Take a Breath (Take #1) - Jaimie Roberts Page 0,98
of all the food.
“Everything okay out there?” Matthew asks.
Everything’s far from okay. I suddenly feel bad that everyone around me is caught up in the psychotic games this man wants me involved in.
“Everything’s fine. He just wanted to give me an update on things. I think we’re getting closer. Hopefully, soon we will be back to normal.”
Matthew smiles as he picks up his fork to eat. I take a bite of the chicken and rice, humming my approval in Jake’s direction.
As we sit there eating, I can’t help but feel this foreboding in the pit of my stomach. I just know that something’s going to happen soon, and whatever it is will end this. I don’t like the prospects of what it could be. I try to force the feeling away and continue to eat, but it’s very difficult.
“What are you thinking? You seem so far away.”
I jerk my head towards Jake, who looks concerned. “It’s nothing. I’m fine. I didn’t realize I was in my own little world.”
I smile, trying to comfort him, and I get back to finishing off the rest of my meal. I down my juice in one go, feeling the effects of a dry mouth after all the alcohol. Jake notices and dutifully refills my glass.
“Matthew, you want some more juice?”
Matthew finishes off his glass and places it on the table. “No, thanks, Dad. If you don’t mind, I have an essay that I need to finish before tomorrow?” Matthew collects his plate and or glass then walks to the dishwasher to load them in.
“Of course not. Let me know if you need any help.”
He smiles and heads out as I gather up the other plates. I make my way to the dishwasher and load the rest of the dishes in. Jake walks over, reaches inside his jacket pocket, and pulls out a long, gift-wrapped box.
“Ana, sit. I bought this for you. I saw it in a store window on Sunday, and it had your name on it.” Jake places the box on the table and sits down expectantly. I feel overwhelmed. He actually bought me a present for no reason.
Does there really have to be a reason?
I sit, tracing the neatly placed bow on top of the wrapping paper with my index finger. I can’t help but feel kind of bad, knowing that it will all be messed up soon. Between Jake’s excited eyes resting on me and my own curiosity, it doesn’t take me long to unwrap it. When I finally open the box under the paper, I gasp. Before me is a beautiful, silver, diamond-encrusted Cartier watch. It must have cost him a fortune. I place my hand over my mouth and try to stop the tears that are threatening to flow.
“Do you like it? Please say you like it.”
He takes the watch from me and places it around my wrist. I admire it for a moment. “This is the most beautiful gift anyone has ever given me, but I can’t accept it. It’s too much.”
He shakes his head. “No can do. I’m not taking it back. It’s yours. Please don’t argue with me about this. You have to promise me you’ll wear it at all times.”
He looks stern—like he’s ready for a fight—but instead of fighting, I swing my arms around him. “Thank you, Jake. It’s the most amazing gift I’ve ever gotten. I love it, and I promise I’ll never even want to take it off.”
He squeezes me to him and sighs. “My pleasure, baby.”
21
For the rest of the evening, I’m blissful because of the beautiful present Jake bought me. It’s not so much the gift itself that makes me giddy, though. It’s the thought behind him getting it in the first place and what it represents.
We go to bed like the evening before—wrapped in each other’s arms, sleeping soundly and peacefully. We stay like that until the annoyance of the alarm comes beeping throughout the room.
I sigh loudly. “Let me guess … is it six by any chance?” Jake presses himself into me, and I immediately feel his hardness. “I’ll take that as a yes. How can you immediately be ready like this the second the alarm goes off?”
He nuzzles his head into my neck and gently nibbles my shoulder. “I guess it has something to do with the sex goddess I have the pleasure of waking up to every morning. But if you don’t want me to make love to you this morning, then we’ll just cuddle.”