Learning To Swim For Real

Chapter 19: Going on Instinct

"I'm coming with you," Jack said.

"Not necessary, honest," Kelsey said, turning from the bathroom mirror. "It's just a regular photo shoot, of me and Ryan, for early publicity? For print ads and billboards and stuff like that?" She put her hand in Jack's hair and mussed it fondly, leaning in to kiss his nose.

"I don't care, I want to come," Jack insisted. He followed her to her bedroom, where she was slipping on some shoes. "The last time I saw him, he was practically assaulting you." His voice got softer. "I want to be there," he finished uncertainly.

Kelsey heard his tone, and turned to face him again at the top of the stairs.

"Look, he was only doing those things because I was letting him," she said. "That's the ugly truth. So I won't let him today, okay?

She walked down the stairs, with Jack hovering in her wake. "Besides, Ray will be there, and JJ, who does my make-up, and a bunch of other people as well. I'll be perfectly fine." She shook her head. "I never pegged you for an overprotective, guard dog type boyfriend, Jack LaGuardia."

"Hey, that's the first time you've ever called me your boyfriend," Jack said, beaming. "I like the sound of it. Come here, girlfriend," he called, catching her around the waist and pulling her back so he could kiss her neck.

"And the last time I saw him you two were surrounded by people, too, and it didn't seem to make much difference, you know?" he added.

Kelsey sighed, her hand on the doorknob.

"Okay, okay, look," Jack said, smoothing her hair away from her face and regarding her perfect features. "Maybe I'm being a little 'dog in the manger' about all of this. And maybe that isn't even the right reference, I don't know," he said, rolling his eyes in what Kelsey thought was a completely adorable way. "But the fact of the matter is that all of this is brand new to me, and I'm going strictly on instinct here."

He tightened his grip on her waist and pulled her closer, pressing a soft kiss to her lips, nuzzling her cheek a little after. The closeness of him, the warmth of his breath on her face, made her feel faint.

"If it feels right, I'm going to do it, 'cause that's all I have to go on, okay?" he continued.

He was standing so close that Kelsey could see the brown and gold flecks in his hazel eyes, along with the dark blue ring around the very edges. He blinked, and she saw his golden lashes, how they bleached to nearly white at the tips, and her heart swelled with tenderness for him.

She nodded, leaning her forehead against his, closing her eyes because she couldn't handle looking at him anymore. His arms were like oak around her, firm and unyielding, and his body was sturdy and warm. She could feel the slow, steady thumping of his heart under the fabric of his shirt, which smelled clean and fresh.

This was Jack, and he was hers.

"I mean, is the world going to end if I show up at this shoot with you?" he murmured, stroking her hair.

She shook her head against his forehead, still with her eyes closed. "No," she breathed.

"Okay then," Jack answered, and she could tell he was smiling the slow, easy smile that she loved. "Let's go. I'll just watch, and I'll be good, I promise, all right, missy thing?"

She nodded again. "Come on, then, boyfriend, car's here."

Kelsey was a bit fuzzy on where they were going, so she couldn't really answer Jack's questions. It turned out to be a hotel in Bel Air, very luxurious, palm trees and spa treatments, smoked salmon and old Hollywood. Jack couldn't really see what this had to do with the movie. Marian Lowell was from somewhere in Northern California, as far as he could remember, and most of the movie happened in London, the rehab center, and Rio de Janeiro.