Page 5 of Finding Jacob
“How do you know him?” I asked, sliding my napkin over my lap.
“Business dealings in the UK. Many moons ago, and then we became friends. Now, tell me about your predicament,” he successfully deflected and got straight to the point.
“Well, this is probably a little childish in the cold light of the day. My sister is marrying my ex-fiancé and I need a plus one. Preferably someone neither knows. I RSVP’d saying I was bringing someone called Jacob!” I shrugged my shoulders and winced at how daft it sounded.
“To play a role?”
“Well, yes, I guess so.” I paused as the waiter poured water and handing me the menu. “It’s stupid idea, forget it. And I don’t know your name.”
“Would you be amused if I told you it was Jacob?”
“Very. Is it really?”
“Would you like wine?” he asked, not answering. I nodded and then picked up the food menu. “Would you also allow me to order for you? There are some amazing dishes not listed.”
I folded the menu and placed it back on the table. “You are very intriguing,” I stated, and I could feel my cheeks redden slightly. Whatever it was about the guy had me acting like I would on a first date.
“So, tell me about your sister and the ex?” he asked.
“Oh, honestly, you don’t want to know all that crap.” I waved my hand in the air as if brushing away his question.
“I do. I’m curious as to why Anna Roberts needs a plus one when she could have a pick of hundreds and has come to me.”
His voice had lowered and I had to admit, it hit my very core. He was also hypnotic.
“I’m being childish. My ex had an affair, and I never knew with whom. It drove me mad he kept that last piece of information and for that reason, although I’d said I’d forgiven him, I guess I hadn’t really. Not knowing who she was kept me from really trying to fix our relationship—”
“Why do you think it was broken?” he said, interrupting me.
“It had to be, didn’t it? For a man to want an affair, something had to be wrong.”
“No, not necessarily. Some men are simply arseholes, who feel they can’t compete with a successful woman, so fuck around to make themselves feel more powerful. Please, carry on.”
His statement threw me a little. “Erm…well, I guess I never fully trusted him again. Then, I went to collect his cleaning and the shop owner handed me a pair of panties they’d found in his pocket. They didn’t belong to me, for sure. I kicked him out.”
“And now he’s marrying your sister?”
“Oh, this is the best part. I find out the previous woman was my sister, and they hadn’t stopped their affair. Even better? She’s pregnant, too far gone so she must have conceived while he and I were still together. My parents think I should have gotten over it already. They sided with her because she’s having their first grandchild, and I haven’t spoken to any of them for months. A couple of weeks ago, I got the invitation to their wedding.”
I sat back in my chair and sighed.
“I can see why you’d want a plus one. I doubt I’d attend on my own and I’d like to accept the position myself.”
“You can’t do that. Honestly, it was a stupid idea, a drunken one.”
“And it will be immensely fun, Anna. I do expect you to forward me all the details and I will be at your service for the whole day.”
He slid an embossed cream business card across the table.
Jacob Daniels was printed in black with a mobile number and email address.
“So, your nameisJacob?” I asked, laughing.
“Yes, which is why both Nathan and I thought it funny you’d chosen that name. Fate perhaps?”
The waiter arrived with an array of dishes, tapas style, and Jacob detailed each one. He did so in a different accent.
“Where are you from?”
