Page 78 of The Bombshell and the Bodyguard
Gray snickered and left the room, shutting the door behind him and leaving me alone in the quiet office.
It wastooquiet. Quiet was bad. Quiet left space for thinking, and there was apparently only one thing I was capable of thinking about anymore.
My brain aired the Jessica Bailey show twenty-four-seven—and not the kids TV program I’d secretly recorded and watched every episode of when she’d starred in it years ago. The reel playing in my head was comprised of all the real-life moments we’d shared together—the good, the bad, the frightening, and the beautiful.
If things were different, it could have been a preview of a full life together.
She’d said she loved me. But it wasn’t possible for us. First, my oldest friend probably hated me because I’d slept with his little sister.
Second, though Jessica was worth tolerating a life in the spotlight, I wasn’t too sure I was worthy ofher.I’d failed her just like I’d failed that village girl.
Only this time everyone, including Jessica, considered me a hero. It was only stupid luck she hadn’t ended up being abducted.
Intending to find some music to drown out the morose thoughts, I pulled my phone from my pocket. When I glanced at the screen, I saw I’d missed a text from Bree Steele.
Bree: You back in town? Would love to get together. Anytime.
Ah, distraction, my old friend. I could text Bree back, make plans, maybe even take Gray’s advice and actually let a woman into my heart.
An image of Jessica, smiling at me with the turquoise waves of my island paradise behind her, filled my mind’s eye. And a swell of sweet, painful emotion filled my entire body.
Who was I kidding? There wasalreadya woman in my heart.
Somehow Jessica had picked the lock, moved in, and furnished every room in her own personal style. No one else would ever fit.
All I wanted was to be with her. It was driving me crazy to know that she was halfway across the world by now.
Fuck.I wished I’d gotten on that plane with her.
I wanted to stay with her all the time, wherever she was, to protect her, toloveher... till death did us part.
I did not return Bree’s text.
Instead, I swiped the screen to bring up Hap’s name.
I hadn’t spoken to my lifelong friend since I’d been home. Having no good defense for what I’d done—other thanI love her—I’d decided to let Jessica tell Hap whatever she wanted to about our relationship and allow some time to pass before I attempted to mend fences.
Maybe one day Hap’s anger would cool and he’d forgive me. Maybetodaywas that day.
After all, Jessica had been willing to defy the world, to risk her heart and risk angering her brother to be with me. People always talked about my courage, but hers put mine to shame.
My finger trembling, I tapped the call button.
“Wilder. I wondered when I’d be hearing from you.”
“I wasn’t sure you’d want to.”
There was a pause. “I’d rather talk in person. You free for lunch? Want to meet me at Nooky’s?”
My pulse spiked with adrenaline and shock. “Give me fifteen minutes.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Seven Ways to Sunday
Wilder
I stepped into Nooky’s, the bell over the door signaling my entrance.
