Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 129179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 646(@200wpm)___ 517(@250wpm)___ 431(@300wpm)
I grinned like a fool the entire way to Caddy's, John Legend blaring from my speakers as I parked in front of the diner. I hopped out and waited while Jake pulled his big Range Rover into the space next to mine. Once he was out, he came around the car and linked our fingers together as we walked inside.
Meg was behind the counter dealing with the milkshake maker. Hearing the bell jingle at the door, she looked over her shoulder at us. She grinned at me and wiggled her eyebrows as she cackled out a laugh. I could tell she approved of Jake being with me for the second night in a row.
"Grab any table, hon. I'll be over in a minute to take your order."
I was a regular at the diner, but I didn't have one particular table. I generally chose whichever one jumped out at me each night. Jake let me lead the way to the corner booth and then slid in beside me as opposed to taking the opposite seat. I turned and eyed him with surprise.
He shrugged as he ran his left hand up my arm. "Did you get the note I left for you in my office?"
I knew I was blushing when I nodded. "I did. It was the highlight of the work day."
"I couldn't stop thinking of you today," he said. "I really did count down the hours."
"Me too," I admitted. "I'm normally so focused on Macon that I can't think of much else but him, but every time I had a free second, all I thought of was you."
The pleasure my statement brought him was evident.
"I love that you told me that."
"I wanted to Google you today, but I never had any down time," I blurted.
Before Jake could respond, Meg showed up at the table to take our orders.
"You two tickle me silly," she declared. "Sitting on the same side of the booth is just about the sweetest thing I've ever seen. If you share one milkshake with two straws, I'll probably float on out of here when my shift ends."
"I'll share anything Amber wants with her whenever the opportunity presents itself," Jake answered.
I wrinkled my nose and shook my head. "I'll share something with you but the cinnamon toast pancakes and my cup of tea have more than enough sugar. How about an order of bacon?"
"My girl wants bacon, she's getting bacon. We'll both have the pancakes, she'll have her tea and I'd like a milk," he told Meg.
She hummed to herself as she wrote the order down on her pad. "Your order's coming up, kids," she said with a grin before sliding her pencil behind her ear as she turned to leave.
"Milk?" I questioned with a chuckle.
"I'm a growing boy," he laughed. "Gotta keep my strength up."
I couldn't contain the urge to look down at the muscular chest beneath his white cotton tee. Jake's body was to die for, a pure masculine strength that made me feel hot inside. I knew he hadn't forgotten what I'd been talking about before Meg came to take our order by the way he grinned at me devilishly.
"No need to look for pictures of me on Google," he teased, "I'll let you take as many as you want."
I giggled, and my gaze went back to him as I shook my head. "I wasn't looking for pictures. I wanted to find the dirt on you."
Jake smiled as he brought up his hand and ran it softly up and down my cheek. "I'm an open book," he said huskily. "Anything you want to know, ask me. I'll never hold back or lie to you about anything."
I knew he wouldn't.
"How long ago did your last serious relationship come to an end?"
He barked out a laugh. "I've never had one unless you count Rose Lyle in tenth grade. We lasted a whole two months." My brows drew together in surprise. I had not pegged Jake as being the love ‘em and leave ‘em type.
I did my best to hide my disappointment as I considered him. "So you're a serial dater?" I asked.
"No! Baby, no. That's not me. I haven't been with a woman in more than two years. I've spent my entire adult life searching for you," he said, his voice rock solid with conviction.
"For me?" I asked as my heart fluttered in my chest with excitement.
"In my family, the soulmate connection is openly discussed—frequently," he stressed with a laugh. "My mother and grandmother have spent years telling me that I'd know who she was the second I saw her. My brother and both of my sisters found their soulmates early. I didn't. I'd given up I'd ever find you. And then I opened my office door and saw you dancing. For the first time in my entire life, I felt a flicker of… something. Like my body already knew. When you turned around and looked at me, I was sure."