Forsaking All Others (15 page)

Jessica reseated herself. “Sorry about that, Wes. Really sorry.”

Weston hunched his shoulders. “There's nothing to be sorry for. But I'd like to know if you're considering Jarred in a romantic way?”

Jessica gritted her teeth. “How can you ask me that? Suddenly doubting my love for you?”

“My question was a reasonable one. Especially when Jarred seems to think he has a real chance with you.”

“He doesn't. Not even a ghost of a chance.”

Jessica was hurt by the pointed question Weston had posed. How did he think she could consider Jarred as anything but a friend? She had made wild, passionate love to him. If he doubted her now, maybe he'd doubt her when they were miles apart, a very unsettling thought for her to entertain.

Sensing that he should also leave, Weston got to his feet. “I'm going now. Don't want to make things worse. You have a lot to think about. Must feel great to have two men falling all over the place for you. Make that one. I'm not into female-worshipping.”

Looking horrified, Jessica leaped to her feet again. “You've got to be kidding! Is that what you think I'm all about? If so, you don't know me. Period.”

Weston grinned menacingly. “By golly, you took the words right out of my mouth. Maybe I
don't
know you.
Not at all.
” Disgusted for losing control and saying things he hadn't meant to, Weston practically ran for the door. He wanted to be alone, needed time to think about what had happened. Feeling sick inside, he wished he could take back the unfair statements he'd made. He couldn't.

The thought to try and stop Weston from leaving came to Jessica's mind, but she decided not to act upon it. It would be stupid of her. God forbid he should think she was begging him to stay. His words had cut into her like a serrated dagger, tearing her tender heart to shreds.
He still has that mean streak in him.

As much as Jessica wanted to regret making love to Weston, she couldn't. The wonderful experience had been too awesome for her to have an ounce of remorse.

Weston knew he had to apologize to Jessica for his earlier behavior. He owed her that much. This was all just one big misunderstanding. Everyone had said thoughtless things, things that never should've been said. Ever since Jarred had arrived they'd been at each other's throats.
So much for a happy ending to a merry holiday season.

Weston would take the high road on this one. The more he thought it over, the more he understood an apology from him was a must.

After Weston grabbed his heavy jacket, he put it on and then left his cabin, securing the door behind him. “Brr,” he chirped, gritting his teeth, shivering from the cold blast of air. He broke into a full run, anxious to get himself in out of the cold. He loved winter, but there were many times he had prayed for an early spring, hoping the groundhog wouldn't see his shadow.

As Weston neared the Harrington town house, his eyes were drawn upward to the balcony. Snow flurries began to fall hard, blurring his vision. As his sight cleared, what he saw caused him to stop dead in his tracks. His heart pounded against his rib cage with force, making him feel slightly nauseated. This just wasn't happening. It couldn't be. His eyes were deceiving him. They had to be. There was no other plausible explanation.

Jessica's and Jarred's lips were locked in a very passionate kiss. That was how it appeared to Weston. But that just couldn't be. Jessica and Jarred were only friends. At least that's what she had convinced him of. Even though he knew Jarred had a romantic interest in her, the feelings simply weren't mutual. There wasn't any reciprocation on her part. Jessica was madly in love with him.

Weston had been pretty darn sure of Jessica's love for him—up until now, before this crazy intimacy between her and Jarred had happened. There was no way he could face her right now. If she lied to him, tried to make him believe he hadn't seen her kissing Jarred, her credibility would be shot. He couldn't stand it if she tried to make a fool of him, tried to make him feel foolish.

With Weston's fears planted deeply in his mind, he turned around and headed back toward the cabin. He needed to leave Aspen right away. It was the only feasible thing to do. Getting out of this city was all he could think about. He had found the love of his life in Aspen and now he was losing it in the very same place. He'd call his parents once he was on his way to the airport. Perhaps he'd call them after he was already seated on the plane. That way, neither his mom nor dad could talk him out of leaving.

No doubt Sandra and Jacque would think their only son was acting rashly.

A single tear escaped Weston's eye.

Weston wanted to kick himself for going off the deep end. Feeling like a pouting juvenile, he was uncomfortably seated on an airplane. The decision to leave Aspen had been made in the heat of anger, in the midst of excruciating pain. Although he deeply regretted the stupid move, there was no turning back now. The plane was about to push back from the gate. Despite all the romantic movies, where the plane came to a screeching halt to reunite feuding lovers, that wasn't happening here. Not in this lifetime.

Since the plane was still at the gate, Weston thought he could at least get in a call to Jessica. He felt apprehensive, especially about her reaction to him bailing out on her like a lovesick kid. In spite of what had happened earlier, he pulled out his cell phone.

Not only had the kissing scene been shocking to Weston's entire system, it had nearly killed his spirit to witness it. Even if it had been the other way around, that Jarred was kissing her, there hadn't seemed to be any resistance on her part. Still, he should've at least given her a chance to defend it. After dialing her number, he held his breath in nervous anticipation.

“Hello.” The male voice was easy to recognize.

Even though Weston knew it was Jarred's, he decided to bite the bullet and ask for her anyway. “Jessica, please.”

“Sorry. She's unavailable.” Derisive laughter came next. “She's busy, busy taking care of me. When you snooze, bro, you lose.”

Jarred had recognized Weston's voice and had taken advantage of the awkward situation he had single-handedly created. Without responding to the churlish remarks of his rival, Weston hung up, fearful for his relationship with Jessica. He'd try to call her later, once he settled down back at home.

That Weston had run away rather than confronting the situation head-on wouldn't help matters any. All he could do was pray she'd understand why he hadn't stayed to fight for their love. It wasn't that he didn't want her, because he did, desperately. He just wasn't interested in playing right into Jarred's unscrupulous hands.

If Jessica
had
been kissing Jarred back, Weston felt that he wasn't meant to be with her. That hurt a lot. Wanting to give Jessica the benefit of the doubt, he still hoped his eyes had deceived him, yet…

To take his mind off all the unpleasantness, Weston closed his eyes, embracing the sweetest, most intimate moments he had shared with Jessica. The girl had set his entire anatomy on fire. As he truly realized how much was at stake, he grimaced.

Jessica had given all of herself to him. Had he been unfair to her in return?

Weston hadn't slept a wink the entire night. As he sat up on the side of the bed, he couldn't believe how intense his thoughts of Jessica were. He had made a grave mistake leaving Aspen like that; it had been a very rash decision. He should've gone to her and talked about what he had seen go down. Maybe it hadn't been as bad as it had looked.
Who are you trying to kid?
The kiss he had witnessed had looked very passionate.

Weston could still kick himself for his reaction. How could they build a solid future together if he ran away from her whenever a serious issue arose? He looked over at the phone for the hundredth time. He had started to call her so many times but had repeatedly backed out at the last second.

What to say to Jessica was Weston's biggest dilemma. She had to know by now that he had skipped out on her. He hadn't even said anything to his parents until after he'd headed to the airport. All the while he'd been heading down the mountain, he had prayed that the sudden snowfall would worsen, and send him back up to the top, back into Jessica's comforting arms.

There had to be a reasonable explanation why Jessica had been intimately involved with Jarred like that; he hadn't trusted her enough to find out. He had called his parents to find out if she had contacted them, but he hadn't been able to deal with their comments, either. Just as he'd figured, his dad tried to talk him out of leaving Aspen, telling him it was a terrible mistake to run out at the first sign of trouble.

Love doesn't bolt like that,
Jacque had said to his son, the distinct sound of disappointment in his voice. Love stays and faces the issues, stays until problems are resolved, remains until a decision is made by both to end the relationship.

Weston's mother had also been surprised and dismayed by his course of action. He couldn't forget the anguish in her voice when she'd learned he was leaving Aspen, leaving on a note of anger and distrust.

The phone rang just as Weston reached for it. He had finally decided to call the woman he loved. It might already be too late. A lot of time had passed. Hearing his mother's voice on the other end caused a tinge of joy to rise, but it only lasted a second. “Mom, have you spoken with Jess?”

Sandra cleared her throat. “I spoke with her mother before calling you. Sahara talked to Jessica, but she already knew you were gone. She doesn't know why you left. Jess went to the cabin to see what was up when you didn't show up or bother to call. The cabin was empty, of course. She's a very hurt young lady.”

Weston punched at his thigh. “This is messed up. I need to call her. I was about to do that when you called. I'll call back once I talk to her.”

“Okay, son, we'll wait.”

After Weston dialed Jessica's number, he only let it ring once. Cradling the phone, he stared off into space. The right words hadn't come to him yet. Were there any right words in this instance? So many wrong things had been said. He had acted out of character, hadn't used an ounce of the common sense God had given him. Tired of beating himself up with words, Weston stormed into the bedroom to shower.

D
evastated
was an understatement for what Jessica felt when she'd first learned that Weston had already flown back to New York. The pain had sent her reeling. Still, she hadn't regretted the deep intimacy she had shared with him. It was impossible to regret the most beautiful moments in her life.

Stretched out on her king-sized bed, Jessica wiped the sleep and the tears from her eyes. She massaged her breaking heart with the heel of her hand. It was still early in her neck of the woods, but she was sure she couldn't fall back to sleep. With so much vacation time on the books, she thought of taking off another week; staying busy won out. She had already spent too much time thinking about Weston.

It was hard trying to figure out what had made Weston jump ship. Had there been a change of heart about seeing each other beyond the holidays? Why hadn't he just told her that? Not knowing was tough. She couldn't possibly deal with the unknown. With her emotions ready to erupt, she moaned in agony. Plumping her pillows, she laid her head down, praying that Weston would call soon.

Just as Jessica had thought, she couldn't go back to sleep. A hot shower would help get the day started. Before entering the bathroom, she picked out fresh undergarments and a casual outfit, jeans and a sweater. The temperature had fallen during the night, leaving behind winter-cool air. Dressing warmly wouldn't hurt.

The bathroom colors brightened Jessica's mood. She liked lavender and yellow together, calming yet effervescent. The yellow flower appliqués on the walls lent the room a nice gardenlike appearance. The glass-block window adjacent to the hot tub and the overhead skylight let in ample natural sunlight. The shutters could be opened a little or a lot to allow in more sun.

As the sun's rays beamed off the clear glass shower door, the light reflected on the wall-to-wall mirrors. The dressing-table mirror was sun-streaked, too. The bathroom was a cheerful place to hang out. Too bad she didn't spend more time there.

As hot water pelted down over Jessica, she thought about sitting down on the ceramic tile, right in the middle of the shower floor. Instead, she increased the flow of water, stepping out a couple of minutes later.

Sadness had overwhelmed Jessica, causing her tears to fall. She didn't want to entertain unhappiness. Eating her favorite foods would help out. The pantry and refrigerator were bare; replenishing her food stock was necessary. She usually purchased enough food to last a week, but she had only picked up a few things before leaving for Aspen. It hadn't made sense to buy groceries when she'd be away on vacation.

The local grocery store was crowded with patrons as Jessica pushed the metal cart around the store, up and down the aisles. Two cases of bottled water were the first items written down on her grocery list; the last to be retrieved from the bottom of the cart. A quart carton of two-percent milk was needed to go along with the cereal and bananas.

Rice Krispies weren't her favorite, but she'd chosen them anyway. They were Weston's favorite; it was as if she were expecting him.

She selected several types of fresh fruits: white grapes, apples, citrus, pears and red and black plums. She tossed a loaf of wheat bread for toast in the upper portion of the buggy, along with a tub of soft margarine. Turkey breakfast sausages and a dozen eggs were also needed.

Nearly out of many household items, Jessica stocked up on tile and tub cleansers, furniture polish, air fresheners and dishwashing liquid, laundry liquids and fabric softeners. Then Jessica moved into her favorite aisle, the comfort foods. She needed comforting, lots of it. These were the items she'd come for in the first place. After loading up the cart with a variety of chips, pretzels and nuts, she moved farther down to where the red licorice and other gummy-type candies were shelved.

Ringing Jessica's doorbell for the fifth time, Weston had to accept that she wasn't in. For good measure, he rang it twice more. Calling her over the phone hadn't been the right solution. Seeing her face-to-face was the only way for him to right this wrong. He would've paid an exorbitant amount for his airline ticket if he hadn't logged so many frequent-flyer miles. The cost wouldn't have mattered to him. All he truly cared about was getting back together with Jessica. She was the only woman for him.

Was he still the only man for her?

Knowing he had to locate a nearby hotel, Weston made his way back to the rental car, glad it came equipped with a navigation system, which he'd used to get to Jessica's place. Both his own cars had the same electronic equipment.

Weston had actually gained time flying east to west, thanks to the three-hour time difference. There were a few hours of daylight left. Driving around in a city he didn't know too much about wasn't an easy task. The navigation system would make it a lot easier.

Just as Weston opened the door of the black SUV, a late model, pearl-white Thunderbird convertible pulled into the driveway. As the garage door went up, he raced toward the opening, hoping to get to Jessica before it closed. He wasn't sure if she'd seen him or not, but Weston had to make his presence known.

The minute Jessica stepped out of the car Weston pulled her into his arms.

“Oh God,” he cried, planting his lips into her hair, “please forgive me for being so stupid. Can I please come in so we can talk?”

Jessica looked both stunned and frightened. She hadn't known who had grabbed her until after she had heard Weston's voice. She sighed, relieved that she hadn't been accosted by some stranger. She should feel relief over Weston coming to see her, but her anger had already taken control. “We don't have anything to say to each other. Your actions have made things very clear.”

“
My
actions? I'm not the one who was kissing someone else. How would you react if you saw me kissing another woman, the way you were lip-locking Jarred? I saw the whole thing.” Weston wished he had a sock to stuff in his mouth. He hadn't intended to go off like this. To sit down and talk calmly with her had been his goal.

As the memories of that day on the balcony flooded Jessica's mind, she felt horrified. That Weston had been a witness to the kiss hadn't crossed her mind, not for a moment. He more than likely hadn't seen how she had resisted. Jarred had overwhelmed her with his strength. He'd never do that again. The hard slap across his face had sent him a message he wouldn't soon forget. Too bad Weston hadn't stayed around to witness that. Too, too bad about all of it.

Jessica gripped Weston's hand, squeezing it tightly. “So sorry you saw that. It's not what you probably think. Trust me, I didn't invite Jarred's kiss—”

Weston silenced Jessica by kissing her deeply. He didn't need to hear anything more. The details of what had happened could go to the wind for all he cared. He only wanted them back where they'd been before Jarred had shown up in Aspen. Pulling his head back slightly, he looked into her eyes. “I didn't come all this way to fight with you. I came to fight
for
you. Can we please go inside?”

“Since you flew way out here to see me, I don't have a choice.”

“You have a choice. If you don't want to talk with me, just say so. I won't force my affections on you.”

“Sorry for being flippant. I'm stunned by all this. Looks like I'm the one who messed up everything between us. I had no idea I was to blame. We can go in, but I need to get the groceries out of the car first.”

“I'll help you.”

Jessica pressed a button on the car remote and the trunk popped open. Since she lived alone, Weston was surprised by the number of grocery bags she had.

Jessica read Weston's expression perfectly. “An eating binge. That's how miserable I felt about not hearing from you. Most of the bags are full of junk food. I would've overdone it. Made the mistake of hitting the store on an empty stomach.”

Weston grinned. “I'll help you eat this stuff. If it's okay, I can stay for two or three days. I planned to get a hotel.”

“I have a lovely guest room. No hotel room, unless you want it that way.”

Weston winked. “Let's see how things go. We can sort it out later.”

In the kitchen of Jessica's three-bedroom town house Weston carried several bags over to the granite counter and set them down. As he headed out the door leading to the garage, Jessica came up and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him passionately. Looking down at her, he clearly saw the tears swimming in her eyes. The last thing he wanted was to see her cry. “It's okay, sweetheart. We're together now. Do you want
us
as much as I do?”

“Desperately. I've missed you something awful. Sure I can't explain what happened with Jarred? It'd make me feel better.”

Weston kissed Jessica's forehead. “It's not necessary, but if it'll help, go for it.

“Let's get the groceries inside first. Then we can sit and talk.”

“Thank you. If you can manage the rest of the stuff, I'll get the teapot going.”

“Good enough.”

Jessica's tears fell quicker than she could wipe them away. Weston here in her private space was more than she'd hoped for. A phone call would've sufficed, but he had seen fit to fly here to straighten out the mess. Something she was solely responsible for. He had certainly been redeemed. Had she?

What Jessica had thought Weston had done was unconscionable in her opinion. He had hurt her deeply by not bothering at least to give her a call. It had been excruciatingly painful for her to deal with Weston's failure to contact her, but she hadn't been willing to compromise herself by calling him.

Jessica's dignity would have been severely at stake had she done otherwise. She had made sweet love to him, had given him the most valued parts of herself: her heart and her precious body. Jessica couldn't have given him any more in this instance.

As mad as Jessica had been with Jarred for forcing his affections on her, she hadn't held him totally responsible for what she had initially thought was Weston's infantile behavior. He should've had more faith in her, unyielding faith in their love.

Jarred had been there to comfort her. He was a sensitive soul, but he'd gone a bit overboard since their return to L.A. Jessica finally had to tell him to back off and give her room to breathe.

The two friends had been constantly hanging out together over the past couple of days, but she was careful not to send mixed messages; she still had no interest in him on a romantic level. He'd been on his best behavior. Not once had he brought up his sudden romantic feelings for her. Since neither was dating, they planned to continue hitting the social scene together, along with their other friends.

Jessica was still in love with Weston. She'd never get over him. She wasn't into kidding or lying to herself. Not once had she tried to hide her love for him, nor had she pretended he was out of her system. He was a part of her, inside her heart to stay. Her pride had definitely gotten in the way—and she'd have no problem admitting it to him.

After unloading the rest of the bags, Weston emptied the contents. He didn't know where the items went, other than the refrigerated products; all he had to do was ask. He suddenly felt nervous. He'd stay busy until they had a chance to talk. Once he'd unpacked the canned items and snack foods, he asked Jessica where to put them.

Jessica opened the cherrywood cabinet doors to show Weston where to store everything. “The tea's just about ready. Want to stay in here or hit the living room?”

“It's up to you, wherever you're comfortable. I'm just glad I'm here with you.”

Jessica smiled to show she was glad, too.

Jessica's kitchen was a cozy type of comfortable, decorated in cheerful colors of sky blue and apple red and crisp vegetable greens. The round cherrywood table had six matching chairs. A wraparound breakfast bar accommodated four metal-backed bar stools. The appliances looked barely used. She wasn't big on cooking so that could explain the great condition. The side-by-side refrigerator doors held all sorts of colorful magnets. A blue, red and green ceramic bowl of fresh fruit was in the center of the table.

Weston was eager to see the rest of the place, loving the warmth it gave off.

Jessica steered Weston through the double doors and walked the short distance to the formal living/dining room combination. The upscale decor was in creamy beiges and warm taupe. Splashes of gold accents warmed the living and dining spaces. Striking hardwood glass coffee and end tables complemented the spacious room.

On one living room wall, above the fireplace mantel, hung a lifelike oil painting of the Harrington family. Apparently it was a pretty recent picture. Smiles were bright and the love between them was apparent.

Jessica directed Weston to a seat on the creamy beige sectional sofa. She then went back to the kitchen for the tea. Unable to stay seated, feeling pretty nervous, he followed right behind her. Trying to make himself right at home, he gathered up a cheese ball and a box of crackers and placed them on a serving tray. Once he riffled through a utility drawer, he came up with a cheese knife.