Tears well in my eyes, and one escapes, running down my cheek, trickling onto Jake’s hand.
“You’re crying—good or bad?”
“Good,” I reply as he wipes the wet away. “Really, really good.”
Jake smiles, and it’s so beautiful it makes my heart ache.
I wrap my arms around his neck and reach up on my tiptoes to meet his face. I kiss him gently on the lips.
“I love you,” I whisper over his mouth.
“I love you too, baby. Now come on,” he says, releasing me, sounding suddenly excited. “Let me give you the tour.”
Jake opens the huge wooden front door to reveal an open-plan living room with high ceilings. Across from me are floor-to-ceiling windows that span the whole of the back wall, offering a panoramic view of LA.
Holy f**k, it’s breathtaking.
“Jesus,” I whisper, walking farther in, my eyes glued to the view.
“What do think?” Jake asks beside me.
Closing my mouth in attempt to form words, I utter, “It’s stunning.”
“The view is spectacular at night,” Jake says, moving through the living room toward the window.
I follow him, dazed, trying desperately to take in my surroundings. It’s decorated throughout, finished with two huge light grey sofas, a glass table, and modern art hanging on the walls. There’s also an open fireplace—one of those trendy ones with the artificial flames.
“The furniture is just for show,” Jake says, as if reading my mind. “You can decorate however you want.”
“However we want,” I correct.
“Right.” He smiles.
“This is one of the best features in this place.” I watch with interest as Jake flips open a little panel on the wall beside the glass. He presses a button and the huge glass wall starts to slide open, disappearing into the far wall, opening the living room onto the patio.
My jaw drops.
“Holy f**k,” I whisper, stepping through. “That’s awesome.”
“I know, right?” Jake’s grinning like a boy with a new toy.
I glance over the huge plush patio area, my eyes locking on the swimming pool. It’s massive. The size of the ones you find at the local swimming baths, but way, way nicer.
I move closer and discover it’s an infinity-edge pool.
Moving from the pool, I approach the seating area, which is decked out with an L-shaped wicker sofa, padded with thick white cushions and centred around a gorgeous fire pit.
I glance out again at LA. “Whereabouts are we?”
“In the hills.”
My eyes nearly pop out of my head. “Hollywood Hills?”
“The very ones.”
“Holy f**k.”
I can’t stop saying holy f**k. But really, this is a “holy f**k” moment in my life if ever there was one.
I’m in a house in the Hollywood Hills. A ginormous house that Jake wants to buy for us.
I may just have a panic attack. Or faint. Or maybe both.
Fucking f**kety f**k.
I don’t know much about property prices, but I’m figuring this one costs a lot more than Jake’s place in Pacific Palisades.
I wonder who the neighbours are.
“How much is this place going for?”
Jake leans back against the seating area. He eyes me carefully for a long moment before answering. “Thirty.”
I have to steady myself on the table, as I’m guessing he doesn’t mean thirty thousand.
“Thirty million dollars!” My voice has reached maximum pitch. I’m expecting to hear glass shatter any moment now.
I know Jake has a lot of money, but holy f**k.
Holy f**kety f**k!
“I know it seems like a lot…okay, it is a lot,” he adds at my pained expression. “But it’s not like I can’t afford it. And I don’t plan on us moving again. I wanted the best place for us, equipped with everything we need for now and for the future. This place is as good as they come.”
Future. Kids? Kids he doesn’t want.
Swallowing down on that heart-wrenching thought, I ask, “How many bedrooms?”
“Five.”
“Five! Jesus Christ, Jake! There should be at least fifty for that price!”
Snuffling a laugh, he comes over to me and wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me close.
“Baby, there’s plenty enough here for the price, trust me. It’s a gated community. The house itself is surrounded with gates, and that guy you heard before, he’s the security for the house. It’s manned twenty-four hours.”
“To keep your legions of female fans out?”
“I was thinking more about keeping the legions of admiring men away from my girl.” He squeezes me tight. “It’s a great place, baby. A great neighbourhood. It’s got a huge garden,” he says, nodding to the right. “There’s a two-bed guesthouse in the garden, which is where Stuart will live.”
“Stuart’s not going to live with us anymore?” I pout.
“Well, we talked, baby, and we decided it was time he move out and get his own place. He’s all grown up, ready to face the world. We have to let him go sometime. We can’t keep him forever.” Jake gives me a grave look, clearly taking the piss.
“You’re an idiot.”
“Takes one to know one.”
“That it does.” I smile warmly.
He rubs his nose against mine, Eskimo-style. “I just thought it would be good to have our privacy, and Stuart gets his too. Also, I no longer have to run the risk of catching him making out with a dude.”