“God, no!”
“Good, because I’m not into sharing you with anyone.” He takes hold of my hand, sweeping a kiss across my knuckles. “I’ve already told you, Tru, you’re mine, and mine alone.”
Jake stops the car and turns off the engine.
Releasing my hand, he says, “Wait there, I’ll help you out of the car.”
Doing as he asks, I wait until Jake gets out of the car, then opens my door.
Taking hold of my hands, he guides me out. With his arm around me, he walks with me. “Okay, stand right there,” he says, positioning me in place. “You ready?” I can feel his warm breath on my face.
“I’m ready.”
I’m actually not. I’m really shitting it now as to what I’m going to be revealed to.
I hate surprises. Why does he insist on surprising me all the bloody time?
God, what if I don’t like whatever it is he wants me to see?
Crap.
Jake’s hands reach around to the back of my head, and he unties the knot holding the scarf in place.
Loosening it from my eyes, Jake removes the scarf and stands aside.
Blinking rapidly, I let my eyes readjust to the bright sun.
Then I see a house.
A huge house, situated about fifty feet before me.
It’s single-story. Concrete, stucco, and wood—the combination is incredibly striking. It’s modern and stunning, and it’s instant love.
If I could marry a house, this would be the house I would marry and have minihouse babies with.
“What’s this?” I ask, pulling my eyes from the house to Jake.
I find his eyes already on me. Nervous eyes. “A house.” He smiles tentatively. “Our house if you want it.”
I turn from the house to face him. “You bought a house?”
“I bought us a house. I put an offer in and they accepted. But if you don’t like it, I can pull out and we can find something else.”
“No.” I glance back at the house. “It’s just…”
“Tru, if you don’t like it, honestly, it’s fine.”
“I love it.” I look back to him. “Really love it. Well, what I’ve seen so far, but if the outside is anything to go by, then…wow. Seriously, wow. But…it’s just…I imagine it wasn’t cheap.” I smile, uneasily. It feels clumsy and awkward on my lips.
Couples buy houses together, share the mortgage. Jake buys a house outright. A house that I’m guessing cost millions of dollars.
One that I have no chance of being able to contribute toward.
“Call it birthday present number five.”
I let out a high-pitched laugh. Since we came back into each other’s lives, Jake has been buying me special gifts to make up for the missed birthdays in the twelve years we were apart. “This is a little extravagant for a birthday gift, even for you.”
“You can call it two birthday gifts in one if you want.” He moves closer and tucks my hair behind my ear.
“More like a hundred in one. Wow, Jake. I’m just…speechless. Seriously bloody speechless. I just wish I had something to contribute.”
“What do you mean?” He frowns.
Looking down, I scuff the toe of my boot against the concrete. “Well…you know, normal people get a mortgage together, pay half each for the house. That kind of contribution.”
Lifting my chin, he says softly, “We’re not most people, Tru. I told you when we were on the island that I want you to have the best of everything. This house is part of that. I want us to have a home together.”
I know why he’s bought this house. Because of how I feel about his place. Jake has shopped for a new house and spent an inordinate amount of money, all because of me. As if he hasn’t got enough to deal with at the moment.
I’m such a selfish bitch.
“Jake…I’m sorry.” I drop my gaze. “I know why you bought this house. And I didn’t mean for you to sell your home and buy a brand-new house.”
“Look at me.” His tone is firm, causing my eyes to lift to his. “You have nothing to be sorry for. And I had a house, Tru. It was never a home. You’re my home. I want you happy. And you’re not happy at my place, and honestly, I don’t f**kin’ blame you. Christ, if it was me, I’d have been climbing the goddamn walls if I had to live permanently in a house that you’d shared with—” He cuts off. He doesn’t say his name; he doesn’t have to. I know he means Will.
Will, the man whose heart I broke when I had an affair with Jake. Will, whom I left so I could be with Jake. But it still didn’t stop me ping-ponging between the both of them in the beginning. I hate so much that I did that.
And I hate the pain it still brings to Jake’s eyes. It’s like a blow to the gut. A reminder of how badly I handled everything. How much I hurt him.
“You bought us a brand-new house so you could have sex with me again?” I smile, trying to ease the atmosphere. “You do realise getting us a hotel room would have been much cheaper.”
He runs his finger down my cheek. “Sweetheart, I would give everything I own to be able to f**k you again.” He returns my smile with his sexy grin, and I know I have him back to good.
“Well, it’s one hell of a shag-pad-to-be.” I tilt my head in the direction of the house.
“Tru.” He grabs my face, trapping it between his hands. “I want to make love to you in every single room in that house. But it’s not just that. I want a fresh start for the both of us. This place is brand-new. It was completed a few months back. No one has lived in it before. It’s ours to fill with memories.”