Page 25 of Kiss Me if You Can
He grimaces and takes a step away from me, though I grab his hand before he can get too far. “Isla.”
“You can’t turn yourself in!”
“This isn’t going to end until I’m caught. You know that.”
“No, I don’t know that. I don’t know anything about what’s going to happen to you. I hate that.” And now I’m crying, which would be annoying except it convinces Jake to wrap me up in his arms again. Is this the last time I’ll ever be able to hug him?
Sighing, Jake presses his hand to my head like he wants to protect me from the world. “I wish I could have found some answers,” he says gently, stroking my hair. “Honestly, I have no idea what’s going to happen either, but as long as you’re okay, I’ll—”
Pulling myself free, I grab his neck and tug his mouth to mine. Jake responds immediately, just like last time. This kiss is no less electric than the last, but unlike then, this one feels like a goodbye kiss. If that’s what this is going to be, I’m not going to waste a moment of it. I let my hands roam, exploring his hair, his shoulders, his chest—anywhere I can reach. Jake’s hands burn against my hips, pressing into my skin through the fabric of my dress as he matches my desire beat for beat.
When Jake slows our kisses, I know we’re almost at the end, but I’m not ready to say goodbye. How am I supposed to just drive back to Diamond Springs and carry on with my life as if he was never in it? Sure, I could go on the journey of a lifetime and join Emily in Africa, but now that I know it’s possible to feel this strongly about a person, I’m not sure I’ll ever recover.
Brushing my tears from my cheeks, Jake presses his forehead to mine and takes a shaky breath. “I’ve never known anyone like you, Isla Adams. You’re going to change the world, one pair of pants at a time.”
“And you’re going to save it,” I whisper back, burying my face in his chest. “Promise me you’ll be okay.”
He doesn’t say a word, and I don’t blame him.
But someone else chooses to fill the silence for him. “Uh, Isla?”
I stiffen. I know that voice. And now I know what all those texts and voicemails on my phone probably say.
Still clinging to Jake like my life depends on him, I slowly turn to face my brother-in-law. Only, it’s not just Cam standing there with his massive arms folded across his chest. Kit is next to him, his eyes narrowed on Jake, while their other two friends, Ben and Oliver, stand near Cam’s car as if unsure what to do about the situation. I don’t blame them. The Wonder Boys, as they call themselves, have never been in a situation quite like this.
“This is a rescue,” Ben says after several seconds of tense silence.
Oliver smirks, leaning one shoulder against the car. “Though, it doesn’t seem like you’re in as much danger as Superman here seems to think.”
“Shut up, Hamilton,” Cam barks, eyes still locked on me. “Why didn’t you answer your phone, Isla?”
I hate when he gets all menacing like this. He’s already huge and insanely strong, and though he’s a teddy bear beneath all the bulk, my brother-in-law can look genuinely terrifying. I grab Jake’s hand, just in case he’s feeling the animosity as much as I am. “Kailani didn’t come with you?”
Cam clenches his jaw. He knows I’m not afraid of him, but I am terrified of disappointing my sister. He hates that he can’t get to me like she does.
“She got a flat tire and sent us on ahead,” Oliver explains when Cam doesn’t answer my question. “I wonder what we would have interrupted if we’d stayed to help and come ten minutes later.”
“Oliver,” Kit warns, grabbing Cam’s arm before he can turn on Oliver. They’re friends, but sometimes Cam and Oliver really get on each other’s nerves. “Isla, are you okay?”
All four men look at Jake, who shrinks beside me.
I roll my eyes, squeezing Jake’s hand. “I’m fine, Kit. Just like I texted Cam earlier today.”
“You call swapping spit with aterroristfine?” Cam says. Then he turns his glare to Jake. “You’d better get your filthy paws off her or I’ll—”
“Cam!” I shout, but I’m not the only one shouting.
A rough voice growls, “Moody!” right before a big body tackles Jake, tearing him out of my grip and knocking me off balance.
I crash to the ground, but I barely feel the impact because all of my focus is on Jake as Agent Fields hauls him to his feet and drags him away. Not that Jake is fighting him. The Wonder Boys swarm me, helping me up, and I curse my missing leg for making it too difficult for me to chase after Jake. If only I could explain that he’s not the bad guy, that he helped me, that he’s been nothing but the best man I’ve ever known.
If only I could tell Jake that I’m pretty sure I’m falling in love with him.
Fields stuffs Jake into the back of an SUV and slams the door, and I get one last glimpse of his beautiful face through the window before he’s gone.
Chapter Ten
Jake
