Crashing Into Love (16 page)

“I thought this was the right thing to do for us, Fiona. The thought of you having to deal with what went on last night makes me sick to my stomach, and I know it’s my own fault. I created it, and I can make it stop.”

“Jake, whatever happens between us will have to stand the test of time, which I have a feeling will include all sorts of challenges where your career and lifestyle are concerned. I’m glad you did what you did.” She went up on her toes and kissed him. “I really am. It was thoughtful, even if I felt ambushed.”

“Really?” Thank the heavens above she hadn’t turned into an unreasonable woman.

“Really. But…”

“Give it to me straight.” He noticed that Trish was out of the makeup chair, which meant they’d soon be interrupted.

“Next time, can you just slow down and talk to me?”

He folded her into his arms. “Yes, of course. And don’t worry. You’ll look like a million bucks in those pictures, and if anyone says otherwise I’ll take them out.”

Trish headed in their direction.

“I have to get to work,” Fiona said, eyeing Trish.

“What exactly do you do as her assistant? All the normal stuff?” He loved the way her eyes sparkled in the afternoon light, and he wanted her to keep talking so he could see them longer. He wasn’t ready for their brief reprieve together to end.

“Don’t tell anyone, but she’s not paying me to do this, so she can’t fire me. I couldn’t take money from my best friend, and I’m not very good at this, so…I try to keep her organized and make sure she’s got her lines memorized and she’s where she’s supposed to be. All the things that any good assistant would do. I kinda suck at it, though, and she doesn’t need me
at all
. She’s a professional. I know she’s just playing it up so I feel useful. But the truth is, I’ve been a little sidetracked.” She flashed a coy smile. “I took the job to be near you. I was offered a promotion at work, and I’m on a six-week leave of absence while I decide if I should take it. It worked out perfectly.”

He touched his forehead to hers. “So you’re more of a groupie stalker than an assistant?”

“Yeah, you might say that.”

“And you’re taking a six-week leave of absence from work? You risked your job for me?” Everything she did blew him away, and it made him wonder if he could ever be that selfless. She was peeling back layers of Jake that he hadn’t even realized existed and was forcing him to face sides of himself that he wasn’t sure he liked.

FIONA FLOPPED ONTO the couch in Trish’s trailer with a loud sigh. Her trailer was about half the size of Jake’s, but it was comfortable and clean. It was six o’clock, and Trish had just wrapped her final scene for the day.

“Can you believe I had to do that scene five times?” Trish sank onto the other side of the couch and put her feet on Fiona’s lap.

“So what?” Fiona eyed Trish’s feet. “You need to pay extra for foot rubs,” she teased. “Oh, wait. I’m working for free.” She kicked her feet onto the couch beside Trish. “Get to work, woman. My feet are tired from chasing you around from set to set, fetching scripts and bottles of water for the princess.”

“I have a feeling this will be my first and only film with Steve Hileberg.” Trish covered her eyes with her forearm and groaned. “I was so embarrassed. Five times, Fi.
Five
.”

“I would think they’re used to that, and besides, when you finally got it right, it was amazing.” She massaged Trish’s feet as she watched her friend’s lips curve up.

“Do you think so? You can be honest with me. If it totally sucked, I’d rather hear it from you than the critics. They’re out for blood when they review movies.” Trish lowered her hand and tugged at the bottom of the khaki shorts she’d had on in the last scene. “It’s not like I can woo them with my body. I have to wear these boy shorts in almost every scene.”

“Your scenes take place in the desert and in caves. It’s not like you can wear evening gowns. Besides, you look hot in that outfit. I saw a bunch of the extras checking you out.” She patted Trish’s calf. “And you know you’re an amazing actress. You were nominated for an Academy Award last year. You said yourself that you’re just nervous because this is your very first movie filming with Steve Hileberg…and Zane Walker.
Zane Walker!
The whole thing is insane. I should bow at your feet.”

Trish sighed. “Yeah. It is some crazy life, isn’t it?” She pulled her feet from Fiona’s lap and leaned in close. “It’s also insane the way Jake looked at Patch like he wanted to throttle him.”

“What are you talking about?” She didn’t remember seeing anything like that.

“When Jake came to the set this afternoon to see you. He looked pissed at Zane after their little powwow, but he was also eyeing Patch. Sizing him up.” She narrowed her eyes. “If you ask me, that whole thing he did this morning had less to do with getting women to stop coming onto him as it did to keep guys from coming onto you.”

“
Pfft!
You’re nuts.” Was she? Jake had mentioned Zane looking at her. “I’m nobody, and he’s…well, he’s somebody.”

“You can minimize it if you want, but for a guy who wouldn’t even talk to you a week ago, it seems like he’s publicly claimed you. And you’re hot and brilliant and sweet. He
should
be jealous.”

“He should? I think it’s the other way around, and I’m already growing green with envy. Jealousy is not a good thing, and this whole situation is much more difficult than I had imagined it would be.” Fiona rested her head back on the couch. “I think he did that thing this morning as much for his own head as he did for any other reason. He’s doing all the right things, you know?” She turned her head and met Trish’s comforting gaze. “When we kissed the other night, it was so much better than when we were younger, more intense, but it was also like all those years that we were apart never happened.”

Trish reached for her hand. “But they did, Fi.”

“Yeah. They did, and I think he’s having a hard time figuring out if he’s even capable of being faithful or something. He keeps telling me that he’s going to screw up. Like he’s preparing me for it.”

“Or preparing himself?” Trish leaned back beside Fiona. “Guys are hardheaded; you know that. Maybe he’s trying to keep himself from falling for you, just in case.”

“That’s not very reassuring.” Fiona closed her eyes. “I was hoping you’d tell me that I’m being paranoid.”

“I’m a realist, and guys are…guys. They try real hard sometimes, but then something happens and their brains deflate, or scramble, or God knows what. And they mess up. He probably knows himself well.” Trish sighed. “As much as I love you, I have to admit that I would never be able to do what you’re doing. I want things to work out for the two of you because you obviously love him more than life itself, and if today was any indication, I’d say that he also has strong feelings for you. What man would make such a public statement if he didn’t? But I could never deal with women climbing my man like a mountain.”

“A mountain?” Fiona laughed, but inside her heart was heavy with the reality of what Trish was saying and elated by her deeming Jake
Fiona’s
man. When they’d lived in Trusty, Jake’s exposure to women was limited to the small town. Now she’d seen firsthand what things would be like if she and Jake were together. As much as she hated to admit it, she’d also noticed how it had taken Jake’s full concentration to try to ward his past away from their present.

FIONA WAITED FOR Jake inside his trailer Wednesday evening while he met with the producers. It was more like a mobile luxury home than a trailer. She wondered how often Jake had to sleep in it. Was this trailer where he lived when he was on location? Or did he stay in hotel rooms? Or rent apartments? She tried to imagine what it would be like if she and Jake stayed together. Would she go on location with him? Would she want to? It was way too soon to think about any of that, but she couldn’t help it. They might have only just found each other again, but she’d known Jake her whole life. Even though he’d changed in many ways, he still felt like
her
Jake. At least she’d seen parts of
her
Jake reappear over the last few days, and she had a feeling that more of that guy was inside him somewhere.

She was reading through the latest online edition of
Geology
magazine when her cell vibrated. She picked up her phone, hoping it was Jake, but her hope deflated when she saw Shea’s name.

“Hey, Shea.”

“Hi. Sorry it took me so long to call you, but I’ve been swamped. I just saw the pics from this morning. Have you seen them?”

“No. I don’t want to. I know I’ll look horrible.” She pushed her computer across the table. “You know Reggie, Brent, and Jesse all texted me already, wanting to know what the
real
scoop was with me and Jake.”

“Finn called me. He said he didn’t want to hear you get all sappy over any guy, so I filled him in. They love you, Fi. They care. That’s what brothers are supposed to do,” Shea said.

“Yeah, but you know Reggie. He said he was going to run checks on Jake, so the private investigator in him probably ran a hundred different types of checks.” Fiona laughed. Reggie was a little overprotective of her and Shea.

“Well, you have to admit, it’s better than having brothers who don’t care,” Shea insisted.

“True. And they all like the Bradens, so it’s not like they were upset or anything.” Now that she’d had a little time to breathe, she was actually glad they’d even noticed. She knew how busy they were.

“Well, now that everyone’s seen the pictures…take a look,” Shea urged.

“No. I don’t want to see them.” She pushed the laptop farther away. She was dying to see the pictures and had been fighting the urge to take a peek at them for the past hour.

“Fi, you have to see them. Trust me. I promise you won’t be upset. Please?”

Fiona eyed the laptop. “No, Shea.”

“Fiona, trust me. Please? I know how much Jake means to you, and I know how hard that must have been for you this morning. But you have got to see the pictures. Everyone is talking about them.”

Fiona rolled her eyes. “I know. I’ve been dodging remarks all day. Apparently, Perez Hilton picked them up, and they were streamed to the Huffington Post and
People
magazine’s website.”

“All the more reason for you to see them.”

“
Ugh
. Fine. I guess if people are gawking at me, I should know how bad I look.” She pulled her computer back toward her and typed
People.com
. She navigated to their photos under the heading
Stuntman Jake Braden’s Off the Market!

“Holy crap. Did you see the headlines on
People
?”

Shea laughed. “Yes. It’s funny how quickly they pull these things together. But focus, Fi. Look at those pictures. You’re gorgeous, right? Tell me what you see.”

Fiona groaned. “Me, scared shitless.”

“Look again.”

Her eyes settled on Jake’s sincere smile and traveled to his intense gaze, so full of emotion that she lost her voice in a rush of air. “He looks like he—” She’d dreamed of seeing that look in his eyes for so many years that she could barely think.

“Exactly, Fi. That’s what the world saw, too,” Shea said. “Jake’s looking at you exactly like he used to. I was only a kid when you guys were dating, but as soon as I saw these pictures, I remembered. Fi, you know what this means?”

“Uh-uh.” She couldn’t take her eyes off the photo. Jake had one arm around her shoulder, and he was leaning in close. He looked happy. Truly happy. Not like the feigned smile she’d seen in magazines over recent years.

“It means you were right to take a chance, Fi. I think he still loves you, even if he doesn’t know it yet.”

The trailer door opened and Jake walked in. His eyes swept to the left, then moved in her direction. When they came to rest on her, the smile she saw in the pictures appeared on his handsome face. Fiona reached out and closed the laptop.

“I gotta go, Shea. Love you.” She ended the call without waiting for Shea to respond. She was riveted by Jake as he walked toward her in his tight T-shirt and jeans that hugged his massive thighs and left little to the imagination. She rose to greet him, and he pulled her into his arms and took her in a greedy kiss.

She loved being in his arms again, and she didn’t care if he’d ambushed her with the press or had lived a thousand lives while they were apart. She loved him now—this second—and his feelings for her were as palpable as his strong embrace. When their lips parted, she missed the feel of them, and she reached up to touch her upper lip, where his scruff had scratched her. She wanted to feel it again—everywhere.

“That was too many hours to go in between kissing you.”

“Yeah,” was all she could manage as she clung to his arms, aching to kiss him again.

“I thought about you every minute of the day. Screwed up two stunts because I kept thinking about holding you.” He lowered his lips to hers. “Kissing you.” His hands roamed up her back, pressing their chests together.

“Should I be sorry?”

He smiled and sealed his lips over hers again, kissing her like he never wanted to let her go, which seemed like a perfect plan to her.

“Never be sorry. I had something really fun planned for tonight.” He kissed the corner of her mouth, then ran his tongue along her lower lip.

“Fun?” she whispered, having no idea how she managed the word when her entire body was on fire.

“A date.” He nipped at her jaw, causing her breathing to quicken. “Like a real couple.”

His hands slid up her sides and she arched against him, wanting those big hands to wander all over her body. Now. Somewhere among the need coursing through her body she realized he’d referred to them as a real couple, and her heart soared. But her pulse was racing, and she wasn’t sure she could form a coherent sentence to respond. Actions spoke louder than words, so she threaded her hands in his hair and held on tight as he lifted her into his arms. Her legs circled his waist and their mouths crashed together. She ran her hands through his hair, grasping for purchase as their tongues collided, pulling her into a frenzied state of breathless need. He pressed his arousal against her center, and a moan of desire escaped her lips before she could stop it. His hands slid beneath her ass, holding her tightly against him, grinding his hips, creating luscious friction and making her so damn wet her body ached for relief.