Mission Happy (A Texas Desires Novel Book 3) (29 page)

“Sure you will,” she said from right beside him.

He turned to her, rolling his eyes, letting her know the absurdity of her thought. “No, I won’t. Just like saying I’m sorry for yesterday. I’d never do that.”

“Babe, no. You’ll be perfect at my world. You just need to do what you do best. Less is more. Don’t speak, no matter what’s being said. And that’s the true benefit of you coming to my house. They can’t get to you so easily. Because, trust me, if this blows, they aren’t going to leave you alone. Connor, you’re too stunning of a man,” she explained, stepping into him again, and his arm automatically hooked around her waist.

There was his biggest problem. He didn’t want to let her go. Even when he created distance, he didn’t really want the space. Damn, he was in so much trouble. It was even hilarious that he thought he had a choice in any of this.

When he didn’t say anything, she smiled and patted his chest. “Yes, be quiet, exactly like that. Tell me you’ll think about it and let me pretend you’ve said yes, otherwise it’ll make leaving you too hard.”

Leaving. Yes, she was leaving. Damn. He yanked her hard against his body. The idea of her leaving had his heart plummeting. “I don’t want you to go.”

“I know. Me either, but this happens from time to time. I have a lot of baggage you’ll have to put up with to be with me. I know it’s not fair, but it’s true. It’ll either tear us apart or make us stronger. It’s a choice you’ll have to make,” she said seriously.

“I already don’t feel worthy of you before and now that’s magnified,” he said, bringing his forehead down to hers.

She tilted her head up and pressed a lingering kiss on his lips before inching back, looking him directly in the eyes as she spoke. “You need to hear me. That’s exactly how I feel about you. I’m not worthy.”

“That’s absurd.” Connor scoffed at that nonsense. When she stood there, looking serious, he rolled his eyes, stared at her a second, then rolled them again. She just continued standing there, very solemn, staring at him. They were at an impasse, and honestly, he couldn’t see himself staying away from her. He needed Julie like he needed his next breath. She’d painted such a pretty picture of seclusion for them to spend time together. He closed the distance she created by wrapping an arm around her, moving her from the kitchen.

“Let’s get you packed. I can call Cole and see if I can borrow his truck to drive you to the airport,” he offered, walking toward his room.

“They’ve already sent people to get us,” she explained, glancing over at him, giving him an apologetic look. This was one of those sticking points they were going to struggle with. He saw it as his responsibility to get her safely on that plane. He bit back the retort and started walking to the bedroom. This would have to be something they discussed in the future. He didn’t want to be left out of her safety. He didn’t trust anyone like he did himself. “They’re anticipating it getting crazy. I tend to agree, so I need to get on the road and out of here.”

He nodded and forced himself to continue to his room. Their time together had come to an abrupt end. The real world waited. Anger simmered right under the surface as his heart cracked, the very heart Julie had mended and made whole. He hid all that from Julie and began helping her pack while she dressed.

Not thirty minutes later, he heard the front door open and Bruno talking to people. She was leaving and he hated it more than anything.

Julia sat on the back patio, waiting for Bruno to do his thing and sweep the inside of her house for threats. For her, Bruno’s relentless task of following every procedure was nothing more than the formality he lived his day-to-day life by. Her complete security team had stayed on duty at her home for the entire length of their time in Texas. Her sister had also been around all weekend. On top of all those people being present, OverWatch had also sent backup after Connor’s run-in had hit the national news.

The events of last night had broken the entertainment news world wide open, fueling the fire of the paparazzi. Her statement this morning had only fanned the flames of their intrusiveness. Those so-called reporters were like dogs with a bone. They had all the facts, she hadn’t hidden anything of importance, yet they had rehashed each word, now playing judge and jury over a story they had contorted into something that didn’t even resemble the truth.

Instead of dwelling on any of that, Julia sat in her sanctuary by the swimming pool and wore a huge grin on her face, pulling up another picture and passing her cell phone to her sister, sharing all the details of her action-packed and life-altering weekend.

“He’s good-looking,” Tina said, her knees bent, her bare feet resting on the edge of the patio chair as she sat staring at the picture of Connor now posted as the lead story on TMZ.

“That one isn’t even that good of a picture. He’s better-looking than that. You can go to my gallery, find the one of him at our picnic. He’s gorgeous.”

“Hard to believe he’s better-looking than this,” Tina said, lifting her gaze briefly to Julia before moving a finger over her phone. “They also found pictures of him and Ty together and three other guys. There’s not a bad-looking one in the bunch.”

“No, there’s not,” Julia said, laughing. “You should see them in person. It’s hard to keep your thoughts straight.” After a second of Tina’s finger moving back and forth across the screen, she sat there quietly reading. “Don’t read the tabloids. Hand me the phone.”

“Hold on. I found your statement.” Tina stayed silent, her eyes scanning back and forth until she asked, “Did you tell him about you before this robbery?”

“Yeah, but just by a few hours. Social media has pictures of us together at the restaurant last night. That’s what made today take a different turn because they were already questioning who he was. That’s why I came on home early,” Julia answered, getting antsy to get inside the house. She hadn’t showered since yesterday morning and hadn’t slept much in the last forty-eight hours. She needed to be in her bed before too much longer. The television show she had been working on already called for some dreaded reshoots first thing in the morning.

“He took that all right?” Tina asked, her questioning gaze finally rising to meet Julia’s.

“It took a few minutes,” Julia explained, using her hands as a teetering scale until she dropped one hand much lower while crinkling her face. “Not quite so well.”

Tina smiled, then continued to read until she turned serious, her face etched with concern. “So he shot two guys in front of you?”

“I was in the cab of his pickup, and it was dark, but I watched one of the guys’ heads flip backward and smash the passenger side window. It all happened so fast that I don’t think I fully understood what was going on around me,” Julia confessed quietly, her gaze focused on the cuticles of her fingernails, where her hands now rested in her lap.

“How do you feel about that?”

“I feel terrible. How do you think I’d feel?” she answered defensively. On some level, she did feel terrible, but she’d also completely bought in to the idea of Connor saving her from the harm those men had planned to do. Especially since Bruno had accessed their rap sheets while in the air. Those guys had arrest records a mile long and none of it was good. Even during the time of the robbery, those two were out on bond, awaiting trial on similar charges.

“I think you’d feel terrible. Connor carries a gun?”

“No…or maybe. I guess he probably does, but not during this robbery. He disarmed one of the men and used his weapon on the other. They were trying to take the truck, but when they saw me, they wanted
me
and the truck. That’s when Connor took over.” She tried to explain somewhat succinctly.

“Are you okay?” Tina asked and put the cell phone down on the patio table.

“I’m fine. I was pretty freaked out last night. You know better than anyone that I don’t like guns, and I’m sorry for the lives lost, but what worried me the most was Connor. He was so steady, Tina. He handled it all professionally, with no emotion. His actions were clear and straightforward to him. Immediately after the attack, I was a mess and he stayed so calm. He made sure Bruno had me, then went directly for the security video. He called 911. We were out there for a couple of hours. Connor spoke to the police very evenly—I was a crying wreck. He had control of the situation from the very beginning. He was really something else.”

“Julie, you believe in gun control. You hate guns. And you saw someone die,” Tina said, bending closer toward her. She could see the therapist coming out in her sister.

Julia gave her a small smile, knowing Tina would absolutely have her in counseling before the day’s end. Her sister was another benefit to Connor coming to stay. She’d have him assessed and participating in informal counseling within days of his arrival.

“We talked long and hard about that when we got home last night. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like it at all, but I love him,” Julia said, trying to make Tina understand. Nothing seemed too terrible as long as Connor stayed in her life.

“You love him? Does he know?” That brought her sister around and pushed the therapist to the side. Tina’s grin grew as she became excited, wanting all the details.

“Yeah, and he said it back. I didn’t even have to say it first. It was a big weekend. I’m really glad I went.” All the stress of just moments ago fled as she sat back, basking in the warmth that thoughts of Connor always produced.

“You’re in love,” Tina said dreamily, staring at her.

“Yeah,” she admitted on an exhale, smiling broadly.

“How does that feel?” This was new to both of them. Neither had ever been the kind of women to fall in and out of love and most certainly never met the “one.” How could she put all this emotion into words to help Tina understand?

“I…” Julia stopped as those endearing tingles sprang up across her arms as the mental image of a smiling Connor appeared so clearly in her mind. She inhaled deeply, letting the happiness of her love just fill her heart. When no words would come, Julia smiled at her sister and tried to explain. “It’s…. magical. Tina! I miss him so much. I can’t wait for him to get here. I don’t want to be without him.”

“How long until he can come?”

“I don’t know. He needs to stick around his hometown for his parents to get back and if anything comes up during investigation. I hate that part. I want him here. If he’s here, I know he’s safe. Isn’t that silly?”

“You can go in now,” Bruno gruffly interrupted them as he walked past them toward the side gate leading to her driveway.

“How did he do?” Tina chuckled, cocking her head toward Bruno as the gate swung shut behind him. Julia had turned too, watching Bruno go. He never gave an inch. He was disgruntled and put out anytime he was required to speak, or participate, or just be.

Julia rolled her eyes at all the attitude that always poured from Bruno. “Shockingly, he and Connor hit it off. Oh my God, you should see them together.”

“That’s awesome,” Tina said, laughing a disbelieving chuckle.

“Just wait. They talk all that real-man speak. They have conversations with a minimal use of words and yet they fully understand one another. It’s so hilarious. I just laugh.”

Bruno came back through the gate, letting it swing loudly shut in his wake, carrying two of her bags and one of his. Julia looked over at Tina, gave her a very clear watch-this look and jumped up out of her seat. “Let me help you.”

Bruno never broke his long stride or looked her way, only grunting as he passed by, making both of them laugh as they stared after him.

“Come on. I’ll help. So is he staying in your room with you?” Tina asked, unfolding her body from the patio chair and heading toward the gate.

“I offered the pool house, and then you could move in with me, but I want him to stay in the house. He thinks we’re moving too fast,” she said, trailing several steps behind as they walked across her driveway to one of her cars.

“I’m happy for you,” Tina said sweetly, turning to give Julia a big hug.

“I’m happy, Tina. Really happy,” she said, wrapping her arms around her sister, holding her tight. She and Connor had already been through so much, surely that proved they could make it through anything. The lingering doubt of Connor adapting to her world reared up in her thoughts, but she forced that down. She would make sure he had everything he needed to make this work between them. There was just no other choice in the matter.

~~~

About mid-afternoon, Connor hoisted his mother’s ugly side-chair-from-hell into the back of his pickup truck as Cole turned off the street and into his driveway. He let the chair tumble over the side, not caring in the least if he damaged the damn thing. Its end was coming. He’d stubbed his toe for the last time less than an hour ago.

As Cole got closer, Connor lifted a hand and waved before he turned away and headed back up the porch steps and inside the house. His bag was packed, sitting right inside the front door. He took one last glance around the living room, made sure everything looked in place before reaching for the duffle and shutting the front door. He tested the doorknob, made sure it held, then tossed his bag over his shoulder and took the steps down toward his truck. Cole’s dually sat between him and his target.

“Where you headed?” Cole called through the rolled-down window of the passenger side.

“Your place.” He never broke stride as he passed Cole’s truck, heading for his.

“Wanna ride?” Cole asked, no doubt thinking about Connor’s still-broken side window.

“I’ll follow. I need to dump that chair,” Connor said, pointing to the back of his truck, unrealistically happy at the demise of that particular piece of furniture.

“Mom’s gonna be pissed. That’s her watchdog,” Cole called out, stopping Connor in his tracks, making him pivot toward Cole.

“How does everyone know that but me?” he asked, throwing his hands in the air.

“How do you not know that?” Cole said, disbelieving.

“I don’t fucking know how I never figured that out. Why are you here?” Connor asked, shrugging the duffle farther back on his shoulder while both hands went to his waist, showing just how frustrated this whole day had turned out for him.

“You never answered, so I came to check on things,” Cole called out in that always good-natured way he had. That grated on his nerves too.

“The home phone’s been ringing off the fucking hook all afternoon. Then they found my cell phone number. It doesn’t stop ringing. I have it on silent,” Connor said disgustingly, then gave some sort of weird disgruntled sigh as he turned back, heading for the rear of his cab, unceremoniously tossing his bag inside.

“Come to the house. We’ll talk there,” Cole said. The diesel roared to life and he heard the truck slip into gear. Connor stepped inside the cab of his pickup and followed Cole out the driveway, only stopping to lock the seldom-used gate at the road.

His family hardly ever locked that gate, heck, they rarely even closed it, but Connor figured if anyone came lurking, it was the best chance he had at keeping them off the property. Early this afternoon, when the phone started ringing off the hook, he decided staying with Cole might give him a chance at getting a good night’s sleep. The error in that plan quickly began to mock Connor with each hour that passed without Julie by his side. He was irritatingly heartsick for her. Nothing else in the world mattered more than she did. She’d become everything to him in such a short amount of time. All the loneliness of that house had him missing her on an absurd level and became the sole reason he’d decided to head to California first thing in the morning. The serene picture she had kept mentally painting of him staying with her while finishing his military career and starting a new business turned more and more appealing until it was all he could see.

He knew the emotional baggage he’d have to deal with the longer he stayed with Julie. He only made about fifty thousand dollars a year. He couldn’t even wrap his head around the kind of money Julie had to make in order to live in Hollywood. But, ultimately, she was right, being together now would give them time to see if they could make a relationship work. He had to fight his insecurities, and if he kept his place in San Diego, then perhaps he could trick himself into believing he wasn’t living off Julie so much as spending time getting to know her. Yeah, honestly, that plan didn’t seem super solid in his head, but at least he was trying to figure all this out.

When he pulled to the front of Cole’s house, he saw both Reed’s and Ty’s vehicles parked out front. He parked beside them, lifted the gearshift into park, and tried to figure out what it meant for them to be there. In a twenty-four-hour span, just about everything that could happen had happened, causing him to question every little thing. Connor got out and went to the bed of his pickup. He lowered the tailgate to move the chair from his truck to Cole’s.