Rescued by Love(31)

“Already tried both.”

His father laughed and patted him on the back. “You’ve got no jurisdiction over her.”

“No shit.” Leave it to his father to liken this to search and rescue. In every rescue there was an AHJ, or Agency Having Jurisdiction, who oversaw the mission. Addy had made it crystal clear that he had no such authority over her.

“Give her space, Jake.”

Yeah, right.

“You were never good at backing off. You see a crisis and you tackle it. You’ve always faced things head-on, hated the unknown.”

“I face the unknown every time I set foot on a recovery mission. You know that. You do the same thing.” His father had worked in search and rescue his whole life and had eventually founded East Coast Search and Rescue. Now he claimed he was retired, but Jake didn’t think his father would ever truly retire. He still spent a good deal of time directing volunteers and overseeing training courses.

“Yes, we face it with this.” His father tapped his head. “But you’ve never faced it with this.” He tapped Jake’s chest, over his heart. “You protect that with everything you’ve got.”

Jake scoffed. “I never even thought about that particular organ before Addy. And now, I’m all fu—messed up.”

“Fucked up? Yeah, that sounds about right.”

Crossing his arms, Jake faced his father. “Why’s that?”

“It’s the nature of the beast. When the right woman comes around, she turns your world upside down.”

“Yeah? Well, I think it’s more than that. I suck at relationships, and I’m pretty sure I’ll screw this up.”

“How can you know? You’ve never tried a relationship.”

“Never wanted the distraction. And now that I found someone worth being distracted for, I feel totally unprepared. Me. Unprepared. Dad, I’ve been prepared for every single thing in my life since I was five years old. Overprepared.” He paused at the amusement in his father’s eyes. “What could possibly be funny about this?”

“You can’t prepare for love. It hits like a storm and blows everything to smithereens.” He touched Jake’s shoulder, turning him toward Addy. “She’s a smart girl, Jake. She’s tough, and from what Gabriella has told us, she took quite a risk going against her father’s wishes. She turned her back on everything her parents offered, determined to make it on her own. That’s not a woman who will bend to your will, son. And trust me, you wouldn’t be satisfied with a woman who would.”

Jake blew out a breath of frustration. “You know the dangers of camping alone.”

“Yes, and the idea of that little pixie out in the wilderness alone scares the daylights out of me. But you caging her in? That’s even more dangerous territory, Jake. Educate her. Be there for her if she calls for help. But this time, I think you need to take a page from Gage’s playbook. Step back and let her lead.”

Jake scoffed. “Gage? He’s been hanging on for years.”

His father shook his head. “He’s been in love for years. There’s a difference. Gage is a smart man. He might not blow through life like you do, but he knows when to step up and when to back down. Trust me on this. It’s time to step back. You cage that girl in and you’re liable to get bitten.”

Addy turned, and their eyes connected, igniting the very air between them.

“Tread carefully,” his father said before walking away.

Jake headed for Addy. She tilted her head in a thoughtful pose, watching him watch her. What are you thinking, sexy girl?

Every step brought more heat, a deeper need to have her in his arms. In his bed. In his life.

Step back. Let her lead.

He tried to wrap his mind around his father’s suggestion, but Jake wasn’t good at stepping back. He was a born leader. A fixer. The rescue guy who scaled the side of mountains to check every dangerous cave, even in the most treacherous conditions, because someone’s life was on the line.

No one’s life was on the line now, but he sure felt like it was.

Addy said something to Gabriella, her sexy smile doing funky things to his stomach again. Jesus. Would that shit ever settle down? She walked toward him, her hips swaying seductively, her dress swishing around her thighs, and her gorgeous eyes locked on him. Then she was in his arms, reaching up and circling his neck, causing his heart to swell.

“Hey there, big boy,” she said with heat in her eyes. “Looking for a date?”

How could he step back when the woman who had blown his mind before she’d ever agreed to go out with him was right there in his arms?

They moved seamlessly to the music, as if they’d been dancing together forever. “Only if it’s with you.” He leaned down for a kiss and she pressed her finger over his lips. “You’re kiss blocking me?”

“I’m slowing us down for one second, because the minute our lips touch, my brain goes in one of two directions—the gutter or out the door. And right now I have to focus or I’ll miss my boat.”

“There’s an easy way to fix that. Stay.”





Chapter Fifteen





OKAY, WAS ON the tip of Addy’s tongue. There was no place on earth she’d rather be than in Jake’s arms. She’d just admitted as much to Gabriella and his mother, but staying would mean putting off her plans for a day. Though it didn’t sound like much, it was to Addy. It was giving Jake power over her decisions.

“Jake,” she said softly, trying to figure out how to explain what she’d just explained to Gabriella—who had called her crazy—and his mother—who had called her strong—without sounding like she didn’t want to be with him. “You have to know I want to stay. I want to wake up in your arms tomorrow and watch the sunrise and smell the flowers you picked for me.”

Her eyes dampened, and she drew deep, willing herself to be strong. “I debated staying, but I can’t.”

He pulled back only a fraction of an inch, but she noticed. Boy did she notice.

“Won’t, Addy. There’s a difference.”

She sank back down on her heels. “Yes, you’re right. There is, and I’m sorry, but changing my plans is…” This was where she’d stumbled with Gabriella, and it was even harder trying to find the right words for Jake when he was looking at her like she was all he ever wanted. “I told you I wouldn’t change my plans when we first got together.”

“Things change,” he said a little softer. “Addy, it’s a day, not a week. I’m not asking to go with you or trying to keep you from going. I want one more night with you, and I really want to go over some general safety guidelines and make sure you know what to do in case of an emergency. I can show you the things you may not have thought of, like what plants and snakes are poisonous and what knots to use for certain things, and—”

“Stop.” It was another knee-jerk reaction, but knowing that didn’t make it any easier to try to slip out from under its grip. “I appreciate your offer, but I told you I’ve done my research. I’m fully capable of preparing for a camping trip, and if I’m not, then I’ll deal with it when something goes wrong.” She had bought books on knots and basic camping skills, and although she hadn’t read them yet, she would have plenty of time to do so once she got situated on the mountain. She’d looked up the important things, like what to pack, what to expect, and what wild animals she might run in to. Besides that, she definitely knew how to sit by a campfire, heat up a bowl of soup, and sleep in a frigging tent.

“It’s not like there are lions, tigers, and bears up there,” she said to lighten the air. “I mean, there are black bears, but I’m not a berry, so I think I’m pretty safe. And yes, I know I could see a mountain lion, but it would be rare, so can we please not argue about this? You know I’m not going to give in.”

He pulled her against him, hugging her as he kissed the top of her head. Tension radiated from every inch of his body, but his touch was caring and tender, and the dichotomy shook her to her core. Her heart said stay, stay, stay, but her head fought tooth and nail against changing her plans. She’d already changed so much, and giving in would tell Jake he could get her to change her plans anytime, wouldn’t it? That was a little too close to home.

Tipping up her chin, she met his gaze, and her heart whispered stay again. How on earth could she stick to her guns when all she wanted was to stay right there in his arms? Was this how women lost themselves? Their independence? Was this how she’d turn into her mother? By first giving in to one small thing, then the next and the next, until the need for her problem-solving and decision-making skills were erased completely and she flitted through life letting him take care of everything? She shuddered at the thought.

“I can’t stay, Jake. Besides, you have the fishing trip tonight with the guys, and I refuse to be the cause of you missing that.” She reached for his hand, feeling the tension in his grip. “We still have a little while before I leave. I have to pack and say goodbye to everyone, but I’d like to do those things together if you’re willing.”