Page 80 of Finding Jacob
I logged on and checked through some emails. Most were junk, and the rest were Jane catching me up on the previous day’s activities. It seemed bookings were up, and she wanted approval on a couple of models who needed contracts. It occurred to me I could easily work remotely and part time and pulled up my diary. I had some shows towards the end of the year, they were still doable, and I started to blank off days. I would spend one day in the London office, two days at home and see how that worked. Before I knew it, a couple of hours had passed.
“Lunch?” I heard. Jacob stood in the doorway.
“What’s on the menu?” I asked, closing the laptop lid.
“Me?”
I raised my eyebrows at him. “Or?”
“Sadie has left a chicken salad for us.”
“Both?”
“Good choice. Come,” he said.
I laughed at his command and rose from the desk. As the weather was nice, we opted to sit on the terrace. Jacob told me about the land and how he’d help build the house from scratch. He detailed trees and plants and seemed very knowledgeable in horticulture. In addition to the gardens, he owned some land he leased to the local farmer.
“I must go to Dubai next week. Will you come with me?” he asked.
“I don’t know that I should fly now. How long are you going to be away?”
“Only a couple of days. I don’t want to leave you alone,” he said.
“I highly doubt anything is going to happen to me here,” I replied, laughing. I picked up a glass of water and sipped. “It’s too hot in Dubai right now, isn’t it?” I couldn’t imagine being comfortable in extreme heat.
“Fair enough. Maybe I’ll postpone.”
“Don’t do that. I’ll be fine, honestly. Nathan can stay if you’re worried.”
“Then I would be worried,” he said, winking again at me.
“Are you jealous of Nathan?” I asked, slightly concerned.
“I’m jealous of anyone who gets time with you, but that’s my problem to deal with.” He laughed and I hoped he was only mildly serious.
“Nothing to be jealous of. We’re good friends, and that’s all it will ever be.”
Jacob had said once before he thought Nathan had a thing for me. I didn’t see it, there had never been a sign that he had, and even if there was, I was in love with Jacob.
“I’m strictly and one-man woman, so you have nothing to fear.”
We continued to chat until I received the biggest kick to my stomach.
“Ouch!” I said, holding my bump.
“What’s wrong?” Jacob asked, scooting forward.
“Our daughter’s trying to break my ribs, I think.”
He chuckled and placed both hands on my stomach. “Paloma, listen to me. It’s your daddy speaking. Be a good girl and settle down. I’d rather Momma be in one piece if that’s okay.” When he spoke her name and referred to me as ‘Momma’ his accent was pronounced. My stomach flipped and it wasn’t our daughter that time.
“You have a very sexy voice when you do that,” I said quietly.
“Does it turn you on?”
I nodded. He stood, pulling me up with him.
“Quiero llevarte arriba y follarte duro, Anna.” He nuzzled the side of my neck.
