✓ WICKED VOWS| JAKE (Book II )

14-Lady black

ANNA

"Are you finished contaminating my office?" His words were delivered with a matter-of-fact tone, as if nothing could faze or affect him.

I met his gaze squarely, a hint of mockery in my smile as I sipped on my morning smoothie. The fridge had been stocked with strawberries, a small pleasure amidst the chaos of my days. "I thought it was my office since it's my house," I retorted, the smile never faltering. I didn't have time to engage in idle banter with him. My focus was on finishing my work before heading to the beach house to meet Inna and Alex. His office, situated on the other side of the house, offered a peaceful environment—exactly what I needed to concentrate.

"It seems that you have a liking, or should I say an inkling, to use my space?" His voice cut through the air, drawing my attention to him. I took a moment to really observe him, to take in the details of his appearance. He wore a slate gray shirt that complemented his eyes, paired with cream-lined pants and classic sneakers. He looked freshly showered, confirming that he had indeed come home after his absence. His hair, styled in a messy side part, still held traces of water, the strands framing his face damp and slightly tousled. "You think?" I retorted, meeting his gaze with a quirk of my eyebrow.

"I know," he countered, his tone firm.

"What I know right now is you kindly turning your back and leaving," I muttered, glancing at my watch to emphasize my point.

"We will both leave from here in half an hour," Jake stated matter-of-factly, his expression betraying no hint of emotion. But I couldn't help but wonder if there was a hint of satisfaction lurking beneath the surface, a silent victory at taunting me.

"Where are we going?" I inquired, puzzled by his sudden declaration.

"The beach house, obviously. I bet Jay and Inna have invited both of us," he replied casually, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"I'll go alone," I asserted, determined to assert my independence.

"I'm driving you there," he insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"In your fancy, slow Range Rover LWBs. No thanks," I shot back, returning my focus to the papers spread out before me.

"It's fancy, but it's not slow. And who said anything about a Range Rover?" His smirk irked me to no end. "And I'm afraid you're not privy to the relocation of the beach house. I'll wait for you downstairs. We'll leave in thirty minutes," he declared before exiting the room, closing the door behind him with a gentle tug.

Closing my laptop with a sigh, I cursed under my breath, questioning Alex's motive for wanting me to accompany him. Hastily, I made my way to my room, feeling a sense of urgency so I freshened up quickly, I deliberated over which swimsuit to bring. In the end, I settled on a dark green triangle top and matching string bikini bottoms. It had been far too long since I last indulged in a swim. Slipping into the swimsuit, I threw on a pair of denim shorts and an oversized striped shirt over it. As I rummaged through my closet for a suitable bag, I settled on a beige one, quickly tossing in a bottle of sunscreen and my two favorite lip balms. I didn't want to forget any essentials, especially since I hadn't planned for this impromptu trip to the beach house.

Swiftly, I gathered my hair into a loose bun with a hair claw, the strands falling effortlessly into place. With my sunglasses perched atop my head, I checked for my gun. I knew I'd be out there, exposed, and I highly doubted Jake had thought to arm himself. While Jay and Inna likely had their own weapons of choice, I wasn't about to rely solely on them for protection, especially with Keith and Jude absent. I slipped the gun into my bag alongside my other essentials before slipping into a pair of white Birkenstocks.