Page 18 of From the Moment We Met

Chapter Four

Jacob

Jacob watched the taxi leave, uncertain what transpired moments earlier. He hadn’t intended to kiss her—again—but his emotions and need for Lilly took over, fuck, but she could kiss.

His thumb traced his mouth, her lips were so soft, and she tasted so damn good. He chuckled to himself—in an effort to prove love was meant only for fools, he had behaved like one instead. And he enjoyed every second of it.

“What the hell was that?” An agitated voice bellowed over his shoulder.

Jacob jumped at the sudden question, he hadn’t heard anyone come outside. “You startled me, mate.”

“I am not your mate. I’ll ask again, what the hell was that with Lilly?”

Jacob closed his eyes and sighed, time to do battle with the good doctor. He turned to face Enrique, noting the scowl and glare emanating from his dark eyes. “What did it look like?”

Enrique inched forward. “She’s too good for the likes of you. I know your reputation, how you treat women.”

Jacob scoffed, this was brilliant. “You don’t know a damn thing about me. You know what you read in magazines, which is bullshit, by the way. And you’re one to talk. At least my girlfriend didn’t show up while I was making a move on someone else.”

“She’s not my girlfriend. You don’t know anything about me either.”

Jacob held up his hands, he wasn’t in the mood to do battle. “Fair enough. I don’t care if Emma is your girlfriend or not, but Lilly might have an opinion.”

“Stay away from Lilly.”

Usually, Jacob would have agreed, considering he barely knew Lilly and had his pick of eligible women, but something wrenched in his gut at the idea of passing up an opportunity with the petite brunette. He shook his head and chuckled. “I don’t think so, Dr. Torres.”

Enrique got in his face. “Do I have to make you stay away from her?”

“Are you insane? Shall we duel at dawn? Fight for her hand?” Jacob met the surgeon’s glare, aware that people were gathering on the sidewalk.

“Enrique? What’s going on? What are you two fighting about?” Enrique’s friend, Emma, placed a hand on the doctor’s shoulder.

Enrique jerked his arm from her grasp, raking a hand through his dark hair. “Nothing.”

Emma’s gaze moved to Jacob, looking for answers. “What am I missing here? Did your wife leave, Mr. Edmonton?”

Jacob nodded, volleying back Enrique’s unwavering stare. “Lilly went home, and I am headed back to my family. Lovely meeting you, Emma. Enrique.” With a final scowl, he turned in the direction of the hospital.

∞∞∞

The hotel suite was a bevy of activity when he arrived, far different from when he left.

“Uncle Jacob!” A small blonde girl raced out of one of the bedrooms.

Jacob grinned, scooping up his niece. “Hello, beautiful. I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” The little girl buried her face in the crook of his neck and Jacob carried her and the bag of food to the kitchen area.

Audrey walked out of the bedroom, hairbrush in hand. “Elizabeth, we weren’t finished.” She straightened when she saw her brother-in-law. “You’re back.”

Jacob set Elizabeth down and began unloading the contents of the bag. “I stopped to get us food at the pub.”

“You smell like whiskey. Did you drink your dinner?”

Jacob sent Audrey a scathing look. “I saw Dr. Torres and Lilly; they bought me a drink.”

Audrey softened. “Did they have any news on Janie?”

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