He pulled back from her and glanced over her shoulder toward the others. “You okay if I steal her? She needs to pack and we have to catch a plane.”
“A plane?”
“Yeah, a plane. I still have nine rounds left. And Kai will throw a fit if I miss the next one.”
Sammie made a shooing gesture and Hallie giggled. “I’ll call you later?”
“You better.”
She packed faster than she ever had in her life. Then she wrote a note for her parents, and they were on their way. The plane was smaller than the commercial ones she’d seen but still far too big for just the two of them.
Jacob motioned toward some seats they could take and when she nodded toward the back of the plane with a cocked brow, he chuckled. “There’s a room back there for longer flights. This one is only two hours but if you want a nap, you’re welcome.”
She blushed but opted to sit down beside him.
He held her hand during take-off and caught her up on everything that had happened since he’d broken things off with her. During a lull in the conversation, she jerked upright with a gasp. He startled and stared at her, terrified. “What’s wrong?”
“I have to tell you something.”
“Hallie, I’m so sorry—” Based on the tone of his voice it was clear he was worried about them. Like it hadn’t settled for him yet that she was a sure thing.
She placed two fingers on his lips to cut him off. “Nothing to do with that.” Hallie beamed then. “I won.”
He was confused for only a few seconds. Then his whole face lit up like a Christmas tree. “The photo competition?”
She nodded. “There was a cash prize and a contract to work for the magazine for six months on a trial basis with the opportunity for more work in the future.”
“That’s incredible, Hallie! I knew you could do it.” The way his arms wrapped her into his firm frame made her feel safe. Like nothing could get to her. No more disappointments. No more uncertainties.
He was her safe place.
Her hero.
And maybe that was what he’d always been. Even before he saved her from that charging bull.
CHAPTER THIRTY
The following morning,Jacob arrived at Hallie’s hotel room, his nerves doing a number on him. In the light of the new day, he wasn’t sure Hallie would feel the same as she had in the moment.
He shifted his weight, shuffling from foot-to-foot, wondering if he should just let her rest. He could go to his next event and come find her later.
At that moment, a door down the hall opened and Kai emerged. He stopped dead in his tracks and his brows furrowed. Then his focus shifted to the door. He’d been the one to assign rooms for their crew and he knew all too well that this room was for the only female member of their team.
A gal who specialized in physical therapy and sports medicine.
He frowned and folded his arms, letting the heavy hotel door shut behind him. “Didn’t you just fly all the way home to win back your girl?”
Jacob opened his mouth, a smile already forming when the door in front of him opened to reveal Hallie. “Speak of the devil,” he mused as he held out his hand to her.
She stepped into the hall without a lick of hesitation. And that’s when she saw Kai. “Oh! Hey. I was wondering when I’d get to see you.”
Kai looked like his jaw was about to fall off. He darted his eyes toward Jacob. “You brought her here?”
Jacob squeezed Hallie’s hand reassuringly. He didn’t need his manager spooking her. “Yes. She agreed to come on the road with me. At least for this one. We’ll see about future opportunities.” He winked at her and she looked away, a blush blooming beneath her skin. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
That’s when he noticed the camera hanging around her neck. “You’re going to take pictures?”
