Steele Family Romance Collection

by Cami Checketts

  She swallowed, and he watched that smooth neck pulse. Then she asked something that he didn’t know how to answer: “Are you ever going to … kiss me again?”

  Jex clung to that side table until his knuckles turned white. Why did she have to go there? His body warmed at the thought of kissing her, while he cussed himself for being a primeval man. He couldn’t answer her. He couldn’t even think of a way to joke around this one. He wanted to kiss her more than he wanted the use of his leg back, but he wouldn’t allow his selfish desires to chain her to him and sink her future. Instead of answering, he sat back down in his chair and reached for his laptop. Clicking on his mail, he saw there were thousands of unopened messages.

  Pearl’s heels clicked away, and he heard the door slam shut. He cringed, set the laptop back on the desk, and grabbed his crutches. Hurrying through the second story of his mansion, he made it to the open loft area with windows overlooking the street. A few seconds later, her Lexus eased out and then headed south.

  Jex’s heart was heavy. Would she come back? He prayed she would, and then cursed himself again.

  Chapter Nine

  Pearl made it out of Jex’s room without letting any tears squeak out, but as soon as she got in the car, the floodgates opened. She cried through most of her errands, putting on a happy face when she saw other people but breaking down every time she got back into the Lexus.

  She deliberately missed lunch but by the time she got back to the house to meet with the physical therapist and Jex, she was under control and ready to continue this fake, heartbreaking existence they’d fallen into the past five weeks. Anyone from the outside peering in would think Jex was handling his injury like a champion. He’d even fooled the psychiatrist he met with once a week into thinking he was dealing “superbly.”

  Jex was kind to Pearl and never got upset. He exercised far past most people’s point of exhaustion every day, and he kept himself looking handsome and clean. But he was not himself, not by a long shot, and though Pearl appreciated that he wasn’t blowing up in anger or being grumpy, she wanted real. She wanted Jex. But maybe the injury had taken her Jex away. Life happened, and sometimes it wasn’t happy or easy.

  The physical therapist, Mary, was great. She put Jex through a workout and she was tough and pushed him, which wasn’t easy to accomplish with him being in such fabulous shape. Mary could also joke and take Jex’s teasing. Pearl used to believe there was a special teasing Jex reserved for only her, but now he teased with her the same way he teased with everyone.

  Did he still love her? She thought it was in his eyes, but as the days passed and he never brought up love or changing her last name, she doubted his love more and more. He wouldn’t kiss her, even when she opened herself up like she had this morning. His refusal to even answer her had crushed her.

  Mary finished, and Pearl saw her out. When she returned upstairs, Jex’s bedroom door was shut and she could hear the shower going. Everyone else took it as a very good sign that Jex took such good care of his hygiene and kept exercising hard and pretending for the world that he was doing great and that his injury wasn’t affecting him.

  Pearl knew better. His mom seemed to sense the same things Pearl did: Jex was depressed and in a dark spot. It had only been five weeks since his life was upended. What did Pearl expect? That he’d hash his anguish out with her? That he’d confide in her? That he’d still love her? She wanted all those things but didn’t think it was fair to expect them. Maybe with time and prayer. Lots of both.

  Pearl went to Jex’s office and responded to the requests that kept pouring in for Jex to come speak, give seminars, or teach stunt classes. So many people were seeing the opportunity in his injury, an opportunity to make a difference and teach rather than be the stuntman. She kept putting them all off. She hadn’t dared ask Jex yet. Maybe at dinner.

  Dinner was delivered, and the salmon, sweet potatoes, and salad were delicious. Jex ate everything, taking seconds of the salmon. Pearl knew it was an act, and she could hardly eat half of her plate. Whenever she took meals with Jex, he ate like he had a voracious appetite. The few times he ate alone, she’d seen glimpses of him on the cameras as he pushed food around and then threw most of it away.

  He caught her gaze and winked. “I’m starved after that double workout today.”

  Pearl swallowed. The tears were right at the surface today. “Mary seems great,” she said.

  Jex’s gaze sharpened. He’d noticed the quaver in her voice. “Yeah. Thanks for setting that up.”

  “Of course.” Pearl waited. She kept wondering if he’d talk about healing and either trying to go back to the stunts he could do, with a few alterations, or teaching or something, but he hadn’t referenced the future at all. Give him time, give him time, she reminded herself. “So I’ve got a lot of emails with opportunities for you,” she blurted. Oh, shoot! Her flapping jaw.

  Pearl froze as Jex’s eyes widened. He set his fork down, and a few seconds passed before he said in a low voice, “Opportunities?”

  This definitely wasn’t giving him time, and maybe it was the wrong moment, the wrong approach, but if Pearl wanted real, she had to give him the chance to open up and express what he was feeling, where he wanted to go from here. Not just with his work, but with them.

  “There are so many emails about them.” She leaned forward. “There are people wanting you to be a motivational speaker at seminars, youth groups, or church groups. There are people hoping you’ll consider teaching your stunts: wakeboarding, mountain biking, snowboarding, wingsuits, whitewater kayaking—the list is long, Jex.” She paused and tried to gauge his reaction, but he was stone-faced. He didn’t appear mad, but he didn’t appear interested either.

  Pearl had to take a chance and put it out there. She stood, hurried around to his chair, and dropped to her knees in front of him. Jex kept his eyes on her, but he made no move to reach out a hand like the old Jex would’ve done.

  “We could travel again, Jex. Go to different spots around the world and either teach or speak. You’d be amazing at it. People are knocking down my door to get you to—”

  “No.” He interrupted her pleas with the simple word.

  Pearl’s breath caught and the warning bells were clanging. She should stop, give him more time, but she felt like he needed this, needed a goal, a drive, a sense of purpose. Before the accident, she’d never met a more driven, hard-working, and confident man. Even though he’d come across to most people as a crazy adrenaline junkie, she knew how much time, dedication, and study it took to excel at such a variety of stunts. Most stuntmen focused on one area; Jex had excelled at anything he put his mind to.

  “Please, Jex, just think about it.”

  He gave her a very forced smile and said, “No, Pearl. Thank you for asking.” Then he used his arm strength to push away from the table. His chair spun backwards and away from her, as she was still kneeling on the floor. He lumbered to his feet, grabbed his crutches, and left the dining room without a backwards glance at her.

  She stayed in the same spot, listening to him navigate the stairs, and then she heard his bedroom door close. The sound seemed so final. He was giving up on life, and he was pulling away from her. She had no clue how to stop him. Tears raced down her cheeks. She was too tired to move, too tired to push the tears away. She understood that Jex’s future had been changed, but if he refused to change with it, he might just ruin both of their lives.

  Pearl couldn’t sleep. She tossed and turned, punching her pillow, taking melatonin, and trying to read, but nothing helped. Ah, Jex. If only she could get through to him, feel close to him again. She loved him so desperately. Whenever she thought of that word, she remembered him teasing her that fateful day about loving him desperately. Why couldn’t he tease her anymore, talk to her? They used to talk and plan and work so well together. He still had a bright future; it was just different. Would he ever see that? Was it fair to expect him to?

  After dinner, she’d closed herself in her room and ca
lled Tracy, her best friend since childhood. They hardly saw each other, but still could be right back to laughing and baring their souls in a minute. Tracy had listened and finally suggested that Pearl leave. The very idea had floored her. Leave Jex? She couldn’t imagine her world without Jex. The way he was acting right now, he didn’t really seem to need or want her around. She wanted to be here for him, but if he didn’t need her, she would have to pick up her shattered heart and carve a different life than she’d imagined five weeks ago.

  The slower pace of the last five weeks had about killed her, but she’d rather run meaningless errands, respond to emails, and set up and go to appointments with him than be without him. Leave Jex? She’d ended the call shortly after, but not before Tracy told her there was always a VP position waiting for her at her marketing agency in Miami. Pearl had said thanks, but no thanks.

  She rolled onto her back, squeezing her eyes shut and letting the ceiling fan cool the heat in her face. She was depressed, lonely, and angry. She wanted Jex back, but that was selfish of her. He was dealing with something horrific, and all she knew to do was stay with him and wait. Prayer wouldn’t hurt, though. Rolling off the bed and onto her knees, she made a forlorn plea for patience and inspiration. Did Jex need her, or was she making life harder for him as he pretended all was well for her? She begged the good Lord to tell her how to help Jex. The prayer ended, but she stayed on the fluffy rug next to her bed. The guest suite she was staying in was a couple doors down from Jex’s master. If only she dared go to him, hold him, talk to him.

  A low moan came from down the hallway, and Pearl could’ve sworn she heard her name. Was this the answer to her prayer? “Thank you,” she said to the ceiling, and she jumped to her feet. Rushing out of her bedroom door, she hurried down the hall, but stopped outside Jex’s door. She waited, leaning closer.

  “Pearl,” came the low call. “Don’t leave me!” The words were said with such desperation that Pearl’s breath rushed out and a sense of purpose washed over her.

  She turned the handle and pushed the door open. The room was dark, but the blinds on the windows that overlooked the river were open, and light from the half moon and the boats anchored on the river shone in. Jex writhed on the bed. The covers were pushed off and revealed his beautiful shape, as he was only wearing some cotton shorts. His wounded leg only had some bandages on it, and he looked as if he were completely healthy.

  “Please, Pearl,” Jex begged. “I’m sorry. Don’t leave me.”

  Pearl rushed across the wood floor, climbed up onto the bed, and wrapped her hands around his firm shoulders. “Jex, I’m here. I won’t ever leave you.” Earlier tonight, she’d toyed with the idea. Tracy’s words and her own doubts about Jex even wanting her any longer had gotten in her head. He’d rejected her twice today, and he rejected her every day by holding her at arm’s length, but she’d known deep down that wasn’t the real Jex. Here was her answer. Jex needed her. As he slept, the truth came out: he still wanted her with him.

  Jex abruptly sat up in the bed. Pearl jerked back in surprise. His eyes flew open and he looked over her face with a hungry gaze. “Pearl.” He said her name so sweetly, so reverently.

  “I’m here, love. I’ll always be here.”

  “Ah, Pearl.” He wrapped his arms around her waist, tugged her against his chest, and claimed her lips with his.

  Pearl slid her arms around his back and held on, savoring the insistent warmth of his mouth and the strength of his torso pressed against her. Joy and desire rose and burst within her as she returned his eager kisses.

  Jex! She wanted to scream and laugh. He was back. He needed her, he wanted her, and he loved her. The kisses continued, taking on a life of their own. Jex scooted back to the headboard, leaning against it and tugging her with him. He explored her mouth with a passion that was all Jex and made her want more.

  When he finally pulled back, they were both gasping for air. Jex’s gaze was still full of passion and love, and Pearl smiled, hardly able to contain her happiness. “I would never leave you, Jex. I love you so much.”

  Instead of returning her sentiment, he blinked and shook his head as if he was coming out of a daze. He swallowed hard, put his arms around her waist, and gently lifted her off the bed and onto her feet.

  Pearl stood next to his bed, looking down on him, confused and stunned. “Jex?”

  He cleared his throat. “Forgive me, Pearl. I, um, had a nightmare. I apologize for being so …” He took a deep breath like he didn’t know what to say.

  “Amazing?” she asked.

  He stared up at her and then muttered, “The exact opposite of amazing. Wrong. Forgive me for taking advantage of you.”

  Anger and frustration filtered in. “Advantage of me? I’m pretty sure I was a willing participant there.”

  Jex didn’t say anything. His gaze traveled over her, heating her up; the desire was still evident, even though he was doing a fabulous job of controlling himself. He turned and pointedly stared out the window. “Please, Pearl. Don’t make this harder than it is.”

  She glared at him, even though he wasn’t looking or caring. She didn’t trust her voice for a few seconds; then she muttered, “All I’m trying to do is love you, Jex.”

  His gaze swung quickly back to her. His eyes looked tormented as a muscle worked in his jaw. Finally, he said, “Please don’t.” Then he turned away again.

  “Don’t what?” Pearl’s voice rose, and she prepared herself for an epic battle, a drag-down, all-out, hair-pulling, nails-scratching fight. Either he would admit he still loved her and they would somehow move forward, or he’d kick her out of his house. “Don’t love you?” She jumped back onto the bed, and he looked at her, his eyes wide with surprise. Pearl framed his face with her hands and said fiercely, “I’ve got news for you, mister. I’ll love you until the day I die, and nothing you try will make me not love you.”

  She thought he’d either finally share what was going on in his head, grab her and kiss her again, or at least laugh and tease her. Jex didn’t move. She could feel his chest rising and falling quickly as she pressed herself tighter against him. The Jex she used to know had loved holding her close. He wasn’t holding her right now, but she was helping him feel exactly how great it was when they were close. Reject that, buddy!

  He simply stared at her, his eyes so conflicted and filled with pain that she wanted to cry for him, for them. Had his accident changed him so much that he didn’t even love her any longer?

  Jex lifted his hand and caressed her bare shoulder, his fingers playing with the strap of her tank top. Warmth and desire filled her abdomen. She prayed he would break down and kiss her or at least talk to her. Though she longed for his kiss, it was far past time that they talked.

  “Ah, Pearl,” he murmured. He bent down and placed a kiss on her shoulder.

  Pearl sighed from the intimacy and sweetness of it. “Jex,” she begged. “Please. Come back to me. Talk to me. I love you.”

  Jex closed his eyes and pushed out a heavy breath. “I can’t,” he said.

  “Can’t?”

  “I can’t do this. Please, if you care for me, please just go.”

  “Go?” Pearl held his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. “Go?” Her voice escalated with fear and panic.

  He nodded solemnly. “It’s the best thing.”

  Pearl’s chest was tight, and her heart beat irregularly. She released his face. “The best thing for who?”

  Jex pulled in a shuddering breath. He held her gaze as if trying to make her understand. “For both of us,” he said. There was so much finality in his words that they stabbed clear through her as if an ice pick had just pierced her soul.

  Pearl gave a shuddering gasp, pushing away from him and to her feet. She stood there, trembling, and made the mistake of looking into his eyes, praying she could see past the rejection to the man who adored her. His eyes were dark and cold. She bit at her lip and barely held in the cry of pain.

  Whirlin
g from him, she hurried to the door, trying to contain the sobs. For both of us? If he’d claimed it was best for her to go, she would’ve known he was being noble and would’ve tried to talk him out of it—but he wanted her gone? It couldn’t be true.

  Her shaky legs carried her down the hall to her room, but it was all she could do to push the door closed and collapse onto her bed. Go? Where would she go? Jex Steele was her love, her life, her everything. Over six years she’d invested in developing his brand, growing his career, and falling deeper in love with him. Now he wanted her gone. Sobs racked her body as she curled herself into a ball. Jex was the love of her life, and he’d just rejected her for a third and final time. She didn’t know what she’d do without him.

  Chapter Ten

  Jex knew the night must’ve passed, but he had no clue how. He listened for footsteps on the stairs, for the garage door to open, for her car to drive away. Nothing. Unless he’d drifted off at some point and missed the sounds of her leaving, Pearl was still here. Of course, there was the very real possibility that she’d leave this morning, but he kept hoping some miracle would happen and she’d tell him off, put him in his place, and tell him he’d be nothing without her.

  Of course, that was true, but she had so much potential and opportunity. He couldn’t selfishly hold her back, and for what? To either waste away in this house or maybe go with him to teach rich kids how to throw a trick, or go be a motivational speaker and lie to audiences about how he’d risen above his career-destroying injury. He cringed at the shallow deceit of either option. He had nothing to offer the perfect Pearl Jacobsen-Davenport any longer, and the more often he reminded himself of that fact, the better.

  He rose when the sky showed the faintest tinge of pink. Maybe lifting weights would take his mind off Pearl for a while. Go. He’d told the most amazing woman in the world to go. What an idiot. He hated himself, but at least he was being honorable, not trying to tie her down to a worthless man simply because she was so fabulous and claimed to still love him.