Jesse looked up into his eyes and saw the turmoil brewing there, the betrayal and hurt finally at the forefront instead of his anger.
“Hal, listen to me,” Jesse said. Hal hadn’t made a move to stop her, so she moved closer to him, allowing her front to lightly brush against his side. She could feel the tension in his muscles as he stood stiffly backed into the corner.
“This isn’t you, Hal,” Jesse said softly, looking up into his reluctant eyes as she lightly shifted her hand to rest against his chest. “You know me, Hal. You know I wouldn’t do anything like that.”
Hal eyed her and clenched his teeth, seeming to try and completely ignore her.
“Don’t shut me out,” Jesse insisted, raising her hand instead to cup his face. “You know none of that is true … this isn’t you talking. Please, come back to me … I love you …”
Jesse looked up at him and saw that his eyes were once again open, though he was trying to look anywhere but at her.
“I don’t believe you,” Hal said, though it sounded to Jesse like he was trying to convince himself more than her.
“Hal, please, this isn’t you talking, thinking those things,” Jesse repeated emphatically. “Please … come back to me …”
Jesse moved slowly and cupped his face in both of her hands. Slowly, she moved up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his in a soft kiss.
Chapter 75
Hal
Hal was at war with his mind. His fists clenched at his sides as she kissed him, and he worked hard not to respond to her. In spite of what the dark parts of his mind were insisting, he couldn’t help the way his body responded to her, which was exactly what he had feared would happen if he let her touch him.
He warred with himself, fighting between tearing himself away or succumbing to her. More than that, though, he longed to know who was telling the truth, the demons in his mind or the woman who they told him had betrayed him.
A more rational part of him realized that Jesse was right, and this behavior was not him. Indeed, it was a part of him that he thought had been buried when he made his movie. A part of him that was depressed and anxious, a part of him that he pushed to the farthest reaches of his mind.
It was a part of him that delighted in latching onto his deepest fears and convincing him they were his reality. Right now, he was horrified of losing Jesse, and it was only logical that he would panic at the thought of him deceiving her.
Jesse pulled back from him and looked up into his eyes. Hal returned her gaze, staring deep into her clear eyes. He could see no hint of deception there and slowly but surely the rage burning in his stomach began to dissipate into a small smolder.
“Jess?” Hal said weakly, looking up hopefully.
Jesse nodded and gave him a smile, gently stroking his face with her fingertips.
“Hal,” she said softly. “I promise I’m not trying to manipulate you or get a story out of you. I am here because I want to be alone with you. And because I love you.”
Hal took a deep breath as he took in her words. Slowly, he felt the anxiety that had been brewing in his stomach let up, and he realized that Jesse was being honest with him, and he had blown this whole issue out of proportion. He felt suddenly weak all over, and he slowly sank down the wall.
Jesse knelt down in front of him, concern once more crossing over her features.
“I’m sorry, Jess.” Hal shook his head, hearing the weakness in his voice as well. “That question just really caught me off guard … I didn’t know why you would ask something like that, and it just took me back to a really dark place …”
Hal knew that was the understatement of a lifetime, but it was the best he could come up with. Jesse simply moved to kneel between his legs and rest her hands on his torso, looking down deeply into his eyes.
“I know that you’ve been through a lot of heard things,” Jesse said. “And I know there are a lot of people … people like Elaine and like my coworkers … who would be able to do something like what you thought I was doing. But me? I … I just don’t think I could ever commit to that kind of deception.”
Hal listened as Jesse spoke, and he clung to each of her words, still eager to hear her deny all his accusations.
“I know that probably means I won’t make a very good journalist.” Jesse sighed. “But nothing like that ever crossed my mind. I really am out of a job. The article that I wrote is the only article on you I will ever write. If I have to put a complete halt on my journalism career to prove that to you, that’s what I’ll do. I will do whatever it takes to make you believe me.”
Hal was silent as he took in her words, letting her wash away all of his fear and doubt about her integrity. There was one more thing, though, that he desperately, desperately needed her to say.
“I believe you,” Hal finally spoke, feeling his anxiety begin to creep back in. “But … tell me again.”
Jesse paused, looking more than a little confused.
“Tell you what?” she asked, and he could tell that she was eager to deliver what she needed.
“Tell me you love me,” he urged her softly, his voice tense and his throat sore from the lump that had formed there.
Jesse’s face formed a mask of sincerity.
“Hal Roberts,” she said, raising her hands to take hold of his and pressing a kiss to his knuckles. “I love you.”
Relief flowed through Hal’s body, and he could no longer sit still. He lurched forward and took Jesse’s face between his hands, gently holding her there as he peppered kisses all along her face. Finally, he pulled her in closer to his chest, wrapping his arms around her and tucking her head under his chin.
“I’m so sorry, Jess,” Hal said softly and felt a tear running down the side of his face. “I was so scared that you …”
Jesse shushed him as he trailed off, running the flats of her palms up and down his back comfortingly.
“I know,” Jesse said, her voice vibrating softly against his chest. “It’s okay; you’re okay …”
Hal took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He forced away the last lingering bits of anger and anxiety that had risen up inside of him and assured himself that Jesse really was here because she loved him. She had said as much repeatedly and had given him no reason not believe her.
“I love you,” Hal said softly.
“And I love you,” Jesse said as she moved in his grip, shifting her head to press a hot kiss against his neck.
Hal drew in a sharp breath and felt heat rush over his body. Suddenly, he needed her, and desperately.
Without preamble, Hal rose and scooped Jesse up, heading straight for the bedroom, needing to feel her closeness and the heat of her skin against his.
Once there, neither of them wasted any time in stripping off their clothes, and Hal didn’t bother with foreplay before he maneuvered himself between Jesse’s legs and sank into her, relishing the wet heat of her inner walls around his hardness.
Hal delighted in Jesse’s soft pants as he immediately set up a steady rhythm. He looked down into her eyes and felt himself shudder at the connection he felt there. He felt their togetherness deep in his gut and knew it was far more than physical or mental, but transcending into the spiritual realm.
It didn’t take long for either of them to finish, and Jesse’s walls clamped around his erection just as he began to shoot his load inside of her, panting as he found his release.
Hal then laid down beside her and held her closely, needing her closeness more now than ever. He could feel her placing soft kisses along his neck and chest, and he allowed the soft feeling of her lips against his naked skin to calm him and lull him into a deep sleep.
Chapter 76
Jesse
The pair remained at the cabin for two more days. After the unfortunate incident their second night there, things seemed to regulate and return to normal, except that Jesse was especially careful not to bring up topics that included Hal’s work or his career.
For the most part,
though, Jesse had a wonderful time, and based on her observations, so did Hal. The rain finally died down sometime after the second night, and they went out into the woods once again and lingered at the creek, eating sandwiches and drinking wine that Hal had packed. Hal had even taught her to fly-fish.
Jesse enjoyed the things they did together, and she enjoyed being alone with Hal. If it had not been for an email she received, she would have likely been content to stay there for weeks on end.
Alas, when Jesse had opened her emails to see a message from one of the magazines to which she had applied when she left her job with Elaine, she had been both shocked and elated. They said they had been impressed with her resume and her portfolio, and they wanted to schedule an interview with her as soon as she could arrange one.
Jesse had not hesitated to email them back, telling them that she would be available for an interview at nine o’clock in the morning the very next day. She was too eager to schedule it for any time later.
After sending the email, Jesse closed up her laptop and put it back in its traveling case. Then, she went to find Hal. She crossed from the guest room and into the living room, where Hal was seated on the couch. He looked up at her as she entered the room, and his eyebrows raised as he saw the excitement on her face.
“What’s up?” he asked, keeping his eyes fixed on her as she sat down beside him on the couch.
“I got an email from one of the places I applied to,” Jesse explained, her voice brimming with excitement.
Hal blinked and shook his head a little.
“Wow, that was soon,” Hal noted, surprise on his face. “Congratulations!”
“Thanks.” Jesse laughed, blushing a little.
“Where is it from?” Hal persisted, seeming genuinely curious.
“It’s some blog.” Jesse shrugged. “To be honest, I’ve never even heard of it before.”
Hal frowned a little at the news.
“And you want to work there?” he asked her, raising an eyebrow.
“I mean, at this point, I’m not going to be too terribly picky about who offers me a job,” Jesse explained.
Hal grunted and didn’t seem to be appeased.
“Besides,” Jesse went on, “it’s just an interview. It doesn’t mean I even have the job at all.”
Hal sighed, shook his head, but seemed to be a little more open.
“I guess that’s true.” Hal shrugged. “I just feel like you are better than working for some unheard of blog.”
“Maybe.” Jesse shrugged. “But right now this is what’s on the table for me, and I’m not just going to overlook it. I mean, who knows when something else will come my way at all.”
Hal nodded, seeming to at least understand, even if he wasn’t particularly excited about it.
“So when is the interview?” Hal asked, his voice much lighter.
“That’s actually what I came to tell you,” Jesse said, her voice a little remorseful. “I scheduled it for nine o’clock in the morning. I was too excited to have it any later.”
Hal blinked a little in surprise.
“Wow,” he said softly. “Well, I better put in a few calls, and we’d both better get packed up, don’t you think?”
Jesse felt a sense of relief that he understood.
“Yeah,” she said. “I’m sorry; I know this was all really sudden.”
“Don’t apologize,” Hal waved her off. “I told you we could leave whenever you needed to, and now you need to. I’ll put out a call to Phillip, and by the time we’re all packed up and ready, he’ll probably be here already. Sound good?”
Jesse nodded and smiled up at him. He smiled in return and leaned down to press a soft kiss to her lips.
“I’ll call Phillip,” Hal said, and Jesse nodded once more. “You go ahead and start getting ready to go.”
Jesse wasted no time and hurried into the guest bedroom to gather up all her clothes and pack them up. While she had slept in Hal’s room for the most part, her things had managed to stay in the guest bedroom. Now, though, Jesse made haste as she packed up.
Jesse couldn’t help being excited as she wondered how the interview would go. It was definitely very little time to prepare for an interview, but she had no one to blame for that but herself. Still, she had gone through interviews before, and they had all gone just fine.
It did not take Jesse long to assure that she had packed up all her belongings, and she took her bags to set them by the door that would open up to the stairway leading to the roof. No sooner had she placed them there than Hal emerged from his room and placed his things alongside hers.
“I haven’t heard back from Phillip yet,” Hal said. “But he is definitely on his way.”
“Okay.” Jesse nodded. Truth be told, she wasn’t horribly worried. She knew that the pilot would soon be there and they would on their way back to the city.
Jesse couldn’t help being a little sad and more than a little anxious at the thought of returning to the heavy population of the city they had been able to escape from, at least for a little while. She was not excited about being once more surrounded by people all the time and about worrying that she and Hal would be discovered.
“Jess?” Jesse shook her head as Hal’s voice ushered her out of her thoughts. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” Jesse nodded, but Hal’s brow raised, and she knew that he wanted a more truthful answer. “I just wish I could stay here with you forever, away from everyone else.”
Hal’s expression softened, and he gathered her up in his arms, pulling her close to his chest, nuzzling the top of her head with his chin.
“You know what your problem is?” Hal spoke, and Jesse could hear the humor in his voice. “You want too much. You want to stay here, you want to go back, you want to be with me, you want to be a journalist. It seems the only thing you don’t want is for people to know you’re with me.”
Jesse frowned as Hal’s voice hardened a little at the last part of his statement.
“Hal?” she pulled back from him and looked up into his eyes, letting her facial expression voice her concerns.
Hal released a sigh and shook his head, then chuckled lowly.
“Sorry,” he said. “But I mean you have to admit, it’s a little frustrating that the person you love wants to keep your relationship a secret when a part of you wants to just tell the whole world.”
Jesse’s face wilted.
“Oh, Hal,” Jesse sighed and cupped his cheek with her hand. “I don’t want you to think I want to keep us in the dark. It’s just … I’m not excited about being in the public eye, is all.”
“I know, I know.” Hal nodded, seeming to relax a little bit, though he still seemed to be a little put out.
“I just …” Jesse started and trailed off, trying to find the right words to say. “I just need a little time. I’m sure things will take a perfectly natural and logical course if we just let them. I’m sure I’ll get used to everything as it comes.”
Hal nodded and stroked her face.
“I admit, it’s a lot to take in,” Hal agreed, “but I promise, it’s not as overwhelming as you might think, and you get used to it really fast.”
Jesse nodded, smiling gently up at him. A part of her was still horribly nervous about being out and open in the public eye.
“And no offense,” Hal started again, his voice carrying an edge of humor. “Nobody really knows who you are, so for a while, people are just going to be waiting for me to confirm what your name is, which I can drag out indefinitely.”
Jesse couldn’t help laughing a little at that because it was certainly true. Celebrity gossip was usually centered around more than one celebrity and thus magnified. At least since she was pretty much unknown, the press would wonder if they were in a relationship at all for a while.
“Well, no matter what happens with the press,” Jesse said, “it will be worth it if I can be with you.”
Jesse smiled up at Hal and was rewarded with a soft kiss.
> Warmth flooded over Jesse, and she knew that no matter what the media said about them, she could put up with it as long as she got to share her life with Hal.
Chapter 77
Hal
It wasn’t long before Phillip arrived in the helicopter and was waiting for them on the roof. Hal wasted no time in gathering up his and Jesse’s things and carrying them up the stairs onto the landing pad. The blades of the helicopter were whipping up the air, and he smiled at the sight of Jesse’s hair flying around her face.
Hal loaded up their things and then he helped Jesse into the aircraft before getting in himself. He helped her buckle in and then buckled in himself before giving Phillip the signal that they were ready to go.
The two of them were quiet as they made their flight back into the city. Hal could tell that Jesse’s mind was on her interview. Hal’s mind, though, was on her.
Hal was certainly happy for her that she had gotten an interview. He had been able to see the excitement and relief on her face when she first told him that morning. Even so, he could not deny that he was more than a little saddened by the fact that she would soon be working again.
Hal knew that it was a little archaic of him, but a part of him wished that she was content with him simply taking care of her needs. He certainly had the money for it. Still, he knew that Jesse’s career was important to her, and he didn’t want to keep her from it.
Still, while he tried to be happy for her, he couldn’t ignore the gnawing dread in his stomach. No matter how many times he tried to rationalize with himself, he couldn’t make it go away.
Ever since he had nearly lost his mind and accused Jesse of trying to deceive him, the feeling had been there. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe her when she denied all his claims. Contrarily, the fact that he did believe her only made it that much harder to explain why the dark feeling inside of him wouldn’t go away.
For now, though, he was able to keep it at a minimum. What he feared, though, was that he wouldn’t be able to keep it at bay when Jesse was not with him. There was just a part of him that was terrified that everything would fall apart and slip through his fingers even as he tried to hold it all together. Just as it had before …
Bedroom Rodeo: A Billionaire Romance Page 67