Page 46 of Wine & Whiskey
A bittersweet request for a man like him, who can’t accept kudos when this is the only good thing he does in life. “I don’t care if you announce it, but keep my name out of it. We’ve discussed this before, and I haven’t changed my mind.”
“I have never understood your thinking, but if that’s what you want, that’s what I’ll do. Anyway, are you on your way? We’re going to be starting in a few minutes.”
“No, I’ve had an unexpected complication come up. I’m not going to be able to make it.”
“You’re not coming?”
Ignoring Bridget’s shock, he picks up Shae’s hand and kisses it, the soft skin against his lips a reminder of how much he’s missed her. “I have something important I need to take care of.”
“Oh…Well, I hope everything is okay.”
“It will be. Thanks, Bridget.”
After the phone clicks off, Shae squeezes his hand. “She’s disappointed. We should have gone.”
“This is where I want to be.”
Her gaze returns to the window, but she doesn’t release his hand. After a few minutes, her soft voice breaks through his thoughts. “When I’m performing on stage or filming a movie, it feels surreal. Like any minute someone’s going to realize they have the wrong person and send me on my way. So, if it all disappears, my heart won’t be broken. I would think ‘what a great time’ and go on with my life.”
His grip on the leather is as tight as his chest, uncertain about where her story is leading.
“But, when Juan was threatening you, I realized how much…” Her voice catches, seemingly from emotion as well as hesitation, unwilling to admit her feelings. “You mean to me. If we move in together and things fall apart, I don’t know what I’d do.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“You don’t know that.” Hysteria coils through her voice. “You could get tired of me or resent protecting me. Or fall for someone else, and I’d be in the way because I can’t go home.”
What the fuck? He jerks the steering wheel and pulls the car over to the side of the road. Laying his head back on the seat, he inhales deeply before speaking. “Why won’t you just let me love you?”
“Because I’m scared. Of Juan and you and myself. I don’t know if I should wrap my arms around you or run away and never look back.”
Fearful of the answer, he forces himself to ask the question. “If you left me right now, how would you feel?”
She looks down, smoothing invisible wrinkles on her dress. “I would be devastated.”
He slides his finger under her chin and lifts her face to look at him, drowning in her blue eyes glistening with tears caused by him. “Me too. I can’t imagine my life without you.”
Her hands wraps around his forearm. “What if someone hurts you? I’m terrified Juan or some other…” She looks away, her lip quivering. “What will I do if you’re gone?”
The closest declaration of love he’s ever received from her. He has to close the space between them. After jumping out of the car, he races to her side. He flings open the door and draws her into his arms.
She clings to him as her words pour out. “My heart aches when I’m not with you. I think about you all the time. I don’t want to do anything but be with you. And now, I’m scared I’m going to lose you.”
His heart sinks, knowing the fear of that bastard killing him is what finally makes her reveal her feelings for him. But right now, it’s all he has to keep their connection going. He strokes her hair as she cries. “Shhhh. It’s okay. I’m not going anywhere.” As he holds her, the phone buzzes again. He checks the screen and puts it to his ear. “Yeah?”
“Everything okay?”
“We’re fine. I just pulled over to talk. We’re heading to her house now.”
He shoves the cell into his pocket as she wipes away her tears.
“Was that Max?”
“Yes, he’s tracking the car and saw we stopped. He was worried something was wrong.”
“I don’t know if I should be relieved or freaked out.”
Kissing her temple, he smiles against her flowery scented skin. “You were right about what you said earlier. Max takes good care of us.”
