Page 58 of The Billionaire Land Baron

She pinched him on the arm. “You aren’t dreaming. I’m really here.” Her voice got huskier. “Are you glad to see me?”

Jake felt the moment when the air between them shifted, filling with tension and desire that was electric. But it felt different than their kiss in the pool. She’d been hurting then too, of course, about her house, but now she seemed broken and desperate.

“Of course I’m glad,” he said.

Her eyes moved to his lips. His heartbeat sped up and his lips parted in response. Not now. He fought an internal battle with himself. She was too raw, too vulnerable, too unhappy. A kiss now wouldn’t be what she really needed. He knew somehow that it wouldn’t be good for either of them. Before his resolve broke, he pulled her close so that her head was tucked into his chest. She stiffened.

“Shelby—”

“Was I wrong, Jake? Do you not like me?” Her voice was so quiet. He ached for her and wanted to kiss her, just to stop her from sounding that way. But he sensed that kissing her wouldn’t be the answer right now. It would cause more of a complication.

He pulled back to look at her face. Her eyes looked so hopeless. Tears began building and he pulled her back into his chest, kissing the top of her head. He hated to see her like this. Her light had gone out.

“I like you, Shelby.”

The words felt lighter than they should have. Like didn’t seem strong enough for the surge of emotion he felt. But there seemed a vast gulf between like and love. Could he love her already? Did he? Jake swallowed and kept talking, filing the question away for later.

“Then why won’t you kiss me?” She squeezed him tighter and he could feel how much those vulnerable words cost her to say out loud. He rubbed his lips against her hair.

“I don’t want to kiss you right now. I mean, I do. There probably isn’t a time when I wouldn’t want to kiss you. But now we shouldn’t. Not when you’re like this. I want to help you and be there for you. I’m not sure that would be what’s best for you right now.”

“What other time will we have?” Her words were sharp and they hit their mark.

He swallowed. “I don’t know. I want to…have more. But I don’t know how. I mean, my work and—”

“It’s good thing you don’t kiss me then. Because that’s not a good enough answer, City.”

She wasn’t angry, just honest. Honesty was good. But Jake still wasn’t fully truthful with her. He wanted to give her promises of a future or a plan of some kind. But he didn’t know what he could offer. He had to talk to Xander first. To find a way out. Until he did, he would be caught underneath the life he had been building. He wouldn’t be free to offer Shelby what he really wanted to: something real. Lasting. He wanted to give her what she deserved, but he didn’t know how.

She blew out a breath. “I don’t know why I came.”

“I’m glad you did.” He was trying to soothe her, but he could feel her in his arms, growing more agitated and restless.

“Are you?”

“Shelby, I am.”

She was silent and Jake tore through thoughts of what he could do to help her and to reassure her. He still felt the guilt of not telling her the truth about her home, but he pushed that aside. For now, he needed to take care of her. And here, he could do that. He pulled back slightly so that he could look at her face.

“Shelby, will you stay? It’s already so late. There are two bedrooms, so it’s totally okay. You keep the master and I’ll take the other bedroom. Things will look different in the light of day. And I’d like to spend the day with you. We can do anything you want. A date. A whole day’s worth of a date. Please?”

Shelby searched his face as though looking for sincerity. Slowly, she nodded, not fully smiling, but her eyes were lighter.

“I didn’t bring a bag or anything with me.”

“I’ll take care of everything,” he said. “Now, let’s get you back to bed. Do you want a T-shirt or something to sleep in?”

She nodded. With that, he swept her up in his arms. She opened her mouth, but then didn’t protest and leaned her face against his chest. Jake loved the feel of her in his arms. He carried her back to the master bedroom, where he tucked her back into the bed and placed a kiss on her forehead. His bag was in the corner of the room and he pulled a soft gray Cubs shirt out. “This will work. Since you only come up to my waist, Shorty.”

She gave him a half-hearted jab in the arm before taking the shirt. “Jake, thank you.”

He hesitated, heart caught in his throat, then before he could change his mind, bent forward to give her a quick kiss. He’d meant to just kiss her cheek or forehead, but instead went straight to her lips. He lingered, her lips soft against his. Before he was tempted to deepen the kiss, he pulled away. Today had been too overwhelming and the late hour would make it too easy to push too far, too fast. He didn’t want to wake with regret, or to see that in her face.

Her eyes followed his as he pulled back. He could see longing there, but also understanding. “Goodnight, Shelby,” he said, brushing her hair back from her forehead.

“Goodnight, Jake.” And though the light had not fully returned to her voice or her eyes yet, he saw a small, genuine smile as he closed the door behind him.

He wanted to see more of those tomorrow. Which meant that he a lot of work to do before morning. Walking into the second bedroom, Jake texted Xan.

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