Holding her had felt so right. And she’d smelled so good. Then, when she hugged him again in gratitude, he hadn’t wanted to let her go. After telling her she was worth so much more than a few art supplies, he’d nearly kissed her and told her she meant the world to him.
Fortunately, he’d stopped himself, but the realization had rocked him. How, after five years, could she still mean the world to him?
The question had consumed him for the past two days. She’d crushed him when she left for New York, and though he didn’t blame her for chasing her dreams, he didn’t think he could forgive her. Was it so wrong of him to want her to choose him over her dreams?
So why am I so drawn to her now?
Was it because she’d been so unhappy for the past four years? Because she was so broken? If she’d divorced her husband on amicable terms and returned to Providence, would she still have such a powerful effect on him?
How had deciding he could be a friend to Jessie made everything so cloudy?
Fighting the urge to drive away, he climbed from his truck.Keep it professional today. You’re a protector, that’s all.
He knocked on the door and waited for Jessie. When she opened the door, the air whooshed from his lungs.
She wore his sweatshirt again, with form-fitting yoga pants, her hair mussed, her face void of makeup.
She looked beautiful.
“Hi. Is it that late already?” Her voice had a breathless quality to it.
His lips turned up at the smudge of green paint on her cheek. He followed her into the house, pleased to see the easel by the large picture window. She’d wasted no time.
He eyed the canvas, but she hurried over and turned it away. She didn’t like to let anyone see her work before she finished it. According to Jessie, her reward for finishing a painting was the look on people’s faces when they got the full effect of the piece. No matter what she painted, it was always amazing.
He grinned and stepped closer. “Come on, just a peek,” he teased.
“No, you know I don’t like people to guess what I’m painting.” A hint of the old Jessie came through in her tone; passionate and feisty.
He’d seen enough to know she was painting her view of the lake from the cabin. The striking contrast between the vivid-blue sky and the vibrant pine trees surrounding the water took his breath away. And Jessie had only just started. He couldn’t wait to see the finished product.
He let it go, but he couldn’t stop himself from reaching up to wipe away the smudge of paint from her cheek, like he’d done so many times before.
Fear filled Jessie’s eyes before she squeezed them shut. She sucked in a sharp breath and jerked her head away.
The realization that she thought he might strike her hit. He turned away and walked to the other side of the room.“Jessie, I—”
“I’m sorry.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “I thought I upset you because I wouldn’t show you the painting.”
“I’d never be upset about that.” He rubbed his neck, trying to ease the tension there.
“I know. I’m sorry. I just...overreacted.” She dropped her gaze.
“Don’t apologize.” He shook his head. “I should have realized how threatening that might look. I only wanted to wipe the paint off your cheek.”
Pink colored Jessie’s face as she brushed at her cheek.
He stepped toward her. “Look at me, please.”
She raised her eyes, and he held her gaze. “I would never hurt you, Jess. You know that, right?”
She nodded, tears filling her eyes. She pressed her good hand to her chest. “In here, I know that. But nowadays I’m afraid...of everyone and everything.”
Robert had been here for less than five minutes, and already he ached to pull her into his arms. Instead, he stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Please tell me you don’t fear me.”
She shook her head. “I don’t fear you. You just took me by surprise.”
Keep it professional, man.
