Ready to tell him, she raised her head and looked him dead in the eye. “After you left, I . . .” Tears filled her eyes and choked off her words.
Dylan rounded the desk in a few long strides. He grabbed her arms and pulled her up and into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he pulled her close. He kept one arm banded around her waist and combed his fingers over her head and down her soft, long hair.
“Jessie Thompson doesn’t cry.” He tried to coax her out of this dark mood. She only cried harder, disturbing him even more. He had no idea what to do with a crying woman, but especially Jess. Tough as they come, whatever happened hurt her deeply. “Ah, Jess, come on now. It’s okay. I’m here.” He kissed the side of her head and ran his hand down her hair again and again. He turned with her in his arms and leaned back on her desk, bringing her close between his legs.
“I can’t do this. It brings it all back and it hurts too much. You left and I was all alone. I got that email, saying you were done with me.”
Dylan hugged her tight to his body and buried his face in her hair and neck. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I’m so sorry. I’d never hurt you like that, Jess. You don’t have to say anything, just hold on to me.”
Nothing ever felt better than Jessie tightening her arms around him and holding on for dear life. He vowed he’d never let her go. He’d spend the rest of his life making her happy. She’d never feel this kind of heart-wrenching pain again.
She settled into him, the tears stopped, but she didn’t let go. He waited her out, then took her face between his hands and made her look at him.
He fell into her somber gaze and lost his heart to her all over again. He’d never tire of looking at her. “You are so beautiful. You take my breath away, Jess. You’ve been through so much, and you’ve turned your life around and done some amazing things in such a short time. I wish I could convince you that the past doesn’t matter anymore, that the connection we still share is enough to overcome anything and build a life together. I wish more than anything I could wipe away the hurt and sadness I see in you. I wish you could just say the words and get whatever it is off your chest.”
Tears filled her eyes again. “Dylan—”
He kissed her quiet. “Shh. I can’t bear to see you cry. No more talking. Not tonight.” He stood, picked up her purse, and handed it to her. “Come on. We’re still going out.”
“Dylan, I don’t feel like going out. We need to finish this.”
“Not tonight. I want to be with you, Jess. So come on. I’ve got something planned. No talking required.”
He took her hand and softly tugged to get her to come with him. She sighed and walked out of the office, locked the door, and got into his truck without a word. She didn’t say anything on the way back into Fallbrook, or when they entered the movie theater. He bought the tickets, hot dogs, popcorn, and a couple of sodas and they took their seats. Trying to keep things light, he skipped the romantic comedy he thought she’d prefer, but might make her feel worse if it even touched on their circumstances, and they got lost in Captain America.
They finished eating during the opening coming attractions. He took her hand, laced his fingers with hers, and held on to her through the movie. At one point, she turned and looked at him and down at their joined hands like she didn’t know how any of this happened. He smiled, raised their hands to his lips and kissed hers, soft and long, his eyes on hers. She turned back to the movie first and he kept her hand in his. She didn’t let go when they exited the theater, or object when he took her hand again when he slid behind the wheel of the truck to drive her back to her car.
He kept his word. They didn’t speak. Words weren’t needed when he just wanted her to be with him. For now, it was enough. It took until they were settled in the truck on the way back to her office that he finally felt her completely relax next to him.
She tensed again when he helped her out of his truck and they stood next to her car. She opened her mouth to say something, but he cut her off. “I’m glad you came with me tonight. Can you get home on your own, or would you like me to follow you?”
“No. I’ll be fine. Dylan . . .”
“I know, Jess. We’ll get there,” he said, meaning they’d get to that talk. “I’ll call you tomorrow. Okay?” He pulled her door open and held it for her, giving her an escape, a way out of telling him what weighed so heavily on her heart and mind. She climbed in and started the engine, but turned to stare at him.
“Night, Jess.”