Take a Breath (Take #1) - Jaimie Roberts Page 0,63

can take me on top of a garbage dump for all I care.”

He laughs a throaty, sexy laugh. “Well, I think I may draw the line there, but I aim to please. At least this time you didn’t have any panties on. They would definitely have been ripped from you too.” As he pulls me up, he places me into his waiting arms and wraps them tightly around me. I bury my head in his chest and inhale his scent. It’s the same sexy, beautiful, sweet Jake smell that I love so much.

“I love the smell of me on you. You’re mine. No one else’s.”

I close my eyes and sigh. “All yours.”

15

After jumping in the shower—while Jake is downstairs making a late lunch—I walk through to my room to find something else to wear. As I’m looking, I glance up, seeing my reflection in the mirror. I’m smiling. Like, really smiling. Like, over-the-top, ecstatic smiling.

I have never been as happy or content as I am at this very moment. With an even bigger grin, I sit on the bed, and I’m in the middle of towel drying my hair when I notice something in the corner of my eye. I twist my body round to see, and on my pillow is a note. With a frown, I pick it up and read:

My beautiful English rose. Soon you will be mine.

As sweet as it is, I can’t help thinking that the wording is a bit strange for Jake. I am already his, and he knows it. He tells me often enough.

With a shake of my head, I quickly slip into a dress and make my way downstairs with the piece of paper. As I enter the kitchen, I stop in my tracks when I see Jake—with only a pair of shorts on—cutting into some sandwiches. I’m so blown away by the sheer statuesque beauty of this man that I almost forget what I’m standing here for. I tilt my head to the side, marveling at his shape. He really does have the most impressive V I have ever seen.

Jake senses my presence and looks behind him with a smile. “What’s that you’ve got in your hand?”

My face crinkles at his statement. “As if you don’t already know. What do you mean by ‘soon you will be mine’? I am already yours, silly.” On a smile, I shake my head before sitting on one of the barstools. When I realize he hasn’t said anything, I look up.

He looks white as a sheet.

“What are you talking about? What is that piece of paper?”

I’m rooted to the spot as he comes over to me, whipping the piece of paper out of my hand. “You didn’t write this?” I ask in shock.

Jake places the note down quickly before rushing to the phone. “Where did you find this?” I’m still frozen, and my eyes are practically bulging with shock. His panic is making me panic. “Ana, where did you find this note?”

Somehow, I finally manage to speak. “It was on my pillow in my bedroom.”

His body is rigid with anger as he starts frantically dialing a number. All I can do is watch as I desperately try to gather my thoughts and figure out what the hell is going on.

After a minute, I hear him speak. “Michael, you need to get your ass down here now with a forensic team. He left Ana a note on her fucking bed. He was in my house!” He bangs his fist on the breakfast bar, making me jump. “Yes, I’m fucking sure. You better let Agent Marcos know too. He may want to pay us a visit.” He pauses a moment, and I watch as he closes his eyes and grabs the bridge of his nose. “I’ll see you soon.” With that he hangs up.

Jake sighs like he has the weight of the world on his shoulder. Sensing me, he glances over and sees me staring at him in utter terror. He must see my panic because he rushes over to me. I’m as still as a statue. My thoughts scramble as I try to understand what—if anything—this all means. It’s only when Jake places his hands on me that I realize the grave nature of the situation.

Someone has been in our house and left a note on my bed. How the hell did they get in? And who the hell was it?

Jake sees the questions in my eyes, so he moves to sit opposite me on the barstool.