Page 71 of California Wild

He stepped out, grabbing a towel, running his hands over his face. His jaw was tight. His stomach knotted.

No time. No time to feel any of it.

Jesse brushed his teeth in quick, efficient strokes, barely looking at himself in the mirror. What was the point? He already knew what he’d see. Golden eyes, dark circles, a man too fucking good at leaving things behind.

And now, he had to leave her.

The thought clawed at his ribs.

He yanked on his clothes, the familiarity of his gear snapping him into focus. Tactical pants. Shirt. Boots. He shrugged into his vest, checked his watch.

Two minutes left.

Jesse turned back toward the bed.

And there she was.

Hayley.

Still tangled in the sheets, barely awake, her hair spilling over the pillows, her body warm and soft and glowing in the dim morning light. She blinked up at him, bleary-eyed and quiet, like she didn’t know how to say goodbye either.

Jesse sat on the edge of the bed.

He leaned down, brushing his lips against hers, once, twice, just breathing her in.

“I have to go,” he said against her mouth.

She exhaled a slow, shaky breath.

“I know.”

Jesse clenched his jaw, forcing down every instinct telling him to stay, to crawl back into that bed and pull her against him until neither of them had to think about anything but each other.

Instead, he pulled her hand into his and pressed something cool, metallic, familiar into her palm.

Her fingers curled around it.

She looked down.

Jesse’s key.

The key to his apartment.

Her gaze snapped back up to his, stunned, questioning, hopeful.

Jesse swallowed hard. “I’ll find a way to connect with you,” he said. “I don’t know how. Personal phone stays here.” His thumb traced the back of her hand. “But I’ll find a way.”

Hayley bit her lip, her fingers tightening around the key. “Jesse…”

His chest ached.

“I need you to wait for me,” he said, his voice low, serious. “Just… wait.”

She inhaled sharply, searching his face, looking for something she didn’t know how to ask for.

And then, finally—she nodded.

His breath left him in a rush.

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