Page 36 of Heartless (Scathing Hearts #1)

Two steps into my apartment, I dropped my purse on the side table just as someone knocked on my door. When I opened the door to Jake, he curled one hand around my nape, the other around my waist, and pulled me into a drugging, whole-body shiver kiss.

“Hey, baby.”

“How was your day?” I panted.

His lips twitched. “Better now.”

We kissed again before he curled his arm around my shoulders. As we turned toward my living room. I gasped. There was a giant bouquet of yellow flowers sitting on my coffee table.

I whipped my eyes to Jake’s. “Is this for me?” He nodded. “I love them. But why?”

He kissed the tip of my nose. “Your new job.”

Oh wow. I hurried toward the vase holding the explosion of yellow beauties, brightening the room. Falling on my knees before the coffee table, I picked up the card while Jake settled on the sofa behind me.

It read, ‘Congratulations on your new job.’ It was signed, ‘Jake.’

My grin was so big, it was hurting my face. I hopped into Jake’s lap. Grabbing the sides of his neck, I peppered kisses all over his face, ending with longer, firmer touches over his curved mouth.

“Thank you.”

His gaze had that mix of softness and heat I loved. “Proud of you, baby.”

Warmth crawled up my face, and my shoulders twitched. “It’s just a job.”

Jake wrapped his hand around my nape while his expression filled with unexpected seriousness. “It’s a job in a field you love. You went for it, and people saw how talented and passionate you were, and that’s why you got it.” His voice deepened. “This is all you, Sienna, and you deserve it.”

My throat tightened, so my voice came out scratchy. “Thank you.”

“I’ve got something else for you.”

I wriggled my hips and curled my arms around his neck. “You can give it to me right here.”

His chest shook with his silent chortle. “That’s all yours, kitten. But there’s a real gift for you upstairs.”

I jumped off his lap. “I’ll be a minute and a half.”

After rushing to my bedroom, I kicked my heels off, slid into my flats before returning back to the living room where Jake was on his feet.

Once we were in his living room, Jake kissed my lips. “Have a seat, baby.”

I sat cross-legged in the middle of the sofa as Jake stalked to the end of the bar and came back with a large box adorned with a perfect yellow bow. He placed the box beside me, and I grinned as he lowered himself on the other side of the box.

As I gnawed on my bottom lip, Jake’s curled index pressed under my chin, and I fell into his slightly frowning gaze. “What is it, baby?”

“The... flowers were more than enough, and... and you’re scaring me a little.” I cleared my throat. “Not you... I mean yes, you. I’m just not used to that much awesomeness.”

He pecked the tip of my nose. “No more awesome after this for tonight. Open it.”

Shifting to face the box, I took my time and pulled both tips of the bow. I glanced up at Jake and slowly lifted the lid I set on the rug. The silk paper hiding the gift was also yellow. I uncovered my present and gawped.

“A first edition of the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales? Oh my God, Jake. Oh my God.”

The corner of his mouth quirked. “You like it.”

I gently took the book out while Jake grabbed the packaging and set it at his feet. Grazing my fingers over the cover, I whispered, “Oh my God. It’s completely decadent but I love it. Thank you.”

I was still entranced by the book when Jake’s amused voice said, “Stay with your book. I’ll make dinner.”

****

Jake

After dinner, we were lying down on our sides on the couch. Her half-drunken glass of white wine was sitting on the coffee table beside my beer.

With my hand under her top, I brushed my fingers on the soft skin of her waist. “What will you be doing at your job?”

Her frame stiffened. A shadow blanketed her expression, and her tone was careful. “Admin work mostly. Manage schedules, handle correspondence. That kind of stuff. Do you have an assistant?”

“Tamzin’s a vet, and she organizes my life.”

“A vet? Wow. How does someone go from the military to being an assistant?”

Her interest was genuine, but she’d cleverly moved the subject of the conversation away from her. “What was the appeal for that specific job, baby?”

I fucking hated her little sigh. Touching the side of my jaw, she said, “Jake, I know you don’t think I’m the most interesting person to talk to—”

I rolled on top of her. Her legs fell open, and she hooked her knees around the back of my thighs. Holding my weight on my elbows, I locked my eyes onto her guarded gaze.

“Sienna, I watched you write for hours and lose yourself in your own world. I also know you got offered a fellowship in one of the best writing programs in the country, so I know you’re not only passionate, but you’re also fucking talented.

Baby, I’m interested in you. Every fucking beautiful part of you.

That includes your incredibly creative mind and the way you see the world. ”

She searched for the truth in my eyes, and when her hands glided up my shoulders, I breathed a little easier.

A soft light suffused her expression. “I wanted to learn about the work that goes behind a book, but the part I’m most looking forward to is reading manuscripts and liaising with writers.”

“You think you’ll get inspired?”

“You’re being awesome again, Jake Rhodes.”

My chest expanded. “More than the book?”

Her gaze dipped to my mouth, and the tip of her tongue flicked on her upper lip. Then she gave me that little grin, and I went as hard as a pike.

“You over the Brothers Grimm is a tough choice.”

I scooped her up, and she giggled in my neck while I took her to bed.