My Restless Billionaire

The drive

Jess sends off the message and frowns at his impartial response. what did you expect? Starting a message to find out what he is doing, she quickly deletes it and logs off. The deal is done, get over him and it. You have the money to pay off your house and make those renovations to the practice. Be happy, she thinks to herself as she gets ready for the day, she needs to pack up Dad's stuff. But what are you supposed to do when you think about him as you drive alone? Or as you are listening to yet another patient complaining, or working on patient records alone in your office. What really gets to her is the invasion in her sleep, her dreams, alone in her bedroom where she typically sleeps alone he shares her space without even being there, it's maddening! For someone who wanted nothing to do with men after her ex did a number on her, she sure is stuck on James Warldon, playboy... how she wishes he was her playboy.

After a refreshing shower, soaking in the heat of the water soothing her tired muscles, she dresses lightly and grabs an apple on the way out. Hopping in the Jeep she heads over to the cottage, might as well do it today, then she can take a few days off next week and just relax, try to forget... Memories of their time together assault her as she walks in the door. A hint of sadness settles in her bones, for the first time in years she felt happy and content as she woke in his arms in the cottage that morning. It was heavenly waking up to him at her side. He is something else, that's for sure. Never did the possibility of having a relationship, and a man in her life be so appealing. She swore off men and people getting close because of him and what he did. Killing her faith in other beings of the opposite s*x. She spends the day packing and loading the Jeep with the old man's stuff, lucky she had removed most before renting it out as a holiday cottage, so the bare minimum things to make it more homey were left to pack. It doesn't take too long to pack and once done she can't seem to leave, pretending she can still smell James in the room, his earthy, manly scent...strange how his scent still seems to linger here, and that it still affects me so... she wanders outside and sits on the couch looking over the water like they did before. It doesn't quite feel the same without him, the air not quite as fresh, and the scene not quite as magnificent. I miss him Leaning back she closes her eyes and breaths in the fresh air, drifting off.

Closing the shower James gets out and dries off. He feels like he needs to get out, the walls closing in on him. So he grabs an overnight bag, stuffs a few outfits into it, tosses it in the back of his SUV, he gets in, and drives to the park. Taking a walk doesn't help his mood, so he jumps back in the car and decides to just drive. He heads to the mountains, with no destination in mind, just driving, Jess front and center in his mind as always, he can't seem to get her out of his head. What was she thinking to write, or say?... What if she is the one for me? What if she brings peace not just to my being, but to my life? He likes her feisty nature. Her not wanting to be told what to do, or her rebellion against what society expects, her loner existence here in the middle of nowhere... everything he wishes for...she has taken her freedom...made it part of her, taking no s**t from no one, not even him..., he desperately needs to take his...He can see them together, her reserved nature seems to be something she struggles with, one moment free and doing what her heart desires, and then she clams up, and he is lost as to why, but he sure wants to find out, learn what makes her tick. Discover what it is that sets her on fire and what doses that flame. The need and confusion just grow throughout his day. Fantasizing about how she turns and looks at him with that look only she gives him. You know the one. The one that makes him sit back and just want her as they are at dinner... or having coffee at the shop, or on the porch during breakfast...The clock is ticking and his anxiousness grows. He takes a turnoff and heads away from the city. The further he drives the lighter he feels. He stops at a little diner on the road grabbing lunch and for the first time takes notice of where he is. No way... he has driven halfway to the cottage... What was he thinking, clearly he wasn't thinking at all.

Well halfway there, he might as well go all the way and enjoy the weekend. But what if she's there? Does it matter if she is? Will it be that bad if she is? Could they put aside the past and try to start over, build something new something real? Probably not...Besides she said she would move her stuff next week, so chances are slim he would run into her.

Jess startles awake an hour later and jumps up, can't believe I fell asleep. Going back inside she grabs her keys and heads out to drop the packed boxes in her garage. Maybe I could spend the weekend here, no one will know, I can just walk on the beach, and rest, say goodbye to this place...say goodbye to him...yeah that's the plan for the weekend. Driving into town she drops the boxes at her house, grabs a small bag for just the necessities, and toiletries, and looks at her bathing suit, she leaves it behind on the bed as she walks out. Might as well make the most of it, she thinks, who needs a bathing suit on a secluded beach anyway? Excited about her newfound nudist beach ideas, she chuckles to herself as she heads back to the cottage. Stopping for a bottle of wine she is back at the cottage by the time the sun is hanging low over the water. Not planning on using the Jeep the weekend she drives it over to the shed and parks inside to protect it from the elements. With a smile on her face, she walks inside with her bag and snacks. Dropping her bag beside the bed, she heads to the kitchen unpacking the snacks into the fridge before stripping out of her clothes and dumping them in the basket. On her way out she opens the bottle of wine, not needing any formalities she takes a swig straight from the bottle and heads out to the beach naked as the day she was born.

Driving through town his heart warms at the thought of the friendly townsfolk and the delicious apple pie just around the corner. He stops for a takeaway coffee and pie not being able to drive past without indulging. The sun is just touching the tops of the tree line when James turns into the little trail that leads to the cottage. Following the track at a lazy pace, he creeps over the hill and the ocean greets him. Finally...now he can breathe easily. His anxiousness fades and a feeling of peace settles in his chest...home... Wow, it feels good to be back here. Who would have thought that a city boy like him would end up falling in love with the forest and the ocean? Two things so far removed from his norm, and yet it feels so right. Driving up to the cottage he parks under the trees, not planning on using his car for the weekend, he picks a good sheltered spot. I might have to check out the shed sometime and see if the SUV will fit for future visits, but not right now. Now I want the cool water and warm sand between my toes... Jumping out he collects his bag, and heads in, taking a deep breath of fresh air as he opens the cottage door, not giving it a second thought that the door is unlocked, and drags his stuff inside. Placing it on the bed he decides to grab a bottle of wine, not bothering with a glass he shrugs out of his clothes feeling brave. He leaves the cottage commando, butt naked... it's in the middle of nowhere, secluded and private, ...why not enjoy it to the fullest...walking towards the beach his mind wanders to that day Jess joined him for a walk. With the memory on replay, he walks over the warm sand and into the cool water. Waves crash over his feet. Halfway in the water, he notices a body laying in the water, drifting just behind the break line and his body goes cold. Recapping the bottle and tossing it onto the beach he swims as fast as he can toward the floating form. A few feet away he sees that it is a naked female just drifting in the water. Worried that she might be dead he shouts out and dives under the wave coming up beside the body and the person startles when he grabs onto her, screaming and thrashing going under. She goes under in the process of trying to escape his hold and when she surfaces he gasps "Jess..." what the hell...