Everything Is You by Donna Hill

Author:Donna Hill
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kimani Press
Published: 2012-03-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

“When are we leaving for New York?” Raymond spooned closer to Jacqueline. He brushed the hair away from the back of her neck and softly kissed her there.

She craned her head around to get a glimpse of him. “We?”

“Yes. When are we leaving for New York?”

She turned away. “I plan on leaving day after tomorrow.”

He pushed up on his elbow and turned her onto her back so that he could look right at her. “Tomorrow? When were you going to tell me?”

She lowered her gaze, unable to meet the accusation that stared back at her.

“You weren’t going to tell me!” He sat up. “Were you planning on leaving me another note?”

She flinched at the sting of his words. “No,” she finally said. “I was going to tell you tonight.”

He snorted a nasty laugh. “Really.” He leaned back against the padded headboard then ran his hands across his face in frustration. “I don’t understand you.”

She folded her arms beneath her breasts like a petulant child. “You weren’t supposed to be here!” she snapped. “You weren’t supposed to tell me how you felt about me and screw up my head.” She threw her hands up in the hair and sniffed. “Now everything is a mess.”

“Oh, so somehow in that crazy, stubborn head of yours this is my fault.”

She pressed her lips into a tight, unbreakable line.

Raymond glared at her, completely stunned by her behavior. Then it hit him. Why should he be surprised? This is Jacqueline Lawson. Jacqueline is always her own woman. She never relies on anyone. Even now when she is scared out of her head.

He drew in a long sobering breath. “It’s okay to be scared.” He saw her flinch. “I’m here. And it’s okay to let me know that you’re scared.”

Her gaze skipped up to his, darted away then returned. She slowly shook her head in denial.

“I can only imagine how hard it was growing up in a testosterone-drenched environment where excellence and endurance were demanded, and letting them see you sweat was not an option.” He stroked her chin with the tip of his finger. “I know you had to make your own way. And I know much of the time you believed that you were doing it alone so you did everything you could to protect yourself. But, J, you’re not like your father. You’re not like your brothers. You don’t have to be. It’s all right to let someone love you and for you to love them back.” He paused, taken by the tears that slid down her cheeks. “You’re my everything, baby,” he said on a ragged breath. “Don’t every doubt that. We will get through this.”

Her shoulders shook and she pressed her face against his chest, letting the sobs of relief drain from her. He held her close, gently rocking her in his arms, uttering soothing sounds into her hair. “I don’t know how to do this,” she said between her tears.

“We’ll do it together. We will.” He kissed her cheek.

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