Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 128313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
I looked to the floor for my clothes, only to feel soft fingers hold on to my hand. I glanced down, and with sleep-filled half-lidded eyes, Hallie whispered, “Stay.” I needed to go back to my room to think. My flight was first thing in the morning. I had only hours until I had to be at the airport. Hallie blinked slowly, and said again, “Please. Stay.”
Her fingers squeezed my hand, and that was all it took for me to lift the duvet and slip underneath. Hallie immediately curled against me, and I wrapped her in my arms.
I turned off the lamp beside the bed and didn’t sleep one wink, just listening to her breathe and internally debating what was for the best. But as Hallie turned and laid a kiss on my cheek, I wasn’t sure there was a debate anymore.
My heart had already made its choice.
Chapter Sixteen
Hallie
“What’s up your ass?” Sage said as the people carrier drove her, me, and Atticus to the private hangar at the airport. Our destination: Mexico City. We were taking the private plane again. It seemed this was the Knighton treatment, one I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to.
I stared out the window and tried my hardest to not feel the fact that my chest had caved in and sadness was dragging me down. “Nothing,” I said. “I’m just tired. I . . . I didn’t sleep.” That was a lie. I had never slept better than I did with Jasper holding me to his chest.
“You can take the bed on the plane, Hals,” Atticus said. “I’m wired. I had a late night last night too, but I’m still on a high.”
Sage rolled her eyes but stopped herself from saying whatever barb was on the tip of her tongue. I was proud of my best friend. She’d been doing well at keeping her jabs to Atticus at a minimum.
Atticus looked disappointed that Sage had kept to the ceasefire. Sometimes I wondered whether he really slept around as much as he said he did, or whether he just said it to get a rise out of Sage. If that was the case, he’d have to find another way to rile her up. She was being a true professional these days and keeping her mouth closed.
When silence fell in the car, Jasper’s handsome face immediately filled my head. Followed by the ache in my heart from finding my bed empty this morning.
I’d asked him to stay, begged him. He had slept beside me, held me, cherished me, but when I woke this morning to my alarm, he was gone. I had gone to his suite to see housekeeping already cleaning it out for the next guest.
I’d asked him to give us a chance if we kept things private. He’d agreed to think on it, and I was sure his leaving without even a goodbye was my answer. I understood his reasoning, I did. I heard the racking pain in his voice last night when he told me about the person who was trying to hurt his family, what he believed about his father’s crash. But I still wished things could be different for us.
I meant what I said—I was falling for him. And not in a superficial way. I was falling for him in a way I had never fallen for anyone before. The way my heart swelled when he was near . . . the way my pulse raced . . . and the way we made love, fast and hard and him in total control. It set me on fire, gave me something I didn’t even know I needed.
“Hallie!” Sage’s shrill voice cut through my heavy thoughts.
“What?” I snapped.
Her eyes filled with confusion. “I’ve been calling your name for the last minute.” She pointed to the open door of the minivan and the Gulfstream jet that was waiting for us to board. “We’re here.”
Sage eyed me strangely but let me off without a grilling. I was sure it’d come soon. I gathered my hand luggage and followed her up the airstairs with leaden feet. At the top of the stairs, Atticus spoke to Emma, the lead air hostess, before ducking inside. Sage kissed Emma on her cheek, and I followed, wanly greeting Emma as I stepped into the cabin.
Then everything in my body froze. Sitting in his usual back seat was Jasper. My heart kicked into a sprint and the caved-in hole in my chest was instantly filled with light. Jasper lifted his head, and his midnight eyes met with mine. They softened, and I could read everything he wanted to say to me.
He wanted this.
He wanted us.
He was giving us a chance.
“I can’t believe you’re coming to Mexico!” Atticus said to Jasper and kissed him on his cheek. But Jasper didn’t take his eyes off me.