Jonquils for Jax (Blueberry Lane 3 - The Rousseaus #1) - Katy Regnery Page 0,59
she said, “to look after it for me, I guess.”
“A team of someones,” said Gard. “House, grounds, pool, pool house…”
Her heart clutched as she placed her wine glass back on the table. “Let’s not talk about it anymore.”
“Jax,” he said gently, and when she looked up at him, his face was blurry from the tears in her eyes. “Anythin’s possible if you want it bad enough.”
She swallowed, forcing a grin as she nodded. “Sure.”
“If you have the money, you can—”
“How about one more swim?” she asked, standing up and unwrapping the towel around her waist. She brushed at her eyes as she ran over to the pool and jumped in, the cool water like heaven on her hot face.
He was right. She hadn’t really thought it through. It wasn’t just about the money—she had the money…it was about the care and maintenance of an estate, hiring staff and paying taxes and insurance. In addition, she still hadn’t figured out if it was possible to shoot Philadelphia Vice on location. If not, then what? She loved being a producer, and she wanted to produce another project. Would she need to return to LA to make that happen? Too many questions to sort through and no immediate answers made her feel helpless.
She heard a splash behind her, and suddenly Gard was holding her, pinning her arms to her sides as he pulled her back against his chest. His lips were close to her ear when he said, “Duchess. Don’t be sad. You’ll figure it out. If you want, I’ll help you figure it out.”
She leaned her head back against his shoulder, closing her eyes. “I never thought I’d get to twenty-seven and be so clueless about what happens next in my life. I hate feeling helpless.”
“You’re not, though,” he said gently. “You’re smart and capable, rich as Midas. I can see you gettin’ stronger and stronger every day, cher. Just decide what you want and make it happen.”
What if I want Le Chateau? What if I want to produce Philadelphia Vice here? So I can still see my siblings every Thursday? And be best friends with Daisy and Skye? What if each thing I want is a puzzle piece, but they belong to different puzzles, and I can’t figure out how to fit them all together? What if I lose the best things chasing after the wrong things? What if I just want to be with you?
She wrestled her arms free and turned in his arms to face him, giving him the abridged version. “What if I want my house and my show and…you?”
“Duchess,” he whispered, his eyes soft, a grin tipping his lips up. “Those things aren’t mutually exclusive.”
“Are you sure?” she asked, searching his eyes for reassurance.
“I’m sure,” he whispered, leaning forward to touch his lips to hers in a gentle, loving kiss.
“Jaxy! Hey, Jaxy! Who’s the new man?”
Her body went rigid in Gard’s arms as she looked in the direction of the voice, which came from the edge of the pool house.
Click. Flash. Click click click. Flash.
She blinked her eyes, blinded by the camera’s flash.
“Holy hotness! Jaxy Rousseau making out in the family pool!” said the intruder, his voice slimy and excited.
“Gard!” she gasped, whipping her eyes to his. “Help!”
He released her immediately, swimming the length of the pool in a moment, then leaping out and racing toward the sound of the photographer’s voice.
“Who are you? Who the hell are you?” he roared, but in his haste, he tripped over a pool chair and landed flat on his face on the pool deck.
“Ooo-hooo!” exclaimed the photographer with delight. “Picked a real winner with this one, Jaxy!”
“Get out!” she screamed, scrambling to the side of the pool. “I’m calling the police. I’ll have you arrested for trespassing!”
“No need to tell me twice,” he said. “You take care now!”
She pulled her body from the pool, racing to Gard, who lay motionless on the slate deck, blood streaming from his head.
“Gard? Gard?” She knelt beside him, sobbing, feeling more lost and more alone than ever.
Her fortress had been breached.
Her heart sank with despair.
Chapter 12
Pounding.
And fuzzy.
Those were the first two things that occurred to him when he slowly opened his eyes, wincing at the bright light before trying to focus. He blinked several times, trying to sit up, then groaned as the pounding in his head increased. Easier to let his head fall back onto the pillow.
“Gard? Gard, can you hear me?”
Jax.
He gasped, his fingers twisting into the fabric at his sides.