Page 74 of Jake

Jake sat up quickly, grabbing hold of her so she didn’t fall out of his lap. “Do you mean it?” he asked, and she could hear the smile in his voice.

“Yes.” She grinned.

“We won’t just get to see each other on these chaotic weekends anymore? God, this is amazing.”

Lauren giggled at his excitement, much of it mirroring her own. She wasn’t going to pretend she didn’t had reservations about what other people would think, but she was doing her best not to let it get to her.

“I love you so much,” she told him as she leaned up to kiss him sweetly on the lips.

“As much as I love it here, let’s go home,” he said.

Lauren’s stomach picked that moment to rumble.

“After we feed you,” he teased.

They packed as they waited for their food to be delivered. Lauren took her time getting dressed again, intending to sleep on the plane but wanting to be presentable, with at least a bra on when they left the room.

Jake didn’t stop grinning as he packed his own things and scheduled their car and flight. He looked over at her now and then and just smiled. She was doing the same, unable to believe that he was also in love with her.

Catherine was right all along, and she was never going to let either of them forget it. She knew that with an absolute certainty. Because of that, she left her phone on do not disturb mode. She’d deal with the gloating from her friend tomorrow or Monday, at work.

“Jake,” she said hesitantly, “I won’t stop working for Cade.” She rushed it out, needing to say it before she lost the words.

He stopped packing and looked over at her. “I know how important your financial freedom is to you. I would never ask you to not work. Also, Cade would probably kill me,” he joked. “I do want you to understand that you don’t need to pay anything, so your money is yours to do with as you like.”

She sighed but nodded. Fat chance that she wasn’t going to contribute, even if it was a drop in the bucket compared to what he paid. She wasn’t going to pick that battle right now though.

In three hours, they had packed, ate, and were on the plane. It had been a surreal two days, but she couldn’t wait to see what else came from it now that they both had their feelings out in the open.

Once they were in the air, Jake led her back to the bedroom. “I believe a celebration is in order if you’re up for it.”

Lauren grinned as she slipped her shoes off and joined him on the bed. She was about to make love to the man she loved on a bed on a private jet. What even was her life?

“Do you think we’re a mile high yet?” she teased.

“Might take a while to get that high, so we better make it last.”

Jake’s lips closed over hers once again as he gently laid her back against the pillows. “I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you too,” she said against his lips.

Chapter Twenty-Five

They’d been back a full week now and she still couldn’t believe this was her life as she stood in Jake’s, no, their kitchen making dinner and waiting for him to get home from work.

She hadn’t gotten pregnant from their shower escapade; she knew for sure now. As much as she would have loved the child, now wasn’t the right time. They’d be more careful going forward.

Catherine had gloated, as expected, the moment she found out. She was also genuinely happy for them.

Cade had sent them two bottles of champagne to celebrate and had tried to get her to take the week off from work. Despite that, he seemed grateful when she got to work on Monday.

Mrs. Hawkins and her children had apparently got into a long argument over Mr. Hawkins’s behavior and how much he should be involved. In the end, the siblings had won and she convinced him to step down from the board.

Mr. Hawkins was still pissed as hell at everyone, but Mrs. Hawkins had convinced him to take a vacation. They left this morning. He was also no longer banned from the building and his calls weren’t blocked anymore, although he hadn’t tried to call.

Cade was in a much better mood today, for a Friday, knowing he wouldn’t have to deal with his father’s meetings. In general, everyone had been happier.

Everyone except her mother. Three articles had come out, citing her mother as their source about how she was using Jake and how she had always been like that.

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