Page 15 of From the Moment We Met

Lilly gasped as she tossed his hand away, noting his smile and the glint in his eye. This man was enjoying the hell out of this game, and he wanted the last word. Fine, let him have it. She had proven her point, whatever it was.

Jacob leaned back against the booth, a genuine smile crossing his lips. “Touché, Lilly.”

Lilly smiled and shrugged. “Two can play your game. You didn’t invent it, you know.”

Jacob leaned over and pressed his lips to her ear, his breath stirring up those butterflies again. “Too bad you pulled away before I got to find out what an amazing kisser you are.”

This man was incorrigible. “Your loss.”

He pulled back, staring at his whiskey, a frown creasing his Grecian profile. “Yes, it is.”

Lilly paused. What the hell caused his sudden about-face? The reality of her actions sank in. She had two options—bury her face in her hands and never look up or change the subject and pretend the kiss never happened. That soft but magical kiss.

Lilly went with option two. She stirred her drink, searching for answers in her ice cubes. “How’s your family?”

“Mum and Audrey finally fell asleep. My Dad is watching the news on a loop, and my niece is wondering when her Mum is coming home.”

“How old is she?”

“Elizabeth is five.” Jacob pulled out his phone, flipping through photos. He opened one, but it wasn’t his niece, rather him shirtless on a beach; a tall blonde draped over his body like a boa constrictor. The two combined were the epitome of all things considered beautiful. Lilly wanted to vomit. “Sorry, wrong photo.”

Lilly sipped her whiskey through the stirrer straw. “Your wife is beautiful.”

Jacob scoffed. “She is definitely not my wife.”

Lilly shrugged, the whiskey was making an appearance. “She’s still beautiful. You two look good together, but I’m sure you knew that already.”

“Her beauty is only skin deep. She made me realize how stupid it is to commit your heart to another person. It’s far safer to focus on my career, interspersed with numerous romps and meaningless sex. Screw romance and happily ever after.”

“Words to live by,” Lilly breathed, her sarcasm evident.

“It’s better than being a fool in love.”

“Love is never stupid,” Lilly blurted, immediately wishing she could pull the words back.

Jacob’s gaze held hers, damn, that fire was back in his eyes again. “It was in this case.”

“Did you learn something from your time with her?” She shouldn’t keep pushing, but she knew his answer was a facade, hiding the truth.

Jacob drummed his fingers on the table. He was aggravated. “Yes, I learned that it’s stupid to commit your heart to another person. I pity anyone dumb enough to fall in love.”

Lilly opened her mouth to retort but scoffed at that foolish idea. Time for her to leave, this night was more fun than a root canal. “On that happy note, can you let me up? I’m calling it a night.”

“I can walk you to your car.”

Lilly shook her head. “I don’t have a car, I take the Tube.”

“I can drive you—shit, no I can’t—I don’t have my car. Let me call you a cab.”

“It’s not necessary.”

“I insist.” Jacob called in a taxi before motioning towards the front of the bar. “Won’t Dr. Torres be angry that you’re leaving?”

Lilly shrugged. “I doubt it. He’s busy with Emma.”

Jacob kept his focus on his phone. “I thought you and Dr. Torres were an item.”

“Why would you think that? We’re work colleagues.”

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