Page 24 of Finding Jacob
“You told me in New York. You said it was...tragic,” I replied.
“I’ll take you there one day.”
My stomach flipped at his sentence, hoping that meant he viewed us a potential relationship. Although, who knew what would happen once he discovered I was carrying his child. That second thought brought my mood down slightly.
“Come,” he said quietly, and I wondered if he’d mistook my sadness for his ‘tragic’ images.
We walked through the house, and he talked about the building, how he wanted someplace cool and quiet, somewhere he could truly relax and shut out the world. He laughed as he told me he was quite reclusive, loving his own company, and quickly contradicted himself by adding it was nice to have me visit. As I looked around the ultra-modern environment, the one thing I couldn’t see there, was a child.
“Please, sit.”
We had arrived in an industrial-style kitchen, and I was greeted by a white-coated chef who nodded to me.
“Can I offer you wine?” Jacob asked.
“Just a small one, please.” I slid onto a high leather and metal stool at a stainless-steel bar.
“I’m happy you responded to my letter, Anna. I wasn’t sure you would.”
I was glad he’d brought the elephant in the room to the fore. Well, one of them, anyway.
“I texted you, the following day, after...” I didn’t want a full-on conversation with a chef in the room. Jacob just smiled, however. “I thought I’d offended you more than you’d said. I didn’t realise until I showed Nathan and he compared the number I’d used to the real one,” I babbled as he poured a very cold white wine.
“So when you didn’t hear back from me, you left it at that?”
I blinked a couple of times, unsure of his meaning. “Yes. Wouldn’t you have?” I asked defensively.
“No. I would have texted again.” He smiled as he placed the wine in front of me and took the seat beside me. “Marcus has prepared a nice meal for us. I hope that you’ll like it.”
I couldn’t answer, considering I wasn’t aware of what we were to dine on. But whatever it was, it smelled delicious. My stomach rumbled.
“I’m sure I will, let’s hope I don’t have any food allergies,” I said, slightly smarting from his earlier comment.
He raised his glass, encouraging me to do the same. Just before he brought his glass to his lips he said, “I checked with Nathan.”
I wasn’t sure how I felt about them having a conversation about me but decided to park that thought for the time being. I did have to be careful over what thoughts were rational and what were hormone driven.
“Can we start again? Without the escort references?” I asked.
“I’d like that. I also recall that I still have some homework to do. I’m looking forward to meeting your family.” He smirked when he spoke. “Assuming that’s still going ahead, of course.”
I laughed, and it felt good to have ‘started over’ with him. We chatted about the fact my parents had been bombarding me with wedding plans, not that I was remotely involved in any of it. How, after months of not talking, they had just assumed I’d gotten over everything, and they were excited to meet Jacob.
He asked lots of questions about them, and I could imagine the mental notes he was taking.
“So, where did we meet?” he asked.
I paused. “New York? I don’t think either have been there before and I know it’s on their bucket list.”
“Excellent, New York it is. You were invited to a gala that I was hosting, perhaps?”
“Yes, now when did this happen?”
“I think it has to be a while ago. Not long after you split from your ex, I feel. Show them that you moved on quickly,” he said.
I nodded along, smiling at the thought. “How often do we see each other?” I asked.
“As often as we can. I mean, I travel the world, Anna. I can come to London anytime; you were in Dubai with me recently.” He stared at me. “Perhaps you should come to Dubai so you can talk about it.”
