They made their way back into the living room and both resumed their places on the couch. With her hair still wet, Jesse felt a chill go down her spine at the temperature of the room, and Hal wasted no time in gathering a throw blanket from the back of the couch and draping it over her.
Jesse smiled up at him and then pressed herself closer into his side. Hal smiled down at her in return and wrapped his arm around her, drawing her close to him. He leaned his head down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
“So now what do we do?” he asked her softly.
Jesse shrugged.
“I don’t know,” she answered quietly. “What else can we do here?”
“Well,” Hal sighed and rubbed at his chin. “We can’t go outside. So … why don’t we put on a movie?”
“That sounds like a good idea.” Jesse smiled up at him in approval.
“Okay, great.” Hal smiled and stood up. Jesse watched him cross the room to stand in front of the entertainment center that contained the TV and open a door on the side to reveal a large collection of DVDs.
“What do you want to watch?” Hal turned to ask her.
“I don’t care.” Jesse shrugged.
Hal laughed and rolled his eyes. Keeping his eyes locked on her, he reached into the shelf and withdrew a random DVD. He opened the box and turned on the TV and DVD Player. Jesse watched as he slid the disc into the machine and then returned to join her on the couch.
From there, Hal picked up the remote and navigated through the menu until the movie started. Jesse had never seen it before. It was some crass comedy that she had seen advertisements for but had never bothered to actually watch.
“Do you like this movie?” Jesse asked him.
“It’s alright.” Hal shrugged. “Not very artistic if you ask me.”
Jesse couldn’t help laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Hal raised his brow and looked down at her.
“I mean,” Jesse started, still laughing a little as she spoke. “I guess coming from the king of artistry himself, nothing is ever quite as artistic as you are.”
“Well, that’s not true,” Hal said with a shrug. “There are plenty of people more artistic than I am.”
“Oh, yeah?” Jesse prodded. “Like who?”
“Just to name one,” Hal said easily, “Quentin Tarantino. He makes incredible movies.”
Jesse was a little surprised by that answer.
“I didn’t peg you as a Tarantino kind of guy,” Jesse noted, more than a little surprised.
“I guess we’ve never talked about it before.” Hal shrugged. “But come on. His movies are really undeniably ingenious.”
“I guess so.” Jesse shrugged in return. “I’ve never really seen one, so …”
“What?” Hal said suddenly, freezing beside her. “Not one?”
Jesse blinked, a little surprised by his outrage.
“No,” Jesse shook her head. “I guess I never really had any interest.”
Hal gaped at her for a moment before abruptly standing up and going back to the shelf. Jesse watched as he went immediately to a particular section and began browsing through the titles there. He finally selected one and proceeded to replace the disc that was already in the machine with the new one.
When he was finished and had returned the other movie to its place on the shelf, he strode back across the room to Jesse and sat back down beside her with a heavy sigh.
“And now we begin the supplemental course on Quentin Tarantino movies,” Hal said, and Jesse was amused by the gleam in his eyes.
No sooner had the movie, Inglourious Basterds begun than Hal was narrating for her, relaying the details of the movie that impressed him and some that he simply enjoyed, perhaps most notably the tendencies of particular actors.
Jesse nodded, smiled and pretended to watch the movie for his sake. For the most part, though, she was completely taken by the clear excitement in his eyes as he explained various aspects of the life on set during the filming of the movie. She could tell he knew a great deal about the subject, and Jesse noted that this was really the first time he had ever even talked to her about his field outside of an interview, even if it was in a roundabout way.
Jesse vaguely wished that the movie would never end. She loved the light in Hal’s eyes as he went on and on about the entire process of making the film. She wondered if he went into this much detail studying every movie he watched. It was not very far out of the realm of possibility. This was, after all, his profession.
Jesse stayed quiet and observant all through watching the movie with Hal, and when it was finally over, he stood up to place the movie back into the box and then back on the shelf. He then returned to sit beside her on the couch.
“Well, I wouldn’t say you’ve reached proficiency yet.” Hal sighed teasingly. “But I’d say this was a good start in your education.
Jesse couldn’t help laughing, and she snuggled up closer to him on the couch. On one hand, she was amused, but on the other, she was in serious thought.
Seeing the excitement and sparkle in his eyes as he described every aspect of the movie they had just watched, she was quiet as she contemplated these things. Hal had said he was ready to drop the business, but she was beginning to wonder if he had even started to accomplish what he wanted to attain.
Unable to wonder about it in silence any longer, Jesse shifted her position to look up at Hal.
“Do you think you’ll ever direct another movie?” she asked him.
Jesse saw his face darken and felt his body stiffen beside her. She suddenly wondered if it was a topic she shouldn’t have brought up.
Chapter 73
Hal
Hal frowned at the unexpected question. He hadn’t even been thinking about his career in what felt like years to him. His mind had been entirely preoccupied with Jesse. In fact, even the last professional action he had taken had been his interview with her. He had not been active in his career for what felt like an eternity.
And why should he be active? He had enough money at this point in his life to live the rest of his life without lifting a single finger and even more was being raked in every day with each sale of his movie.
Truth be told, Hal had hardly even given it any thought at all. More than anything, her question just brought up unpleasant memories of the past, and Hal couldn’t help the way his heartbeat started to increase even at the memory of the personal level at which he had been committed to his film.
He was reminded of the physical and mental stress he had put himself under while making the film. He had done it for that purpose, of course. The making of the film was almost cathartic to him. It was cleansing. He had made it so he could reveal those parts of himself to the whole world, even if he did not confess it.
Hal could not describe the relief and exhaustion he had felt when he was done. Even now, he could still very clearly remember the ache that seemed to fill his very core. He wouldn’t ever go as far as thinking he had gotten Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from working on the movie, but the mere memory did fill him with anxiety and discomfort. It had been one of the most arduous times in his life, and he wasn’t thrilled that Jesse had brought it up when they were supposed to be getting away from everything.
In fact, he was quite irritated with her. He moved away from where she was cuddled up to him on the couch and peered down at her suspiciously. It seemed odd that she would ask him such questions right here and right now. Unless, of course, that had been her intention all along.
Hal narrowed his eyes and felt a scowl form over his features as he was filled with a mixture of disgust and hurt. Jesse was a journalist, after all, and a smart one, to make matters worse. It would certainly not be beyond her mental capabilities to come up with this scheme on her own. And with the help of Elaine, it was almost too much evidence to dispute.
Hal should have seen it all along. Everything had happened so suddenly, after all. Her sudden conflict with Elaine, her leaving the magazine
. After all, what journalist in their right mind would actually leave such a well-paying job?
It was finally clear to him that this was just a ruse to manipulate him and to trick him into revealing his personal life to her little by little. The first article had simply been to gain his trust and set her up for her final masterstroke. He had to hand it to her—it was an excellent plan, and he had been a more than willing participant.
Hal was slowly becoming consumed by anger, and it was only made worse by the look of concern that was written across Jesse’s features as she looked up at him.
“Hal?” Jesse spoke, and Hal felt a surge of rage just at the sound of her voice. “Are you …”
“What?” Hal snapped at her. “Am I what? Okay?”
Hal accented his accusing question with a harsh laugh, and he lauded the look of confusion that passed so suddenly over Jesse’s face. He had to hand it to her, she was good. Maybe she should have been an actress instead of a journalist.
“I don’t understand …” Jesse trailed off, and Hal scolded himself for almost feeling a little guilt at the hurt in her face.
“What don’t you understand?” he snapped at her, abruptly standing from his place on the couch to pace up and down the room. “I’ve caught you! I’m onto your little scheme. I have to admit you had me, you really did.”
Hal stopped in his vicious pacing to turn suddenly toward her and stand close to her. He saw fear flash through her eyes, but he didn’t care. If she was afraid, good, but he highly doubted it. She had known the risks when she started all this, so it was about time she met them head on.
“So what’s the story about then?” Hal pressed her through clenched teeth. “More details from my sordid past? Or is it a scoop about future projects I have coming up?”
Hal leaned down close to her face, and he nearly flew off the handle when she hastily stood up from the couch to back away from him. Still enraged, all Hal could do was laugh.
“Come on, Jess, give it up,” he urged her. “You’ve been caught. I can see right through everything. The first article? Leaving your job at The Edge? Very, very clever of you. You almost had me. But I’m not quite as stupid as you thought, am I? I can see through everything.”
Hal could hear his voice growing darker, and he could feel blood pumping through his veins as dark emotions swirled in his chest. There was of course anger, but the predominant emotions raging within him were hurt and betrayal. He had really fallen in love with her and all it had gotten him was this. It was all he could to keep himself angry, if only to keep him from succumbing to tears.
He was so angry, in fact, that he could hardly tell that he had effectively backed Jesse up against the wall.
Chapter 74
Jesse
Jesse felt a mixture of shock, confusion, and an ever-growing sense of fear as Hal continued to approach her. When her back hit the wall, she realized just how trapped she really was, and one look into Hal’s flashing green eyes revealed that he was filled with very real rage.
Jesse didn’t know what she had said that had sent him into this downward spiral into pure anger or had inspired all these suspicions. She did know, though, that he really believed them, and Jesse was truly worried that she would not be able to convince him otherwise.
She knew she shouldn’t have brought up his career before she had even voiced the question. She could have never guessed, though, that it would have upset him quite so severely as this. Jesse knew, though, that she had to say something to convince him that she had no ill intentions with her question or she would lose everything they had built together right here and now.
Jesse couldn’t deny, though, that she was afraid. He stood within inches of her, and she could practically feel the rage burning off of him in waves.
“Hal …” Jesse spoke meekly and raised her hand to try and touch his chest.
“Don’t touch me,” Hal fairly hissed at her, taking a quick step back.
“Please, you have to listen to me,” Jesse implored him, taking a hesitant step toward him.
“Do I?” Hal growled at her, advancing and causing Jesse to take a quick step back, once again flattening herself against the wall behind her. “I’ve been listening to you, and look where it’s gotten me.”
“Hal, stop,” Jesse said more sharply, gathering all her courage to put some bite into her voice. “I don’t know where all this is coming from, but your accusations are not only false but ridiculous.”
Hal’s jaw dropped and then clenched. She saw Hal’s fists clench at his side. Jesse’s eyes, though, were mostly locked onto his, and she felt a spark of hope as she saw a flash of doubt cross his face.
“Hal, please,” Jesse softly entreated him, taking advantage of the moment. “I am not trying to trick you.”
Hal’s eyes traveled over her, seeming to try and see if she was lying or not. Jesse could only imagine just how she must look, her body pressed back against a wall, her hands up as if she had been caught committing a crime. She could feel her heart pounding but did her best to keep calm and still.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I shouldn’t have asked you about your work.”
Hal’s eyes flashed angrily, and Jesse stiffened as his head snapped up to look her in the face.
“You’re just sorry that I figured everything out,” Hal snapped, and Jesse heard his voice become more and more deranged, and she saw his chest heaving as his breath came faster, and he seemed to be struggling to keep himself composed.
“There’s nothing to figure out,” Jesse insisted, her voice gaining a little frustration and anger of its own. “Everything I have said to you, everything we’ve done together was real. I haven’t lied to you. I’m not trying to deceive you.”
Hal shook his head and scoffed, moving away from her to once again pace around the room, his hand frantically running through his hair and rubbing at his face. Every so often, he would look back at her, growl, and shake his head.
“Hal …” Jesse spoke again, pushing away from the wall to try once more to approach him.
“No!” Hal stopped, pointing directly at her. “Stop! Just stop …”
Hal trailed off, and Jesse watched as his eyes traveled over her once more, his expression transforming from one of anger to one of desperation, and then finally Jesse’s heart nearly broke as his expression plunged to one of sadness.
Jesse waited in silence as Hal’s jaw worked, and he just looked at her. Jesse remained perfectly still, waiting for whatever it was he had to say to her. His face fell even more than she thought possible, and Jesse nearly broke the silence herself.
“I really loved you …” Hal said softly, his voice cracking slightly, and his rigid form slumping down into a posture of defeat.
Jesse couldn’t take it anymore, and she slowly but steadily approached him.
“Stay away from me,” Hal snapped at her, once again overtaken by his anger and adopting an aggressive stance.
“No,” Jesse said, her voice cracking with her own sadness. “None of what you are saying is true.”
“Stop,” Hal held up his hand to try and halt her advance, but Jesse ignored it.
“No,” Jesse repeated. “Hal, I love you. That’s the reason I’m here right now. Because I love you, and I want to be with you.”
“Stop lying,” Hal hissed at her, and his tone was angry, but Jesse could see in his eyes the part of his being that was dying to believe her words. Jesse knew that was the part of him that she had to appeal to.
“I’m not lying,” Jesse insisted softly, shaking her head. Finally, Hal started backing up from her, shaking his head.
“I don’t believe you …” Hal said, his desperation once again creeping into his voice and apprehension entering his eyes.
Jesse advanced still further, and at last it was Hal who found himself cornered and backed into a wall, unable to escape.
“Hal …” Jesse said gently. “Just listen to me … I’m telling you the truth …”
Jesse raised her hand to try and cup his cheek. Suddenly, Hal seized her wrist. His grip was hard, but not crushing, and his eyes were wary as they looked down at her. The combination of all those things only served to give Jesse even more conviction.
In spite of his hold on her wrist, Jesse quickly moved forward, aiming to press her body against his.
“Stop!” Hal commanded loudly, suddenly releasing her and moving to the side, completely dodging her approach, inadvertently backing himself into a corner as he did so.
Jesse frowned, hating that he was refusing to be reasonable with her.
“Hal,” Jesse sighed. “Please …”
“Please!” Hal entreated her. “Just stop! I can’t … I can’t …”
Jesse frowned as Hal seemed to disappear inside of himself, shaking his head silently, his eyes going completely hazy. While her fear and irritation were still present, her concern for Hal was beginning to override them. She knew that she had to do something.
Jesse once again approached him, and Hal looked up at her, seeming to dread her approach.
“Jesse, stop,” he said, trying to throw as much command into his voice as possible. In spite of his attempts, though, she could easily hear the apprehension in his tone.
Jesse merely shook her head at him and continued her approach.
“Hal, I love you,” Jesse said insistently as she moved closer to him.
“No, you don’t,” Hal insisted, shaking his head and screwing his eyes shut.
“Yes, I do,” Jesse said firmly yet softly. “I love you.”
“No, no,” Hal shook his head, and ran his hands through his hair.
Jesse was close to him now and held her breath as she once again raised her hand to touch him. She placed a hand on his shoulder, and his eyes snapped open to look at her.
“Stop,” he said, his voice a raw plea.
“No,” Jesse shook her head and closed up to him, raising her other hand to cup his bicep. “I love you …”
Bedroom Rodeo: A Billionaire Romance Page 66
