He climbed from the BMW, walking around to my side as he helped me get out.
"Your home..." I gasped, struggling to take in the sight of it.
I'd only ever lived in tiny apartments, never in my life had I seen a home the size of this. It was more like a hotel than a house.
"I hope you don't mind, I just wanted to show it off a bit, I suppose." He mused, guiding me up to the front door.
The wide glass doors swung open before we could even approach, a round woman with a nice smile bobbing her head.
"Welcome home, Mr. Roma." She crooned, eyes sweeping over me as I walked inside, "I see you've finally brought a lady home to us!"
Jake cleared his throat, looking at her pointedly, "Is the table set for dinner, Joan?" He asked.
She smirked and nodded, gesturing under a large archway.
A finely set table glittered under a bright chandelier, candles lighting the walls. It was so elegant, and so beautiful, it almost stole my breath away.
Though the table was large, two chairs were set together on a single side, with plates and two tall goblets of white wine.
Slowly, we sat together, the billionaire's arm resting on the back of my chair as a man brought out a roasted chicken, carefully serving us both with a side of vegetables.
"Do you like what you see?" He asked into my ear.
"It looks magnificent." I said happily, "Did you arrange all of this?"
"I did." Jake replied, kissing my cheek, "Just for you, Caroline."
"What did Joan mean when she said you finally brought a lady home?" I asked curiously, popping a bite of zucchini in my mouth.
Was that a faint blush I saw on Jake's face?
"I don't frequently bring women around my home." Jake replied, turning his face away.
"Tessa said..." I began, before I caught myself. It was probably not the most courteous thing to bring up sleeping other people while on a date.
"Tessa has never stepped foot in this home." Jake said firmly, lifting his glass to me.
I lifted my own, watching as he clinked our cups together, before sipping at the sweet wine.
So she had lied then, about the depths of their relationship. I wasn't shocked to hear that.
"Why me?" I asked softly, "Why am I here?"
"Caroline...I knew you were special since the first moment I saw you." He said quietly, stroking my cheek as he set down the glass of wine.
With his other hand, he wrapped his fingers around my own.
"I'm ashamed to admit it, but I hired you on just to get closer to you. The fact that Eric suggested you, that was nothing." He glanced away, then back again, eyes unsure of my reaction.
"So you weren't impressed by my resume?" I asked, pouting. Of course he wasn't, I wasn't a fool. There was nothing on that piece of paper but piano lessons.
He chuckled, kissing me softly, "I was very impressed by your handwork his week. I definitely made the right choice, for the wrong reasons. I won't underestimate you again." He murmured into my ear.
I tilted my head, drinking in the taste of his kiss as though it were the wine.
His fingers danced over my shoulders, feeling the length of my arms.
"There’s one more surprise." He said softly, as he stood to his feet.
He took my hand, helping me stand, as he guided me down an adjoining hall.
We stopped in front of a closed door, where Jake squeezed my hand tightly.
"I don’t want you to get angry, I want you to take a deep breath." He said softly, and instantly worry filled me.
What had Jake done now?
When the door opened, a grand piano glittered quietly in the corner of the room, light only by dim lights.
My breath caught, gazing at the smooth lines of the wood. It was expertly crafted, I could tell that from across the room, and the sound would be unbeatable.
Instead of running towards it, though, I took a step back, only to find Jake's hand pressed firmly against my back.
"I can't play it." I said, turning to him, "You know I can't play it anymore"
"You don't need to play it." He said quietly, "All that I want is for you to sit in front of it."
Though I shook my head, Jake wrapped his arms around me, "Be brave, Caroline. You can face this. We both want you to."
'We both.'
My heart pounded painfully in my chest.
Jake was right. Both of the men in my life would have wanted nothing more than for me to play once more, to feel the happiness that I only felt when my fingers grazed the black and white keys.
Jake and Lucas, the most important people in my heart.
I had to do this for them.
Slowly, Jake followed me as I walked across the room, my knees shaking.
Just as slowly, I sank down onto the cushioned piano seat, my feet instinctively finding the pedals beneath.
Jake sat at my side, watching as my hands hung suspended in front of the keys, as though I could feel them.