Read Online Trusting Jake (Blueprint To Love Book 1) by Lauren Giordano - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lauren Giordano
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know where to find him," she stammered. "I–I have to leave a message on his cell." Liar . Ducking her head, she straightened the sheets around Alex's waist.
Why? Why couldn't she tell him? Three months earlier, she'd had valid reasons for her lies. But now-
"There's no one else close by? No family?"
She tried to refocus. Jake required an answer. "My brothers are scattered around the country." It was too soon to tell him the truth. Maybe in another few months– when things settled down. Holding her breath, she waited for him to respond.
"I see."
Her body relaxed a notch when Jake seemed to accept her explanation. At the same time, his question managed to hit home. Her nearest brother lived six hours away. She was alone. "It's just us."
There was a long pause before he spoke again. "You know . . . I could stay with him."
As her heart somersaulted with relief– knowing her son wouldn't be alone, her brain knew she couldn't accept his offer. Alex and Jake had become friends over the last few months. A persistent little boy and a man who owned trucks. Lots of trucks. Jake had accepted his fawning interest with good humor.
But . . . he was her boss. There was a distinct professional line Jen never would have anticipated crossing. Until now . "Thank you but I can't possibly inconvenience you like that." Crossing that line would jeopardize everything she'd worked so hard to protect. "You've done too much already." Releasing her son's hand, she stood, stretching cramped muscles.
"You're all alone. You need some help." To her surprise, Jake shrugged off her worry. "It's the logical thing to do." Holding her coat for her, she slid into it, feeling a measure of safety as she was enveloped by the wool.
"But . . . it would be a very long night for you."
"If it makes you feel any better, I've watched my sister's kids a hundred times," Jake countered, shrugging into his jacket. "I'm capable of watching Alex sleep in a hospital bed for a night. We'll be within twenty feet of an army of highly-trained medical professionals."
Her lips twitched at the injured tone of his voice. It was hard to imagine her perfectionist boss with hurt feelings.
"Besides . . . who else have you got?"
"I wasn't implying you couldn't handle it. I just can't imagine you'd be interested," Jen felt compelled to explain. "It's a huge imposition."
"If I minded, I wouldn't have offered." Pausing, Jake stared at the wall for several seconds, as though mentally planning the evening ahead. "I'll drop you back at work so you can get your car and pick up Meg. Then I'll grab a change of clothes and come back here."
Retrieving her purse from the cart near the bed, she hesitated. "What about your wife? She'll certainly mind your staying out all night." Immediately regretting her statement, she acknowledged his sudden stillness. Risking a glance, she confirmed the laser-beam scrutiny she tried so hard to avoid was now directed at her.
"What are you talking about?"
"If I were your wife-" Exhausted beyond measure by the stress of the day, Jenna knew she'd wandered into dangerous territory. She wasn't competent to hold this conversation. Her insides liquefied under the intensity of his stare.
"Don't leave me in suspense," he teased. "If you were my wife . . ."
Her face heating, she released a shaky breath. "I would probably be . . . a little suspicious."
"A little?" A dimple winked in his cheek as he fought his smile.
"Okay– a lot."
"Note to self: Jenna is very distrustful." His expression amused, he zipped his jacket. "Why would you think I was married?"
Finding herself cornered in a conversation that had turned awkward, her mind raced. "The day of my interview," she remembered with relief, thankful to divert his unrelenting scrutiny. "Mrs. Reilly interrupted us. She said Mrs. Traynor was on the phone."
Comprehension dawn in his eyes as he recalled the incident. "Mrs. Traynor is my mother, Mona."
Ignoring the giddy rush
Why? Why couldn't she tell him? Three months earlier, she'd had valid reasons for her lies. But now-
"There's no one else close by? No family?"
She tried to refocus. Jake required an answer. "My brothers are scattered around the country." It was too soon to tell him the truth. Maybe in another few months– when things settled down. Holding her breath, she waited for him to respond.
"I see."
Her body relaxed a notch when Jake seemed to accept her explanation. At the same time, his question managed to hit home. Her nearest brother lived six hours away. She was alone. "It's just us."
There was a long pause before he spoke again. "You know . . . I could stay with him."
As her heart somersaulted with relief– knowing her son wouldn't be alone, her brain knew she couldn't accept his offer. Alex and Jake had become friends over the last few months. A persistent little boy and a man who owned trucks. Lots of trucks. Jake had accepted his fawning interest with good humor.
But . . . he was her boss. There was a distinct professional line Jen never would have anticipated crossing. Until now . "Thank you but I can't possibly inconvenience you like that." Crossing that line would jeopardize everything she'd worked so hard to protect. "You've done too much already." Releasing her son's hand, she stood, stretching cramped muscles.
"You're all alone. You need some help." To her surprise, Jake shrugged off her worry. "It's the logical thing to do." Holding her coat for her, she slid into it, feeling a measure of safety as she was enveloped by the wool.
"But . . . it would be a very long night for you."
"If it makes you feel any better, I've watched my sister's kids a hundred times," Jake countered, shrugging into his jacket. "I'm capable of watching Alex sleep in a hospital bed for a night. We'll be within twenty feet of an army of highly-trained medical professionals."
Her lips twitched at the injured tone of his voice. It was hard to imagine her perfectionist boss with hurt feelings.
"Besides . . . who else have you got?"
"I wasn't implying you couldn't handle it. I just can't imagine you'd be interested," Jen felt compelled to explain. "It's a huge imposition."
"If I minded, I wouldn't have offered." Pausing, Jake stared at the wall for several seconds, as though mentally planning the evening ahead. "I'll drop you back at work so you can get your car and pick up Meg. Then I'll grab a change of clothes and come back here."
Retrieving her purse from the cart near the bed, she hesitated. "What about your wife? She'll certainly mind your staying out all night." Immediately regretting her statement, she acknowledged his sudden stillness. Risking a glance, she confirmed the laser-beam scrutiny she tried so hard to avoid was now directed at her.
"What are you talking about?"
"If I were your wife-" Exhausted beyond measure by the stress of the day, Jenna knew she'd wandered into dangerous territory. She wasn't competent to hold this conversation. Her insides liquefied under the intensity of his stare.
"Don't leave me in suspense," he teased. "If you were my wife . . ."
Her face heating, she released a shaky breath. "I would probably be . . . a little suspicious."
"A little?" A dimple winked in his cheek as he fought his smile.
"Okay– a lot."
"Note to self: Jenna is very distrustful." His expression amused, he zipped his jacket. "Why would you think I was married?"
Finding herself cornered in a conversation that had turned awkward, her mind raced. "The day of my interview," she remembered with relief, thankful to divert his unrelenting scrutiny. "Mrs. Reilly interrupted us. She said Mrs. Traynor was on the phone."
Comprehension dawn in his eyes as he recalled the incident. "Mrs. Traynor is my mother, Mona."
Ignoring the giddy rush
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