Page 79 of And I Love Her

Chapter 17

“Oh, Jake, congratulations.” Callie threw her arms around him, loving the way their bodies fit together as he hugged her close. She didn’t even care that they were right outside her campus office. “I’ll bet not even Destiny could have predicted how perfectly this would work out for you. But you’d better come in before someone sees us out here.”

He set her on her feet, and they went into her office. Her delight over his news about the role of Tom Dillion was dimmed only by the knowledge that Jake’s success confirmed that he would leave Bliss Cove soon. Not until that moment did she acknowledge she’d been nurturing a tiny hope that he might somehow decide to stay.

“I’m on a break from work, but I wanted to tell you in person, and I totally forgot to bring lunch.” He closed the door, his blue eyes as bright as a summer sky. “Can you take a few minutes to go out?”

“I have a lecture in forty-five minutes, but sit down and tell me everything.”

She indicated a chair, and they both sat. He recounted the entire meeting with Conrad Birch, energy and anticipation radiating from him.

“I don’t know the details yet.” He scrubbed a hand through his thick hair. “Like the rehearsal schedule and when they plan to start shooting, but I know the story. The character.” A hoarse laugh rumbled from his chest, and he shook his head. “Even when I auditioned, I didn’t think I stood a chance.”

Though Callie smiled, her heart constricted at his words. Compared to Blaze Ripley, the role was small, and he’d make only a fraction of the money he’d passed up on the nextFatal Glorymovie. But she hated hearing about his self-doubt.

“You have to stop selling yourself short all the time.” She rested her hand on his thigh. “You deserve this. You’re going to be phenomenal. I am so proud of you for going after what you want.”

He leaned in to kiss her. Callie’s heart hitched as she let herself sink into him. She’d come to terms with her undeniable love for him, but she’d have to seal that knowledge away and pull up the drawbridge.

No one, least of all Jake himself, could ever know how intense her feelings had grown in such a short time. Even if he did suddenly declare his love for her in return, Callie would not instill the tiniest hesitation in his mind aboutTruth.

And he would hesitate—of that she had no doubt—torn between his loyalty to her and his urge to play a challenging role that he’d once only dreamed of.

She would not force him to choose.

Easing away from him, she rose to her feet and smoothed down her skirt. “So I guess this means you have to leave soon?”

His eyes darkened. “I have to screen test on Monday, but that shouldn’t take more than a day. I’ll come back after it’s over.”

“But you’ll have to—”

“Hey.” He stood and kissed her forehead. “Los Angeles is less than an hour away by plane. We can easily work this out, okay? I’ll come back as soon as I can. In the meantime, we’ll talk on the phone and make video calls that may or may not result in dirty talk and quite possibly stripping.”

Callie smiled and suppressed her unease, not wanting to encroach on his happiness over the role. He’d try hard to keep his promise—Jake was nothing if not honorable.

But after the movie details were finalized? When rehearsals and production kept him away for longer periods of time? When he returned to the glitter and spotlights of Hollywood? Bliss Cove would seem very small to him then.

“I have a present for you.” He stroked her hair back from her face.

“Yes, you do.” She arched an eyebrow and placed her hand on his groin.

A chuckle rumbled from his chest. He pulled reluctantly away from her. “You can havethatpresent all you want later. This one is just for you.”

He pulled a folded sheet of paper out of his jeans pocket and handed it to her. Callie smoothed out the paper, faint confusion rising as she read it.

“It’s for a painting class at the Bliss Cove Arts Center.” Expectation radiated from him.

“I see that. Um…thanks for the flyer?”

“No, I signed you up for it.” He pointed at the weekly meeting time at the bottom of the page. “You’re a great artist, but I think you could do a lot more. This class is an intro to painting styles and techniques. It’ll give you a chance to explore a whole new medium.”

Callie stared at the flyer. “How much is it?”

“I already paid. It’s a gift.”

“Oh. Well, thank you. That’s very generous.”

A crease appeared between his eyebrows. “You don’t seem all that thrilled.”

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