Page 136 of Beautiful Ruin

He wasn’t listening.

“Jacob?” Tosca, his head of legal, asked.

His brows lifted, as if in response, but he had no idea what they were referring to. “Ah, let me sit with that for the rest of the day.”

And try to work out what the fuck it is they’re talking about. Hopefully, someone would cover it in the minutes.

“Well, we need to file the trademark this week,” she said.

“Then go ahead.”

Jesus. Obviously.

He didn’t give a fuck. He wanted to know if Leilani was okay. If her mom had died. Or had come through okay.

And he needed to work out what he was going to say to Ward tonight when they met for dinner.

In truth, he was far more concerned with his girl.

Because Leilani was his, he was absolutely sure of it. In the past three days, he’d barely slept and had paced his home and office, nearly wearing a hole in the damn floors.

Three fucking days.

He’d gone over every single conversation examining what she’d said, her expression, his interpretation, and now he was convinced there was a chance.

If he could push back his fear and tell her how he felt about her. There was just one damn thing. Jacob didn’t know if he could be the man Leilani deserved.

She might still reject him.

Just as Jenny had done.

Hell, she might not have the same feelings as he did. Yet. Or ever.

Also, his timing was terrible.

Good one, Jake, fall in love with a girl when her mom is dying.

What if she needed him?

After what he’d said to her, Jacob deserved to be told to fuck off.

We fucked. You fulfilled your part of the deal and now I’m ready to go home.

Jesus, what an asshole.

He’d been hurt by her reaction and lashed out. That wasn’t mature, and it wasn’t the way to tell a girl you loved her. He needed to man up and be the son that someone like Ward could be proud of.

Jacob stared out the window as his mind whirled.

Suddenly, he climbed to his feet.

“I forgot I double-booked myself,” Jacob said. “Continue without me.”

Then he slid his chair back and pushed through the solid wooden doors, heading for his office.

He made two phone calls and then left the office.

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