Page 36 of My Forbidden Billionaire
“I’m so happy you wrote and asked me to come to the cricket game,” he whispers against the wind.
“You would have come anyway, right?” I ask.
“Of course. I would have wanted to see you, no matter what.”
His answer takes me by surprise—he’s declaring his intentions toward me, openly and with confidence.
I feel a flush of warmth spread across my cheeks and I turn to face him. The look in his eyes is intense, almost smoldering, and I can’t help but feel a stirring of desire deep within me.
It’s been so long since I’ve felt this way about anyone, and I had forgotten just how heady it can be.
“I’m glad you came,” I reply softly, my heart racing as I realize that I want him, want him in a way that’s both exhilarating and terrifying. Because in spite of my best efforts to suppress my feelings for Jacob, it’s become impossible not to acknowledge the pull between us.
As the match goes on, I find myself struggling to focus on anything other than Jacob. I can feel his presence next to me, his body heat radiating off of him, and I can’t help but imagine what it would be like to be wrapped up in his arms.
Suddenly, there’s a loud cheer from the crowd, and I turn to see that Clem has caught the ball, and is throwing it up in the air in celebration. Jacob jumps to his feet, clapping and shouting, and I can’t help but join in.
“That’s my girl!” he shouts, beaming with pride.
“You really are the world’s best dad, aren’t you?” I ask, as we settle back into our seats.
“It’s easy when I have the world’s best daughter.” He winks. It’s clear that he loves Clem very much and I find myself admiring their relationship.
As we continue watching the match, I can feel something rising within me. I want to ask him about Clem’s mom, but at the same time I’m not sure if it’s appropriate.
I finally muster up the courage to ask, my curiosity overwhelming me. “Do you mind if I ask where Clem’s mom is?”
He pauses for a moment, his gaze distant as he collects his thoughts. “My wife, Chelsea, passed away the day Clem was born,” he finally says, his voice soft and tinged with sadness. “Her labor was tough … and then she hemorrhaged. They couldn’t stop the bleeding...” his voice trails off.
The revelation hits me hard, and I can feel my heart breaking for Jacob and Clem.
I’ve never wanted to comfort someone more in my entire life.
It’s hard to imagine how difficult it must have been for him to raise a child on his own while grieving the traumatic loss of his wife.
“That’s terrible. I’m so sorry,” I say softly, reaching out to put a hand on his arm.
“It was. But Clem has been my light in the darkness. She’s the reason I’ve kept going. Being her dad has been the greatest gift of my life.” Jacob looks at me with gratitude in his eyes and I feel a sense of warmth spread through me.
“I just can’t imagine how hard it must be,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion.
“It is,” he says, “but at the same time, I feel like I’m honoring Chelsea’s memory by being the best father I can be to Clem. Chelsea was such a wonderful person, and I want to make sure that Clem knows just how much her mother loved her, even if she can’t be here with us.”
The way he speaks about his late wife is with such tenderness, it’s hard not to be moved. If it weren’t for the fact we are at a school event right now, I would lean into him and hold him close. But I know that this is not the time or place for such intimacy.
“I’m sure she already knows,” I say softly, hoping to offer some small comfort.
He nods, his expression pensive. “I hope so.”
I can see the pain and the love in his eyes, and it’s clear that he’s a man who has been through so much but still manages to stand tall and take care of his daughter.
It takes a lot of strength to do what he’s done, and I can’t help but admire him for it.
We sit in comfortable silence as the match continues. But our peaceful afternoon is interrupted by more screams from Ms. Abadie, whose anger is currently directed at the school mascot that she’s ushering into the cricket field.
For reasons that I have not yet discovered, the Jameson Juniper Hall mascot is a giant blue and gray parrot. As if that is not weird enough, one of the Seniors usually wears the costume and is forced to walk around the pitch making the best parrot noises he can as he flaps his fake wings sending old and musty feathers everywhere.
Jacob and I, both amused, take in this spectacle for a few moments.