Bodyguard: Ace Cain

|43| Why?

|Why?|

"I brought food for you! The least you could do is say thank you," Jake pouted.

He returned to see me the next night, while Ace was negotiating the terms of his contract. He insisted on coming back to sit with me because he hadn't spoken to me in a week. The gesture was thoughtful, but I had to wonder why he would want to do such a thing. If Noel returned before Ace, things could turn ugly.

Of course, Jake would be quick to take action without hesitation. The best part about being around him was knowing I was safe no matter what. Jake never backs down from a fight. He was prepared to face any opponent, no matter how large or intimidating. That was something I respected about him.

In terms of food, I was relieved not to be eating anything prepared by Noel and his crew. It made me feel better and more willing to eat knowing Tana made it. She had been communicating a lot with Jake recently, which made me wonder how they have gotten so close. We both judged him, but she seemed to be more open-minded than I was at the time.

Naturally, I wasn't one to hold back, so I asked him directly. "Since when are you and Tana so close?" I wondered, smelling the delicious meal she had prepared for me.

"Since you've been missing," he said honestly. "I pretty much told her everything I knew. She is a great friend to you."

That I couldn't argue with. "But that doesn't explain how close you two are," I replied.

His eyes rolled. "Whatever you think is happening, it isn't," he said, dismissing any notion of a romantic relationship. "I understand how to be platonic with a woman. Furthermore, she understands where my heart lies."

Unfortunately, I did, and it made me feel bad. All this time, it felt like he only wanted to get close to me because of the power he would gain. As the weeks passed, it became clear that it was more than just combining our family lines. Jake liked me for who I was, which was more than a girl could ask for. Even with his abrasive personality, if he could learn to be less forceful, he would make an excellent partner.

It was too late to put it to the test. I was already with Ace, and I genuinely loved him. Jake and I have this weird chemistry that no one could have predicted. Maybe in another life, I would have given him a chance before focusing solely on Ace. They were both feeding me conflicting information, but Jake had tried to harm me first. If Ace had told me everything I know now, things would have turned out differently.

Still, it felt good to know Jake liked me for me. Jake wanted to get to know me, and for that I'm thankful.

That didn't make the situation any less complicated, however. "Jake, I completely judged you, and I apologize again," I said. "I hope you understand why we never took things any further."

"Well, I didn't make it easy for you," he realized. "But you have to understand something as well."

I looked at him, perplexed. "What's that?"

He sighed inwardly. "Even though my parents are married, they weren't the best examples of romance," he explained. "My father just bosses her around so she will do what he wants. Hell, they barely express affection for one another. Most of the time, they seem uninterested."

That was unfortunate to hear. How can people be married but unhappy together? If I'm being honest, my parents' marriage wasn't perfect. My mother did a lot of the work while my father was too busy and concerned about business. However, when he came home, he always showered my mother with affection. From hugging to kissing, and simply adoring her. Their love for each other was unparalleled.

He kept explaining to me while apologizing in the same breath. "All the Trubisky men treat their women the same, and I thought that was how I should win you over," he explained. "But then you didn't respond, and I realized I might be an ass."

His enlightenment amazed me. "You dialed it back a lot," I laughed. "I assumed you were playing with me when you said you wanted to be friends."

"It was mostly a placeholder for what I really wanted," he shrugged. "That hasn't changed, but I'm afraid I missed my chance by now."

My expression softened. "Well, if you had been gentler earlier, things might have turned out differently."

"But that wasn't the case. Don't worry though, I'm still holding out hope," he said, winking at me.

I laughed at his cunning demeanor because his words carried a lot of weight. The glint in his eyes made it clear that he was going to wait for me. Jake's determination knew no bounds, and it stemmed from his family background. Many of his characteristics stemmed from his upbringing, but I could tell he was trying to change. He desired more from life and was determined to make it a reality.

Reality did sink in for a moment, and I felt bad about not allowing him to prove himself. I just ignored him and thought he was creepy. Admittedly, he was acting strangely, but with the explanation, I was able to better understand his actions. Plus, he was right about Ace.

I just shook my head at him. "Don't wait for me," I pleaded.

"I will, though," he said without hesitation.

"But, why?" I wondered. "Do you believe everything with Ace will fail?"

He laughed. "No, but things could change in ten years," he said, smirking.

My eyes expanded. "You're willing to wait ten years to see if I decide to leave Ace?"

"Yep, hopefully, sooner, but you're worth it to me, Reign." He caught my eye. "You're the first person I have ever felt any kind of attraction to. You think I'll give up so easily?"

I didn't think that at all but I didn't agree with his methods. I'm not sure how long Ace and I will last. We could get married or end our relationship tomorrow. The point is that Jake should not wait for that moment to arrive. He should open up to others. As nice as the gesture is, he's a fucking idiot. But I appreciate his candor.

I looked away from him, flushed. "No, but you shouldn't wait," I maintained my stance.

His chuckle filled the space. "I believe I'm doing something right based on the redness in your cheeks."

I sighed and closed my eyes before smiling back at him. "So, could I do you the honor of leaving you with a gift?" I asked him.

This time, he looked at me puzzled, but he didn't decline. "Sure, but I am confused," he confessed.

I giggled, feeling very devious about this. It was the least I could do after I snubbed him. This may cause a lot of tension during the plan's execution, but I'm willing to accept full responsibility for it. This was my gratitude to Jake for putting up with me and then coming here to be a hero. His refusal to give up on whatever he thought was going on was also endearing.

So, leaning into him, my lips gently pressed against his, and I could tell he was stunned. He didn't expect this to be the gift I had for him, but it felt right. This moment, this day, was meant to be, and I couldn't be more proud of the changes he was implementing.

Soon, his hands wrapped around my waist as I grabbed his shirt. I hadn't expected to be kissing him so deeply, but his lips were truly inviting. He was warm and gentle, and I apologize for not doing this sooner, but this is all I could do with him.

As we broke apart, I saw him bite his lip before throwing his head back. "That was criminal," he stated. "You can't leave a man with that kiss!"

I laughed before hugging him. "I just wanted to say thank you," I said, snuggling against his chest. "For everything."

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