BXBX NOVEL Chapter 234 - Meet JoAnna (3)
Jeff helped JoAnna into his car, onto the front passenger's seat.
She was dazed from everything that happened, and her hands were shaking.
Jeff saw her shaky hands and wished to hold them, to comfort her, but he thought that it's not appropriate. He does not want her to think that he is taking advantage of situation. He wants her to feel safe, not intimidated. Jeff buckled up her seatbelt and closed the door for her.
Jeff got into the driver's seat, started the car engine and looked at JoAnna. He was struggling to believe that she is right there, next to him. He wished that she is not so distressed. Jeff imagined her face so many times, and it was always smiling, or teasing… it was never like this. His heart tightened. He felt that he is useless for not knowing how to comfort her. The only thing he can do is to take her home and follow any desires she might have. His desire is already fulfilled. He wished to see her, and here she is… right next to him.
"Where am I driving?" His deep voice filled up the car.
JoAnna stared at him and didn't respond. She blinked few times.
He thought how odd that this chatty woman is so quiet. The fact that she is so close to him, made his lips curve into a smile. He felt his heart beating wildly, threatening to leave his chest.
JoAnna looked at his face, smiling at her, and she stopped breathing. His features are quite similar to Aiden's, but Jeff is more mature... more manly. She remembered that morning in hotel, how Jeff's profile reminded her of Aiden. Now it made sense... they are brothers.
Jeff tilted his head slightly, thinking how to make JoAnna tell him her address. He needs to know where to take her. He lifted his right arm and his fingers ran over her cheek. "Are you OK?"
The wave of Jeff's voice shook JoAnna's heart. His fingers on her cheek felt hot, even when she saw his hand moving away, the fiery trail of his fingers burned her. She was not sure what he said, but she nodded... whatever he said, at that moment, she would agree to it.
His smile widened with relief that she responded. "Where am I driving?" He repeated the question.
She heard him this time and realized that he does not know where she lives. She looked at the dashboard and typed her address into the GPS.
Once GPS calculations were done, Jeff saw that the destination is 22 minutes away. He was happy that it's not a short drive, but also unhappy that it's not longer. He wished to drive with her to Fairfield and back... but he could not allow himself to be too greedy. He just found her again, and even got to embrace her. That should be enough for a day, right?
Jeff drove toward the destination, guided by the GPS, while stealing glances at JoAnna. He sighed when he thought how many different scenarios he came up with, how he is going to approach her... and at the end, it was totally unexpected. He felt goosebumps at the thought what would happen if he didn't show up, or if he left when his will wavered, or if he left when he assumed that she is with her boyfriend. 'Boyfriend? Does this mean she does not have one?' He found this possibility soothing.
As soon as car started moving, JoAnna's gaze fell low in front of her, with her eyes unfocused. Her mind was replaying events from that morning. From the moment she exited room for nurses at six o'clock, up to when Jeff showed up. It was like a nightmare coming to life, again and again in a loop. 'Why was Jeff there?' A thought appeared, but she dismissed it next instant. She does not care why he was there or how he got there. JoAnna is grateful that he WAS there. 'It was very satisfying how he shut down Dr. Light.' She concluded that Jeff looked very chivalrous at that moment, protecting her, while flaunting his power. And then her mind went back to six o'clock and started replaying what happened.
Neither of them spoke during the drive.
…
Jeff parked in front of JoAnna's apartment building and stopped the car. He was troubled knowing that reaching here means that JoAnna will leave. She will go to her apartment, and he will be left behind, all by himself. Again. He thought what did he get out of this trip: he got to save her from an assault, he got to embrace her, he got to drive her home, and he found out her address. Overall, that six-hour drive and another six-hour wait was worth it. He can't complain. And he should not ask for more. He should not be greedy.
The fact is that it's over. They reached her apartment building, and he can't postpone her departure anymore. He inhaled more than necessary and stated the obvious, "We are here."
Jeff reminded himself to ask for JoAnna's phone number before she leaves the car.
JoAnna didn't respond or show any sign that she noticed they are in front of her apartment building.
Jeff extended his right arm and with his index finger gently pulled her chin toward him.
JoAnna twitched when his finger touched her chin, but she didn't back away. She let him guide her head to face him.
"Are you OK?" Jeff was concerned seeing that her expression is blank and eyes unfocused. 'Who knows what she has been through to end up this distressed.'
After some time, JoAnna's eyebrows creased and she shook her head slowly.
Jeff pressed his lips into a line. He didn't know what to do. Jeff knows that JoAnna needs to be comforted, and he wants to do it, but does not know how.
"Do you want me to accompany you?" Words came out of his mouth without previously being filtered by his brain.
JoAnna's eyes slightly widened and she stared at him for a second before answering him with a small nod.