“You always shine at running away.” He spoke to the empty hotel room and tossed Hailee’s pillow back on the bed. “But I should have known better.”
He strode into the luxurious marble bathroom and let out a sigh, refusing to feel as defeated as he really did. Why did he let himself believe she’d actually stick around?
Of course, he could just show up at her door in Silver Ridge, but he had more self-esteem than that. If she didn’t want more, she didn’t want more, and Josh would learn to accept that.
He looked at himself in the mirror and decided not to shave. The unkempt look drove some women insane for him, and maybe that was what he needed, self-assurance from the opposite sex that he wasn’t half-bad. Josh rolled his eyes at himself. He never slept with women for that reason. He was abundantly self-assured, and he had an ego that was plenty big enough. He just happened to have a complete hang-up over an unattainable woman.
“Pshh. ‘Call me Hailee.’ ” He shook his head and drenched his toothbrush with toothpaste. “That should have been the first tip-off, buddy. ‘Cause she’s the one who always splits.”
He started brushing his teeth and grumbling out obvious clues as he walked over to the open French doors to stand on his balcony. He brushed and brushed, thinking about how wonderful the night before was and how he better remember every detail because it wouldn’t be happening again.
Josh swished and walked over to the sink at the mini-bar and rinsed before wandering back onto the balcony.
“Call me, Hailee,” he muttered again. “Why’s that? Emilia might actually stick around?”
He let out a groan and wiped his hands over his face, feeling the frustration boil over. He wanted to like her. Hell, he didn’t even care if she was Emilia or Hailee.
But he didn’t understand how they could share so much and she could simply walk out on him.
Again.
At least wait until morning and have the decency to say Gee. That was fun. You know what you’re doing in bed, but I’m just not into the relationship thing right now.
“That would be too simple now, wouldn’t it?” He leaned against the railing and watched the waves roll onto the beach.
Having dinner with her was amazing. Bringing her to his suite was even better. It was all incredible. Seeing the intensity and pleasure on her face last night was the best gift in the world.
Until she ditched him, yet again.
“Next time you see her,” he began again, “because undoubtedly, you will, just call her Emilia and act like you didn’t just have the best sex of your life. Just go on about your business as if everything is fine in the tiny town of Silver Ridge.”
He blew out a gust of air and groaned. What had become of Josh Turner? Here he was again, unable to focus on anything but Hailee or Emilia or whoever she was.
“I don’t know which I like better.” He shook his head. “Hailee or Emilia.”
“Well, it’s good you don’t have to choose right away.” Her voice smacked him in the back of the head, and he spun around slowly to see her holding a tray with two cups of espresso and two croissants.
“You’re here?” His brows shot up in total surprise.
“Was I not supposed to be?” She cocked her head and handed him an espresso. “I’m sure I could call Lenny to pick me up.”
All the anger and frustration immediately evaporated, and he took away the tray from her.
“I just had the worst fifteen minutes of my life.” He grinned, pulling Hailee into him.
She giggled and her eyes connected with his. “Why’s that?”
“I thought you left again.”
Her gaze dropped to the floor, and Josh felt her body tense up.
What did he say wrong? Should he not have been honest?
“I wouldn’t do that twice to a person.” Her gaze returned to his, and she kissed him softly, and every part of him wanted more. As if she could sense it, Hailee’s mouth broke from his. “I’ll give you fair warning next time.” She winked at him and stepped away, not realizing she’d just caused another fissure in his heart. He didn’t want there to be a next time. He wanted this to work, whatever this was.
“You’re trouble.” He shook his head, taking a bite of croissant. “I just heard from your boss that your next deadline has been pushed back.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, her lip curling slightly. “Really? I don’t remember Suzanne emailing me.”
Josh laughed and took everything in about Hailee. It was as if the years hadn’t escaped them both. He loved that she’d let her natural strawberry blonde see the light of day. Her soft brown eyes glinted with excitement that he recognized from so long ago. He was happy to know that she was able to move forward with whatever text she received from her parents last night.
“I have to get back to New York. We have a writer who’s not meeting his deadlines. But I’ll be back out to Silver Ridge in a few days.”
“It sounds like a chronic problem in the industry.”
Josh laughed and nodded. “It can be.”
She let out a long, wistful sigh and twirled strands of her hair as she sipped her espresso. The expression in her eyes changed as she thought about something she wasn’t revealing to him.
“It’s just hard to believe I’m back in Silver Ridge.” Her brown eyes connected with his. “I’ve spent so long trying to escape the memories there, and now I’m jumping right back in by buying my grandparents’ home.”
“I’m sure it’s a lot.” He pressed his lips together and observed her. “But what memories are you so set on running away from? Was it me? Did I do something to you? I tried so hard to be there after your grandparents passed, but I was a kid. I didn’t really know how to act, I suppose.”
Her expression looked horrified. “Oh, Josh. You got me through it. You were incredible, and so was Dakota.” She shook her head. “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have made it.”
“Then why leave?”
She just shrugged and waited a few seconds before speaking.
“Why New York?” Emilia asked, her brows rising.
“You said you had to escape the memories of the town?” Josh repeated.
She nodded.
“I had to escape the memory of you.” He drew a breath and stepped closer to her. Everything about Hailee called to him. The gentleness of her soul, the kind expression in her eyes, the heat rolling off her body. “And New York was the farthest place I could go.”
Emilia looked away and sniffed. He hadn’t expected what he was about to see as she quickly touched the tip of her nose with the back of her hand.
He’d made her cry. The one thing Josh had vowed not to do. But he had no idea what he said that would make her cry, yet he didn’t stop going.
“You were my world, Hailee. I wanted you to be my forever, and then you left.”
She brought her teary eyes back to his and shook her head. “I know, and I’m so sorry. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to let go of everything holding me in the past until I know you accept my apology. That you could forgive me.”
“Hailee, I forgave you the moment you left me. It’s just…” He wiped his brow and shook his head. “I just couldn’t forget you.”