Page 65 of California Wild

“You’ve been drunk three times this week.”

She tensed. Every muscle in her body going sharp.

Then she rolled her eyes, brushing a hand through her hair. “Seriously?”

“I’ve noticed.”

Her voice turned defensive, hard. “You used to down a fifth before noon.”

“I know,” he said calmly. “Look how well that worked out.”

Her mouth opened. Closed.

Silence.

He didn’t let up. “You don’t drink like this. Not before.”

“Maybe I changed.”

“No,” he said, his voice lower now. “You’re running.”

Her chest rose. Fell. But she didn’t argue.

Because she knew.

He could see it. See himself in her.

She was slipping.

He reached for her, gently tucking her hair behind her ear, his thumb brushing her cheek. “You leaving tomorrow… and you wanted to spend your last night here?”

She didn’t meet his eyes.

Didn’t have to.

The answer was already written all over her.

He nodded, letting the weight of it settle in. His touch lingered at her jaw, slow, reverent. Like maybe he didn’t want to let go either.

“Stay with me,” he whispered.

Her breath caught.

And for the first time since she’d shown up at his door, she didn’t say no.

She didn’t say anything at all.

She just curled into him.

And he held her.

Like she wasn’t going anywhere. Like this night was something they could keep. Even if it wasn’t. Even if it was already ending.

Chapter 10

Jesse woke before his alarm. His bedroom was still and dark, the faintest glow of early morning seeping in through the window. His body ached with exhaustion, but his mind was sharp, wide awake, locked onto the only thing that mattered.

She was in his arms, tucked against his chest like she belonged there. She’d never left.

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