Page 46

Carla looked up at Jacob. “Is your dog neutered?”

“I’m afraid not.”

“Oh, geez.”

They backed out of the room slowly and stood in the hallway in silence for a moment more then laughter fell from both of them.

Carla shrugged.At least someone was getting some, she thought.

* * *

The fire crackledfrom the stone fireplace, and on the floor in front of it, Carla relaxed across Jacob’s lap, her legs outstretched on the plush carpet. Staring at the handsome edginess of his face, she was delighted for his generosity. After ending her phone call with her father and catching Sasha and Jack having sex, Carla’s stomach growled so loud Jacob thought there was an extra person in the room.

“Wow, that was loud,” Carla had said.

His brows arched. “Was that your stomach?”

She sheepishly blushed. “Yes.”

“Woman, when was the last time you ate?”

“I had celery for lunch.”

“Celery?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes. I’m on a strict diet. One of those Beyoncé did when she prepared for a performance, and she wants to look perfect.”

He grabbed her hand, interlaced their fingers, and guided her to his kitchen. There, he whipped up a sautéed vegetarian meal, complete with veggie meat and flatbread.

He turned it into a taco salad, adding sour cream, chopped tomatoes, and sauce inside a taco shell bowl and discarded the flatbread.

The way she ate the food after their prayer, you would’ve thought she hadn’t eaten in a century. Carla appreciated him so much for that, and now she felt like devouring him.

His gaze dropped slowly to her, and a smile cornered his mouth. After eating, they checked on Sasha and Jack to find them both asleep and snuggled next to one another. Chuckling quietly, the two found their own comfortable spot in front of the fireplace.

“You look very relaxed.”

“I am.”

“It was the food, wasn’t it?”

“And the wine.”

He chuckled and nodded, taking a sip of his glass. Throughout their night, they’d drank on and off, but now, sitting quietly in front of the fire, they enjoyed spending quality time together.

“I think we should set a dinner date with my dad before we go to Barbados. He will bug me to death if we don’t.”

Jacob’s smile stretched. “Then we’ll make sure to dine with him.”

“Do you really want to meet him?”

His forehead creased, his brows dipping. “Of course. I wouldn’t say it just to be nice. I’m not that type of person.”

“That’s good to know.”