Stolen Hearts (Thoroughbred Men Book 2) (3 page)

4

              The next day, Millie tackled the problem of contacting Jacob. She had all night to think of what to say and decided to chicken out. She decided to send an email. She didn't really ‘chicken out’ per se. It was more along the lines of ‘determining your battle strategy’ and she refused to let him get the better of her again. He was extremely good looking and made her feel clumsy. His voice gave her goose bumps. His eyes looked at her like she was dessert. Oh yes, in person he got the better of her. She wanted to even the playing field and make it as casual as possible when contact was made. Email was very impersonal and that was the route she planned to take.

Jacob,

What exactly are you looking for in a home? One bedroom, two or three? How many bathrooms? Garage? If you could have any amenities, what would they be and is there a particular part of town you would like to live in? I will start my search when you return some ideas.

Thank you,

Millicent Clark

              Jacob looked at his phone. Sheesh, she was direct and to the point. No niceties found at all in that email. No ‘Dear Jacob’ or ‘Officer Hunter.’ Short, sweet and to the point. She meant business and that was it. Jacob smiled evilly at his phone and began typing.

My dearest Ms. Clark,

I appreciate your contacting me so quickly. What would any man like in his home? My home will be my ‘castle’ so I think it should be comfortable and appealing… can you think of anything appealing that should be in a home or a bedroom specifically? I am completely open to ideas. Size matters, and I tend to think large is better, don't you?

Look forward to getting more ideas from you soon,

Jacob

              Millie flung back her chair from her desk and walked to get some water from the sink. She looked at her reflection and splashed a bit of water on her cheeks, feeling the heat in them. Size matters… humph. Oh, she knew exactly what he was insinuating. Two could play this game.  Millie sat down, cracked her knuckles and began to smile. Oh, this is going to be extremely fun.

Officer Hunter,

We have no castles on the MLS currently in the area, were you looking to move away? I can send you several different locations if that is the case. I would be happy to put you in contact with another realtor in another location, if needed. Size does matter and is very important… I had heard in town you had a really teeny tiny place?

Millicent Clark

              Millie guffawed with laughter at the last line of the email and quickly slapped her hands over her mouth, looking at Danielle at the other desk. She could not believe she had typed that and it was certainly a thinly veiled barb towards Jacob’s endowment.

              Danielle started quickly and stared at Millie. “I don't think I have ever heard you laugh like that in a long, long time. What is so funny?” she said racing over to Millie’s desk. Danielle started reading the email response and gasped. “You can’t send that!” she laughed and went to exit out of the screen.

              Millie, still giggling, grabbed the mouse and clicked send. “Oh, yes, I can,” she said satisfied with her reply to Jacob. She would love to see his reaction and wondered what his response would be in return.

              Jacob had returned to the precinct to finish out his day when his phone alerted him he had a reply from Millicent. He peered at his phone and whooped in laughter. The other officers stared at him shocked. “Sorry, guys. Millicent emailed a joke to me,” and got up and left the room. He left them to gossip amongst themselves on whether she had or not. 

              Jacob was sincerely amused. She was certainly something else, that’s for sure! There was definitely a sharp wit to go with the beauty. He liked a girl that could think on her feet. This was going to be really fun for him.

My dearest Millicent,

              It doesn't have to be a castle and no I am not looking to leave the area. I appreciate your concern and dedication. You take such excellent care of your clients, in fact, I would like the client special I have heard about… you know… the one that isn't on the menu? As for concern about size, my place is pretty damn big and I know how to use it. Would you care to see if it’s something you would like to use for your next open house? You can use it as much as you want. All have been more than satisfied so far…care for references?

Sincerely,

Jacob

              Millie read her email and laughed again, prompting Danielle to come running over to the computer. Both women giggled like young girls. “Oh my word, what are you going to say?” Danielle laughed. Millie grinned and began typing away….

Officer Hunter,

You must be truly confused. There is no menu in real estate. We have MLS listings and there is no hidden special, ever. I would not recommend frequenting places that have hidden specials either. You could get really sick and die… wouldn't that be a true shame? As for size, you don't have to brag about how big your place is. Even little places have a lot of potential traffic. It is all in how it’s presented. Little places usually seem really big to the owner. If it is presented well, a small place would work just fine. There are some really big places that are true pieces of junk not worth having….

Sincerely,

Millicent Clark

P.S. - I have attached a MLS listing for you as a starting point. Let me know what you like or do not like and we will proceed from there. If this is the house for you, let’s move quickly so someone else doesn’t pick it up.

              Millie searched the MLS for the oldest, ugliest, most run down place she could find in a fifty-mile radius and attached it to the email. She smiled victoriously and clicked send. Danielle just shook her head, moved back to her computer, awaiting the next round.

              Jacob opened the email. Read it and read it again. He was laughing so hard his sides hurt. She basically told him to get sick and die. Oh, and she thought he had a small ‘house.’ To top it all off, the MLS listing she sent was for a rundown piece of property on the outskirts of town, a small shack - literally. He had seen it before because they had caught some kids drinking moonshine out there one weekend. He shook his head. She was fantastic to banter with.

              Jacob then decided to drive into town before sending the next email to her. He wanted to see her reaction in person to see how she would take it. He intended to strike a nerve or two with this one and really get her riled up. He grinned the entire drive into town and parked catty-corner from her office. He got out of his car, whistling, walked to the street corner and hit send on his phone…and waited.

My dearest Millie,

              May I call you that? Millicent seems so very ancient. While I can appreciate you sending that MLS listing to me, I am looking for something a bit younger and fresher. I like it really hot and appealing with nice edges to it. That is a bit too rough and old for me.  Almost dowdy? I really appreciate your concern, again, looking out for the client! That’s great! Let’s try a listing a bit younger, easier on the eyes, and go from there, shall we? Unless you have something really special you care to show me?

Sincerely,

Jacob

            
 
“OHHHHH, I am going to kill him!” Millie shrieked, flying out of her chair knocking it down. “OLD? ANCIENT?” she fumed. He truly hit a nerve this time. She was done today. She refused to respond. She walked over to the sink, got another paper cup full of water, took a sip and threw the entire thing in the trashcan angrily. Old! Dowdy! She was not old and dowdy and she sure as hell wasn't going to show him something special! She angrily grabbed her purse and stormed out the door for the day.

              Danielle just sat back stunned at the display she had just seen from Millie. She desperately wanted to ask what was wrong, but didn't want to direct the fury she saw on Millie’s face in her direction. That last email must have really pushed a button, she thought, smiling.

5

              Jacob stood near the office awaiting the response to the email, grinning. He knew she was either going to reply with some retort, it wouldn't bother her or she would be upset at being called old. Most women got upset with being called ancient. He saw the door to her office nearly ripped off the hinges as Millicent threw it open in a rage, he decided she was like most of the women he had met: sensitive about her age.

              He almost started laughing aloud, however, he also realized he was within earshot and that might not be a ‘healthy option’ for him to get caught laughing at her, judging by the look on her face. She looked down right pissed.

              Millie stormed off to her car, opened the door and threw her purse at the passenger seat. It bounced on the glass and fell onto the floorboard. How dare he insinuate she was too old for him or too old in general? Her biological clock had been ticking for a while now, and thirty-six was not old, she was more than ready to settle down and start a family.  The only problem was that she wasn't ready to give up her business yet either.  She didn't see how she could put in the long hours with an infant at home. It was a tough choice but since she didn't have a boyfriend, fiancé, or husband, it wasn't even her choice at all. Work was the choice for now.

              Millie started to put the keys in the ignition, hit the steering wheel with her fists a few times in a temper tantrum, and then put her face into her hands and began to cry. She wanted it all and had none of it, she felt. She needed time to compose herself and wasn't ready to pull out into traffic yet. 

              Jacob was shocked and felt horribly guilty. He never intended to make her cry. Get her riled up, yes. Get her mad, sure! He got a kick out of seeing her slam her fists on the steering wheel, but when he saw her start crying? He was truly upset. He never meant to hurt her; just a few little barbs thrown back and forth in good sport?

              Jacob backed away and stepped into the florist shop conveniently located not far from his location. He walked in, took one look at the young girl at the register and said, “I screwed up and made her cry. I need a quick fix, fast,” he said rushed and whipped out his credit card. He walked out one minute later with a dozen red roses.

              Jacob was relieved to see her car still there and Millie was currently wiping her eyes in the mirror of the visor. Millie turned the key in the ignition and fired up the car, just as Jacob knocked on the glass. Millie looked at him and felt her eyes start to well up again with tears and shook her head angrily at him.

              Jacob knocked again on the glass and yelled, “Millie I am sorry, I was teasing you and it wasn't nice of me.” He held up the roses at the window. They were gaining attention quickly.

              Here she was, her mascara smearing and her nose ruddy from crying. Jacob was standing at her car door, shouting. Her car has her name emblazoned all over it, the florist was standing outside and even now Danielle was exiting the building, watching the display. Millie rolled down the window a few inches and told him to get in.

              Jacob ran around the front of her car, carrying the roses and opened the passenger door. He gingerly picked up her purse, placed her things back inside that had fallen out and got in the car. He watched as Millie rolled up the window again and pulled out of the parking area. Jacob felt ashamed. He wanted to make her laugh now to see her smile. The ice princess had cracked and he didn't like this emotion much.

            
 
“Millie, I am sorry. You aren't old, you know? You are younger than me for sure.” Jacob started, feeling a bit lost. Unsure how to put the facade back on her, and did he really want that? Was she that touchy about her age? Sheesh!

              “Jacob, stop. It is not that you called me old or ancient, well, yes, it is actually. I don't feel like I have enough time for everything I want to do and I feel like time is slipping away. So when you said I was old, it struck a nerve, okay?” she snapped at him. She was letting her walls down, revealing a side of her she hadn't shared with anyone…and if he mocked her again, she just might leave him on the side of the road, Millie thought.

            
 
“Where are we going?” Jacob asked quietly. She was letting off steam now and he wanted to channel it in a better direction than anger towards him or crying. He noticed she would not look away from the road. “Nowhere,” she said, “I can take you back to your car, if you want? Let me turn around. Hang on,” she snapped at him, still avoiding making eye contact.             

              Jacob frowned at her tone. He assumed she was still hurting and lashing out. “Actually, Millie, let me make it up to you. Let me buy you a drink or dinner?” he offered as an apology. Plus it would get them out in town together; maybe word would get back to the guys? Did he care if word got back to the station? He felt like a heel.

              Millie pulled over and looked at him. Was he clueless on what was wrong? Here he was, gorgeous but looking perplexed, holding a beautiful set of roses obviously meant for her and why? They weren't an item. They were working together. “Why?” she asked finally.

            
 
“Why?” he parroted. “Because I hurt your feelings and I didn't mean to. I want to make it up to you,” he said. He had never had a girl ask him why he wanted to buy her a drink or go out. This was new for him!

              “No, I don't date. Especially clients,” she said sharply. She put the car into gear and started to pull out onto the road again.  She was surprised he put his hand on the wheel and stopped her. His hand was so very warm where it touched hers.

              Jacob looked at her, and looked at her soft hand he held on the steering wheel. “Because I would really like to spend some time with you and truly enjoyed emailing you back and forth today. I haven't smiled so hard in a long time and I honestly did not mean to hurt your feelings, Millicent,” he said sincerely, running his thumb across her soft knuckles that clenched the wheel.

              Millie looked at their hands, and looked at him. She had enjoyed the emails back and forth too…and yes, she had laughed quite a bit at his replies. She appreciated his honesty and he looked genuine. Plus the roses were stunning and smelled amazing. She thought wryly,
roses were a girl’s best friend, right?
“Where to then?” she asked softly.

              “Anywhere you choose, Millicent” he said encouraged, she was still holding his hand and hadn't pushed him away yet. “Call me Millie, and you choose,” she replied.

              Jacob smiled.