Page 9 of From the Moment We Met

“It’s none of your damn business who was on the phone, and it wasn’t Victoria.”

“One of your other sluts? I suppose we should be honored that you deign us worthy at all, when else do we see you? Hell, Janie has to undergo emergency heart surgery to be a candidate for your time.”

“Everyone, please stop. This is not healthy for anyone right now,” Lilly pleaded.

“You know nothing, Audrey!” Jacob hissed as he exited, slamming the door behind him.

Lilly stared at the waiting room door, uncertain how to proceed after the family squabble. When it became obvious no one else was going to open the conversation, she sighed, settling into a chair.

“Let me tell you what to expect when Janie comes out of surgery. I find it helpful to let families know about the machinery used during recovery, so it’s less of a shock. Does that sound good to everyone?”

∞∞∞

Lilly left the waiting room ten minutes later and found Jacob slouched in a corner, his face in his hands. Despite Audrey’s accusations, he didn’t appear like a spoiled playboy, but rather a brokenhearted man struggling to comprehend the events of the day. Her heart softened and she was tempted to hug him.

She knelt in front of him. “Mr. Edmonton?”

Jacob looked up, his eyes red-rimmed. “Sorry about that display, you didn’t need to see that.”

“Trust me, I’ve seen far worse. Chairs being thrown, tables overturned, a planter halfway through a window—”

Jacob smiled at her, shaking his head. “You’re joking.”

“Unfortunately not, your family is tame comparatively. Although, I’m sorry to see such animosity during an already difficult time.” She shifted under his gaze, his sapphire eyes were unnerving. “I thought since you didn’t hear my spiel, you might like to grab a cup of coffee, so I can fill you in on the details. You look like you could use it.”

“That’s a great idea, thank you. And please, call me Jacob.”

“Jacob it is.” Lilly held out her hand to him, and he grasped it, pulling himself to a standing position. She tried to ignore the warmth that shot up her arm when his fingers enveloped hers.

Jacob gazed down at her, a wry smile on his lips. “God, you’re tiny. How tall are you?”

“Not very,” Lilly chuckled. “Just under five feet, or one and a half meters as they say in England.”

Jacob returned her laugh. “So, not very tall.”

Her laughter died in her throat as she looked at the ground, suddenly self-conscious of her diminutive stature.

“I love your laugh.”

Lilly smiled up at him. “I don’t sound like a member of the Lollipop Guild, do I?”

“Not at all, your laugh is beautiful and genuine and sexy as hell—” He stopped speaking abruptly, letting out an embarrassed huff. “I’m saying all the wrong things today.”

“Thanks for the compliment.” Lilly knew her face was bright red, but it was a minor issue compared to the sparks going off inside her body.

“I meant it,” Jacob murmured as he placed a hand on her shoulder, and Lilly fought to ignore butterflies in her stomach.

“Here we are.” Lilly pushed open the door to a small doctor’s lounge and poured them both some coffee before joining Jacob at a table.

“This,” Jacob began, sipping the brew, “is truly terrible coffee.”

Lilly laughed, almost spitting her coffee in his direction. “It’s like old shoe leather, but the sludgier it is, the longer it keeps you awake, at least that’s the rumor.”

“I’ll be awake for weeks, if that’s the case.” Jacob smiled broadly, and Lilly understood what Sabina meant about his effortless sex appeal.

“Let me tell what to expect after Janie comes out of surgery.” Lilly segued into her well-practiced dialogue about post-operative expectations; pausing half a dozen times to allow Jacob to take one of his endless phone calls. His public needed him incessantly, it seemed.

The interruptions helped her regain her bearings and not fall into the sensual gravitational pull surrounding this man. She didn’t understand it. He was not her type. He was tall and lean and blonde and fucking gorgeous. What is wrong with me?Get it together, Lilly. This man is a damn movie star, he isn’t going to think twice about someone like you. Her pager sounded, and she gazed at the number, Janie would be moving to recovery within twenty minutes.

---