The Billionaire Playboy by Christina Tetreault Page B

was nervous
embarrassed her. She didn't need him commenting on it too.
    “They've
probably been here all week. Imagine the disaster it would be if those vultures
missed something.” Jake's tone told her all she needed to know about how he
viewed the reporters.
    After traveling
down a long winding driveway, Jake pulled into a garage bigger than her house
and filled with expensive cars. At the far end sat a black Aston Martin and
next to it was a bright red Ferrari.
    “Did you tell
your family you were bringing a guest?” Butterflies took off in her stomach at
the thought of meeting the owners of the cars parked around them.
    “I told Callie. I'm
sure she told everyone else.” Jake pulled the keys out of the ignition but
didn't make any move to get out. “Don't tell me the doctor is nervous?”
    Charlie licked
her dry lips and looked everywhere but at him. She never suffered attacks of
nervousness, yet a mammoth butterfly fluttered around in her stomach now.
    Reaching out
Jake cupped the side of her face. “You shouldn't be nervous. My family is a
little annoying but generally harmless.”
    A sarcastic
laugh escaped Charlie. “Your father is the President of the United States. He's
the most powerful man in the world. I wouldn't call him harmless.”
    Jake shrugged
and threw her a carefree grin. “Don't worry Doc, I'll protect you. Promise.” Without
hesitating he leaned closer and sealed his promise with a gentle kiss. A kiss
that turned from gentle to hungry and urgent in the blink of an eye.
    Man that guy kisses like nobody’s business. Charlie didn't
want to think about all the practice he must have had to get that incredible. If
she did, the ugly jealousy monster would begin to make an appearance again. Jealousy
wasn't a rational emotion and definitely not one she had any right to feel.
    Charlie knew the
minute he decided to end the kiss. There was a subtle change in the pressure of
his lips. It was always that way. For a moment she toyed with the idea of
trying to get him to continue his heavenly onslaught. More than once she'd been
able to do it. But today she doubted she'd be able to.
    “I'd love to
stay here with you all day, but they'll be wondering where we are. The Secret
Service will have let them know we've arrived.”
    Charlie nodded,
not wanting to speak. If she did, Jake would know just how breathless his kiss
left her and she didn't see any need to stroke the guy's ego.
    “Just relax. Everything
will be fine. You're going to have a great weekend.”
    Jake didn't wait
for a reply; instead he opened his car door.
    “Enjoy yourself
and think of all the stories you'll be able to tell people later,” she said
under her breath as she waited for Jake to open her car door. A few weeks
earlier she would have done it herself, but since spending time in his company
she'd gotten used to him opening doors for her. While she'd never admit it to
anyone, she liked having him do it. It made her feel pampered and special. When
they parted ways she would miss these unfamiliar feelings. I'm not going to focus on that now. This weekend is all about having
some fun. Jake reached for her hand and they walked out of the garage and
into the bright sunshine together.  
    They hadn't even
made it out of the grand marble-tiled foyer with its pillars and vaulted
ceiling when a petite woman with long mahogany hair and eyes identical to
Jake's greeted them. Charlie may not read popular celebrity magazines often,
but even she recognized Callie Taylor, Jake's half-sister. She'd thought the
woman was pretty when she'd seen her in photos but they didn't do her justice. It
was no wonder Dylan Talbot had fallen in love with her.
    Jake enveloped
the petite woman in a warm hug making it clear to Charlie just how much he
cared about her. When was the last time Sean hugged her like that? The question
popped into Charlie's head out of nowhere. Her brother never showed his
emotions, even when they were younger. He didn't hug but rather