible. Somehow, without noticing, they'd both made their way to the checkout line.

They said goodbye to one another, once outside. He got into his vehicle and she got in hers. Denise cut on the radio, to the nearest soul R &B station. A song by Tamia was playing. Her smooth sweet deep vocals always seemed to calm Denise. Tamia had to be her absolute favorite, outside of Toni Braxton. It seemed like the older she got, the more her taste in music changed. When she was younger, a kid, the only thing she would listen to was hip-hop. After her best-friend Stacy died in seventh grade, she'd slid toward more soulful ballads and now, as an adult, she'd become completely immersed in soul, including some old jazz sounds. Sighing, Denise pulled to a stop at the town's light, once it turned green, she continued on moving toward her house.

After unlocking the door, Denise's gaze flickered to her nineteen year old sister, who was attending her last year at the local community college. She was going for an Associate degree in Business first and then go back to school to get a degree in fashion management. "Get up and come help me with the groceries."
"I don't recall mom asking you to buy the whole store," Vicki stated, her gaze glued to the television.
"She didn't, but I thought maybe we could use some of these items, because they are on sale, now get your butt up and go out there."
Vicki ignored her, "You can't tell me what to do, I'm not a kid."
Denise turned around, "Fine, I'll tell mom about the..." Before Denise could get the words out, Vicki gasped and stood up, "You wouldn't."
"Yep, I was the one who got it fixed, remember."
"No way, that's black mail, De-De."
Denise smiled, "I know, isn't blackmail a beautiful thing?"
Victoria growled at her, cutting sharp hazel eyes at her. "What ever!" With that, she stalked outside. Just as she reached the front porch, Denise heard a scream. Furrowing her brows, Denise wondered which idiotic friend had stopped by today. chapter five

Jordan blinked his eyes, not believing that girl's vocals. Wow, talk about surprise. He watched as she ran down the stairs, to the drive way and then finally stopped at him, throwing her arms around him in a hug. "OMG, where the hell did you come from?"
Jordan laughed, "I was in Chicago."
Vicki laughed, holding him tightly. "OMG, I've missed you like crazy."
Jordan tried to pull out of her bear hug, but found it difficult.
"Vicki, I believe you can let the man go, he's about ready to pass out." Denise's voice was heard from the porch. Jordan glanced over at her, feeling his heart skip a beat. Why couldn't she hug him this way? Why couldn't she be this ecstatic to see him? Finally, feeling Vicki's arms slacken up, he pulled away from her. "It's good to see you too, Victoria." She ran her gaze up and down his frame, taking in the lean but built frame. "You look even better now than you did two years ago." She nodded.
Jordan sighed, "Thanks."
"What are you doing here?" Denise inquired, curious to know?
"When did you get here?" Vicki pondered, her smile reaching her eyes.
"I came to help you unload the groceries, Denise. Or did you forget you couldn't carry them by yourself?"
At his teasing grin, Denise felt flutters in her stomach, "Me and Vicki can do it."
Jordan narrowed his eyes, What was her problem? She had been so nice before, but now, she stood there glaring at him from the porch.
"Don't listen to her, Jordan. We need your help too." Vicki stated, her eyes glowing.
Once Jordan helped the girls move everything into the house, and they began putting away the groceries, Victoria, who was bursting with questions, began with her first one. "How old are you now, Jordan?"
Denise scowled at her. That wasn't any of her business.
"I'm twenty years old, Vicki."
"Oh, wow, so is Denise. I always thought you were older than her."
Jordan shook his head, "No, she's older than me by three months."
Glancing over at Denise, who sat on the kitchen stool, a bland facial expression across her features,she said, "I can't believe you never told me that."
Denise sighed, "I wasn't aware that I had to."
"So, why'd you go to Chicago?" Vicki inquired, grabbing a fresh apple off the counter.
"Because I needed a change of scenery." He smiled at her.
"Oh, yeah, I'm sorry about baby Nicholas, and your mother." Vicki stated, her tone sympathetic.
Jordan's gaze went to Denise, who just sat drawing imaginary circles on the counter top. Jordan could tell by her demeanor a certain part of her was jealous.
"Thank you."
"So, what was it like there?" Vicki continued to probe.
"It was alright I suppose."
"Jordan Williams, is that you in my kitchen?" Mrs. Richards came into the kitchen and wrapped him in a hug, if not tighter than the one Vicki had given, around the same amount of strength.
Denise glanced up from her spot and rolled her eyes, great, now her mother and step father were here.
"I found him standing in the driveway, he'd seen Denise at the supermarket and followed her home," Vicki replied, happily. Denise grinned at her summary of events. She made him sound like some kind of stalker.
"I'm glad. Denise, honey, did you know that he was following you?" Her mother glanced over at her, a knowing look in her eyes. Denise shook her head no. Her mother laughed, moving away from Jordan, so that her husband could shake his hand. "Hi, Jordan, sorry about all the fuss."
Jordan smiled and grasped his hand, "Oh, no, it's ok. It's not bad sir."
Garrette smiled at the young man standing before him now. "So, how have you been?" He greeted him.
Jordan nodded, "In good spirits."
Garrette laughed, "That's good."
Vicki was joking when she asked, "Please tell me you've come to abduct Denise?"
Jordan laughed, fighting a much wanted flush from coming to his cheeks.
Denise on the other hand, glared at Vicki, "Shut up, he came back to take care of the house."
"So, are you going to sell it?" Garrette asked.
Jordan cleared his throat, "I'm not sure yet."
"No? Are you going to live in it?"
Jordan shook his head no, "I'm only in town for a month, afterward, I'm going back to Chicago."
"Why don't you stay down here?" Victoria inquired, her gaze on him.
Jordan sighed, choosing not to answer this question. Victoria's gaze went to Denise, who looked to be in deep thought. She wondered what was going through that brain of hers.
Denise was infuriated. Why did they feel the need to always barge in? She wanted to find that information out on her own, not hear it while everyone else was there. Why did they all have to come around anyway? She wanted to get some information herself. She couldn't believe Victoria had gotten out more information in him within two minutes, while she still hadn't even gotten the area in Chicago. As if reading her thoughts, her mother asked that question. Biting down on her lip, Denise sighed and scooted out from the stool. She needed to go to her room, this was stifling.
About an hour later, a knock to her bedroom door caused her to look up from her diary, which she'd been writing in. The door to the bedroom opened and she stood up, crossing her arms over her chest. "What are you doing in here?"
"I knocked," He answered, his gaze hitting hers.
"I didn't say you could come in." She stated, her tone a bit nasty.
"What's wrong with you, Denise?" His expression looked concerned.
"Nothing."
Jordan nodded, "Hmm." Coming into the room, he closed the door behind him. Going to sit on her bed, he glanced up at her. "Want to talk about it?"
Denise laughed and shook her head, "There's nothing to talk about."
Although she spoke these words, her posture and facial expression said other wise. Jordan stared up at her for a minute, a smile on his features. He'd gotten thirty seconds into the second minute, when Denise let out a sigh and furrowed both brows, "Stop it, please."
"Why are you mad?"
Denise folded her arms, defense arising. "I'm not mad."
"Oh you're just pouting for nothing. Your eyes are squinting and your hands are on your hips just because you feel like it?"
Without thinking, Denise yelled, "Yeah."

Jordan raised a brow in alarm. Reaching out for her hand, he ignored the lively flow of blood that infused with just one touch. "What are you doing?" She quarried, her eyes darting between him and her hand frantically. Slowly, he pulled her to where he stood. She followed. This was the only reaction her beating heart and dry mouth would allow. When she was