“You smell so good,” Jake mumbled into the crook of my neck. I swallowed, every hair on my body sticking up as straight as a needle.
My hands gripped his t-shirt like a vice. He smirked against my skin, running his nose along my cheek. “You want me to take it off?”
I didn’t move my hands, I couldn’t even peel my eyes from the flash of light on my phone. The glow vanished and it was still imprinted in my brain.
Jake followed my gaze. “What’s wrong?” Darting his attention back to my face, he took my chin in his hand, forcing my attention to face him, but my eyes remained planted on the phone.
“Cora? You’re pale.” He felt my forehead with his other hand. “Are you feeling alright?”
I shook in his hands, and concern was sketched into his knitted brows.
“My phone,” I croaked, keeping my hands clenched in his shirt.
Jake found it, releasing my chin to grab it, pulling it between us. “Here.”
I swallowed, squeezing my eyes shut. This wasn’t happening, I signed the papers, he’s gone for good, and he swore he wouldn’t do this…
“Love, you’re going to have to throw me a bone here. Jesus, you’re shaking.”
“He’s,” I swallowed, but only dryness was in my throat.
Jake waited patiently for the words to come out, but there was no use. Fear was holding me in place.
Finally, he pushed the screen on my phone, reading the text that caused me to clam up and shut down.
His brows furrowed, anger pursing his lips. “Your fuckhead of an asshole ex-husband, I’m assuming?”
I nodded once, my eyes still clenched shut.
My phone thudded on the counter, and two calloused hands found my cheeks.
“Look at me,” Jake demanded, his tone calm, unlike the grip he had on my face.
I popped my terror filled eyes open, meeting the gentle brown of his irises. He licked his lips, stroking my cheeks with his thumbs. “That dumbass is messing with you. There’s no way he could find you here.”
“Yes, he can,” I whispered, knocking his hands from my face and rubbing my eyes. He took a step back, and I jumped down from the countertop, pacing back and forth the length of the kitchen.
Jake set both his palms on the island counter. “How? I thought he didn’t even know we talked?”
I glanced at him, scratching the front of my throat. “He’s run across some of our emails.”
Jake shrugged. “So? As far as I know, what just happened is the most sexual interaction the two of us have ever had.”
I bit my lip, unable to stand still. “You mean besides the sex scenes we’ve edited for each other?”
“Oh, that doesn’t count. It was for work, we weren’t talking about each other,” he chided, waving his hand in my direction. “You were married, I wouldn’t allow myself to make a move on you. I’m not that type of guy.”
I bit my nail, still pacing. “I know you’re not, but Martin… he doesn’t like to be told no. He had a lot of trouble with the divorce, but he kept his distance. It was part of our arrangement.”
Jake raised a brow, stepping around the island and cutting me off. “What arrangement?”
I crossed my arms, rubbing my shoulders for warmth, even though it was stifling in his house. Why he didn’t have the air conditioning on was beyond me. It didn’t matter now, I was shivering to the bone from fear.
Not wanting to indulge Jake in the real reason I finally put my foot down, I shook my head, dismissing the conversation.
He let out a hefty breath, running his hand through his disheveled hair. I had done a real number on it with my own hands. Too bad that Martin’s text had the same effect as throwing a cold bucket of water on my lap.
I shook my head, my eyes beginning to water. “This is such a mess. I should have waited.”
Jake frowned. “Waited? For what?”
I winced, tilting my head to the ceiling. “I shouldn’t have come here.”
He cocked his head to the side, grabbing a hold of my bicep. I flinched wildly, taking multiple steps back.
He held both his hands up, his eyes wide with shock. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
My shoulders relaxed. I didn’t need to be afraid of Jake. “No, don’t be sorry. Martin makes me jumpy.”
Jake hesitantly took another step toward me. “Why?” His breath was low as he spoke, making up scenarios in his head. It wasn’t his fault; he was a writer after all. Forms of abuse were easy for us to pick out. We researched them for characters. No doubt he was figuring out what a sad woman I was for letting a man cause me to shrivel into a ball of nerves whenever he became threatening.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I whispered, taking steps backward toward the living room, wanting to crawl into a hole and disappear.
He let out a shaky breath, his jaw tensing while he cautiously followed me. “You don’t have to. Let me be here for you, Cora. Please know that I won’t let him hurt you. You’re safe, I can promise you that.”
I backed into the couch, spooked by the contact, nearly falling over in the process.
Jake held his arms out as if to catch me, but halted, holding them in front of him. He knew I wasn’t in my normal skin now. I was terrified from that stupid text message.
“I have an idea,” he said softly, back peddling to the island. “I’m shutting this down.” Taking my phone and powering it off, he put it in his cargo pocket. “Will you come to my office with me?”
I searched the room, not sure what for, but nodded, continuing to hug myself.
“This way,” he said gently, tilting his head for me to follow him. “I’ve got an idea that might help you.”