Page 310 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 11
He handed me a knife to help put the icing on. “You’ll see for yourself in a second.”
I started putting icing on them. But I was very aware of Jacob’s gaze on me. I looked up at him.
The kitchen was open to the family room. And you could hear his family talking as they chose a movie. But all the noise disappeared.
“What is the story about Aunt Brooklyn and your dad?” I asked and focused on my cupcake. There were holes in the information I knew about Jacob. And I wanted to know everything.
“He was her bodyguard. When she had to move out of the city, it was just the two of them. I think it happened kinda slowly.”
I stole a glance at him out of the corner of my eye.Kind of like us.
“Eventually they realized that they had feelings for each other. They kind of ran away together. To get away from their pasts.”
“That’s very romantic.”
“The main thing she’s told me is that he was always there for her,” he said.
“He still is. I have a star in my pocket to prove it.”
Jacob smiled. “I’ll have to take you to the lake house where we lived sometime.”
“I’d really like that.”
Jacob stared down at the cupcake in his hand. “My mom told me her life used to feel like a snow globe. A perfect little family on the inside. Away from the world. But they were on the run. And the whole thing broke so easily.”
I pressed my lips together. I didn’t want to burst into tears. This wasn’t supposed to be a sad moment. This was supposed to bethemoment. “I’m sorry, Jacob.”
He didn’t respond. He seemed lost in thought.
“I think the two of us will be a little stronger than a snow globe,” I said. “More like a...brick.”
He looked up from the cupcake he was putting icing on and laughed. “Our love story is like a brick?”
“You know what I meant. A very romantic brick. And bricks are like...the foundation of a home, Jacob. They’re very important.”
“Okay then,” he said with a smile. “Our love story will be like a very romantic brick.”
I liked the way he said “love story.” And I wondered if one day, years in the future, we’d be telling our kids about this moment. I couldn’t stop smiling.
“Aren’t you going to try one?” Jacob asked.
“Once I’m finished icing all of them.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” He sprinkled some mini chocolate chips on top of one of the finished cupcakes and handed it to me. “Taste testing is half the fun.”
I smiled. “True.” I took a bite of the cupcake and stifled a moan. “How does it actually taste like ice cream? These are insane.” I took another bite.
Jacob laughed.
“What?”
“You have something right there.” He pointed to his cheek.
I rubbed my left cheek.
“Other side,” he said.
I wiped my right cheek.
