Previously on Chapter ONE:
I take a deep breath- absorbing the purity of nature and cleansing my soul. As I exhale, I feel a strong hand press gently on my back, and I open my eyes. I look up to see Jacob starring deeply into my eyes. We stay like that for the longest time, and it seems like no one else exists besides the two of us. Standing there under the gaze of Mother Nature, with the cold wind dancing around us, I feel more complete than I've ever had.
TWO
"We should go inside," Jacob says- the first words that come out of his mouth since I arrived. I shiver at his deep, masculine voice, and have the satisfaction of seeing him smile down at me. "You're cold."
"No, I'm not," I whisper, enchanted by his very presence. "But yeah, ok, we can go in if you want. It should be warmer inside, the wind is blowing kind of hard, and it is a little chilly out." I grimace at my babbling. Why can't I keep my mouth shut? He chuckles, and I watch as his eyes twinkle- at that instant, any doubts that I had about our relationship slips away.
Jacob leads me to his front door, never taking his hand from my back. I see that Mr. and Mrs. Leblanc had tactfully left us, for which I am grateful. Before we go inside, Jacob stops me and turns me to face him. Before I could utter a single word, he takes me into his arms and encloses me in his embrace.
"I am so glad to see you again," he whispers, his lips hovering over my ears. "Thank you for coming- it simply has been too long since I saw you last."
"I'm happy to be here," I say, leaning my head on his chest- I could seriously get used to this. But before I could thoroughly enjoy the moment, Jacob lets go and pushes me gently inside the house.
The place is breathtakingly beautiful; looking around, I think the whole house is made of wood: the stairs, spiraling to the second floor, the floorboards, the beams, the door- but of course, the chimney is made out of bricks. I look around and saw a huge bay window by the living room, overlooking some of the infamous Rockies slopes. While, it seems like the whole house is made of wood, it still looks more modern than any of the houses in New England- although, that's probably due to the chic and tasteful furniture that was, no doubt, picked specifically by Mrs. Leblanc.
"It's beautiful here," I breathe as I look around.
"While thank you, darling!" Mrs. Leblanc gushes, striding towards us from the second floor with the smiling Mr. Leblanc in tow. "Mark and I put your stuff in your room! Jacob, how about you show her around while I get Stacey something warm to drink. Coffee, perhaps? Or hot chocolate?"
"Hot chocolate, please," I say- I've had my share of coffee this morning, and I don't think it's a good idea to consume some more.
"Be right back with that!" With that, Mrs. Leblanc winks at us and drags her husband towards the east wing- where the kitchen is, I'm assuming. I'm surprise that they are so willing to leave Jacob and I alone- most parents wouldn't have been able to douse their curiosity.
My shock must have been visible since Jacob says, "They're acting on my requests. I'd like to spend as much time with you as I can this week- and I prefer to do so without any audiences." I blush at his response, feeling our connection more audibly than ever since I found him. "But of course, if you prefer not being alone with me as often, I suppose I can talk to them. You see, they're planning on vacationing in Europe for the next several days in celebration of their anniversary."
"They're leaving?" I ask, not exactly sure if I feel relieve or apprehensive.
"Not if you don't want to," he says. There's something in his eyes that I can't put a finger on, until his next words sent my heart beating at 100 beats per second. "I just thought you'd like to spend as much time with me alone as well, since I've been gone for awhile."
"No, of course not!" I cry. "I mean, I don't mind at all- I'd love to, actually! Spending time with you alone is the best idea ever!" For the second time that day, I will my mouth to shut into silence, as I blush profusely.
"Whew," he says smiling radiantly at me. "I thought I was going to have to force Mom and Dad to stay- I wouldn't have liked that in more ways than one." He looks at me pointedly and I blush even more- if that was even possible.
"Ummm," I mumble unintelligently.
"Come on," he replies to my incoherence. "Let me show you your room." And with that, he leads me up the stairs and I see that the upstairs is wooden as well- with wooden floors and wooden walls and wooden beams- but I actually like it. Jacob opens the last door in the hallway to the right and steers me inside.
The room is enormous! Because it is the last room on the right wing, both the west and the northern walls contain large bay windows framed by frilly, lavender curtains- they overlook magnificent views of the slopes and the mountains that form the Rockies. I force my eyes to look away and survey the room. Opposite the northern bay window is a queen-size bed covered in comforter that matches the curtains, while on each side are bedside tables with lampshades on both tops. On the corner that connects the two bay windows is a brick chimney, and in front of it is a small love seat that looks ever so comfortable- right next to it are my bag and suitcase.
"Here's the bathroom," Jacob says, motioning towards a white door on the east wall- the only wall that was bare except for a couple of framed paintings of the Rockies and a sunset. I follow him and saw a large bathroom with a great bathtub, and right next to it is a shower stall with frosted glass walls on one side and the toilet on the other. There was a window right over the bathtub, but it, too, was frosted glass, framed in the same frilly lavender curtain. There was a vanity top right to the sink, and the bare walls are covered in mirrors. I see the mirrors reflect my image from both side and I realize that Jacob is once again looking at me.
I look back at him, meaning to tell him how awesome the room is, but instead, what came out was, "Are you sure this isn't the master bedroom?" I swear, sometimes, I need my mouth stapled shut- but Jacob only laughs, taking my hand in one of his and leading me out of the bathroom.
"No," he chuckles. "The master bedroom is upstairs, my room is across from yours- and this is the best guest room of the three, so it's yours."
"Thanks." I say, touched at the hospitality. I want to say more, but I'm afraid that I would just babble again, so instead, I bit my bottom lip as I stand there under Jacob's penetrating gaze- he looks down at my lips and bit his own. At once, I'm reminded by my dream the night before and wouldn't you believe it- I blush even more. I see the corner of Jacob's lips turn upward in a suppressed smile and I look away, unable to hold his gaze while attempting to remain standing upright.
"Well," he says after about a lifetime. "I'll leave you to get settled. If you need anything, I'm downstairs all right? And I'm pretty sure that my mom will be up with your chocolate milk in a jiffy. I swear, Stacey, feel at home- that's all I'm asking for." He gives me one last breathtaking smile and turns around to leave. I couldn't just let him leave like that- I can't.
Oh hell.
"Jacob-," I begin, and before I can dwell on what's going on through my head, I cross the distance between us and throw my arms around him in an embrace that takes me by surprise.
I guess I took him by surprise as well, because it takes him about a minute to compose himself and put his own arms around my waist, going along with it- whatever it is. I press my cheek against his chest as I feel his lips travel along my forehead and towards my ear. "Oh Stacey," he whispers, his breath cool against my ear, making me shiver slightly from the intimacy of it. I breathe his familiar lemongrass scent, but this time, it's mixed with pinewood.
"Jacob," I start, looking up at his penetrating gaze. "Jacob, I-"
"Oh! There you two are!" cries Mrs. Leblanc, as Jacob and I reluctantly pull away from each other. "Goodness! Am I interrupting something? I'm so sorry darlings, but I brought Stacey's hot chocolate. I didn't know- well, in any case, I'll leave this and leave you two to it."
"No, Mrs. Leblanc," I say as she starts scooting away after placing a cup of steaming hot chocolate on my bedside table. "It's alright-"
"Yeah Mom, I was just leaving Stacey so she can get settled," Jacob stammers, turning a deep crimson color.
"Oh, well, I suppose- alright, darling." Jacob winks at me and leaves me with his mom and heads towards his room. "Stacey, would you like some company? Or I could leave you until you unpack and get settled or something…" I want to get my bearings, but I see that Mrs. Leblanc is hoping that I'd ask her to stay, so I did.
"He's very happy that you're here," Mrs. LeBlanc says as I proceed to unpack my belongings. "The past week went by too slow for him, as a matter of fact, waiting until today comes."
I watch her looking through the bay windows as she speaks fondly of her son- my love, my life, and my soul. "I can say the same- it's been really hard for me to be away from him, after- well, what happened. But I knew in my heart that this is the best for him, and I want him to remember- I really, truly do."
"Oh, but he does," she replies, looking at me tenderly. "Stacey, I'm no mind reader, but I can see that you blame yourself for what happened to Jacob."
"I do," I look down at my hands, not wanting to meet her eyes, knowing tears will spring if I do. "If only I had known… if only I had looked into my dreams deeper… if only I realized that it was all a conspiracy before it was too late… He would never have gotten hurt; none of us would have gotten hurt. If only I had known." I was babbling, and despite my efforts, stray tears escaped my eyes, and before I knew it, I was wrapped in Mrs. LeBlanc's arms.
"Oh, sweetheart," she says, and that's all it took for me to belt it out and sob- the pain of what had happened rushing back to me, despite the bright future ahead of us.