“Do you think my feelings would change simply because I haven’t said them?”
“E-even so—-”
He eyed her shrewdly. “Will you say the words to me?”
Oh!A little of her euphoria faded, and her mouth opened and closed without anything coming out. Could she say the words...even when she wasn’t sure she felt them?
She stammered, “Jaak, I—-”
The frustration in her eyes made him shake his head, and he soothed her with a smile, saying gently, “It’s okay, babe.”
Was it?
“I can wait.”
Could he?
“And when you can say the words—-” He brushed his mouth with hers, whispering against her lips, “I’ll say them, too.”
His mouth pressed hard against Ilse’s.
I love you.
He thought about all the hardships she had survived, thought about how much strength and courage it took to smile every time she was confronted with the past—-
I love her.
And he always would.
Ilse was the only poison his heart would accept, the only woman he knew he would never have to rescue, the only woman who was strong enough to love Jaak back – without needing him.
Chapter Twelve
It was almost eight in the morning by the time Ilse made it to the bakery a block away from Jan’s school, and for one moment she almost thought that the billionaire had gone and left her just because she was a few minutes late. But then she saw a couple of schoolgirls giggling, two office women fidgeting, and when Ilse followed their gazes—-
Found you,Ilse thought.
Where Jaak de Konigh was concerned, admiring females would most likely be involved.
The billionaire was seated alone on the bench, and he looked like he had dozed off with his head bowed and his arms casually locked over his chest. He had an olive-green waxed cotton jacket over a plaid shirt, and a pair of tight denims and boots completed his look.
Stylish and gorgeous as always, Ilse thought crossly, but really her irritation was more because she found him too, too handsome forherown good.
She bought their breakfast from the bakery before crossing the street, but when she stopped in front of him, Ilse was suddenly struck with indecision. Should she wake him or let him sleep a few minutes more?
She fidgeted and paced in front of him, wondering what was the right thing to do.
But a moment later, she realized the decision wasn’t hers to make at all. The billionaire looked up, and the way his blue eyes gleamed up at her told Ilse he had been awake the entire time, had probably been enjoying the way she had agonized over waking him up.
“It’s not funny,” she scolded him sternly. “I was worried—-”
“Morning, babe,” he mocked.
She flushed. “Good morning,” she said belatedly.
He pulled her down, taking her by surprise, and she fell into the space beside him. “I thought you were cute—-”
Ilse stiffened. “I’m not cute!”
