“Emma.” He said my name as one would say a prayer. Jake leans forward, lips almost touching mine. My soul leaped in joy until a sharp sound cut through the night. I jerked back and it dawned that it was my stupid phone which had rung and broken the delicate moment. Jake moved away building distance between us then stood up clearing his throat. No! Come back, I think, wanting to throw my phone on the ground and smash it until it was in bits and pieces so it wouldn’t ruin people’s lives.
“We should head back.” He said.
No, we should continue what we were just about to do. Didn’t anyone teach you to never leave a task unfinished? “Yeah.” As we walked back, I noticed how Jake kept scowling at his inner thoughts and I wondered about our almost kiss. Could it be that plain old Emma affected Jake Vandervaal? Even the thought seems inconceivable but judging his behavior, that is exactly what seems to be happening. Why else would he keep watching me every time I was near? Why would he have tried to kiss me just now? He stopped at the elevator but didn’t get in. “Goodnight, Jake.”
Before the door closed, I was sure I heard the longing in his voice. “Goodnight, Emma.”
As I made way to the penthouse, I pondered over it. It couldn’t be possible that he wanted me, could it? I mean, why would he? He already had the stunning Claudia for a girlfriend. I stomp my way to the master bedroom and check my phone to curse like a sailor at the person who had called me and had the most pathetic timing in the universe. Jo. Of course. I will murder him, I think, and throw myself head down on the soft, plush bed. “Emma!” As soon as Jo hears me he comes into the room looking like a lit-up Christmas tree and I lose the mood to become a killer that would mark my squeaky clean record as the model citizen.
“It’s working!” He said with his iPhone in his hand.
“I’m sure it is,” I said lifting my head. “I got your ill-timed call and a thousand messages to come to see you.” I got up and sat with my legs folded under me.
“What?” Jo looked at his phone. “No! That’s not what I’m talking about.”
“No?” I lift an eyebrow. “Then what?”
“I’m saying you and I are working.” He waves his hand between us. He said looking giddy with happiness and all I could think about was smashing the nearest object on his head for interrupting my almost kiss with his brother and depriving me of the most life-changing moment ever. Oh, how I abhorred the word almost right then. So I settled for the pillow next to me and threw it at Jo, which he caught by ease. “Seeing us together bothers Sarah just like I had said it would. Do I know her or what?” He said proudly and leaned against the door frame.
“That’s great,” I said monotonously. “Yay.”
“I know right. Which is why I’m about to head down to her room and take her out for a couple of drinks.” He said.
“Did you even ask her?” I lay back down as he walked to his room and grabbed the jacket he had thrown over the sofa before coming back. “She could say no and I’m not sure your sensitive little ego can take that blow.”
“Ha. Ha. You’re hilarious.” He said sarcastically. “I’ve asked already and she said yes. Because she’s madly in love with me.” I grinned at the ceiling. “I might be back late or hopefully not until tomorrow morning.” He winked.
“You’re going to leave your fake girlfriend to cheat on her with your ex? How dare you?” I asked dramatically and pretend to be heartbroken but then shrugged. “Oh well, at least you have the decency to tell me about it beforehand.”
“You’re really something, Em.” He laughed. Just like his brother, his eyes crinkled at the corners.
“Off with you and don’t show me your face until morning.” I wave at him. “Happy cheating.”
“You’re such a dork.” He said before closing the door behind him.
An hour after I’d showered and dressed in my tank and pajamas, sleep was hard to come by. Though I was tired mentally due to the stress of the upcoming wedding and Nancy and Sean blasting up my phone ever hour with constant messages, all I could think about was Jake. The guy was haunting me and I couldn’t even call the damn ghostbusters. I thought about him so hard that when I heard a knock coming from the living area and saw him standing at the door, I thought for a minute that my mind had conjured him up. “Jake.” The surprise was evident in my voice.
“Ms. Duvall.” He replied. I cocked my head to one side and gave him a pointed look till he understood what I wanted. “Emma.” He said in response. I was done with the last names.
“Is everything okay?” I said and let him inside.
“Yes, all is well.” He said and came to a stop near the stairs. “I’m sorry to disturb you at such late hour but I was wondering if I could speak to Joseph?”
“He’s not here,” I inform him and tie the nightgown around my waist which I had grabbed from the chair beside the bed.
Jake frowned. “Where is he?”
Probably with Sarah, reconciling with her in her bedroom. “He’s . . . indisposed.” Real lame, Emma. I wince. “I mean, he’s out with a friend.” I improvise. “He should be back soon.” Not likely but Jake didn’t need to know that.
“He left you alone at night, to go out with his friends?” He asked as if to confirm. I nodded. “It seems my brother is not right in the head.” He muttered.
“Excuse me?”
“Could I have some water please?” He asked instead.
“Yeah, sure.” My gaze traveled to his throat at the open collar and I felt parched myself. “Coming right up.” I leave for the small bar to get the bottle from the fridge before I could make a fool of myself and melt into a puddle of wantonness at his feet. I open the refrigerator and hold the door to soothe my heated body. Though the room was cold from the air con, I still felt warmed up as was becoming normal whenever Jake was around.
I gasp as calloused fingers slide the tendrils away from my neck and Jake’s hand snaked across my waist pulling me against him. He closed the door and I bit my lip at the deliciously hard body that met my back. He pressed a soft kiss at the nape of my neck and I involuntarily arched it away, giving him full access as he explored the length of my neck. “What did you mean earlier? About Jo?” I asked.
“Having a woman like you waiting for him in his room, in his bed, it doesn’t make sense to me that he’d leave you for anything else. That anybody could.” He spun me around and held my hips firmly. “I know I wouldn’t.”
“What would you do if you had me waiting for you?” I asked in a daze as I drunk in his handsome face.
“This.” He said and swooped down to capture my lips. He devoured them in an urgency that could be felt in my bones. I kissed him back with a fervor that had been pent up in me for years ever since that day we’ve met. This right here was the reason why it never worked with anybody else and why it never will. This passion I felt for the man who held me in his arms wasn’t easy for me to feel for just anyone. Jake lifted me and placed me on the bar counter as I wrapped my legs around his back, never breaking the kiss. I pull him closer and he groans low in his throat at the intimate contact and tightens his hand on my hips in a possessive grip. My hands slid down his chest and I pull the sweater he was wearing over his head and mess up his hair. They were so soft and begged me to touch them. So I did. My fingers made my way to them and gripped hard in the throes of passion.