Claimed for the Master's Pleasure (Guilty Pleasures #5)(29)
“So all your talk about having me arrested. That was just a bluff, right?”
Jake gently stroked the side of her face. “When I saw you at the airport ready to fly to Florida, I knew I had to do something. I wanted to be with you. So I acted irrationally and selfishly by using the money to make you come back with me.”
Lia could certainly understand his motivation, even if she couldn’t condone his method. Sometimes, snap decisions had to be made. She guessed Jake’s personality had spurred him into action. After all he was a gambling man. His cool blue eyes held hers. She felt their connection tenfold.
Christ, he wants me. This beautiful guy sitting beside me actually wants me. He doesn’t care about the money. How wonderful is that?
“But I waited for you, Jake. When you didn’t call I thought—”
“I know, I know, princess. I’ve been a selfish prick and I’m sorry, but I had to work everything through first. Things were complicated. I couldn’t get you out of my head. Everything about you drove me crazy, princess. Your eyes, your hair, the way you smell. Everything. It’s because of you that I managed to return here at all. I’ve been living in limbo for three years. That’s no life for a man like Jake Benetti. I want another chance at love, Lia, but only if you want it, too. I don’t want to force you to be here against your will. And from what you were mumbling out in the kitchen, that’s exactly how you feel.”
Now she felt guilty. He wanted to move on. He wanted a new start in life and she did, too. “Jake, I’m sorry you overheard me talking, but that’s all it was, talk. I guess I felt trapped, especially as I didn’t know what you wanted from me. But let’s be honest, you can’t just write off a million bucks.”
“The money’s not important, Lia. What’s important is a fresh chance, at a new relationship. Think of it this way. Your father lost twice that amount over the years at the tables. I really think I’ve had every dime owed me.”
“Jake, I don’t know what to say. I—”
“Don’t say anything just yet.” He held her hands in his, before gently kissing her lips. “We’re on the same wavelength, Lia. You must know that. We have the same sexual tastes, and we connect on an emotional level, too. We’ve both lost someone we loved, so we understand grief better than just about anyone. We each know how the other feels, princess.” He pulled her into his arms and she snuggled against his bare chest. “Let’s leave it as an open invitation, Lia. That way there’s no pressure.” He stroked his fingers through her hair, soothing her senses as she listened to his steady, comforting heartbeat. “The odds of you still being here when I return home tonight are fifty-fifty. Those are exactly my kinda odds.”
Chapter Twenty
The powerful headlights of the Mustang guided Jake back up the winding ridge road to the house he’d once loved. A house he could love again if Lia were to share it with him. Throughout the day at the casino, his thoughts kept returning to her. Would she still be there when he finally walked through the front door? He hoped more than anything else in the world that she would.
Finally, he turned the car onto the gravel driveway and killed the lights. His heart sunk as he stared at his home. Not a single interior light showed. There was no indication whatsoever of life. Was Lia inside? One thought alone kept him positive. Perhaps she was enjoying the night view of Vegas from the living area. Maybe that was why the place was in total darkness.
He slid from the car and strode to the front door. When he stepped over the threshold, the alarm began to sound. In that instant he knew she wasn’t there. It was a bitter blow to find she’d left, and his heart broke. Like a wild, untamed bird, as soon as she could, she’d fled the nest. The only consolation was he’d set her free himself.
As he wandered aimlessly around the large, silent rooms, he could only blame himself. He’d acted badly toward her, and even his words of affection early this morning hadn’t convinced her to stay.
Jake thought of all the wonderful things that he’d wanted to share with her. All the plans he’d been making were now of no importance. Lia had set him free from the shackles of his past, but she clearly didn’t want to be involved in his future.
His life lay empty before him. Long, lonely days stretched into infinity. All he had left was work, but that wasn’t enough to keep body and soul together.
He walked into the master suite. There was nothing of hers left in the room. Her clothes and personal effects had gone. There was not even a note to say good-bye. Jake sat on a chair and pulled off his boots. He tossed them carelessly aside and then began removing the rest of his clothes. He’d have a shower and then prepare himself a TV dinner.
Life f*cking sucks.
“Boy, oh boy,” he murmured out loud. He shook his head, reluctantly smiling at the irony of it all.
Perhaps he’d misjudged Lia after all. He shook his head again. He’d been convinced they were on the same wavelength, but she obviously didn’t think so. How he longed to see her beautiful smiling face again.
The odds of her staying had been fifty-fifty. Early this morning when he’d spoken with her, he would have laid bets on her being here when he got home. It just went to show how unpredictable women were.
Jake turned on the shower and stepped under the fast-flowing water. He chose a colder setting than normal to clear his head. After five minutes of enduring the agonizingly cold torrent, he toweled himself dry, and changed into some casual clothes.