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  As she left the third store her cell phone starting ringing. The hospital. Hoping it wasn't Jake, she answered it. No such luck.

  "Sadie! Where the hell are you?" Jake said furiously.

  "Oh me? Well, I'm at the mall." She said, trying to sound non-chalant.

  "What the...what do you mean? You said you would be here and I’ve stalled as much as I can. Why are you not here?" he demanded.

  "Why don't you have your mystery woman help you home. I was told not to disturb you and that's what I'm doing Jake. Look, this is all a mistake. I shouldn't have looked into this situation so deeply. You have your life and there is no room in it for me, I guess I always knew that. I won’t bother you with my presence any longer. I wish you the best and..."

  "Stop right there. Your right, there has been a huge mistake. Please, give me a chance to explain. This is not the time or place to discuss it. Meet me at my house and just give me a chance to explain. Hear me out and if you don't ever want to see me again I will try to understand." Jake said lying on the last part, he didn't think he could ever let her go without a fight. "Please Sadie".

  Closing her eyes, she sighed. "Ok, I guess I’m glutton for punishment but I will be there."

  "Thank you" and the line disconnected.

  When Sadie arrived at the house she found that the gate was open so she drove up the long winding driveway taking in her surroundings. Everywhere she looked everything was meticulously manicured and cared for. In awe of it all she parked behind the transport van. As she got out of her car she noticed they were getting Jake out and he didn’t look happy. Thats what he gets she supposed.

  "I want to walk but they won’t let me." Jake said to her pleadingly.

  "Part of procedure, Mr Kilgore. We have to get you in your home. What you do after that is up to you. Sorry" One of the guys said.

  Jake just grimaced and made a 'lets get going' motion with his arm. The front door opened and a little lady in her early fifties came bustling out.

  "Mr. Kilgore! Your home! Now I know why you wouldn't let me come see you! Come in, Come in! Are you hungry? Thirsty? Do you need anything? Oh what a day!" She rushed on to say.

  "I'm fine, Matilda. It's good to see you. Let's get inside so I can get out of this damned chair!" Jake barked at no one in particular.

  Once in the threshold Sadie took over pushing him along. She was nervous and wanted something to do other than stand around. The foyer was beautiful. A large circular table that held a elegant vase and flowers sat under a huge crystal chandelier. A double staircase lined both the left and right hand side of the room with doors leading who knows where. Sadie had never felt so out of place! She was determined to get him settled, let him have his say and get the heck out of there!

  "Where to Mr. Kilgore? " Sadie asked, trying to come off as professional.

  "Oh, don't you start that too. Both of you call me Jake. I'm not a stranger!" Jake said grumpily. Matilda started towards one of the rooms to the left leaving them Sadie bid goodbye to the transport team and turned back around to see Jake standing up. "I insist on walking from here thank you very much. I'm no longer an invalid." Placing his hand on the closest banister he looked back at Sadie.

  "Help me to my room?" Sadie came up behind him and let him lead the way while she just supported his back. At the top of the stairs Jake did seem a little winded but otherwise fine. He walked slowly to one of the numerous doors at the end, opened the door and stood their looking at the interior of the room.

  "You have a beautiful home Jake." Sadie said, attempting to start out pleasant.

  "I hate it. It’s too large and not at all my taste but that's what you get when you give a real estate agent a price budget and tell her to just find you something." Jake said almost embarrassed.

  "Oh you poor baby..." She said sarcastically.

  Inside the room was a huge dark cherry four post bed, matching armoire, dressers and nightstands. Everything was elegantly masculine, very suited to Jake. She helped him into bed and after helping him get tucked in. Jake had closed his and appeared to be asleep. She quietly started towards the door and stopped when she heard.

  "Stay..."

  Chiding herself she went back to the side of the bed.

  "Lay with me?" He asked.

  "I'm not sure that's a good idea Jake." Sadie said blowing out a breath.

  "Please, no funny business, just let me hold you." Jake said, scooting over and lifting the comforter.

  Giving him a suspicious look, she kicked her shoes off and cautiously slid in the bed, stiff as a bored next to him leaving at least 2 inches between them. Jake snaked his arm around her and pulled her to him, her body melting into his warmth.

  "Jake..." She started to say.

  "Shh..please just let me hold you." Jake whispered, his lips entirely too close to her ear making her shiver.

  They lay there for several minutes and just when she thought he had fallen asleep he said.,

  "When I lived in Houston, my father wanted me to marry one of his business partners daughters. " He started, making her catch her breath. Not knowing where this was going she stayed silent.

  "At the time I had absolutely no plans on marrying, let alone for my fathers connections. I had my own business I was running, and a wife and possibly children, it all just didn't fit in to the picture. When I declined, my father disowned me, told me I was never welcome in the home I grew up in and forbid the rest of my family from speaking to me. Little does he know, they all do but they all keep it from him."

  He shifted to look down at her. "Somehow my father found out about my accident and memory loss. He send Erika, the woman he wanted me to marry, to my room. He was not informed that I had gained my memory back, Erika was the woman that came to my room last night. They had all schemed to use my memory loss to their advantage and hopefully marry us." A look of disgusted came over him before he continued. "I didn't want you to witness the ugly things that were launched her way, Sadie. That's why I asked not to be disturbed. I also didn't want them to find out about you just yet and involve you in anyway until I'm back to 100% and can protect you better. I'm sorry I hurt you."

  "Oh Jake, I never could have imagined. It all looked so bad and then you never called me to see why I never came by and I guess I just assumed..." She said.

  "I was so wore out that I passed out after security left with Erika in tow and I didn't wake until this morning. Forgive me? I can’t say I'll never mess up but I would never knowingly hurt you." Jake asked quietly.

  Sadie put her hand on his chest, leaned in and caught his mouth with hers. After a minute, they broke apart and he chuckled, "I will take that as a yes"

  There was a knock at the door and after Sadie burrowed under the covers and Jake gave the command, Matilda came into the room. "Jake, are you all settled...oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to...uh..." She stammered, clearly seeing their was another person in the bed with Jake.

  "Matilda, meet Sadie, my girlfriend and wonderful nurse that has helped me through this difficult time." Jake introduced them.

  Slowly, Sadie came back out and just knew her cheeks were lobster red, she could just imagine that the poor lady thought of her!

  "It's nice to meet you Sadie, It’s nice to see Jake has found him a nice one, and to his home even!" Matilda was all smiles. "Can I get you two anything?"

  "No, we are OK Matilda, take the rest of the week off. Sadie will take care of me." Jake said assumingly.

  Just when Sadie started to protest Matilda broke in, "Oh, thats just great, my grandson is having his birthday party over in Kent and I'll will be able to make it after all! Please call if you need anything!" She was gone in a flash.

  "First, what did she mean by 'to his home even' and secondly, how do you know I don't have plans?" Sadie asked half-jokingly.

  "I never bring worman to my home. Ever. I need you more than anyone or anything else right now..." He said attempting the pity card.

  "Oh, now your an invalid....convenient Mr Kil
gore!" She said laughing. He kissed her again and said "I've waited it seems forever to hold you in my arms and now that I have you here I can’t do a damned thing I envisioned"

  "Poor baby. Come here let me hold you..." Sadie tightened her grip and they both ended up falling asleep listening to each others heartbeats.

  Waking around noon, Sadie opened her eyes first. She took the opportunity to study his face. As she was staring her fill, she noticed that his breathing had changed.

  "I know your awake, you faker!" She laughed. His eyes popped open and she was transfixed. They lay there looking into each others eyes for what seemed like hours. He pulled her close and tasted her mouth. Tongues met and dueled. He nipped her bottom lip and at the same time his hand came up to gently cup her breast. Sadie moaned into Jake's mouth and leaned into him further. Her hands crept under the edge of his T-shirt and ran over his ribs lightly. He was hard and soft at the same time and she loved the warmth of him. She couldn't seem to get close enough.

  "Sadie, Sadie, look at me. We better get up and around before I do something neither one of us is ready for" He said gently.

  "Your right. What are your plans?" She asked.

  "Well, as self-sufficient as my employees are, I need to catch up with some work and make some calls. How about you take a tour of the house, nothing is off limits, for lets say, an hour and I should be done by then." He suggested.

  "OK, I'd love to check out the garden." She leaned in to steal a quick peck, which of course led into much more and both of them pulled away minutes later breathing hard.

  "Go, woman!" He said jokingly, swatting her on her bottom.

  "Yes, sir!" She gave him a mock salute, slipped her shoes on and headed out of the room.

  Despite his "nothing is off-limits" comment she didn't feel comfortable looking into the rooms upstairs. She headed down one of the staircases and started with the kitchen. It was huge! Industrial sized range, huge side by side refrigerator and everything an actual chef would go crazy for! Sadie loved to cook and rarely did since it was usually for just her. Every couple of weeks some of her girlfriends would come over for a movie and wine night and she got to cook but it wasn't often enough at all. Maybe she would get the opportunity to show off for Jake? She pushed the thought to the side and tried not to look to far into the future. One day at a time, right?

  One the opposite side of the kitchen a door opened into a dining room that could easily sit a party for 30. A magnificent long dark cherry table sat and each place setting set out. Through an archway was a sitting room that was lavishly decorated in various shades of white. Ugh white? Really? What’s the use of having furniture if you obviously couldn't use it without the fear of putting a mark on it? She'd have to tease him about that, since she had a feeling he didn't like it either. What she found next took her breath away.

  The next room connected to the sitting room was a huge library with what seemed millions of books! She walked in and literally spun in small, slow circles, taking it all in. Sadie was an avid reader and imagined she could spend years in here and still not absorb all the reading material! There was a large desk which looked like it was never used, maybe except for a previous president or such. She chuckled to her self on that one. Two wing-backed leather chairs that literally sucked her in when she sat down. She felt like she was sitting in butter, the chair was so comfortable.

  Oh Lord help her, between this chair and the books, she would never every leave. Making herself get up, she continued, promising herself she would return. She found some smaller rooms, butler's pantry, laundry room and an actual crafts room. She imagined Jake probably hadn't even stepped foot in this room. Sadie decided to go out to the garden.

  As she had guessed, the gardens were breath-taking. Koi pond, whispering fountains with gorgeous water-lilies. Benches to stop along the way and a stone path lead the way through the entire estate. Since it was Mid-October, alot of the foliage was actually dormant, but that didnt stop her from seeing that this would truly be beautiful in spring. Realizing that her hour was almost up she decided to go find Jake. Regardless of what he thought there was no way she could actually stay here. She still had to shop for a dress for the....oh man...she forgot about the Halloween Goblin Gala!. She had already given her word and wasn’t sure how Jake would react when he finds out she had a standing date. Yikes! Steeling herself, she went inside and climbed the stairs.

  She didn't find him in his bedroom and curiously made her way down the hall, trying to be quiet so she might hear him. Sure enough, she heard him talking on the phone. She came to a room with the door barely open. Popping her head in she saw it was an office. This room was all Jake, more used than any room in the entire house she could tell. Papers neatly stacked up on his desk, a laptop open and a huge flat screen TV on the wall with the Wall Street stock ticker turned on. Jake motioned her into the room and wrapped up his phone call.

  "Hi, did you have a good time?" Jake asked, sitting down behind his desk. He already looked worn out.

  "I did, your home is very beautiful." She said warmly.

  "Favorite part?" Jake inquired with a raised eyebrow.

  "Oh, hands down the library!! Wow. I love it almost more than I love...uh...lattes!" She quickly changed. What! What had she almost said? That she loved him? She was freaking out a little bit, OK a lot, internally. She told herself that when she left she was checking into the nearest mental ward...

  Coming around the desk and chuckling, Jake grasped her upper arms gently and pulled her to him. "I'm a little jealous of my own library, I think. I understand though, most of the books in there are books I brought with me from my house in Houston. I've always been the one to read anything I can get my hands on. There are a ton of 1st edition books in there. I'd say spend as much time in there as you would like but I kinda like thinking you will be with me more" His hands were doing something funny to her stomach. Up and down, he rubbed her arms. Such a simple carress, yet with him, it made her melt.

  "Mmmm." was all she could stutter.

  "Hmm?"He prodded.

  "Umm, oh uh, I found a note in the kitchen that Matilda had left. Apparently she pre-ordered your meals for the next 3 days from the restaurant down the street. She said she ordered your favorite dishes times two. Sweet right?"

  "Did it mention dessert?" He asked leaning in to kiss her neck then the rim of her ear where he gave her the smallest nip. A tingling sensation started in her core. Wow, what this man did to her. It was all she had not to topple him back on that desk of his and ride him til he cried "Uncle!"

  "No, nothing about dessert." She stammered. She realized she had closed her eyes and popped them open. He was grinning mischievously.

  "Jake, I've got some things to take care of at home, oh and uh, I need to talk to you about something." She said nervously. He pushed her to sit down in one of the chairs in front of the desk and he leaned a hip on his desk.

  "What's on your mind babe?" He asked. Did he seriously have to be so sexy?

  "Well, you see, there is this thing at work. Its the Halloween Goblin Gala event for the staff and..."

  "Sounds fun, whats the problem? Don't have a date? I’ve got you covered." He said grinning.

  "Well, see that's where I'm not sure you will be too happy. A friend asked me to go as his date. I agreed and would cancel but..."

  "Sadie, look at me." Jake said, almost laughing. She complied and he continued. "I trust you, babe. Its OK. Just know that, your mine and we will be alright." She could tell he was half-joking about that part.

  "Thanks Jake, I appreciate the faith. Your the only one I truly care about and won’t intentionally do anything to ruin that." She felt herself relax and added. "OK, so as much as I would love to stay with you all day, I really do need to get some stuff taken care of. Matilda's note says dinner will be delivered at 7pm. How about I come back then or did you want to..." She didn't even finish when he rushed her and scooped her up in his arms.

  "Don't ever doubt it, I want you here. If
you finish early, feel free to come by. You know where I will be" He said laughing. He seemed so happy and it was hard to completely give into it. She was so scared he would snap out of it and tell her to get out of his life. Before she knew it, he was kissing her again. Half pulling her into his lap, her arms automatically went around him and she heard him give a groan. It made her girl-parts say "Oh yeah" Kool-Aid man style. Judging by the bulge pressing into her groin he was thinking along similar lines.

  "I better go before..." She said when he finally released her mouth. Her chin and neck felt a little raw from his stubble. She loved it. She felt almost branded in a primative way.

  "Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Hurry back" Jake forced himself to sit down behind his desk and attempt some control over his libido.

  Returning to her house, she cleaned and did a bit of laundry. She then called her friend Shelby and convinced her to go along to look for a costume for the Gala. They ended up getting a floor length black dress, black satin gloves that went past her elbows and a very cute black mask with tiny little ears to look like a black cat.

  "Cuuuute!" Squealed Shelby. "Too bad you don't get to show it off to Mr. Yummy."

  Laughing Sadie playfully punched her in the arm. Sadie had filled her in on the new development in her life and true to form, Shelby was more than supportive. Probably because she was a hopeless romantic.

  Sadie returned home and was putting up her purchases when her phone chimed. She had a text.

  "Pack for a couple days and come to me. No underwear. -J"

  Blushing she returned the text "Your not the boss of me and it would serve you right if I showed up in some granny panties!" Smiling she pressed send. Immediately he came back.

  "I will enjoy ripping them to shreds. Hurry" Giggling and blushing, thank goodness he couldn't see the blush, she replied.

  "OK, OK. Keep your pants on! I'm coming!" Grabbing an overnight bag, she selected a couple things and did indeed pack her underwear! OK, so they were very sexy underwear with matching bra...She heard her phone chime one more time.