Page 29 of Love Beyond the Illusion
“There’sonlyonebed,”I gasp. “We should check to see if they have anything else available so we can have privacy.”
Jack squeezes between me and the narrow hallway leading into the villa’s main living space, carrying two of my bags and wheeling another behind him. “We’re going to have to make it work because there’s no way we’ll be able to get anything else for a whole week during harvest season. I’ve already checked.” He brings the luggage into the large primary bedroom. “And although my mom has two extra rooms, her place is out of the question. I’m not staying in that house.”
I sigh, scanning my eyes around the romantic Mediterranean-themed villa. It’s been awkward between us since he picked me up from the airport. He barely said two words during the almost thirty-minute drive out here. It’s hard to believe he’s the same fun and charismatic guy I rashly married in Vegas.
That still sounds weird, even in the safety of my head.
Walking over to the window, I open the curtains to a small cobblestone patio, a personal pool, and vibrant rolling hills covered in full grapevines.
“We’re having dinner with my mother tonight. We should come up with a story about us and how we met,” he suggests, sitting in one of the three chairs surrounding a small wooden dining table.
“Alright. What did you have in mind?”
“On the way here, I was thinking that it would make sense if we’d met at Harry and Jess’s wedding back in March—which is technically not untrue.” He arches a brow. “Piper.”
A smile slips. “Seriously, when are you going to let that go? And yes, since I’m friends with Bailey, and her brother was one of your clients. That’s easy.” I let my hands fall from the thick curtains, turning to face him. “Then, we can say we fell madly in love?”
Jack shakes his head. “My mom knows me too well. She’ll never believe that I magically fell in love with someone that fast.”
Jack doesn’t realize it, but that one sentence tells me everything I need to know about him and his past. He probably hasn’t had many serious girlfriends. “Why? Have you not dated many women?” I press, taking a seat on the edge of the couch.
He avoids my eye contact before answering. “I have dated only a handful of women that one might assume to be moreserious. None of them have met my mother, except my high school girlfriend, and that’s only because I was still living at home.”
Another very transparent comment that gives me a window into Jack Bradley. “Interesting. Well, how about we say we’ve been dating casually, and since you’re moving up here, you thought you’d bring me to visit? We can mention that we’ll be doing long distance and all. Seems simple enough.”
“That works. Completely painless and surprisingly normal.” He smiles.
I rub my palms along the length of my thighs. “What time are we going? Should I change soon?”
“Sure, whatever you want to wear will be fine, and we’ll leave here in about thirty minutes,” Jack tells me before lifting off the chair. “I have to step outside to make a few phone calls.” He tosses over his shoulder before shutting the door behind him.
“I guess I’ll go change and freshen up.” I point toward the bedroom, throwing him a cheeky comment. But it’s no use. He can’t hear me anyway.
I sift through my luggage, looking for something to wear. I had no idea what to bring since I'm sure we’ll be involved in a wide range of activities. Lina came over to help me pack, and she basically threw my entire closet into one massive suitcase, one medium-sized carry-on, and an extra-large brown tote. It worked to my benefit that we both travel frequently because our expert packing skills came in handy.
I take out a pair of black pants, a white sweater, a denim jacket, and cut-off booties with a slight heel that I never get to wear back home. I brought a couple of fall dresses, but I need to feel comfortable and like myself tonight before things get trickier as the week goes on.
I shut and locked the bathroom door behind me, feeling relief to be alone. Jack’s energy is intense and hard to read, which is both unsettling and exhilarating at the same time. And that says a lot, coming from me. I had to constantly read my mother’s emotions my entire life. I never knew whether each day would be a good one or a bad one for her. When I was a child, I had to be on guard, always anticipating her emotional needs and how to help her work through them.
Taking my time in the bathroom, I change my clothes and freshen up my hair and makeup before walking out. Jack’s sitting on the side of the bed with his chin in his hand. He looks up as soon as he hears the bathroom door open.
“Is this okay? You didn’t mention what type of restaurant we’re going to, so I figured I’d go with something nice but casual.”
Jack’s eyes roam my body, and it causes a shiver to move through me. “You look fine.” That intense look for a“you look fine”?
“Okay, thanks.” I aggressively pick at one of the buttons on my denim jacket.
“Everything will be alright. Stop fidgeting.”
I drop my fingers, suddenly self-conscious. “I’m not fidgeting.”
Jack puts on his coat. “Look, it’s not like you’re my real girlfriend. It doesn’t matter if my mom likes you. I just need you to make me look good around other people.” He gently rubs the side of my arm. “Meeting my mom is only to make things more believable.”
His words surprisingly sting and my expression falls. “That was harsh.” I sneer.
Jack’s shoulder drops and his face softens. “That did come out sharp. I’m sorry.” I give him a side-eye, folding my arms across my chest. He steps closer to me and gently brings his other hand to my arm so he’s standing in front of me. It’s a subtle gesture, but it fills me with comfort. “I meant that I didn’t want you to have to worry about it, that’s all. And if it’s any consolation, I like you.”
A smile breaks through my small pout.
