When the flight landed at LAX, Melissa was transported into an entirely different world.
It wasn’t as if she’d never traveled before, but the truth was, she’d never traveled often. In the past three years she hadn’t been anywhere but Utah for scouting events.
The air was already much warmer, but she looked around and noticed people were still wearing sweaters. The thought made her laugh. Jonah would have been in shorts, yet the November weather had Californians bundling up.
Before she headed to the baggage claim, she stopped in the bathroom to fix herself up.
At first glance, she thought she looked tired. But then she was always critical of herself. The long layers Emmy had cut into her hair still flipped just right. She ran her fingers through her strands to give some body to them.
Melissa opened her purse and found her pearl lip balm. She applied it, ran her fingers under her eyes to freshen her eyeliner, and gave her blouse an adjustment.
This was as good as it was going to get. No matter where you took her, Melissa would always be a small town teacher—inside and out.
Melissa walked toward the carousel where her luggage was to land. Other passengers from her flight had gathered around.
She looked for a sign with her name on it. Jesse had said someone would pick her up. She’d expected Bryce, but he wasn’t there either.
When her bag descended the ramp, she reached for it at the same time a man in a baseball cap reached for it.
“I got this,” he said.
“Thank you.” She turned to reach for it and noticed the smile of the man who had helped her.
He had on a button-up shirt, which was untucked, and a pair of Levi jeans. His baseball cap had seen better days, and his beautiful grey eyes were shielded with sunglasses.
“I thought you were sending someone for me,” she said softly.
He leaned in closer to her and brushed her lips with a kiss. “I only have a few days with you. I’m not going to miss a moment.”
He slid his arm around her waist and pulled her suitcase beside him.
Melissa looked around. No one noticed the man who kept her close to his side. “Are you alone?”
“Behind us about ten feet.”
She looked over her shoulder, and the big brawly man who followed them gave her a nod.
She smiled briefly. “I guess this is a big gamble for you, isn’t it? Bringing an average woman into your life?” She hadn’t meant for it to sound snide, but it certainly had come across that way.
“No gamble. The gamble in my life was asking you to come and you telling me no.”
“I still think that might have been the right answer.”
He nodded as he continued to walk toward the parking garage. “I hope to make you change your mind.”
When they reached the parking garage, Jesse pulled his keys from his pocket and pushed a button. The lights on the black BMW down the aisle lit up. He pushed another button and the trunk lifted.
The truck he’d purchased to keep in Colorado was modest. Looking at the beautiful car before her, Melissa quickly realized he was in his element. Flashy and fast—she was slow and plain.
Jesse hoisted her luggage into the trunk and pushed down the door, and then he pulled her into his arms. His mouth came to hers quickly, and she sucked in a breath.
As soon as she relaxed into the kiss, he deepened it. His tongue sought out hers, and her head spun with the delight of him.
He pulled back, only far enough to rest his forehead to hers. “I’m so glad you came. I’ve missed you something terrible.”
Melissa swallowed hard. “I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be.”
“People think you’re getting married and…”
Jesse let out a long, ragged breath. “You can’t believe that. You can’t let them get into your head.”
She nodded. “I know. This is all new to me.”
He smiled. “I know it’s not what you’re used to, and I know this whole thing is just a little crazy, but my heart tells me differently. It’s telling me this is the real thing. That you’re the real thing.” He brushed her hair away from her face and rested his palm against her cheek. “Don’t let the media and the gossip push you away. I’d give this all up for you.”
That made her chuckle. “I doubt that.”
Jesse dropped his hands, and she could see the crease in his eyebrows through his sunglasses. “Let me prove my love and loyalty to you. I promised not to break Jonah’s heart. I have no intentions of breaking yours.”
He gave her another quick kiss and then opened her door, waited for her to climb into the car, and then walked around to the other side and climbed in.
Jesse backed out of the parking space, hit a button on the dash, and the top opened up and tucked itself neatly in the back.
Melissa pulled her sunglasses out of her purse and flashed him the biggest smile she could. She was ready for her adventure.
Jesse gave a wave to the man who had followed them out of the airport and was now behind them in a similar car. They left the airport and headed southwest on the 405.
When Jesse maneuvered onto the highway, which was already packed with cars, Melissa laughed aloud.
“What’s so funny?”
She shook her head. “The 405! The signs!” She laughed again. “This is like some fantasy. Hollywood. Beverly Hills. Santa Monica. All of this is real, and you live in the middle of it.”
He nodded slowly. “I never thought about it being all that. I’m taken with the scenery from your grandfather’s house.”
Melissa sat back in her seat, the smile still permeating her face. “Oh, that’s the best. I’d never give up home. But this…” She spread her arms out wide. “This is awesome.”
This time, Jesse laughed as traffic slowed to crawl. He reached his hand over to her hair. “I like this, by the way.”
“My hair?”
“Don’t get me wrong. Those curls were part of why I fell in love with you, but this flippy thing,” he said as he let a piece of her hair slide through his fingers. “It’s sexy.”
Heat began to build in her stomach, and her heart rate kicked up. This was the beginning. In a few hours, or even less, she’d be wrapped in this man’s arms, and it would be her call if it went further.
There suddenly was no doubt in her mind; she wanted it to go much, much further.
Melissa had never seen traffic crawl before. It took them nearly an hour on the highway to get from the airport to the exit Jesse finally took. The entire time his guard was only a car behind them.
Jesse drove through a neighborhood where the houses were obscured by high walls and gates, but Melissa could see the peaks of the roofs and knew the massive sizes of the houses. She couldn’t help but wonder who lived in each house.
Jesse slowed the car in front of a house with a gate and a wall. He pushed a button near his review mirror, and the gate swung open.
There before her, Melissa saw a house like no other. It was the size of at least four of her houses and was so much prettier.
Jesse drove around to the side, pushed another button, and the garage door went up. He pulled in, parked the BMW next to an enormous black Hummer, and shut the door.
He turned to Melissa. “Home sweet home.”
“I’m embarrassed that you’ve been to mine.”
“Why?”
She shook her head and looked around at the garage. Her garage had snow shovels and a lawn mower. There were skate boards and bicycles. This one looked clean and well kept. It didn’t look like a garage at all.
“Your house is amazing.”
He laughed as he climbed out of the car. “C’mon. This is only the garage. Let me show you around.”
He walked around the car and opened her door. He held out his hand and took hers.
She slid from the seat and again right into his arms. “Thank you for coming,” he said as he dipped his head for a kiss.
Jesse took her by the ha
nd and led her up the stairs and through a door that went right into the kitchen.
Melissa knew she’d gasped aloud when Jesse turned to look at her.
“Wow.” It might have sounded dumb, but it summed up her feelings. “I’ve never seen a kitchen like this.”
Jesse laughed. “I don’t use it myself. I can’t even make a PB and J.”
Melissa exchanged glances with him. “I don’t believe that.”
“Okay. That’s all I can make. Consuela comes in once a week and makes all my meals, and Bryce’s, and we eat those.” He walked over to the subzero refrigerator and pulled open the doors. It was stocked with water, Red Bull, and containers of meals, just like he’d said.
What she wouldn’t give for that luxury, she thought.
Melissa’s head turned when she heard footsteps on the tile floor. She smiled when she saw Bryce walk into the room.
“Oh, she’s here!” He hurried over to her and wrapped her in a big hug. “I was afraid you’d chicken out.”
“Almost.”
Bryce stepped back and looked her over. “Honey, I love the hair.” He ran his fingers through it. “It’s beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
Jesse pulled out two bottles of water from the refrigerator and handed one to Melissa. “You know, if any other man fondled my girlfriend like that, I’d kick his ass.”
“Yeah, I’m safe,” Bryce laughed. He walked toward the island and set down an enormous, leather-bound book. “Tyson called four times.” He flipped open the book, took out a sheet of paper, and handed it to Jesse.
Jesse scanned it over and then wadded the paper up and threw it in the trash. “I told him I have a guest. We can do business next week. I want to spend time with Melissa.”
“Didn’t I tell him that?” Bryce held up both his hands as if to stop Jesse from talking further. “That man is an ass. You’d be better going independent.” He closed the book and tucked it back up under his arm. “Either way, you’re expected at the arena tomorrow for a sound check, and me and your girlfriend have a date on Rodeo, remember?” He shifted his eyes to her.
“I remember.”
With a wave of his hand, he walked out another door which Melissa could see led to a patio where there was a swimming pool.
She looked back at Jesse. “If you have things you need to do…”
He gathered her in his arms. “All I need to do is this.”
His lips met hers. This kiss was slow and soft, as if there were no reason to hurry—no eyes watching.
Melissa moved in closer to him and lifted her arms around his neck. Jesse slowly moved his hands down her back and over her bottom. She jerked at the movement, but settled against him.
She needed to free her mind of everything. This weekend, she wasn’t a teacher. Jonah was safe and taken care of with her mother. She could relax. This weekend, she was Jesse’s girlfriend—Martin’s wife was something of the past. She’d said goodbye to that when she’d left the house.
Her body began to mold against his as he pulled her even closer. One hand held her close low on her back. The other hand moved to her hair.
His tongue moved against hers, and the need for him grew deeper.
Jesse finally broke the kiss and rested his head against hers. “God, if I don’t stop, we’ll never get out of this house.” He pressed another gentle kiss to her lips. “I love you. I want you to know this weekend wasn’t about getting you out here to have sex with you.”
Her mind was still spinning, but she only nodded her head.
“I promised my mother I’d bring you out to meet her.”
Melissa sighed. “Nothing takes away sexual heat like the mention of someone’s mother.”
Jesse laughed. “I know.” He pulled her into him and embraced her. “This is so right. Do you feel that? You’re meant to be in my arms.”
She didn’t want to speak. The wrong words would come out. Instead she just held on as long as she could. She was happy, and she knew she was in love. It needed to be all that mattered at that moment because already she knew she didn’t fit in this city, this house, or in his life.
Jesse had fetched her bag from the car and carried it inside.
“I’ll show you upstairs.” He led her through the house, which was pristine with white walls, marble floors, and plush carpet in the living room off the entrance. Thank goodness Jonah wasn’t with her, she was afraid she’d make a mess of the house as it was.
Jesse pushed the door open to a room and set the bag down. “I had Bryce prepare this room for you.”
It was lovely. She could see some redecorating in her own bedroom after having this. The duvet was so pristine on the bed she was sure it was new and on the night stand there was a vase of roses and a card.
Enjoy your visit, Love Bryce.
“He’s very thoughtful,” she said as she smelled the roses.
“He likes you. He likes what you do to me.”
She let out a laugh. “We haven’t been around each other very much.”
Jesse walked toward her and rested his hands on her hips. “It’s not me being around you that has an effect on me. It’s just you.” He combed his fingers through her hair. “Love does crazy things to people.”
Melissa swallowed hard. “Yes it does.” Didn’t she know that just standing in the bedroom with the man?
“I thought I was going to make it all the way till tonight without touching you.” He moved in even closer, until she had to steady herself with her palms against his chest.
Jesse cupped the back of her neck and lowered his face until he was only a breath away. “I love you.”
“Jesse…”
“You don’t feel the same?”
The air caught in her lungs as she gazed into his gray eyes. She lifted her hand and brushed it over the sides of his hair, which laid flat today. She slid her fingers over his jaw and touched his lips. Her body trembled as she felt his breath on her fingertips. Every part of this trip was a gamble. It was a gamble to leave her son and her job. A gamble to be the woman on his arm and to face the criticism on the world. A gamble to want to tumble into bed with him and free herself from the worries of a single mother. But even more, she knew the biggest gamble rattled her heart and the words teetered on the tip of her tongue. “I do feel the same way.” She felt her knees weaken. “Jesse, I love you too.”
It was obviously all he needed to hear. His mouth came down on hers with a heated passion she hadn’t felt in years. Urgency burned through their clothes as he lifted Melissa and she straddled him.
He held her tight, his mouth still on hers, and he began to walk out of the room.
“Where are you going?” She laughed through their kiss.
“My room.”
Melissa lifted her head back. “That wasn’t your room?”
“I didn’t want to be presumptuous.”
God, she did love this man. Who cared that there was nine years between them or that he was as beautiful as a god. She loved him. She absolutely loved him and she didn’t think she could wrap herself around him any tighter to make him any closer.
As Jesse walked out to the hallway, he pressed her up against the wall. Her legs tightened around him as his tongue explored her mouth.
He moved his hands to the buttons of her shirt and nimbly began to unbutton each one.
There was a panic that surged through her when he parted the fabric. She didn’t have nice lengire. She had breast fed her son, her breasts were not taunt. But Jesse didn’t seem to notice that as he pressed kisses over the swell of her breasts.
Parts of her reacted as they hadn’t in years. Urgency, need, and desire all twisted inside of her.
Jesse gathered her back in his arms, her legs still wrapped around him and he carried her down the hall to his room and kicked the door closed behind him.
Chapter Thirteen
The room was silent—and bright. The midday sun was no match for the sheer curtains that hung from Jesse’s windows.
>
He was afraid to move—afraid to speak.
Melissa had given herself to him, and in return, he’d been gentle, careful, and loving. Now she lay wrapped in his arms, breathing steady as though, perhaps, she’d dosed off for a moment. Then she turned in his arms. Her naked body pressed against his, and he pulled the sheet up around them.
Her new hairstyle was mussed and tangled. Her lips were swollen and her makeup smudged—and he’d never seen a woman more beautiful.
Jesse moved in and gently pressed his lips to hers. “Thank you for trusting me.”
She only smiled and rested her head against his chest.
There was so much he wanted to say to her, but he knew it would all be for not. Melissa wasn’t the kind of woman who did things without thinking them through. He was sure coming to California and sleeping with him was about the most reckless thing she’d ever done. But, in his head, it wasn’t reckless.
This was forever, and that was exactly what he wanted. And Jesse Charles was used to getting what he wanted. But this was going to take work.
He wanted to marry Melissa.
He wanted to have her forever and make a family with her.
But she was level-headed—and she had a family. She had it all. A career she loved, a son, and a man who already took care of her. William Scott was more of a threat to him than he wanted to admit, and he wasn’t even sure Melissa knew it.
Even his manager and that stupid model, who had claimed they were getting married, weren’t as much of an obstacle as a man who truly loved a woman.
Jesse brushed his hand over her hair, and she looked up at him with those hazy brown eyes.
She smiled. “Your mother is going to know what we did.”
“I’m not seventeen.”
She nodded and rested her head against him again. She brushed the tips of her fingers through the small tuft of hair on his chest and then placed a kiss on his skin. “Thank you for being gentle with me.”
“I don’t want to scare you away.”
“I’m not scared anymore.” She shifted and looked up at him again. “I don’t know how this will work. We come from such different places, but…” She lifted herself up onto her elbow and looked down at him. “I’m very willing to try, as long as I never have to move Jonah away from Aspen Creek.”
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