CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CAYLEE
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Last night I had Pilates, and Jake went to visit his parents. It’s the first night we’ve spent apart since we got back together.
So silly, but I missed him.
I lay awake scrolling through our messages and feeling like a lovesick puppy but eventually found the self-control to put my phone down.
When I woke, there was a message just after midnight.
Hey gorgeous, wish I was snuggled up to your warm body right now. I’m taking you to lunch tomorrow. Pick you up at midday.
Jake x
My heart did this silly pitter-patter, and it took me an extra twenty minutes to decide what to wear to work today.
I mean, the man looks drop-dead handsome in a towel, and all it takes is a little humidity, and I look half homeless.
Unlike those women who work in corporate offices in their fancy suits and dresses, I make little effort.
No one pays attention to what I wear under my lab coat, anyway.
Usually, I pull on a T-shirt, a pair of capris, tug my hair up into a ponytail and add a dusting of foundation and a lick of clear gloss. That’s all I have time for.
That is, unless Jake Murphy is taking me to lunch.
Today I’m wearing a navy sundress with pockets and yellow flats. It hugs my waistline and emphasizes my average-sized bust.
Average maybe, but Jake has never complained about the size of my boobs.
Given his work, he could cancel, so all morning I feel like I’m holding my breath. When Amy knocks on the clinic door with big eyes and a blush on her cheeks, I know Jake is here.
“Um...” She looks flushed. “There is a...man...a very gorgeous, very big man...here to see you.”
Brad glances back at me and blinks.
“Thank you.” I drop the dental mirror and pull off my gloves. “Tell him I’ll be out in a minute.”
“For you?” Brad asks, glancing between both Amy and me.
“Yes,” I nod, trying to play it cool.
“Are you dating?”
My cheeks burn red.
“I have...a lunch date.” I grin but don’t meet either of their eyes.
“Is he military? He must be. Those arms, holy hotness. I almost started drooling,” Amy asks. “He’s huge. And...hot as sin.”
Amy is single.
“I hope you didn’t.” Brad pushes his chair back a little, crossing his arms.
I can’t help my giggle.
Removing my lab coat, I pull my hair out of my hair tie and fluff it up.
The two of them stare at me.
“What?”
“How long have you been dating this guy?
“Oh, my god,” I say, exasperated. “Would you like to meet him to make sure he brings me home before my curfew?”
To my complete surprise, Brad stands. “Yeah, why not. Let’s meet the guy who has my assistant blushing.”
Am I blushing?
I touch my cheek and feel the heat.
Tossing my lab coat while Amy giggles, I stride out with my entourage in tow.
How totally ridiculous. Anyone would think I barely date. I don’t, but that’s not the point.
I find Jake in the waiting room with his back to us, one hand on his hip as he leans close to a poster on the wall that demonstrates the anatomy of the mouth.
All of us stop and take him in.
His wide shoulders and back muscles seem to suck all the oxygen out of the room, while dark curls flick around the sunglasses sitting on top his head.
But the star of the show from this angle is his tight, round, perfect ass.
Then he turns.
Jake has smoldering down to a fine art. His luminous light blue eyes land on me, taking me prisoner. They tell me everything I need to know.
I’m his.
Brad clears his throat, and Jake slowly drags his eyes to my boss.
“Hey.” I cross the space and Jake leans down to kiss my lips, never taking his eyes off Brad. “This is my boss.”
A large hand reaches out, his voice gruff when he says, “Jake Murphy.”
“I’m Amy.” She waves.
“Hello, Amy.”
“Okay, well, we are going for lunch, so...”
“I’ll bring her back in an hour.” Jake smirks.
“Please do. We have four patients after lunch. I can’t live without my Caylee.” Brad grins.
My Caylee?
Jake is silent for a moment while the two men size one another up. There’s no contest. Jake is three times the size of Brad, who has the physique of a marathon runner.
“I see you have a community morning at the clinic.” Jake points to a poster. “How long have you been doing that?”
“About two years. I started it when the business got to a place where it could carry the cost. It’s my way of giving back.
” Brad leans his hip on the reception desk as Amy sits down and answers a call.
“My parents scraped the bottom of the barrel to put me through dental school, so I was extremely proud to be able to do this.”
Jake’s hand runs up and down my back in a soothing and possessive manner. I wonder if he knows he’s doing it.
“Admirable,” he finally says.
“Thank you.”
It’s clear the two men don’t like each other, and I have no idea why.
“Well, see you back here in an hour, Caylee.” Brad shoots me a stern look and disappears out back.
Wow.
How strange. But I don’t need him to like who I choose to date, and I’m not letting him ruin my lunch. I smile up at Jake, and he leads me out the door with a matching grin.
“An hour, huh? If I drive really fast, we could have lunch at your place.” Jake’s suggestive tone tells me everything I need to know about his plan.
I nudge him in the side as the doors to the elevator close. “You are not a fast lover.”
“I can do fast.” His arm snakes around my back and tugs me against his chest. Then he kisses me, and the world disappears for one long, delicious minute.
When we part, I press my lips together to stop the stupidly big smile that threatens to give away how hopelessly I’m falling for this man.
“You’re right. I need hours with this perfect body. Let’s get sushi.” He concedes and drops his sunglasses when the doors open, guiding me out with a hand in the small of my back.
Talk about stepping up and being a real boyfriend.
“So, did you tell your parents about the party?”
“Yup.”