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She swallowed. But … what the heck? Nothing ventured … “I won’t try to persuade you, but I’d still like to go for that coffee when I come back.”
“I would, too. When will that be?”
“I get back just after New Year’s. The fourth.”
“And when does school start back?”
“The kids aren’t back until the tenth, but I have to go in before then.”
“So …” Her heart raced as she waited to see what he was going to say. “Would you have time for coffee with me in that week after New Year?”
She couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “Yes.”
“Great. I’ll look forward to it.”
“Me too. How are things there? How’s Ava? Have you seen her?”
He chuckled. “I have. In fact, I’ve spent the evening with her. Everyone else was meeting up at Muse tonight. I babysat so that Hannah and Grady could go with them.”
“Aww, that’s sweet of you.”
He chuckled.
“What?”
“That may be the first time anyone has ever called me sweet.”
She laughed and then remembered that she should try to keep it down. She could hear her parents coming up to bed. “I’m sure it won’t be the last.” She could feel the heat in her cheeks when she said that. She didn’t even know what she meant.
She needn’t have worried. It seemed that Jacob liked it when he said, “I hope not.”
But then he went quiet. Becca tried to cup her hand over the phone to shield it from the sounds of her parents coming upstairs. Could he hear them? Was he wondering what the noise was? No.
“Listen, I’m sorry. I’m going to have to go. Hannah and Grady just got back.”
“Oh. Of course.”
“Can I call you again?”
“Yes! Whenever you like.”
“Are you going to be up for a while? I’m going to say goodnight to these guys and then head back to the house. I could call you again in a little while if you want?”
“That’d be awesome!” Jeez! She should probably tone it down a bit.
Jacob didn’t seem to mind. She could hear the smile in his voice. “Okay. I’ll be as quick as I can.”
“Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”
There was silence for a moment. Just when she started to wonder if he’d ended the call, he said, “I like the sound of that.”
“Me too,” she breathed.
Chapter Five
When he got back to the house, Jacob poured himself a glass of Cognac and settled into his armchair in the study. This was his favorite place in the house; where he felt the most comfortable – Hannah called it his lair. It was also the quietest place, so if Xander and Slade came back while he was still on the phone, he wouldn’t have to listen to – or subject Becca to – whatever noise they made with whatever women they brought home.
He took his phone out and set it on the end table next to his drink. He wanted to gather his thoughts before he called Becca back. She’d surprised him earlier. She’d been more … open, more eager to connect with him than he’d thought she might be. But … she was only twenty-nine. That didn’t really surprise him, but having it confirmed that she was ten years younger than him gave him pause for thought.
