Chapter 0184
Back to the present (during the proposal)
Jane POV
“Where’s sergeant locked up? By whom? Tell me!”
I demanded as Jake remain quiet. I could literally feel him kicking himself for taking that call
in front of me.
“Sara chose that guy over him. Is that what it’s about? Does it involve Nick Reign?” I asked, pulling out my phone from my purse. I wanted to call Sara right away.
“No. It has nothing to do with Nick Reign, alright. The sergeant assaulted an “important”
person.”
“An important person in this town who isn’t Nick Reign? Avery would never do that. I’m sure
he has a reason.”
“Yeah, he does,” Jake breathed thoughtfully before adding,
“Listen, I don’t want you to worry about him, okay. His mother and brother are very influential people, so he’ll be fine.”
“He has a brother? Wait, he found his mother?”
All of these were too much information for me to handle. Also, how did this man know so
much about Avery Hawke?
He lowered his head again, probably cursing himself for saying too much. Clenching his lips, he signalled for the waiter.
“Tell me everything, please,” I begged.
I recalled Jeremy Colt’s reaction when I asked about the sergeant. There was no doubt in my mind now that my boss also knew what was going on and wasn’t doing anything about it.
How come?
The waiter arrived.
“Tell him what you’d like to eat. You need food,” Jake said gently.
“What a lousy way to change the subject. I’m not hungry.”
To the waiter, I said, “You can go.”
1/3
Chapter 0184
+25 BONU
The boy walked away hesitantly, eyes moving from me to the man across the table.
Jake heaved a frustrated sigh before replying,
“I already told you about your friend. I’m here to discuss your condition and us.”
Then he reached for his jacket and pulled out a business envelope. Setting it on the table, he pushed it towards me.
“You want a cure for that troublesome disorder,” he said.
“I want you. I mean, I need you around. Read that. Sign it. I’ll pick it up in the evening. Then we’ll meet at City Hall to begin.”
As I watched his mouth move, I couldn’t help but think that there was nothing romantic about the words falling out of those lips. So, what was the cause of the butterflies in my stomach?
Maybe the I want you part.
My gaze moved from him to the envelope in front of me. How bizarre that the only response I wanted to give him was “Okay, let’s do this.” I hadn’t even looked at the terms.
“But first, you need to eat, Jane,” he said gently.
“Tell you what. I’ll eat and read this if you take me to Avery. If not, no deal.”
I let out a deep breath and sat back on my chair, squaring my shoulders and feeling proud of my confidence.
The man’s face grew hard. He leaned forward, snatched the envelope from the table, stood up, and stomped off, taking his jacket with him.
My eyes followed his every movement. As he left the table, I turned around, straining my neck to watch him walk out of the restaurant.
Once he was out of sight, I shifted awkwardly in the seat.
Well, there goes my one chance at marrying a rich, handsome dude. And, of course, getting cured.
Should I go after him? I hoped to God that he paid for the expensive coffee. I wanted to leave but was too scared that the waiter would cry out if I stood up.
I looked around the restaurant and felt like everyone was watching me. Well, everyone except the waiters, the cashier near the door, and the few people minding their meal.
Imagine rising to leave, and the waiter yells for me to stop; “You have to pay for that, Miss.”
Chapter 0184
+25 BONU!
Outrageously expensive coffee wasn’t part of my budget for the month.
Act natural, and casually walk out of here, I said to myself.
Grabbing my purse, I started to brace myself to rise when that now–familiar magnificent male scent assaulted all of my senses.
Seconds later, Jake dropped back into the chair across from me. A fake smile lifted the corner of his mouth as he signalled for the waiter again.
“You’ll order food and eat,” he said. “Then you’ll take this home to read it.
He pushed the envelope back across to me.
“I’ll see what I can do about letting you talk to Row, I mean Avery, on the phone. You can’t see him in person, not yet.”