Chapter 304

“What do you expect me to say to that?” He focused his gaze across the room, uncomfortable with this
topic of conversation and already wishing he had never confided in Leila about any of this over the
phone the night before. She was unpredictable sometimes, and he knew she rooted for Emma like no
other. She had been one of the worst to give him a hard time about sending her away.

“I expect you to look happy at least, Jake, you need to tell her how you feel.” Jake held his hand up and
hushed her, it was all new to Leila and nothing he had not heard before from Margo, his mother and
hell, even Daniel.

“Look. Stop. Not the time or place, Leila, so get any dumb thoughts out of your head about interfering in
this.” He threw her a warning eyebrow raise and hated that her stubborn jut of the chin became more
prominent. He had no energy for a Leila maneuver tonight.

“Oh, for God’s sake! Look just stop being arsey as fuck and try to act like you’re happy to see her when
she gets here. She did nothing wrong, Jake, and you need to man up and stop sulking when someone
mentions her name.” Leila jutted her hip out and almost slammed her hand on it.

Jake glared at her, his own mood taking a nose dive, a skill Leila had since childhood.

“You can stop looking at me like that too or else I’ll poke you in the eye with my new nails. Do you like
them by the way? Extra sharp in case your asshole best mate shows up to piss me off.” She swayed
around her sparkling pink nails.

“Stunning,” Jake replied flatly and then dodged her pretend cat-like claw aimed at his face. Leila was
one of those annoying friends that you let get away with murder because they were genuinely more
family than friend. At times though he just wanted to strangle her, tonight was one of those nights after
a full day of her constant texts, questions and lectures.



“I can see you watching for her you know.” Leila cut in, looking at him smugly and lifting one eyebrow
as she edged in close. Not that it made a difference as she hadn’t bothered to lower her voice over the
in-house orchestra blaring some Mozart.

“Jesus! Leila, for fuck’s sake.” He lowered his voice when he realized he had just snapped loudly, and
people were looking his way. “I’m going to the bar, you can stay here and piss someone else off for a
change.” He dropped her arm from his and moved away, striding aggressively in the direction of hordes
of overly dressed up strangers in a bid to get some head space. He hated that she was right though, he
had been scanning the crowd ever since he got here. On edge, nervous and tense and just watching
for the one girl in the world that he couldn’t mentally escape from. He had been a fool to kiss her only
days ago, to keep ending up with her no matter how hard he tried to stay away. He knew he was only
torturing himself and dragging this out.

The inner floor was full of people milling around in various degrees of expensive formal wear. The
music loud and invading from the full orchestra as he pushed through people that wanted to cling to
him and bask in his presence.

Jake strode purposefully through a heavy crowd of glittering women in floor-length dresses, coming out
into a clearing with a side step away from an overeager pair of hands and walked smack bang into the
one face that made his heart stop beating.

Emma walked into the clearing at the exact moment he did, and they both just seemed to stop and
stare at each another, his heart pounding erratically as it recovered, his breathing becoming shallow.
She looked beautiful, beyond his wildest dreams. Wearing a fitted floor-length red dress that left little to
his imagination and seemed to defy gravity while clinging to her bust and waist. He could barely
swallow, taking in every perfect flawless curve up to the face of perfection and that wild hair he just
wanted to tangle around his fingers at every opportunity. She looked like a Hollywood star from the
fifties, perfection in every way and effortless grace. She stood out from everyone in this room, hell, to
him she stood out from every single woman in the world. She always had.



Fuck.

They stood motionless, feet apart. Tension crackling in the air between them and neither seemed to
know how to react or what to say. All Jake could think about was what it was like to have her in his
arms, to feel her against him and how much he wanted to touch her right now.

“Oh, my God, Emma!” Leila’s excitable voice grabbed her attention as she dove on Emma from the
right of Jake; she had obviously followed him when he headed to the bar. Throwing herself around
Emma, who was only inches taller and almost hauling her off her shoes. Jake didn’t move, just
continued to watch her, unable to tear his eyes from that face that could stop the world from turning. He
didn’t care that the women just to his left were trying to capture his attention subtly.

“Whoa, Leila,” Emma choked, laughter breaking over her delicate face and changing the apprehension
to knock out beauty. Jake stiffened, trying to keep his emotions in check and trying to hide any
reactions she caused him. Just being this close to her, unable to just be how they used to be was
complete agony and his heart had continued some sort of rumba inside his chest.

“I’ve missed you, millions! Emails are not the same, Miss Ems. You look freaking sensational!” Leila
spun Emma round and sent her reeling, losing her footing on high shoes, Jake moved swiftly forward
and caught her mid tumble. Pulling her against him despite every one of his senses telling him to let
her go. The feel of her body against his sent an electric jolt through him, heating his blood and making
his stomach lurch with emotion. She smelled better than good and her scent would only keep haunting
him even after he left here, now that he had the smell of her on his tuxedo.

Jake stood her up carefully, holding her upper arms until she found her footing once more and released
her as soon as she was steady. He knew the danger of keeping her close, and he just couldn’t handle
her proximity with her looking as devastating as she did tonight.



“Careful, Leila.” Jake scorned Leila, catching the wicked gleam in her eye of a calculated plot she had
brewed up. Jake narrowed his eyes at her and shook his head over the top of Emma. Moving to look
away as she turned back to him, in case she saw what was transpiring. She seemed to focus on him
for a moment and as much as he wanted to just turn back and dive into those baby blue eyes, he
couldn’t bear it.

“I can’t help being so happy to see her, Jake, you keep her hidden from me.” She grinned wickedly at
him, messages in their silent communication they had perfected from years of being friends. Jake tried
hard not to glare and instead threw her a slight frown and a subtle warning to back off.

“I’ve been working.” Emma looked quickly from Leila to him and back, an air of confusion about her, but
she recovered quickly and smiled softly. Jake had to tear his eyes from that perfect red-lipped smile
and push out thoughts of kissing her over and over again. She wasn’t normally one for bold lipstick,
normally subtle shades and he was finding it near impossible to stop looking at the perfect pout and
curve of lips so obviously made for passion. Music overtook the conversation as the band heated up a
notch, a slow ballad coming across the air, making conversation near impossible.

“Oh, I promised someone a first slow dance.” Leila turned Emma harshly, shoving her into Jake hard
with

that wicked smile aimed right at him, a twinkle of trouble in her eye.

His arms automatically caught her and pulled her into his chest, throwing Leila a look of complete
intolerance; he would be having words with her later. Jake quickly put Emma upright and back on her
own feet as her perfume hit him again, too much for him to handle, combined with how good touching
her always felt. He shifted her away, so he could gain some distance and regain control of his
equilibrium.


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