What have you done? She drew in a deep breath of Jake’s scent and knew her time with this incredible man would come at a high price.
Jake’s arms tightened around her and he kissed her temple. “You’re thinking too loud,” he complained.
Sarah smiled. She loved how he woke on the grumpy side, even from a short nap.
He brushed the hair from her face, his palm cupping the side of her face as he shifted so he could stare down at her. “You are the most incredible woman I’ve ever known Sarah.”
Sarah’s heart sang at his words but her mind urged her to keep things light. “You’re just saying that, Mr. Anders.”
Jake chuckled. “Yes, I am saying exactly that, Ms. Sweeney.” He kissed her gently. “Join me for dinner. We’ll go wherever you want.”
Sarah stared up into those golden eyes that melted her heart. She wanted nothing more than to stay with him right where they were but for her own sanity, she shook her head. “No. I need to go home now, Jake.”
“Is it your clothes? We can swing by your apartment and you can dress up or we can just order room service. Whatever you want. And maybe this weekend we can take my jet and do breakfast in Paris.”
“What I want is to go back to my place. Alone.”
Jake frowned. “You’re still mad.”
Sarah touched his jaw, ran her finger along the strong lines. “No. Not really.” She was heart-sore. “I need time, Jake. I want to be alone for the rest of the evening.”
“All right. Will you come back to the office? I need you.”
“You have everything you need. We’ve finished going over the business. You don’t need me.”
“Not true. I need you, Sarah.” He cupped her face between his hands. “I love you, Sarah. Please say you’ll come back. To me and to the job.”
Of all the things he could have said, that was the last thing Sarah expected. She thought her heart just might shatter. Hours ago she’d have given anything to hear Jake utter those wonderful words. But they weren’t real, any more than her silly dream of hearing him speak them had been.
“Don’t say that, Jake.” She shoved him away and sat, pulling the sheet up to cover her breasts.
“It’s true.” Jake sat, facing her.
“No, it isn’t. Jake, you don’t know me and I don’t know you. All we have is…sex. We’ve had fantastic sex. That’s all.” Sarah knew she was telling herself this, as much as telling Jake. But it didn’t matter that she practically knew nothing about Jake. She loved him. She covered her mouth to stifle her cry.
She trusted him implicitly when it came to her body and the pleasure he gave her. But her heart and mind? She wouldn’t give him control over those parts of her. She was just a passing whim. Of that, she was sure. He was better suited to the Julianas of the world.
“It’s more than sex, Sarah.”
Jake tried to take her hands in his but Sarah hugged herself and shook her head sadly. “No, Jake. You come from a different world. I wear bad suits and you wear suits that cost more than I pay for a month’s rent. You’ll return to New York and I’ll stay here and live my simple, boring life.”
“You can come with me.”
“That just proves how little you know of me. I don’t want to go to New York or hop over to Paris for breakfast. I fix a scrambled egg and burnt toast for breakfast every morning and I don’t burn the toast on purpose.” That in her mind said it all. He had the perfect life. Free to go where he wanted, do what he wanted, and be what he wanted. And at some point, he’d do just that.
“Sarah, we have time to get to know one another. This is just the beginning. This is just part of who we are when we are together,” Jake said.
Sarah sighed. “I’ll continue as your partner in bed. I’m too weak to deny myself what we do have. I won’t hold you to it though, and I won’t believe in forever. Let’s just take it a day at a time.”
“You think because I’m rich, I’ll leave.” Jake reached out and tipped her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. “I didn’t want to say anything until all the paperwork was in place but I’m keeping the company. You won’t lose your job. No one will lose their jobs and I’m not leaving.”