“No, not that. I mean us. No pressure on the answer, but when we get there, what are we?” she spit out so quickly she wasn’t sure he understood her words. He’d been clear what he wanted but she’d been hesitant, she knew that. Had that changed anything on his end? Did he still want the same things?
“Oh.” Jake thought on it for a moment. “What would you like us to be?” he asked.
“Ugh,” she quietly groaned and laid her head back.
“I was hoping we’d go in there together, but if you would rather not, I guess we do that.” Jake’s brows pulled together as he spoke, clearly not liking the second option.
“I’d like it if we went in there together, I think.” She was quiet about it on purpose. She didn’t even know what she wanted, apparently.
“You think? Do you need time to decide?”
“No, sorry, let’s go in there together.”
They were pulling up to Cade’s as she spoke. Jake parked his car and looked over at her.
“Are you sure that’s what you want?” he asked, the same thing he’d been asking her over and over.
“I don’t want your friends, other people, to think I’m . . .” She let it trail off. It sounded stupid when she said it out loud.
“What?” he pressed, reaching over and taking her hand in his.
“I don’t want people to think I’m after your money,” she admitted.
“Why would they think that?” He tilted his head as he asked, confused.
“Because you have a lot and I have hardly any?” She pulled her hand back to fold her arms across her chest.
“Look at me, please?” She was learning eye contact was important to him. “I don’t think you are, and that’s what matters, got it?”
She nodded.
“And most of these people already know you anyway. They know you’re not.”
“They know me as Cade’s secretary and maybe as Catherine’s friend, not as an equal, because I’m not.”
“I think you’re wrong,” he told her, getting out of the car.
She waited for him to open her door and stood next to him. “Sorry,” she told him.
“For what?” He looked down at her, confused again.
“Complicating things right now.”
“Never be sorry for telling anyone your feelings, least of all me.”
He gave her a quick kiss, stopping just short of making her knees weak again. He pulled away and took her hand, leading her into the house.
It was loud immediately when they opened the door. Catherine grabbed her the second they walked in, pulling her away from Jake. He gave her a smile and went to Cade.
“Someone didn’t come home last night,” Catherine teased as she handed her a drink.
“What’s this?” Lauren asked.
“A mixed drink, enjoy.” She took a sip of her own. “Now spill.”
“Nothing happened,” Lauren answered her honestly.
“Fine, keep your secrets. I’ll get them out of you later. Let’s go.”