“Are you finally going to tell me what’s going on?” I asked.
“I suppose it couldn’t hurt,” he replied. “We’re in Maine.”
“Maine? What are we doing here?”
“I’ve had my chef prepare dinner for us, and then I’m going to finish what we started on the plane,” he said, eyeing me intensely.
I shivered involuntarily at his fierce look. If tonight was anything like what I just experienced on the plane, I was in for a treat. I’d never been spanked or tied up before, but I couldn’t say I didn’t enjoy it. It was nice to give up control sometimes and let Jake dominate me. There was something very freeing about it. I suddenly didn’t feel very hungry any more. I wanted to skip dinner and head right to dessert, where a big helping of Jake was on the menu.
“Are you hungry?” he asked, eyeing me quizzically.
“Mmm.”
“Mmm? I’ll take that as a yes,” he laughed. He put his arm around my shoulders and walked with me towards the car.
Chapter Eleven
We pulled up to Jake’s house a short while later. The long drive was lit by lamp posts on either side, arching up towards the house. I couldn’t see how big the house was in the darkness, but the massive front entrance hinted at a palatial estate. Once I stepped out of the car, I could hear the sound of the ocean outside. Of course he would have an ocean front property, I thought.
Jake led me towards the back of the house where a table was set by massive floor to ceiling windows. The candles reflected off the glass of the windows that lined the room.
“You did all this for me?” I asked. I still couldn’t believe I was here with Jake. This was definitely no longer just about sex. He knew he didn’t have to do any of this for sex. We had an agreement—no strings attached. Could it be something more? I wondered. I discarded that thought as soon as it came to my mind. There was no use thinking like that only to be disappointed. Jake would only ever be a sexual partner. Anything more was not in the cards; he had made that plain enough. Except there was a tiny little part of me that still hoped.
“Yes,” he answered. He pulled out a chair for me at the head of the table. “I hope you’re not disappointed we didn’t go out for dinner.”
“Oh my, this is stunning,” I said looking around me.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I do. Thank you.”
“Would you like something to drink?” he asked, reaching for the wine decanter on the table.
“Yes, please.”
He seated himself opposite me once he handed me my glass. I had to squint down the table to see his face, the room was so dark.
“Can you see all right?” he asked, laughter lighting his voice. “I can turn on the lights if you like.”
“No no don’t bother. It would certainly ruin the ambiance,” I replied.
“As you wish. Just don’t blame me if you hurt yourself using the utensils in the dark.”
“Ha-ha, real funny. What’s for dinner by the way? I’m starving.”
My stomach was rumbling softly by now. The day long fast and our activities on the plane had finally caught up with me and I was beginning to feel a little shaky and faint. I took another sip of wine to ease my hunger.
“What else do you have in Maine but lobster?”
“Of course, I should have guessed. Let me guess, we’re having blueberry pie for dessert?”
“Naturally.”
“And we couldn’t have gone somewhere in the city for lobster and blueberry pie?” I asked.
“We could have, but why do that when we can come to the source?”
“Hmm do you just fly wherever your appetite takes you? Do you go to Chicago for deep dish pizza, Philly for cheese steak, Texas for barbeque?” I teased.
Jake lifted the corner of his mouth in a smug smile. “If the mood strikes,” he replied. “By the way, Kansas City has the best barbeque,” he added.
I shook my head at him. “What a life you do lead.”
“And now I have led you into this extravagant and abominably wasteful lifestyle. Hate me if you must.
“I don’t dare,” I joked back.
“Good girl.”
I was having a wonderful time with Jake. It was a nice change of pace to be able to talk with him like this. While the sex was amazing, I enjoyed getting to know him on another level just as much.
“You seem different tonight,” I told him after a brief pause.
“Different? How so?” he asked.
“You just seem more open and warm.”
“Ouch, you wound me. Am I that much of a jerk normally?” he asked lightly.
“No, not at all. It’s just...I don’t know...there’s something different about you tonight,” I shrugged. “I’m surprised I’m even sitting here with you like this.”
“What can I say?” he replied. “You’ve utterly charmed me and I find you intriguing.”
“Me? Are you being serious right now?”
“Absolutely. You’ve intrigued me from the moment we met, if you must know,” he confessed.
“I’m finding all this a little hard to believe.”
“Now, why is that? You’re attractive, successful, intelligent. Why wouldn’t I be intrigued?”
“Well when you put it like that who am I to argue,” I said lightly. “But actually, thank you for saying that. There aren’t many guys out there that feel that way.”
“I doubt that.”
“You shouldn’t. I’m not the kind of girl most guys go for.”
“You’re be—“
“I’m not being hard on myself,” I cut in, “I’m just being a realist. I do work with men all the time who are looking to settle down, so I think I know a little of what I’m talking about.”
“And you’ve spoken to every guy out there?” he asked.
“I don’t need to. It’s not rocket science.”
“So what do you call a guy like me?”
“I’m not sure actually. What is a guy like you doing with a girl like me?” I asked. “I’m not fishing for compliments, you know. I’m honestly curious why someone like you, who could have any woman in the world at his beck and call, is with me. You can tell me if it’s just about the sex. I won’t be hurt or offended.”
Jake took a deep breath and sighed. He didn’t answer me immediately as he looked out the glass doors into the ocean. I really wanted to know his answer. It had been puzzling me all evening. I knew he found me attractive. His response in the bedroom was all the evidence I needed for that. But then why did he bring me to his home in Maine if it was just about the sex? We could’ve just as easily had sex in his apartment in the city.
“I’m not quite sure I know the answer, Chloe,” he said, running his hand through his hair. “There’s just something about you I can’t quite put my finger on. You’re not like anyone I’ve ever met before,” he began. “When I first came to you looking for a wife, I never expected things to turn out the way they have.”
“Me either,” I added.
“The sex is amazing. The best I’ve ever had, actually,” he added. “But that’s not all. There’s just something about you that draws me in. I wanted to bring you here so we can get to know each other better.”
“I can drink to that,” I said, lifting my wine glass in salute.
“There is something else I wanted to ask you,” Jake began.
I placed my wine glass down on the table and leaned forward.
“Yes?” I asked.
“I don’t know if you are aware, but I do some work with the Children’s Hospital. Next Saturday, they are having a charity auction and I’d like you to come.”
“Like on a date?” I asked.
Jake hesitated a brief moment before replying, “Ye-ees, I suppose you could call it a date.”
I furrowed my brow as I looked at him. “I don’t understand. You want me to go with you, but you don’t want to call it a date?” Confusion and hurt colored my voice and it came out harsher than I
intended.
“It’s a bit tricky,” he replied. “The thing is, the charity is auctioning off dates. I’ll be one of the volunteers being auctioned off.”
“Really?” I asked. He must have seen the surprise on my face as he looked a little sheepish.
“I know what you’re thinking, and you’re absolutely correct. Under normal circumstances, I would not have volunteered to auction myself off. As it stands, however, I did not have a choice.”
My eyebrows shot so high up my face, they must have reached my hairline.
“Now this is surprising. The all mighty Jake Powers doesn’t have a choice?” I teased.
“Joke all you want. You’ve never had the pleasure of being nagged by a very persistent cousin.”
“Cousin?”
“Yes, my cousin Felicity is in charge of the charity auction for the Hospital. She...er...compelled me to volunteer.”
“I’m so sorry for you,” I said laughing. “It must be absolutely horrible.”
“Somehow I doubt you’re very sorry at all,” he said, a smile on his lips.
“Yeah, so not feeling sorry for you. I’m actually really looking forward to going now just to see you being bought and sold like a piece of meat. I might just have to place a bid on you myself.”
“Cruel cruel woman,” he said, pretending to be hurt. “I actually would appreciate it if you bid on me and won. It’d make the experience a lot more enjoyable.”
“And deny a lucky woman the chance to go out with the handsome Jake Powers?”
I enjoyed teasing him. There weren’t many situations where Jake Powers was at a disadvantage and this was one of them. I sobered up a little when I realized he was serious about me winning the date.
“I promise I’ll bid on you, but I don’t know how high the bidding will go. I’d rather not wipe out my bank account in one evening, though I’m sure you’d be worth every penny,” I added.
“Don’t worry about the money. I’ll take care of it.”
“No you won’t. I’m not going to have you pay for yourself. That would be a little sad, and not to mention unethical.”
“Then you better win,” he finally said, exasperated.
“Why do you want me to win so badly? Is it the idea of going out with a stranger that’s so unappealing to you?”
“Yes,” he said.
“Is that why you want me to go with you? Just to win the date?”
“That’s part of it,” he said. “The truth is I like being with you. I never expected things to turn out how they have, but I’d like for us to get to know each other better, and to do that, we have to spend more time together.”
My heart fluttered in my chest hearing Jake say those words. Was he falling for me? I mentally shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts that cluttered my mind.
“You’re just trying to butter me up so I’ll do your bidding, no pun intended,” I said.
“If it helps,” he replied, amusement in his voice. “I have no shame.”
“All right,” I said, throwing my hands up. “You win. I’ll win you if I have to sell my house to pay for it.”
“I doubt you’d have to go that far, but thank you.”
Jake looked genuinely grateful that I agreed to win him in the auction. I felt happy that I could help him. In fact, I was glad he wanted me to win because I wanted to win badly. The thought of him out on a date with another woman sent a short stab of jealousy through me. Even though we did not have any formal relationship, I’d been thinking of Jake as mine. And though he didn’t make any declarations, his actions showed that he was starting to feel the same. I smiled at the thought.
“What are you thinking?” he asked, noticing my smile.
“Just about what I have planned for our date that I’m going to win,” I teased.
“Oh? And what is that?” he asked, the gentle lift of that eyebrow crossing his face again.
“It’s a surprise.”
“You’re not going to tell me?”
“Nope,” I said, my voice smug. “How do you like being kept in the dark now?”
“I deserved that,” he said, looking at me sheepishly.
“Yes you did. But don’t worry, you’ll like what I have planned.”
“Now I’m all anticipation”.
Chapter Twelve
My body was so tired when I finally got home. It was early the next morning when Jake dropped me off. He waited in the car until I got into my building and then drove off. I’d been on my own for so long, I forgot how nice it was to have someone else looking out for me and caring about me.
Even though I was bone tired, I couldn't help the smile that seemed to be glued to my face ever since last evening. I felt like Jake and I had made some serious strides in our "relationship". I wouldn’t call us a couple, yet, but everything he said and did made it seem like we were heading in that direction. I was ready for it myself, which surprised me. I'd never been one to get all moony over a guy, but Jake was different. It wasn't just that he was handsome, rich, smart, and good in bed, although it didn't hurt. But I felt like he was really starting to open up to me and let me in, something I was sure he didn't normally do for anyone. The fact that I was the one who made him want to open up made it that much sweeter.
He was still a very private person so I was pleasantly surprised that he wanted me to go to the auction with him. There would be press people there, and I knew they'd have questions for him and for me. Was I ready for the scrutiny? Was he?
I got butterflies in my stomach just thinking about the auction. I was sure there were plenty of bored housewives and rich heiresses with money to burn who would kill for a chance to go out with Jake. They weren't going to win him if I had anything to do with it. Even though I gave him a hard time about it, deep down I knew I would win him if it cost me every last penny. No one was going to go out with Jake under my watch.
I let out an unladylike squeal alone in the elevator, giddy with our newfound understanding. The elevator door opened up on my floor and I was digging in my purse for my keys before I remembered Jude. Damn!
Now that Jake and I had come to an understanding, his living situation was going to be a problem. I didn’t have to know Jake long to realize that he was a jealous guy. The fact that my ex-boyfriend was living with me was not going to sit well with him.
I opened my door hoping to slip in quietly and make it to my bedroom without waking Jude and having to talk to him. I just wanted to be alone to rest and relax. We had started out last evening kind of weird, and there was just something about him that I didn’t trust. The lights were off in my apartment when I stepped in. I took off my heels and tip toed across the living room, guided by the moonlight streaming in through the windows. I felt like a cat burglar in my own apartment. I was almost to my bedroom before I banged my knee on a side table.
"Fuck!" I screamed out in pain. I hobbled on one leg to the light switch, no longer caring if I woke up the whole apartment building. The sight that greeted my eyes shocked me. My apartment was a mess. The pillows were strewn on the floor, my drawers were opened and papers were scattered everywhere.
"Jude?" I called out. There was no answer. I walked towards the guest bedroom and knocked lightly. "Are you in there?" I asked.
Still no answer.
I turned the knob to find the room empty. Jude's bags were not there and the bed didn't look slept in at all. A million thoughts raced around in my mind. I hurried to my bedroom to find even more of a mess. The drawers of my side tables were open and spilled out on the floor, the bed was unmade, my closet door was open and clothes were scattered all over.
"What the fuck?" I said to myself. I headed towards my desk and saw that my computer was turned on and the file cabinet under my desk was opened and files of clients that I had taken home had been unceremoniously dumped on the floor. I also discovered the $500 cash I kept hidden in the back of the file cabinet was missing.
I just knew Jude did this. I was so angry. After everything I'
d done for him, that was how he repaid me? I reached into my coat to take out my phone, my fingers poised over the screen. Two choices faced me at that moment; I could call the police and report a robbery or I could call Jude and ream him out. My head began to throb as I thought about the hassle and all the hoops I’d have to jump through.
In the end, I decided to let it go. Jude wasn’t worth getting worked up over. He had burned his last bridge with me; there was no way I would ever help him out again after what he'd done. Besides, I was a little bit grateful that I wouldn't have to house him for the next week, and could wash my hands of him
I sat on my bed and rubbed the back of my neck, too tired to even wash my make up off. I slipped off my dress and pulled the covers over me. Once my head hit the pillow, I was out.
He slipped out his phone and dialed the number. The phone rang three times before it was answered.
"Hello?" came the voice.
"Hello. I have a story that I think you'd be interested," he said.
"Who is this?"
"That's not important right now. All you need to know is I have information about Jake Powers that I'm sure your readers would eat up."
"What kind of information?"
"Jake Powers has been using the services of a matchmaker to find a wife."
"You have proof of this?"
"I've got emails, contracts, and even his list of requirements in a woman. Trust me, you're going to want to see this."
"Bring the information to my office with you tomorrow morning."
"I'm going to need to be compensated for my work you know."
"Of course."
"Good. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Good bye."
Jude Marshall sat back on the bed once he hung up the phone. He had rented this hotel room with the money he took from Chloe's apartment. Soon though he would have an even bigger pay day.
That's what she got for going back on her word and treating him like a bum, he thought spitefully. She thought now that she was going on some fancy date, she was better than him? He knew her when she was just some fat insecure freshman at college. How dare she talk to him like he was dirt under her fingernails? It was no one's fault but her own. The money he would get was just icing on the cake.
Billionaire Matchmaker: Complete Series (Contemporary Romance) Page 7