Page 48 of The Choices I've Made
Both Mr. and Mrs. Lovell nearly melted over his gentlemanly behavior. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
“Well, it doesn’t change the fact that I need to go there.”
“Then, I guess I’ll just have to be your chauffeur. Again.”
I moved to respond, but his finger landed on my lips, stopping my words from ever leaving my mouth. The heat from that single digit almost burned, the sensation lasting far longer than the mere second it rested there.
“Jake, I—”
“Well, that sounds like a lovely idea, doesn’t it, Anne? We should get out of their hair, so they can get going with their day.”
The old woman smiled back at her husband. “Absolutely. You kids have fun. We’ll see ourselves out.” She briefly stopped at the doorframe, turning back toward me. “As always, thank you for the wonderful stay, Molly.”
I smiled warmly. “Anything for you two. Come back soon.”
She gave a quick nod in our direction before following her husband up the stairs to their suite. Once again, it was just Jake and me.
Alone.
“What time do you need to leave?” he asked, taking the last sip of coffee from his mug.
“You are not coming with me,” I seethed, rising quickly before remembering my ankle.
With lightning-fast reflexes, Jake was at my side, keeping me from hitting the floor and causing more damage to my poor, neglected body.
“I had planned on a trip up there anyway. Might as well be today.”
“I find that highly unlikely,” I grumbled, steadying myself so that I could wiggle out of his grasp.
Every time he touched me, it was like stepping into a time machine. My body remembered his—every brush of skin, every single kiss—and the more I remembered, the more it hurt to be around him.
Knowing he’d chosen a life without me.
“You find it highly unlikely that I, a surgeon, would like to visit a hospital?”
I huffed. “Fine,” I said curtly. “Be ready in an hour.”
“Fine,” he replied, leaving his dishes on the table where he sat. “I’ll leave those for you since you’re so able-bodied now. Wouldn’t want you to think I was babying you…or interfering with your perfect life.”
I growled under my breath as he walked away.
I’d never wanted to go back to bed more than that moment.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t wired that way, so I got to work.
And prepared myself for another up close and personal day with Jake.
God help me.
Little was said between Jake and me as we traveled out of the little town of Ocracoke and toward the ferry. I turned my attention toward the sand dunes, watching the sun rise higher in the sky.
Since breakfast, his mood had changed.
Darkened.
The snarky, joking tone I’d come to know of him had moved aside, giving me a glimpse into the real Jake. The one who seemed to have the weight of the world on his shoulders.
And the closer we got to the ferry, the more I understood.
