Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Axel
Jade is out in the water again. She flicks the end of her board to carve up the face of the wave, her body lean and strong, moving through the spray as though she is bending her will on the ocean itself.
I sit on golden sand and watch her, my heart opening.
Part of me wants to be out there with her, but I can’t.
The last time I went in the water with someone I loved, it ended in tragedy.
Fuck. Yeah. Love. I love her. I’m in love with Jade.
It’s ridiculous, after only a handful of weeks, but I can’t deny my feelings any longer. I’m keeping them to myself though, like a flame sheltered by a cupped hand. I’m not ready to share it yet, not ready to expose it to the winds.
But it’s there, nonetheless.
I’ve been in love before. Was even engaged, before my world fell apart.
I thought I knew what it felt like. But this, whatever it is with Jade, is wilder than anything I’ve ever experienced.
It’s as though she’s part of me, her frangipani scent all around me still, even though she’s out in the waves.
It’s too much, too soon. I shy away from it, the damaged part of me urging caution.
Eventually, she’s going to leave. And that’s the test. I’m not going to try and hold her here, not going to put any pressure on her.
If she wants to come back to me then I’ll be here, waiting. She’ll always be part of me.
Space between us might be a good thing, if I’m honest, to test the intensity of what’s happened.
I know I’m being an idiot, that I should hold on to her as tightly as I can.
But you can’t capture a storm in a bottle.
Jade just came out of a long-term relationship, and I want her to be sure of what she wants before she ties herself to me.
I watch her dance among the foaming waves, my heart open. I’m ready for it, though, if that’s what she wants. Ready to love again. And even if she walks away, it’s all thanks to her.
My phone buzzes with a notification. I glance at the screen.
Shit.
It’s a message, from the council. It’s been four days since the meeting, and the results from the sealed vote are in. I click on it, my hand shaking slightly.
And my stomach drops.
“Hey.” Jade, tanned and gorgeous, water droplets glistening on every inch of her lean form, lies her board in the sand and drops down onto the towel next to me. She leans in for a kiss, but pauses. “What’s happened?”
I say nothing, because I can’t. I know my expression is giving it away anyway. I show her my phone.
“No,” she breathes. Then, louder. “No!” She grips my arm, her fingers ocean-cool on my heated skin. “We’ll get the money, Axe. Have you heard anything more from the banks?”
Because the council have approved the land sale to my family. The only thing that can save us now is if someone outbids them. And at the moment, Jade and I don’t have enough money to do that.
“I’m going to go to Jakarta,” I say. Jade’s fingers tighten on my arms. “I’m going to go to the banks, and I’m going to drop my family name and I’m going to beg them to loan me the money.
Fuck!” I drop my head, running my hand through my hair.
“It’s a long shot, but it’s the only one we have left, unless we can magic up some sort of angel investor.
I have friends with money, but none with the sort of cash we need. ”
Jade’s head rests on my shoulder. She turns, her lips brushing my skin. “We can do this, Axe. I refuse to give up hope. I’ll come with you, and—”
“No. I need to do this alone. You’ll be too much of a distraction.” I turn, kissing her, wanting to soften the words. “In the best way, of course.”
“I’m also someone who could help you.” There’s a line between her brows, a faint glimmer of hurt in her green gaze.
“You help me simply by being here. Please. Stay here. Be my safe harbour for when I return.”
“That’s very romantic but don’t think you’re going to get away with sweet-talking me out of coming with you,” she says.
“Fine.” I grin, despite my anguish. “But I still want to do this alone. You don’t need to be dragged into all this shit with my family. And someone needs to keep an eye on things in case they decide to show up and start work before the sale goes through.”
“Oh, and what am I supposed to do? Lie down in front of the bulldozers?” Her tone is humorous, but there’s still an undercurrent of hurt. I get it. But I don’t know how else to explain to her that I need to do this alone. I try again.
“This is what my family does. They come in, and they take what they want. They don’t care who they hurt to get it.
And Jade, I can take their bullshit. But the last thing I want is for you to get hurt.
So please, I’m begging you, let me go and do this.
I’ll be back in a couple of days.” I hold her gaze, wanting to show her how much I care, how much I trust her to be here, to keep things safe.
She sighs, her expression softening. “Fine. I’ll stay here and watch over everything for you, like a good little guard dog.” She grins, kissing me. “Promise me, though, that you’ll come back to me.”
“Always,” I say, cupping her face with my hand, kissing her again. “I’ll always come back to you, Jade.”