Page 79 of From the Moment We Met

Lilly’s tears fell in earnest now, god he was making a mess of this situation. “I’m sorry I knocked you off course. It won’t happen again.”

Her crestfallen expression broke his resolve, and his lips crashed against hers, desperate for her to feel anything but this pain. His tongue laved into her mouth as his hands tangled in her hair, holding her to him. He kissed her with a ferocity he didn’t know he possessed. She might be drunk from alcohol, but Jacob was drunk on love. He was bloody in love with Lilly, and she was pushing him away.

Her hands pushed at his chest, her mouth breaking free from his embrace. “Goodnight Jacob. I won’t be your runner-up, no matter how much my heart wants you.”

“Lilly,” Jacob groaned against her hair, wishing he had the courage to tell her how he felt.

“Goodnight, Jacob,” Lilly repeated firmly.

Jacob stood, hating the idea of leaving this woman as much as he hated the idea of never acting again. “I need to see you again. I’m going to see you again.”

“I’ll see you and Victoria at the ball on Friday.”

“I don’t have to take Victoria—”

“Jacob, please. Let me save what little dignity I have left.” When the tears started falling again, it was time to leave her alone. He’d inflicted enough pain tonight.

∞∞∞

Janie stood to hug her brother when he walked through the hospital door, and Jacob marveled at her progress in only a week after surgery. “I’m so glad you could drive me home. I was shocked when you picked up your phone. You’re always so busy.”

“I’m never too busy for you.” He noticed a tabloid sticking out of her bag, his face gracing the cover. Snatching it, he read the headline ‘Jacob and Victoria headed for a reconciliation? Victoria visits Jacob's London home.’ He groaned, tossing the magazine into the trash bin.

Janie shot him a stern look. “Audrey found it in the gift shop.”

“I’m sure she got a kick out of it. She relishes when they make me look like a cad.”

“Hey,” Janie snapped, “don’t get mad at Audrey, this isn’t about her. You make yourself look like a cad.”

“Don’t I know it.”

“I thought you were past Victoria and all her games. It shocked me when she visited the other day, then I see this magazine and realize there might be truth to the rumor. Why in God’s name have you two reconciled?”

Jacob sighed, sinking onto the hospital bed. “We didn’t. She made me a proposition; she can get me the lead role in Milieu of Madness if I help restore her public reputation. Apparently, sleeping with half of Hollywood doesn't enamor her fans. This,” he motioned at the trash bucket, “is part of her public relations scheme. Funny thing, she must have leaked the information before I even agreed to this debacle.”

“Apparently she knew your answer before she asked. I thought you were interested in Lilly, especially after our last phone call. I’ve never heard you speak about a woman in that manner. Hell, I told Audrey it sounded like you were in love. My mistake.”

His little sister’s words cut through him. Was he that transparent? He couldn’t go a couple hours without thinking about Lilly, wondering where she was, how she was doing, wishing she was naked in his bed—the list went on.

Jacob ran his hands through his hair and groaned. “I’m crazy about Lilly, but I can’t get too close. I already feel like I’m losing all my power to withstand her. Soon I’ll be wrapped around her little finger, bending to her every whim.” Christ, he sounded like an asshole.

His sister agreed with his mental evaluation. “Stop being such a git. And stop comparing Lilly to any of the useless harlots you dated—I mean fucked—in the past. She’s nothing like them, and you know it. And she would have you wrapped around her little finger, but she’s not the type to ever take advantage. All she would do is love the hell out of you. And trust me, big brother, you could use it.”

Jacob was reaching, searching for any reason why keeping his distance from Lilly was in his best interests. The truth was he was trying to convince his heart he was okay with Lilly’s request that he maintain his distance. “What about the film role that Victoria has lined up? I can’t risk losing this role for something that may or may not pan out. How often does an opportunity like this come along?”

“I don’t know, Jacob, how often does an opportunity with a woman like Lilly come along?” Janie crossed her arms and glared at Jacob. “It probably wouldn’t have worked out, anyway.”

“And why is that?” His body tensed at Janie’s words, his temper rising at her insinuation. Deep down, he knew he wanted someone to kick him out of his comfort zone and pursue Lilly’s love with reckless abandon.

But Janie wasn’t handing him a permission slip on a silver platter. “Because that would mean having to love something more than your career. It’s better for Lilly, she’s got too kind a heart. She’d be railroaded by you and your quaint conception of love. Besides, I’m sure she’s seen the tabloid by now so it wouldn’t make any difference, regardless.” Janie cleared her throat. “I’m sick of being in the hospital. Let’s get out of here, shall we?”

Jacob paused, his sister’s words hitting him like a punch in the gut.

“Jacob? Are you ready?”

Jacob nodded, giving his sister a smile as the orderly helped her into the waiting wheelchair.

An icy rain was falling, the perfect match for the coldness in his heart. As he pulled the car to the entrance, his heart jumped into his throat.

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