The Billionaire's Pretend Wife (Isabella)
Chapter 39 Thirty Nine

On her way home from work that evening, Isabelle came across Jacob jogging in the community. He was dressed in a pair of running shorts that left his long muscular legs exposed, and a t-shirt that made it

easy to imagine the muscular physique hidden beneath.

Soon as her thoughts went to forbidden territory, she stopped them and focused on the matter that had been on her mind all day. Jacob was the only person from last night who knew her identity and who took the incentive to stop Mr Grayson. There was a high probability that he was the one who had reported him to the police.

"How was work?" he asked when he got to her and fell into step with her on their way home.

"It was good," she said, and then looked up at him. "Some officers came in the morning and arrested the director. Are you the one who went to the police with the surveillance video from last night?" "Oh, they did?" he nodded approvingly. "Good. Yes, I'm the one who gave them the video."

"Thank you," she told him. "He was trying to fire me when they showed up. My coworkers think he'll be fired."

"He already is," he replied, and then a few seconds later added, "I'm sure he already has been fired. If not, I would make a scene at the company to demand that he be fired."

Isabelle chuckled, thinking he was joking. Either way, she felt immensely grateful that he had taken the step to ensure Mr Grayson paid for what he had done. "How did you get the footage, though?" From her experience last night, she didn't think the restaurant would be willing to give him the surveillance video. Their staff hadn't bothered to help her when she cried for help, and she thought they were more inclined to sweep the incident under the rug.

"One of the security guards at the restaurant is my friend," Jacob told her. "He is the one who helped me with the video. Otherwise, it might have been hard to get it."

"That's fortunate," she said. It was amazing how he seemed to have friends everywhere. He might not have a lot of money or have a posh job, but he sure had good connections. "Thank you so much for doing that for me. Without your help, I would have lost my job today."

"Don't mention it," he told her, taking her bag to carry it for her. "It's my job to take care of you. You are my wife, remember?"

His words made her blush and a happy smile covered her lips.

***

By the time they got to their apartment, Jacob's shirt was already stained with sweat, and he planned to have a shower first. He grabbed the hem of his shirt and was about to take it off when Isabelle appeared in front of him, gazing at him with those large brown eyes of hers. His stomach seized. She had no idea how adorable she appeared when she looked up at him like that, did she?

"You kept your promise," she told him, a small smile gracing her lips. Her soft, pink lips that he hadn't been able to look at the same way again after that fateful night in the car... He cleared his throat and tried to bring his brain back to the present. "What?"

"Last night, you told me that you would make sure he didn't hurt me again. I thought you were only comforting me, but you really went ahead and got the evidence against him." Her smile widened. "I want to thank you for that."

He had thought she had thanked him enough already, but he didn't mind it at all. He wanted her to know that whenever she needed him, he was more than ready to cater to whatever she wanted.

"I wouldn't make false promises to you," he assured her. Then he winked at her. "That would make me such a horrible husband, wouldn't it?"

She blushed at his teasing, and he chuckled. It was so easy to make her blush. And he enjoyed it because she looked really cute like that.

Feeling like enjoying the situation a little more, he arched his brow thoughtfully and said, "But, if you really want to show me your gratitude, maybe you can do it with actions."

"Actions?" she echoed, her smooth brow frowning. She seemed to think about it for a few seconds, and then she looked back at him, her eyes shining. "I can make you a hearty meal. Maybe something you like but haven't had in a while."

That was tempting, but not what he had in mind. He shook his head.

"No?" she asked, her happy expression falling. She nibbled on her bottom lip as she thought further. It was obvious she was having a hard time deciding what kind of action could show him how grateful she was, so he decided to help her along...

Leaning forward, he said, "A kiss."

Her eyes widened as she looked back at him. "What?"

"A kiss will be enough to tell me thank you," he told her.

He half-expected her to run away. She was good at that. Or think it was a joke. Or ask him for another thing he wanted as a show of gratitude. But she did none of that. She didn't shake her head, step back, or say that his request was ridiculous. Taking that as a sign that maybe he hadn't asked for too much after all, he reached down for her hand.

She didn't resist when he took her hand and pulled her closer to him, and then took hold of her other hand. Gently, he wrapped them around his waist. Her body was now pressed against his front, and he drew in a sharp breath. He had felt her up close and personal before, but this was the first time she was sober and willing. Knowing that she was going along with this made his blood run hot. It took a lot of restraint to not crush her in his arms and claim her lips already.

Closing his eyes, he puckered his lips. "Okay, hurry up," he teased lightly.

While Jacob waited for his kiss, Isabelle stared at his face unabashedly. It was easy to do when he wasn't looking at her. That didn't mean it saved her from the heat that crawled up her neck and onto her face. She almost sighed at how handsome he was.

A small part of her brain told her that she had no business standing close to him like this, with her hands around him. But it was just a kiss... He had made her feel so relieved and happy that day. A kiss was a small price to pay.

She stood on her toes, getting ready to peck his lips. She was aware of her heart beating like crazy behind her chest, and she hoped he couldn't hear it. She might be acting like she was only doing this because he asked, but her body was determined to betray the fact that she was enjoying every moment of it. Especially as her breasts rubbed up against his chest as she stood on her toes...

Shutting her eyes, she tightened her hold around his waist, closed the remaining distance between them, and pressed a kiss to his lips.