That One Summer: A Collection of Steamy Contemporary Romance

Chapter 11

Jorge

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Logic and responsibilityrefuse to make an appearance when I’m with Destiny. Logic says our age difference is too great. There’s a full generation between us. I’m older and should be the responsible party, tasked with keeping us on a coworker relationship, nothing more.

My heart sings whenever she’s near, yet my mind refuses to listen. My body? I’m drawn to her as though magnetized. I don’t feel the years when we’re together.

Work these past few weeks has been a challenge. By some silent agreement, we’ve kept our relationship under wraps. We never enter the cabin using the same door. Never leave at the same time. Always close the door between the bedrooms when we’re not there. Sit apart at meals. Keep our discussions on the show when others are near. Avoid Pederson and his snide, snooping actions at all costs.

Sucks, but I think we’ve been successful. No one seems to have noticed. Except Alice. That woman is damned observant. Thankfully she’s circumspect and keeps her suspicions to herself.

The nights are ours. Destiny continues to read to me from Alice’s books. Sometimes we come together like the story people did. More often the titillating passages are merely a starting point for our own explorations.

Destiny is adventurous and carries me along with her to spectacular orgasms.

I don’t know what I’ll do once the filming is done and she returns to the east coast. I only know I won’t be going with her. I can’t watch her slip away once she’s returned to her normal world and friends her age. It’s inevitable. Dios, the pain of ending what we have stabs through me already. Suffering through a long goodbye would allow her to witness the withering of my heart. I won’t expose her to my pain.

Other than the preplanned hiccups—which Destiny had predicted—of adding a baby splash pool and the construction of the four-season enclosure, everything had gone smoothly. Most of the crew has gone, leaving only a pair of cameras, a small support staff, and of course our illustrious director.

We’ll finish up filming the last of the host explanation shots and filler material in a couple days. There’s a late call this morning, so I let Destiny sleep in and came down to the main barn to watch the hands at work. Shading my eyes against the early morning sun with the cowboy hat Destiny insisted I had to have, I lean against the rail fence.

A few minutes later, Alice joins me. “Lookin’ good, cowboy,” she says with a laugh. “I always figured you’d look good in a Stetson.”

“That’s what Destiny said.”

“There’s not much time left.”

“Nope, we should finish filming and be out of your hair in a few days.”

“Not what I meant, Jorge.” She turns to face me and leans against the fence. “You need to tell her.”

With no reason to pretend I don’t know what she’s talking about, I remain silent.

“Okay, we’ll come back around to that. What else is bothering you?”

“What are you? A mind reader?”

“I make a living out of watching people then recreating them on the page. I notice stuff other people don’t.”

I draw in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’ve decided not to extend my contract. I’m done hosting. I’m done with television.”

“Any plans?”

I’ve only wrestled with this decision in my own mind. Alice is a neutral party. Maybe talking through my jumbled thoughts will bring clarity.

“I feel at home here in the Sandhills. I’m considering moving here. Maybe buy some land. I’ve got savings and investments so I’m not concerned with having to find a job. I’ve spent my life jumping through hoops to remain current and productive for the network. Now, I want to live for myself.”

She nods in thoughtful agreement. “When this land grabs hold of your heart, it won’t let go. What does Destiny think about all this?”

Again I let silence be my answer.

Alice huffs. “You haven’t told her that either? Dude, you’ve got some serious talking to do.” She glances around. “Ah, Micah’s taking care of the goats this morning. I need to talk to him. We need to talk to him.”

She grabs my elbow and starts walking. There’s nothing I can do except go with her. An hour later and late for filming, I’m cautiously optimistic about new possibilities. And scared spitless to share the morning’s revelations with Destiny.

Pederson’s car isn’t at the filming site. My tardiness won’t be noticed. Gracias a Dios he won’t have that to hold over me. His heavy-handed, berate everyone directing style has gotten worse the past couple weeks. Like he’s been waiting for something he can twist to his advantage and is pushing to make that whatever happen.

I’m not going to miss having others profit off of my talents.

I find Destiny putting finishing touches on the styling of the pool’s deck area. Filled with pride, I watch until she plumps the final cushion and steps back to study the area. I applaud and when she turns her dazzling smile on me, I manage to say, “Looks great.”

“It does, doesn’t it? Those side tables you found work perfectly. We make a good team.” She glances around then motions for me to follow her.

She leads me into the small towel storage area. Once we’re out of sight from the glass-walled pool enclosure, she wraps her arms around my waist and tilts her head. What else can I do? Her lips are soft and welcome the press of mine by parting. She accepts the stroke of my tongue with a sigh.

“I missed you this morning,” she says against my mouth.

“You needed more rest, so I took a walk.”

“It’s your fault I didn’t sleep much last night.” She rests her head against my chest. “Thank you.”

We stand simply wrapped in each other’s arms for an unmeasurable moment. When the temptation becomes too great, I curl my finger under her chin and lift her head for another mind-blowing kiss.

“I knew you hadn’t changed.”

At the satisfied tone of Pederson’s voice, we freeze. Destiny inches back, meets my gaze then turns a glare on the interruption. “Mind your own business.”

“Ooh, a startling comeback.” Pederson waves one hand in dismissal. “This show is my business. My opportunity to make the network finally notice my talents. I won’t have some washed up star’s actions ruin another one for me.”

Questions fill Destiny’s eyes when she glances at me. Then the strong woman I’ve come to love surfaces and she takes three steps toward Pederson. One of her hands tightens into a fist and I steel myself to leap into the fray if she attempts punching the bastard who more than deserves it. She doesn’t need to deal with the fallout of that action.

After all these years I remember the satisfying crunch of his nose under my fist. And how the resulting legal entanglements supported the claims made against me. If it hadn’t been for one executive who believed in me, who knows where I might be now.

Pederson holds one hand up, palm toward her. “You’d best be stopping right there, sweetheart. I’m not going to say anything about this. Unless you give me a reason.” His narrowed eyes to focus on me. “Either one of you. Pool deck. Three minutes. Cameras roll in three minutes whether you’re there or not.”

His chuckle follows him from the room and Destiny faces me, hands on her hips. “What is all this about? What did he mean by all that? What did you do?”

“There’s no time. We’ve got to—”

“We’re not doing anything until you talk to me.”

The woman I want and need as mine is stubborn and determined. She knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to fight and make sacrifices to achieve those goals. I won’t allow her to sacrifice her career because I stay silent. My heart pounds hard, then drops to the pits of despair. I have to tell her the truth and face the consequences.

Not now, though. There’s no time. “Destiny, I promise I’ll explain everything later. When shooting is done for the day.”

She give me a side eye. “If I didn’t know Pederson, I’d say you’re trying to put me off. But, since the asshat is doing what he does best, we’d better get going. As soon as the cameras stop, you’re telling me the truth.”

“I will. Des, please believe me.”

“Guess this doesn’t matter now,” she mumbles and presses her lips to mine in a kiss full of promise. “Let’s go get this over with. I’m sure he’ll have plenty of corrections and retakes for us now.” She leans back to study me. “You okay?”

Okay? I don’t know how much longer this beautiful, caring woman will be in my life. Too much depends on my past and the years between us. The years don’t bother her now, but after she hears my story? I’m not okay. I may never be okay again.

I put on a smile that from her expression doesn’t fool her. So I shrug one shoulder and answer as truthfully as I can right now. “No, I’m not. You shouldn’t have to be put through this.”

“I’m not exactly sure what this is. I agree Pederson is going to make today difficult. We’ll get through it and then we’ll talk. You’ll talk and I will listen. Chavez, I...” A soft pink fills her cheeks before she shakes her head and turns toward the doorway. “Let’s get this over with.”