Only Mine novel Chapter 8

We've stepped in the foyer and headed to the elevators. When we entered, I felt a familiar energy buzzing between us and I remembered our last elevator drive. He gave me a knowing look, and I knew he was thinking about the same thing.

Finally, the elevator stopped on the 18th floor and he led me out, again putting his hand on the small of my back. I almost closed my eyes at the good feeling of him touching me. I seriously needed to pull myself together. I'm here to discuss with him that things cannot go on like this and that we need to keep a normal friendship for the sake of my sister and Brian.

When I entered the apartment, I was taken aback by how clean and tidied it looked. Something you wouldn't expect from a guy, but in some weird way, it suited his personality perfectly.

The place was open and spacious, with very clean-edged furniture in dark brown and white combinations and purely male. A huge dark brown sofa was dominating the living area with a big tv screen, taking up half of the wall. The space led to a modern white dining area and kitchen, and from there another hallway leading who knows where.

I've always wished to have a big kitchen with all these fancy apparatus and here I come and his place looks like it's pulled out of my dreams. What the hell does he do for a living? I cursed myself for not investigate with Becca more.

I look up at Jake and he is looking at my face while I was taking in the space. A small smile was playing on his lips and he looked pleased with my reaction. He came near me and asked to take my jacket.

"Oh, you are really trying with this cavalier act today, aren't you?" I tell him with a smirk playing on my mouth.

He smiled, taking my jacket and returning a few seconds later.

"I was always a gentleman, but you just seem to bring out the worst in me." He laughs when I scowl at him. This damn laugh of his is so cute.

"Let me take you to the terrace, and I'll bring coffee outside. How do you take your coffee?"

"Just regular black, with no sugar. Thank you."

I was really surprised with all the politeness act today when he led me away from the kitchen.

I followed him to the back of the apartment, where I could see another door that probably leads to his bedroom.

He turned right and opened a sliding glass door that led to a beautiful terrace, closed in glass from bottom to the top. The weather was beautiful today and it made the place look nice and so cozy.

The view from this floor was absolutely stunning and the whole city was spread out in front of us. There was a nice small table in the center and on top are spread all kinds of delicious things, from different kinds of bread, jams, butter, croissants, etc.

He went all out for this. I was surprised and completely in awe. I look at him with amazement in my eyes.

He looked a bit shy when he saw my questioning eyes.

"I prepared some food for us, but didn't want to give you an opportunity to refuse to have breakfast with me."

I laughed before replying.

"This looks beautiful, Jake, you didn't need to prepare all this. I would be fine with coffee, to be honest."

I gave him a small smile and his eyes were shining with something I couldn't really define.

He cleared his throat and showed us to the table. He poured the orange juice for me and helped me take the food that I liked, before retreating back to the kitchen.

After a few minutes, he returned with our coffees that smelled heavenly and it reminded me of our first encounter.

We started eating, enveloped in comfortable silence and I really enjoyed the food and the surroundings.

Finally, he decided to speak.

"So, do you have any dreams for your future? Who you want to become, where to settle down?"

Not really the question I expected, and it threw me off guard for being kind of personal.

"Ehm... Tough question for a Sunday morning." I smile though, and he gives me a small shrug, motioning with his hand that he still wants an answer.

"Well, I do have plans, but nothing solid yet. I've always dreamt about being a successful businesswoman, leading a company of my own, and making something that would inspire and challenge me at the same time. However, I want to start as an employee first, get some experience and work my way up from there. But I shouldn't get ahead of myself, I still need to finish my Master's degree before making any further plans."

He is looking at me, listening to what I'm saying, and seeming genuinely interested in my story. His warm stare makes me comfortable and I feel like I could keep on talking about myself, which is usually not the case.

Nevertheless, I stop after this, still not sure what to think about him.

"How about you? What do you do in life? I got the impression yesterday you work at the club?"

He takes another bite of the delicious bread that I ate as I starved for the past week (it was that good) before he replies.

"Yes, you are a very perceptive girl." He is teasing me, and the smile he shoots my way is completely disarming. And for some reason, I blush. God, I'm a sucker for him.

"I actually own the club."

I open my eyes in surprise. That explains his behaviour yesterday and makes sense his apartment looks like this. The X is one of the most famous and luxurious clubs in the city.

He lifts his eyebrows at my clear shock, but I just copy his motion of the hand for him to continue.

"I bought it when it was still a low class, a nothing-important bar in the hope of making it something great. I guess I was lucky with this. It's doing pretty well."

"Of course it does bloody well, it's the best club in the city."

I couldn't hide my appreciation for the place.

He chuckles at my words and thanks me. Even though he can be extremely cocky, apparently he doesn't like to show-off with his success. And I realized I like this about him. I'm not sure how will this compromise my image of him that was making me keep a safe distance.

"So, Jessica, are you seeing someone?" Straight to the point then.

"No, Jake, I'm not. I don't tend to kiss guys if I'm seeing someone else."

I gave him a pointed stare, but he just laughs at my accusation.

"Ok, I see we need to clear this because you keep bringing it up."

"You don't need to expl ..."

He cuts me off mid-sentence.

"I need to explain if we want to continue being friendly to each other. For the sake of the wedding at least."

Even though he appeared to be serious, I sensed something like mischief in his tone. I gestured him to continue.

"I don't lie to women and I don't make them any promises. All of them know things are absolutely casual and they are okay with it. If some of them start to expect too much, I finish it before it gets complicated."

I'm looking at him, not saying a word, and just trying to process what he is saying.

"It's true I show up with Serena more, because we understand each other and seem to be on the same page. Even though, I didn't like the way she reacted to you at the party."

"Well, she obviously didn't like me being near you." I rolled my eyes.

He chuckled lightly, "That she didn't. I wonder why that is?"

He gave me a pointed look with a small smile playing on his lips and I squirmed in my seat. The familiar heat started entering his eyes and I couldn't seem to look away.

After a few intense seconds, he shook his head as he'd want to gather himself and continue,