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She scrambled out of bed with a laugh. “I’ll see you in there in a few minutes, then.” Last night, she’d thought it was beyond fancy that his bathroom had two separate wings – each with its own toilet and vanity – that met in the middle at the shower and a huge tub. This morning, she was grateful that she didn’t have to share with him before she met him in the shower.
He swatted her ass as she passed him. “Don’t take too long.”
She turned around and pushed two fingers into his chest. “And don’t get too bossy, Jacob Jacobs.”
He looked like he was about to apologize, but she didn’t want him to – she was only joking. She did her best impression of his stern voice. “And if you swat my ass again, I might have to bite yours.”
He looked shocked for a second, but then he burst out laughing. “In that case, Ireallywant you to hurry that ass of yours into the shower.”
She couldn’t stop smiling as she headed for the bathroom. Agreeing to move in with him might be the craziest thing she’d ever done – but it was crazy good.
~ ~ ~
Jacob paced his study while he waited for Becca to get home from school. He frowned. That sounded wrong, even in his own head. She might be young, but she was a teacher, not a kid!
He’d gone over to the office for a couple of hours this afternoon, but he hadn’t been able to focus on work, so he’d come home again. He was more interested in making sure that Becca got settled in – and decided that she wanted to stay with him, than he was in anything that was happening with work. And that was fine, winter was the quietest time of year for the winery, and his staff could take care of almost everything in the offices. Okay, so he’d pushed a couple of meetings and calls to next week, but there wasn’t anything urgent, and it wasn’t like he did it often. He pursed his lips. He didn’t think he’d ever rescheduled a meeting since he’d taken over as CEO nine years ago. He shrugged. There was a first time for everything.
He pulled his phone out when it rang, hoping that it wasn’t something that did need his attention. Becca should be home soon. He almost didn’t take it when he saw Hannah’s name on the screen, but he hadn’t spoken to her since … since Becca had come back.
“Hey, sis. What can I do for you?”
She laughed. “You can remember that I’m your sister and not someone from work – and therefore, you don’t need to do anything for me – I’m just calling to say hi.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s great.”
“And where are you? I saw you leaving earlier.”
“I’m right here at the house. I didn’t go anywhere.”
“But … Ava and I were out with Scooter, and we saw you. At least, we saw the Range Rover leaving.”
“Ah.”
“Ah, what?”
He smiled through pursed lips. It wasn’t a coincidence that he hadn’t spoken to her since Becca came back. He knew that she was going to have questions – and no doubt an opinion – when she knew what was going on.
“Jacob?”
“Yes, Hannah?”
She laughed. “Tell me what’s going on? Or better yet, if you’re in for the evening, come and have dinner with Ava and me? Grady’s working a late shift at the restaurant tonight.”
“I … I can’t.”
“Why not? Are you going out? And where’s the Range Rover?”
He let out a short laugh. “If I tell you, I don’t want a lecture.”
“A lecture? Why would I lecture you? What’s going on?”
“Remember how I was talking to Becca over the holidays, while she was away?”
“Yes.” Hannah sounded wary now. “I’m not going to like where this is going, am I? What have you done?”
