Page 42 of Jake

Lauren shook her head, still a little surprised by Cade’s reaction.

“Can you do it from your laptop?” Jake asked.

“Y-Yes.” She could definitely do it later.

She made quick work of packing up her laptop and getting her bag. The last thing she wanted to do was be there when Mr. Hawkins came out because this conversation was long overdue, and they were both likely to lose their cool.

Jake dropped his hand to the small of her back and ushered her out of the office.

When they made it to the elevator, she fished in her purse for her phone. “I think I should tell Catherine.”

“I think you’re right. Hand me your stuff, and I’ll hold it.”

Jake didn’t wait for her to argue, instead started lifting the computer and bag from her. She didn’t argue; it wouldn’t get her anywhere with him.

“Catherine?” she asked as the phone stopped ringing on her end.

“Who else would it be?” Catherine laughed.

“You might need to go check on Cade. Your father showed up and they argued before we left.”

“Who left?”

“Jake and I.”

“Oh, that’s so sweet!” Catherine gushed.

“No, listen, Cade told your father that the company isn’t his anymore before giving me the rest of the day off and scolding him for barging in,” she blurted out quickly before the elevator finally reached the ground floor.

“Shit, I’m heading over there.” Shuffling noises came from Catherine’s end. “I’ll let you know what happens.”

“Please do.”

They hung up and Lauren dropped her phone back into her purse as they walked through the lobby.

“Is she heading over here?” Jake asked.

“Yeah, sounded like she was already on her way, said she’d keep me posted.”

Jake gave a nod and then took her hand in his when she reached for her things. She sent him an exasperated look, but he just smiled back at her.

“We have a driver today. I didn’t want to spend lunch working my way through traffic.” Opening the door to the black car as he waved the driver away, he helped her in.

She had forgotten this was just supposed to be lunch. “If you want to skip lunch, you can just drop me off at home instead,” she offered, well aware they had wasted a lot of time.

He turned to look at her across the backseat. “Did I give you any impression that I didn’t want to go to lunch?” he asked.

“No, I was just trying to be mindful of taking up your time,” she answered.

“Never assume that I don’t want to spend time with you. Or that I don’t value the time I am spending with you.” He took his eyes away from her and leaned back in the seat.

“I’m sorry,” she told him, not really sure what else to say.

“Don’t apologize, please. I’m not angry with you. I just don’t like that you always assume that I am looking for an excuse to end the date.”

“I just don’t want you to think that I need to take up all of your time or anything.” Her voice was quiet. When he put it like that, she felt bad for even thinking about it.

“I’m honestly not mad. Please don’t think I am. It’s just been a long day, I think.”

---