Page 43 of Love Beyond the Illusion
“Oh, I’m sorry for inconveniencing your life. Don’t bother calling me when you get back!” she shouts before hanging up.
I wish I understood how to talk to her. I replay my own words multiple times in my head before saying them out loud, but it’s no use. And it’s exhausting.
Looking at my reflection, I watch a single tear fall from my eye. Even after all these years of feeling numb to them, her words still hurt parts of me. Jack in the other room is the only thing preventing me from crawling back into bed and wallowing in my own sadness. The promise of laughter and awkward banter lightens my chest. I quickly wipe away the tears, apply a small amount of mascara, and head out of the bedroom.
“Good morning,” Jack greets me with a cup of coffee in his hands. The patio door opens, allowing a crisp, cool breeze to blow through the villa. It’s refreshing. I feel the clean air in my bones as it bathes in calmness. A stark contrast to what I woke up to.
I smile. “How did you sleep?”
“Adequately.” His smile is upside down. “I must say, the couch is getting more comfortable with each passing night.”
I nod, tucking a hair behind my ear. I feel Jack watching me as I open the cupboard, take a cup, and pour myself some coffee. I feel my cheeks burn, and I grow self-conscious about how I look this early in the morning. “Thanks for making coffee.”
“Of course,” he says.
I cup both my hands around the warm mug. “So, Mr. Bradley, you wake up early and go to bed late. Do you ever sleep?”
Jack’s thumb and index finger rub his chin. “Sometimes.” His gaze shifts to my legs. “Is that what you sleep in?”
I glance down, giving my tight button-down pink and white plaid shirt and matching drawstring shorts a once-over. “Yes?”
“It’s a good thing that I slept on the couch last night,” he replies, raising an eyebrow over the top of his coffee cup while it touches his lips. The same lips that mine burn to feel again.
“Why do you say that?”
“Those pajamas look like they come off easily.”
I feel a flush creep up my neck and face. “Who says I would have worn anything to bed?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asks with a straight face.
“Since you have no plans on sleeping next to me or even in the same room—I guess you’ll never know,” I quip.
He steps into me. “I never said I had no plans on sleeping in the same bed with you.”
“So, you do plan on it then?” I look up at his sharp jawline and perfectly tousled, fresh-out-of-bed hair.
Jack’s eyes lower while a mischievous smile pulls at his lips. “Are you inviting me into your bed?”
“It really depends on if you can behave yourself,” I say, clutching my coffee mug with two hands. I bring it to my mouth, taking a slow sip.
“Based on what you’re wearing right now, I doubt that’s a promise I’d be able to keep,” he says.
I have absolutely no response. “That’s good to know. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Fair enough.” He flexes the muscle on his arm. “Do you want to grab breakfast with me at the cafe on the property?”
My heart leaps into my chest. “Sure. Do you mind if I put on something more appropriate to leave the house in?”
“I think that’s a good idea. Take your time.”
I flash him a quick little smile, then head back into the bedroom to change.
After we get back from breakfast, Jack works at his computer for the rest of the morning while I Iay by the pool. We make small talk here and there, but he mostly keeps to himself. He’ll step out the front door every so often to take a private phone call.
I take a quick break after lunch to hit the gym and spend much longer here than I intended. It feels fucking amazing to relieve some of the pent-up sexual tension that’s raging between me and Jack. A little cardio also helps me feel better about Roxy’s guilt trip.
I quickly finish and make my way back up the hill to our villa. When I walk in, I find Jack still sitting at the desk, typing away on his computer. I would love to see his marketing ideas for the winery, but it’s not my place to ask.
