Page 37 of Anything For This Love

She smiles at me apologetically, curling further into his side. He looks upon her with adoration brightening his eyes. It’s a look I’ve not seen on him before. He is most definitely over Tiff and I’m glad for it. My best friend may have broken his heart, but the woman by his side has clearly put it back together.

“Are you going to introduce us to your date or just keep making googly eyes at her?” Jacob asks.

“Oh, screw you. You were doing the same thing a few minutes ago.”

Jacob and Luke still exchange barbs like frat boys. I roll my eyes at their immature behavior and Luke’s companion snickers, noticing my face.

“This is my girlfriend, Harley,” Luke finally announces, urging her forward.

“It’s nice to meet you,” she says before shaking our hands.

“Sothisis Harley? I’m glad to finally meet you.” Jacob seems familiar with the shy, quiet woman’s name. Clearly Luke has told Jacob all about her. Her eyes dart around the room much like mine did when we first arrived. I conclude that, like me, she didn’t grow up within this social class. She looks nervous and a little withdrawn. I hope Luke takes care of her and ensures her comfort in this unfamiliar situation.

“How did you two meet?” I ask, drawing her attention back to me.

He gets a serious look on his face as he answers, “She saved my life.”

My eyes widen in surprise and she slaps his arm playfully, shaking her head. “That’s not exactly what happened.”

He shrugs. “More or less. I was spiraling and she pulled me from the depths of despair.”

“We met in college,” she clarifies.

There’s more to this story and whatever it is, I’m dying to hear it.

We stay and chat with them for a few minutes before making our excuses and parting ways. Jacob summons our car and driver from his phone, receiving an alert when it’s ready. I snuggle into his side, taking full advantage of his body heat on the ride home. Chloe is fast asleep when we return and Eleanor is waiting in the armchair reading a cozy mystery, her round lens glasses perched on her delicate nose.

“Did you have a nice time?”

Jacob glances at me, a slow grin spreading over his lips. “We had agreattime.” My face heats, knowing the direction his thoughts have taken. He’s remembering our moment in the bathroom.

We bid Eleanor farewell and I steal away to check on Chloe before heading to our bedroom. Jacob is unbuttoning his shirt when I enter, but stops when he sees me. His eyes scan slowly down my body before returning to my face.

“I can’t stop thinking about what we did on that bathroom counter.” My breath quickens and my skin heats. His gaze locks on mine as he takes slow, deliberate steps toward me. He stops in front of me, his body less than an inch from mine and leans down to whisper in my ear. “I want to do it again.”

“Me, too,” I let out on a shaky exhale.

“Turn around,” he commands, and I eagerly obey. His fingers brush over my skin, goosebumps instantly pebbling the surface. He drags the zipper down with painstakingly unhurried movements. His hands cup my shoulders, pushing the sleeves down my arms, and I watch as the shiny green material pools at my feet. I stand before him bare wearing nothing but my heels, my torn panties hidden in the wastebasket of a hotel bathroom. I bend down to remove my shoes, but he stops me.

“Leave them on,” he growls next to my ear. He leads me to the bathroom and shuts the door. This time, it’s to muffle my cries of pleasure.

Chapter Fourteen

Jacob

Canyou come for dinner this evening?

The text from my father comes through as I’m shutting down my computer for the day and preparing to leave the office. Worry snakes through me at his unusual request. We don’t typically do weeknight dinners and I usually have more of a notice. Trepidation settles over me as I type out my reply.

Me: Sure. I don’t have any other plans.

He responds with a thumbs up emoji. I pull on my coat and grab my messenger bag before locking up and heading to my car. I’m tense on the drive to my parents’ house, wondering why he’s asked me over. Is he going to tell me he and my mother are getting a divorce? That one of them is ill? My mind races with possibilities.

I clench my steering wheel so hard my knuckles begin to ache. Opening my hand, I flex my fingers to return some blood flow to the blanched skin. I’ve got to relax. It could be nothing. Maybe he just misses me. We haven’t seen each other since the gala, and that was a week and a half ago. He’s probably lonely living in that big house all by himself.

Both my parents are waiting for me when I arrive. They appear at ease, so I try to let my worry melt away. If it was bad, at least one of them wouldn’t be so calm.

“Can you go retrieve your brother from his room?” my father asks. “He finally comes home from college and shuts himself in his room the moment he walks in the door. I swear, fraternity life has ruined him.”

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