Page 56 of From the Moment We Met

Sabina smirked, taking another swallow of sake. “Is that what you want?”

Jacob’s eyes widened. Hadn’t this woman listened to a word he said? “Of course not!”

“You’d like the opportunity to spend some time with her, get to know her more…intimately?”

Jacob huffed, downing another glass of sake. “This isn’t about sex, not that I wouldn’t be interested. Very interested.”

“And you’re not sleeping with Victoria? That doesn’t play into your business arrangement?”

“God, no way in hell.”

Sabina stood again. “Excuse me one more moment.”

Jacob watched Sabina walk to the front of the restaurant, wondering if she was either going to vomit or had a bladder the size of a hamster. Two minutes later his phone buzzed. It was Sabina.

“Could you meet me out front?”

“What are you doing out front?”

“Just walk out here.”

The line disconnected and Jacob ran an exasperated hand through his curls. This woman was off her rocker. He strolled to the entrance and stopped in his tracks. Lilly stood beside Sabina, wearing a red dress that accentuated her delectable figure.

Sabina sent him a knowing smile when he walked out. “Look who I ran into, what a coincidence.”

Jacob walked up to Lilly, grasping her hand and pressing it to his lips. He couldn’t hold back the shit-eating grin crossing his face. “You look amazing.”

“I’m not certain what I’m doing here. Sabina insisted I get her straight away. Some sort of Japanese cuisine emergency, apparently.” Lilly bit her bottom lip and Jacob leaned in, stealing a quick kiss from her beautiful mouth.

Lilly blushed. “It’s wonderful to see you, too.”

“You can thank me later, both of you.” Sabina waved as a taxi pulled up to the valet booth. “Thanks for the sake. Lilly, I ordered your favorite meal. Enjoy.” With those words, Sabina ducked into the cab and was gone.

“I smell a setup,” Lilly stated, smiling up at Jacob.

Jacob chuckled, wrapping an arm around her waist. “I hope you’re hungry.”

“You’re lucky, I’m famished.”

Jacob leaned into her, her scent feeling more and more like home. “I am lucky. I’m spending the evening with you.”

He wished he could frame the smile that crossed her face, the way she lit up under his gaze. Then she smirked, giving him a slight hip bump. “Damn straight.”

They chuckled as they walked back into the restaurant, hand in hand.

∞∞∞

Lilly

Lilly tried to maintain a calm facade, but she feared she might melt into a puddle being this close to Jacob. He led her to the table, pulling out her chair. “Thank you. This is quite a swanky establishment. When Sabina told me to meet her here, I figured she’d met a crown prince who was footing the bill.”

Jacob smiled at her, grasping her hand across the table. “It’s pricey, but the food is delicious.”

Lilly pulled her hand from his grasp. “What are we doing, Jacob? Are we two friends having dinner? Is this a gentle way of giving me a kiss off?” Jacob’s eyebrows raised at her last question. “Saturday was a bit too surreal for me. I’m not certain how I’m supposed to act.”

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes studying her face.

After several silent moments, Lilly spoke. “This wasn’t a good idea—”

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