Page 84 of His Fake Fiancé

“I didn’t see your dad, but Brock and Jax had a front row seat.”

Great, just what she needed. She’d been hoping to already be in LA by the time they all figured out she’d left town. She was surprised her brothers weren’t lined up next to Jake, ready to tie-down rope her, sling her over their shoulders, and drag her back to the ranch.

“You know, you could have just called or texted me. We have this new technology known as cell phones. Instant ability to contact just about anyone at the tips of your fingers.”

His lips flattened, and she could tell he was barely holding back an eyeroll. “You would have ignored my calls, and never returned any of my texts.”

She opened her mouth to deny the accusation, and then snapped it shut. He was right, she wouldn’t have answered either of those things. Mostly because she was trying to protect herself from getting trampled into the mud any further. “Fine, you’re right.” She sighed and turned toward him. “What do you want, Jake?”

He took her hand in his, entwining their fingers. Her heart gave a little hiccup, getting ready to race at a moment’s notice. She should pull her hand out of his, shake off his touch. But she was so tired of fighting. What was one more heartbreak in a lifetime of them?

His thumb swept across the back of her hand, sending goosebumps skipping up her arm. He was staring at their entwined hands, and he looked nervous. It wasn’t a look she was used to from him. He hadn’t been nervous or shy since they were kids. Before he’d grown into his looks, and fully embraced being pretty. The gross coffee in her stomach thickened, turning to sludge, making her feel queasy.

He looked up at her, and the look in his eyes, on his face, snatched the breath right out of her lungs. She had no idea what to do with it. There was regret and sadness, but also hope and something she refused to put a label on—but looked an awful lot like what she imagined love would look like—staring back at her. She’d never seen Jake look so lost or vulnerable before. It sent every protective instinct in her on high alert.

“I have so many things I want to say to you.” He kept his voice low, the words slow and measured. She knew it was because he was trying not to stutter. Not that she cared. While he hadn’t stuttered quite as badly as he had recently, at least not since he was a kid, she had never cared about it. But she knew it bothered him, so she didn’t push.

He blew out a breath. She squeezed his hand. He squeezed back, and one side of his mouth twitched, almost like he wanted to smile, but couldn’t quite get there. She was practically bursting with tension, her insides getting ready to vibrate her right off the hard plastic chair. But, she wouldn’t rush whatever it was he wanted to say.

Another handful of painful heartbeats passed. His thumb swept back and forth against the back of her hand, the touch feeling maddeningly intimate. He kept staring at her, like he was trying to memorize her or something, his eyes such a bright blue she was almost blinded.

Finally, he took a deep breath. “First off, I’m sorry.”

The balloon of hope inside her fizzled, zipping through her as the air escaped. While an apology was nice, it wasn’t what she’d been hoping for. Which was her fault for wishing for things she couldn’t have.

She patted the back of his hand with her free one. “It’s fine. We both said some things we shouldn’t have.”

He cocked his head, the corners of his mouth turning down into a fierce frown. “You’ve got to stop letting me off the hook so easily. It’s not fine, Claire. Not at all. I freaked out and I hurt you, which is the last thing in the world I ever want to do.”

“Okay…” She pulled the vowel sounds out until they were each a handful of beats.

He sighed and jammed the fingers of his free hand through his hair. “I’m f-fucking this a-a-all up.”

“It’s okay, Jake. You don’t have to—”

“Dammit, Claire. I’m t-trying to t-t-tell you I l-love you.”

She sagged back against the seat at his outburst. He couldn’t have said what she thought he said. It wasn’t possible. “What?” It came out as a squeak.

He blew out another breath. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to blurt it out like that. This is the least romantic thing ever.” He was back to the carefully measured words.

She knew she was staring at him, and she was pretty sure her eyes were so wide they were going to pop right out of her head any second. “I don’t understand.”

He looked at her and his face softened, the tension in his face melting away. “And I thought I was the dummy.”

“You’re not dumb. Just because…”

His lips turned up into the sweetest, sexiest smile she’d ever seen, and the defensive tirade she was about to unleash petered off. He lifted their joined hands and pressed a soft kiss to the back of hers. “I’m s-s-sorry it took so long to realize h-how amazing you are. And that all I ever w-wanted was right in f-f-front of me all along.”

Her throat thickened and the back of her eyes were on fire. “I… I don’t know what to say.”

He kissed her hand again. “You don’t have to say anything. I just wanted you to know. And I needed to tell you in person.” He tucked her hair behind her ear, skimmed his fingers along her cheek. “I’m going to go. Have a great flight and please text me when you get there.” He gave her hand one last squeeze and then stood and walked away.

Wait, what? Claire watched him go, her heart beating as fast as a hummingbird’s wings, and simultaneously somehow caught in her throat. He was actually leaving. Why was he leaving?

She stood up. “Jake?”

He turned at her call. Before she realized she was going to move, she was running toward him. He hurried back and then they were crashing into each other. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he slid his arms around her, lifted her off her feet.