AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I am too. Thinking about you, that is.”
“Good.” His eyes trailed over me. “That’s exactly what I want.”
Strangely, I believed him.
Chapter Twenty-two
Clara
Jake walked me back to my building after lunch. As easy as it was to be with him, he also made me flustered, like I was a young, inexperienced girl. In a way, I was. I’d only known one man, and since Jake was nothing like Miller, everything he gave me was brand new.
I was thankful for it too. I’d had quite enough of that life.
At the front of my building, I stopped, intending to say goodbye, but Jake caught my fingertips and pulled me along.
“Nope. It’s door-to-door service.”
“You really don’t have to walk me back to my office.”
“I really do,” he insisted. “You haven’t asked me out on our second date, so I don’t know when I’m going to see you again.”
Laughing, I walked with him through the lobby, swiping my pass at the executive elevator.
“This wasn’t a second date?”
“No.” He eyed me seriously. “You told me you’d plan it. This was lunch.”
“But there was a kiss,” I reminded him.
“And there’s going to be another one before I leave you.” He crossed his arms. “Still not a date.”
I stepped into the elevator and whirled around to tease him. “Well, you would know since you’re the dating expert with your vast experience.”
He walked right into my space, backing me against the wall. Luckily, we had the elevator to ourselves, but I had a feeling Jake might not have cared either way.
“My vast experience, huh?” He cupped the back of my neck and bent so we were nose to nose. “Funny, I don’t remember any of it.”
“That is funny.” I wet my lips with the tip of my tongue. “You’re too young to have memory troubles.”
“And you’re too smart to taunt me in a confined space.” His lips touched mine in a barely there kiss. “Be good, Clara.”
My thighs clenched around the ache between them, and my breath seized in my chest. How was this man capable of being sweet one minute and melting my panties the next?
The elevator came to a stop, and Jake retreated as if nothing had happened. It took me a moment longer to pull myself together and scrape myself off the wall. As soon as the doors opened, I took a deep breath, straightened my back with my head held high, and exited the elevator. Jake chuckled under his breath as he escorted me to my office, as promised.
Except we didn’t make it there. Luca stepped out of his office, pausing when he caught sight of us.
He scratched the side of his head and shot us a sheepish look. “Did I forget to put a meeting on my calendar?”
Jake put his hand on the small of my back. “Not with me, you didn’t. I’m here to bring Clara back from our lunch.”
“Lunch?” Luca echoed, his gaze following where Jake’s arm had disappeared behind me. “Ah, I see. That’s where I’m headed now. Unfortunately, mine is business and not…friendly.”
“You should go. You don’t want to be late.” My eyes flared, signaling for him to go away and end this awkward encounter. I planned to tell him Jake and I were dating at some point, but not yet. Not until I was certain it would amount to more than a dinner or two.
“You’re right. I should.” He reached out to shake Jake’s hand. “Nice to see you again.”
Jake closed his hand around my brother’s and gave it a firm shake. “You too, Luca.”
