9
Los Angeles, California
AFTER ELENA STORMED away from the restaurant, Jake spent a restless night thinking about her. In retrospect, he realized he had been inconsiderate. Although he hadn’t planned on it, he had asked her out for dinner, and she had taken the time to get ready.
Besides that, she’d really looked amazing. So good, in fact, it had scared him. He wasn’t sure if he was ready for a relationship again. If Penelope filed a claim—and he couldn’t imagine that she wouldn’t unless the thieves were apprehended—then Elena would be part of an investigation.
That could be a problem.
He was shaving when the phone rang.
“Good morning, darling,” his mother said, her dulcet-toned voice sweeping across the phone lines. “I’m calling to confirm our lunch date for today and make sure you
