The Movie Star's Red Hot Holiday Fling(26)

“That’s just jealous gossip,” her mom said. “Are you going to let what other people think drive your decision?”

Jessie closed the article, shut down her computer, and stood. “I’d have to leave Sweetbriar Springs.”

Her mom held her at arms’ length. “Sweetbriar Springs could never contain you. Even when you were in high school, you always signed up to go on field trips out of state. You’re my daughter. I’d love to keep you here, but you’ve always longed for more.”

“My leaving ended up putting you all through hell.”

“You were called to serve, and we’re proud that you answered.” Jessie’s mom walked over to the bureau, opened the jewelry box, and lifted the dog tags. “You always were an adrenaline junky. The fire academy does offer you a way to give back. But do you really want to stay in Sweetbriar Springs?”

The room’s overhead light reflected on her tags. “On the one hand, yes.” Her family’s love, their unconditional acceptance would always be the source of her inner guiding compass. But had her heart truly returned?

Jessie stared at the full-length mirror next to her bedroom door. She’d taken the time to put on a smidge of makeup and fussed with her short, spiky hair, and she wasn’t unsatisfied with the results. No matter what some dumb article said about her, Blake didn’t see her as a mercy date.

More military action was out. More tours of duty no longer existed. More adrenaline rushes when she dismantled IEDs weren’t on her future radar screen. But could the thrill and rush and adrenaline of being with Blake be her life’s next amazing chapter?

She took her tags and returned the chain to her jewelry box. “The offer is tempting.”

“So you’ll consider it?”

“I’m going to talk to Blake about it today.”

Her mom hugged her and walked to the bedroom door. “I’ll stand by whatever you choose. However, I expect you to act upon what your gut tells you to do,” she said and left, closing the door behind her.

Jessie opened her bureau, then drew out the box that held her Purple Heart. A familiar ache pricked behind her eyes, but this time, pride accompanied the sorrow. Because Blake had gone out of his way to discover the truth. Talking to Woodall and Constanza. Getting the facts. Then showing her a more accurate picture about the day that had haunted her for over a year. She snapped open its hinges and lifted out the medal. Blake had given her a new perspective about herself, too. Sure, a few sexy models had snubbed her when he wasn’t around to stop their idiotic behavior, but only a man who cared deeply would go to such lengths to help her find peace.

While she wasn’t the type to fantasize about rings and weddings, she was half in love with Blake. Though he’d never said the words or promised more.

She turned the heart-shaped medal around, remembering her Marine oath. Was she willing to take a leap off the proverbial cliff of doubt to grab onto this different chance? Light glinted off the medal. She didn’t need a proposal when the man in question had given her something far greater.

Herself.

Warmth flooded her senses, propelling her to act. Slipping the box into her fleece hoodie’s generous pocket, she exited her family’s residential wing. Blake had said to wait until after the New Year’s Eve party to give him her final answer, but she wanted to celebrate a new year, and new beginnings, with him.

And she wanted to banish the lingering reservations she had about whether or not she’d ever be good enough to be part of Blake’s world.

…

An hour later, Jessie used Blake’s extra key card to get inside his suite. There was no sign of him. Turning to leave, she caught sight of his open laptop. A frisson of curiosity unfurled in her belly. One move of the computer mouse and she’d be able to read the screen. She shook her head. She shouldn’t look at what he’d written, but now that she’d decided to be part of the movies he made, surely a little recon wouldn’t hurt?

She played with the medal box in her pocket, opening and closing it sightlessly until she withdrew the contents. Stepping closer, Jessie shifted the mouse, and the screen flashed to life. Her senses zipped into overdrive, every muscle pinged with adrenaline. Yup. Definitely a Quinn Sawyer screenplay. Intrigued, she moved the mouse’s cursor to scroll down the display. What little she read blurred in front of her eyes.

He had described in detail the inner and outer turmoil she’d endured as a wounded warrior.

Anguish, jagged and sharp, lanced straight through her sternum. Everything she’d believed to be true about Blake scored the back of her throat. How could he use her this way? The medal slipped.