“Give me that Jacob Kingdom!” MacKenzie didn’t know if she should laugh or be embarrassed. Here she was fantasizing about him, and he was pulling a price tag off her clothing
With a laugh, Jake held the tag above his head just out of reach. The ping that came moments before the doors opened had MacKenzie turning forwards in case someone spotted her jumping up and down like a fool.
As they stepped out of the elevator, MacKenzie gave Jake a death glare. Gone was the man who had just been teasing her, in his place was the man she had first met. The Jake she didn’t much like. The transformation was so sudden that MacKenzie blinked at him in wide-eyed disbelief.
“This way, please.” Without waiting for a reply, Jake began walking. He didn’t break stride as he nodded to a man and woman who sat behind identical desks facing the elevator. Reaching a set of double doors, he turned the handle and held it open for her to pass through.
Obviously his office, MacKenzie took in the decor. Indicating which seat she should take, Jake carried on walking around the desk and settled into his chair.
Looking around MacKenzie was curious and hoped the way his office was decorated would give her further insight into his character. She had seen his home office which had been something of a surprise. This space couldn’t have been more different. At a glance, she could tell the room she was looking at was just a facade put together for his business persona. The room looked nothing like what she would have imagined it to. It was chrome and glass, and nothing was out of place. The only item in the room that matched Jake’s personality was a canvas that hung on the wall.
Leaving her seat, she walked closer to the painting. It depicted a beautiful sunset as seen from the middle of the ocean, the stern of the vessel also being a part of the painting. Although the image itself was stunning, it was a feeling of being pulled into the tranquility of the vast openness of the sea that held her attention.
“Do you like it?”
She hadn’t heard his approach, but his sudden presence didn’t startle her.
“It’s lovely,” MacKenzie whispered as though reluctant to break the mood of serenity that looking at the painting had settled around her.
“I think so,” was Jake’s simple reply.
Something in the way he spoke drew MacKenzie’s attention to his face. He wasn’t looking at the picture; he was staring right at her and his look of intensity caused her to suck in a sharp breath. Without conscious thought her eyes slid away from his and landed on his lips.
“What’s on your mind, MacKenzie?”
MacKenzie knew Jake spoke to her, she could see his mouth move, but what he said was a complete mystery. The sight of his dimples on display was all she needed to snap her out of whatever trance he had cast over her.
Ducking her head, she attempted to slide around Jake’s big body to put as much space as possible between them. She knew the thought was fanciful, but it seemed to her that his body kept growing. Whichever direction she moved in, he appeared to be there blocking her escape.
“Tell me what thoughts just ran through your mind?”
Not on your life! MacKenzie thought.
“Did you miss me, MacKenzie?” Jake asked, staring intently at her.
“Of course, I didn’t miss you, I only saw you last night at dinner.”
“That’s not what I mean, and you know it,” Jake replied with a seriousness that made her nervous.
MacKenzie could feel her insides begin to flutter and knew she was heading into dangerous waters. She recognized the feeling because it happened every time she was in his company. “I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about, and as this conversation is going nowhere, I think the best thing is for us to remember why I’m here.” Attempting to walk around him, MacKenzie gasped when Jake took a step closer to her.
“MacKenzie, I don’t normally play games with women, but with you I’m willing to play whatever game you choose. The only thing you have to remember is, I always win.”
Rolling her eyes at his comment, MacKenzie again attempted to brush past him, but instead found herself pulled flush against his body.
**********
“Should I show you how much you missed me?” Not waiting for an answer, Jake kissed her. He didn’t ask for permission nor did he give her a chance to pull away. He already knew what she was thinking. His question had been posed solely to see if she was ready to admit to her feelings.