Page 70 of Fairy Tale Lies
“This was the perfect excuse to get rid of me. I’d gotten the impression your father didn’t care for me. More specifically, me dating you.”
Maybe she should have told him more of what her father said when he learned she’d been seeing Jacob. His problem wasn’t with who she was dating but more with his daughter keeping a certain standard of professionalism at the workplace. Like not kissing clients in her office.
“Even if it were true, which it’s not, he wouldn’t have let the false charge stand,” Greta replied indignantly. “Besides, he likes you.”
“Oh yeah, what gives you that idea?”
“If he didn’t like you, he wouldn’t have come here. He’d have sent someone low on the totem pole.”
“Or he wanted to make certain everything was resolved, cutting off the possibility of bad publicity. I mean, Iamaffiliated with his company and dating his daughter. Maybe those are enough to bring him here.” Jacob stepped back, letting his arms fall to his side. “Either way, I should thank him.”
He made his way to her father. She didn’t follow but was close enough to hear their conversation. Her father brushed aside Jacob’s gratitude and even apologized for Blake’s scheming, telling Jacob, come Monday, Blake was fired.
She was torn. Furious with her ex’s vindictive ways and regretful tonight was probably going to ruin a longtime friendship between her father and Blake’s parents.
What a mess.
The two men made plans for a business lunch later in the week, ending the conversation with a friendly handshake. Then Father hugged her goodbye and said they’d talk more in the morning. Afterward, he left in his Lexus.
Greta looped an arm around Jacob, needing the reassurance of his warmth and his strong arms around her. “You were furious. When you left the station, it poured from you. I was certain you were done with me.”
At such a late hour, most of the parking lot was empty. Will was leaning against his car, a few spaces from her mother’s Audi, and waved them over. Her mother ignored everyone and continued to talk on her cellphone.
They walked toward Will.
“I was upset, but not at you,” Jacob said. “At least not entirely. What you saw was dread mixed with anger. I thought you were leaving with your family, and it hurt. A lot. I was wound tight and figured it best to leave. I didn’t want to upset you further.”
After everything he dealt with tonight because ofher, and his concern was withheremotions?
Under his rough exterior was a true prince.
What had been tiptoeing around her slammed in at full force, wrapping and burrowing into her heart. She loved Jacob, completely and soul deep.
“How did I get so lucky?” she mused.
He gave a sardonic snort. “It seems to me the only luck following me is the bad kind. I mean, how many people get arrested multiple times for crimes they didn’t commit?”
She laughed and slid a hand into his back pocket, not caring who was watching. “I have to confess. It’s one of the things I love about you—”
He peered at her, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You love that I get arrested? You’re a strange woman.”
She matched his grin, enjoying his teasing. “Well no. I love your compassion and that you can forgive.”
“Damn. You make me sound like a loyal puppy.” His lips pressed into a serious line, but the glint in his eyes told her he was amused. “Please don’t tell my new jail cronies. It could hurt my rep on the cell block.”
She laughed. “Your secret’s safe with me.” Greta stood on tiptoes and kissed him, deep and tender, trying to repair the damage between them.
Lost in the sensation of his lips and body against hers, she’d forgotten they were in a police parking lot. That was until Jacob stiffened and took a sudden step back.
An impenetrable wall sprung between them. The tension and resentment radiating off him was palpable. Greta spun around, wanting to discover the source.
Her mother.
She raised her chin, managing to look both uncomfortable and patronizing. “I would like to apologize for the misunderstanding.”
Jacob didn’t respond to the apology. Instead, he thrust a hand into his front pocket, withdrawing Nigel’s Rolex. “Here. Take the damn thing. I don’t want you to have me arrested again. Good luck getting it fixed.”
His tone said the opposite. It sounded more like he hoped it ended up like the white rabbit’s watch when the Mad Hatter got ahold of it inAlice in Wonderland.
