Twenty minutes later, Jacob was on a private plane heading back to Montana. Based on his calculations, he’d be able to get to her place by ten. That didn’t allow much down time before he’d be expected to be back on the plane and returning to Nevada. Hopefully with an additional passenger.
He rubbed his hands on his thighs countless times during the two-hour flight. He had no clue what to expect from Hallie when he got there. She could slam the door in his face. And she’d be within her rights. If that were the case, he’d already promised himself he’d do anything it took to win her back. That included starting over and wooing her right—the way she had always deserved.
When he touched down in the small airport a town over from Rocky Ridge, he wasn’t in the best shape. His head pounded, his muscles ached from how tense he’d become. Every part of him was on edge. He didn’t recognize the man who picked him up and they refrained from small talk the whole drive.
Jacob had attempted to have a speech ready that was worthy of winning her over. Everything he’d come up with had been terrible. He wasn’t sure he’d take himself back based on what he could string together.
Then he’d remind himself to push aside all the negative thoughts he’d had since he’d gotten on that plane. He cared about Hallie. He wanted her in his life. He just wasn’t sure how he was going to convince her that she could trust him.
Not after everything.
The car dropped him off in front of Hallie’s house. It was dark and he wasn’t sure she was even there. He paced back and forth, trying to dig up what little bit of courage he could muster when footsteps caught his attention.
His head lifted and his eyes collided with none other than Brent.
Hallie’s cousin stopped in his tracks and blinked at Jacob like he was seeing a ghost. He might as well have been because the old Jacob would have never done something so… rash. He was known for being collected. He was a planner. Everything he’d ever wanted was obtained because he could visualize it and the steps he’d need to take to get there.
Tonight, all those personality quirks had slipped out the window.
“Jacob?” Brent’s question was barely above a whisper.
Nodding, Jacob took a step toward him. “So… I was hoping I could talk to Hallie. You think she’d see me?”
Brent gaped. “Aren’t you supposed to be in Vegas right now?”
Another nod and a chagrined smile was all Jacob could muster.
“But you’re here,” Brent muttered in disbelief.
“Yeah, I’d say that’s pretty obvious.”
“For… Hallie.”
“Yes,” Jacob said, fighting the growing frustration especially when he was also battling exhaustion. “But I don’t know if she’ll come out and talk to me. Do you think you could?—”
Brent’s eyes flicked to the house then back. “No, she won’t come out of there.”
Jacob’s heart sank. “She?—”
“Because she’s at Caleb and Sammie’s place. Actually, I think all the girls are still over there. At least Faith is.” Brent pulled out his phone. “I could call?—”
Holding up a hand, Jacob forced a nervous smile. “I know my way over. I think I’ll just surprise them.” He shot Brent a pleading look. If Brent gave them a heads up about his presence, any chance Jacob had might as well have gone down the drain.
Brent tilted his head momentarily then he sighed. “I won’t tell them, if that’s what you’re worried about.” Then he took a challenging step forward. “But if you say anything to hurt her?—”
“I won’t,” Jacob promised. “I swear it. I’m only here to apologize.” And to win her back, but Brent didn’t need to know that.
Thankfully, he seemed happy with that statement. Then he trudged up the steps to his home which was only a few doors down from Hallie’s.
When Jacob found himself on Sammie’s doorstep, he had to take several breaths to center himself. He wasn’t sure he was ready for this conversation, but time was of the essence. It was now or never.
With a shaking fist, he rapped his knuckles on the door.
Muffled music and laughter seeped through the barrier of the door. Then footsteps. And finally, the door opened. Sammie stood in the doorway, her eyes rounding and her mouth falling open. A quiet curse slipped free from her lips, startling Jacob as they stared each other down. Then he straightened his shoulders and said as firmly as he could, “I need to speak to Hallie, please.”
He'd expected more of a fight. But Sammie simply pushed the door wider to reveal several surprised faces staring back at him. And in the center of them all was the girl he couldn’t live without.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
