Page 31 of Can’t Let You Go (Ivy Ridge #3)

FALLON

S ometimes when I’m overwhelmed, I like to go for a walk during my afternoon break for a little change in scenery on the days I’m stuck in my office. Lately, I’ve been going down into the wine cellar. It’s quiet, cold, and usually a nice break in the day.

I’ve been wandering down here for about fifteen minutes, taking in the names of some of the new barrels of wine lining the walls, and admiring how much work goes into making wine.

Josie and I have a meeting with a potential client in about thirty minutes, so I should really head back to my office soon.

I needed a breather after a rough client this morning.

I have an inkling she’s going to be a bit of a bridezilla, and I’m already not looking forward to her wedding.

Never mind the fact that it was a rough morning for Presley.

I’m about to head back up the stairs when I hear the creaking of the door opening and footsteps coming down the stairs. I’m expecting to see one of the vineyard workers, or maybe even a lost guest, but to my surprise, it’s Jason who comes around the corner.

His eyes are curious as he takes me in, glancing up and down my body with an unexpected hunger. “Hey,” he greets, voice low and thick. “What are you doing down here?”

“Taking a break before a meeting. I needed a minute.”

“Is everything okay?” Jason asks, stepping toward me.

I shrug. “Rough client this morning. She’s going to be a tough one, I can already tell, and then throw in Presley having a rough morning, and it made for a perfect storm.”

“What happened, if you don’t mind my asking?” Jason questions.

“I don’t mind. Every once in a while she struggles with the pain she has over her dad not being around.”

Jason nods. “I’m sure that’s tough on a young kid. Does she remember him?”

I shake my head. “Not really. At least I don’t think so.

I think she more so remembers the idea of him, and that’s what hurts.

It’s always hard to leave her when she has these times.

Usually something triggers it, but I can’t think of what it might have been today.

Last winter, they had a daddy-daughter dance at school, and it absolutely gutted her she couldn’t go.

The following few days were really rough.

She was really clingy to me, and I couldn’t even blame her. ”

“They really don’t have an alternative for kids that don’t have a male figure in their lives?” Jason asks through gritted teeth.

I shake my head. “Isaac offered to go with her, but at that point, she wanted nothing to do with it anymore.”

My chest hurts from the pain of leaving her today, so I change the subject. “What are you doing here? There isn’t a wedding or anything today.”

“Isaac asked me to stop by and I wanted to have a meeting with my bartenders here.” He shrugs, shoving his hands in his pockets and rocking back on his heels.

He looks sexy in his worn jeans and tee.

His hair is tousled today, growing longer on the sides.

“And when I didn’t see you in your office, I saw Josie and she told me you like to go for walks sometimes. ”

My mind goes blank as I try to process why he went in search of me. “You went to my office?”

He glances up, his chocolate brown eyes locking on mine. “Yeah.”

“Why?” I ask.

He doesn’t answer, looking down at his feet again.

“Jase,” I state his name. “Tell me.”

“I wanted to make sure you were still okay with how we left things the other day.”

“I’m fine,” I mutter, a little irritated. “Why didn’t you text me that?” I shake my head. “Never mind, I should get going. I have a meeting of my own.” I start to walk toward the stairway, but as I’m passing Jason, he stops me with a hand on my wrist.

“Jason?” I breathe his name, internally hoping he might say something, anything, to keep me down here with him, while at the same time wanting out. “Can I get by, please?” I finally ask when he doesn’t make a move to let by.

“No,” he mutters. I don’t fully see what’s happening, because my gaze is still at my feet, but Jason steps toward me until we are standing toe-to-toe. “You need a hug.”

And then his arms are around me. My arms go limp at my sides.

I wasn’t expecting a hug from him. Annoyance trickles through my veins.

He’s like a freaking sour candy. Sour, then sweet.

The hot and cold I’ve experienced with him until this point has been fucking with my head, but the strength of his arms around me is so good that I let myself give in once more.

Jason holds me tightly, and the internal wall crumbles.

The walls holding back my emotions of the pain Presley experiences over the lack of answers about her dad crumble to dust. I’m overwhelmed by the pain I have that I can’t make it all better.

I’d give anything to make her pain go away.

Longing for the man holding me, even though I know I shouldn’t.

Silent tears stream down my face. I let myself be held by this man.

His large hand cups the back of my head, stroking my hair gently.

I don’t care that he’s probably making it frizzy, or messing with the loose side braid I have it in.

I only care about the way I react to him.

I sense a loss of control around him, and yet, he grounds me, all at once. His other hand is around my shoulders, pulling me into his chest. My own arms lift from my sides, wrapping around his soft torso, and pulling myself even tighter against him.

It’s one of those moments where you don’t realize what you need until you have it. Apparently, I really needed a hug.

He holds me until the silent, soul shaking tears stop. In all reality, I don’t even think the tears were from today. I think it was a combination of the last few years of my life.

When I drop my arms from him, he slowly steps back. “Better?” he asks.

I nod, because while I do feel immensely better, now, the embarrassment starts to creep in. “Sorry,” I say, taking a few rapid steps back, my heels clicking on the stone floor.

“Don’t be. We all have to let out a little emotion sometimes,” he replies, shoving his hands back into his pockets and rocking on his heels.

“Do you?” I ask before I can think twice. “Let your emotions out, I mean.”

Jason seems indifferent to the question. He doesn’t answer right away, then shrugs. “Haven’t found a way to let it out yet.”

“You should,” I say, as if I’ve found a healthy way to let out my emotions that doesn’t include hugging the man I definitely shouldn’t have tingly feelings for.

Jason looks up at me. Our eyes lock, his brown eyes burning with something so intense, I can’t seem to name it.

He takes a step toward me, and I step back, giving him more room.

Only he follows. He reaches out, grasping my wrist in his warm, rough hand.

He pulls me back into him, making me stumble.

“The last time I felt relaxed, like I got my emotions out was at the hotel,” he says so low that I have to strain to hear him. “I haven’t felt that good in years, and I haven’t felt it since that weekend.”

I gasp at his admission. “We…” I swallow thickly. “Jason,” I say, his name coming out soft and strained, not at all confident.

Neither of us are looking at each other, avoiding gazes like we’ll be scorched if we catch the other’s eye. I’m hit with a wave of heat, a tension that crackles between us, and I can’t take it. I glance up, and so does Jason.

Our eyes meet, and something snaps. I’m lunging back into his embrace, my arms flying up and around his neck. His hands cup my face, and our lips crash together in an anguished kiss.

I press my body as close as possible to him. My heart pounds rampantly in my chest, like it’s trying to burst out of my skin. The last time we kissed doesn’t even compare to this one. Jason is pouring his emotions into this, and maybe I am too, but I can’t get enough.

My hips move, pushing up against his hard groin. Jason grunts against my lips. “Fuck, sunshine.”

I bite down on his bottom lip at the nickname, prompting him to groan, low and long.

His chest rumbles, tickling my skin. Jason moves his hands that are cupping my face, one down to slowly wrap around my neck, the other to rest on my hip.

He breaks the kiss for only a moment, moving down to kiss along my jaw.

I gasp when his hand around my throat tightens in the slightest. I can still breathe, but it’s like he wants me to know he’s there.

The hand on my hip tightens, gripping the love handle I secretly hate and wish I could change, but he’s gripping me like he can’t get enough of me.

It makes me start to love it, knowing he loves it.

He groans, shifting his hips so his hardening cock presses against me. “Jase,” I breathe, my head falling back. I’m floating, falling into nothing.

Hearing his name, he pulls back completely, dropping his hand from my throat.

I think he’s going to put a stop to this, and I nearly whimper.

My panties are growing wetter by the second, my tummy swooping with each second that passes.

Instead of calling it off, he pushes me back against a wall of barrels.

I let out a small shriek, and Jason silences me with his mouth, his tongue pressing between my lips. He stops his kiss for only a moment, and I’m confused when he bends down, his head level with my chest. Both hands on my hips, he traces down, bending until his hands are at the backs of my thighs .

He pulls me up and into his arms, my legs flying up and latching around his waist. “Jason!” I shriek, and he kisses me again.

“Quiet, sunshine,” he growls.

“Put me down,” I whisper angrily. He can’t hold me like this.

“No,” he simply replies. I pant against his mouth, so focused on clutching to his shirt in case he drops me. Brad would never have even tried to lift me during sex, let alone hold me while he kisses me like I’m the only person in the world.