CHAPTER 58: NAKED

Bella had just stepped out of the bathroom, steam still clinging to her skin as water droplets slid down her shoulders.

She tugged her towel tighter around herself, the soft fabric barely covering her curves. Her hair was damp, sticking to her neck, but she didn’t mind. For once, she thought she could take a breath. The house was unusually quiet.

Rachel was in the helping Timothy get dressed, getting him ready so she could take him along when she went to Mr. Camden’s place. Chloe had left earlier for groceries, her car keys jingling as she waved goodbye.

Then the doorbell rang and Bella froze, who might be knocking.

Her first thought was that Chloe had returned. But no—that didn’t make sense.

Chloe always used her spare key whenever she forgot something or came back early. And Rachel wouldn’t ring the bell; she was inside with Timothy.

Who could that be? Was the visitor hers or Chloe’s or Rachel?

Her pulse picked up. Who could it be? She asked herself again.

She padded across the floor carefully, adjusting her towel again. As she reached the door, her mind raced with possibilities—maybe a neighbor, maybe a delivery she wasn’t expecting. But when she opened the door, all the air left her lungs.

Jake stood there, a smile on his face. How could it be Jake? What was he doing at her place unannounced? Why was he here? What did he want? And to think she was just tieing a towel.

Her heart slammed so hard against her chest she thought the towel might slip off from the sheer shock of it. His tall frame blocked the sunlight, his broad shoulders filling the doorway.

He looked different—more casual than usual, though still carrying that quiet authority that made it impossible to ignore him.

Why was he here? What if he saw Timothy? What was she going to say? Would he recognize him? What can she do? No, she had to look for a way to get him to leave.

Bella’s mouth opened but no words came out at first. All she could do was stare.

"What—what are you doing here?" she managed, her voice shaky.

It’s been a over a week since she thought about telling him about Timothy but no matter how hard she tried, she had just been unable to do it.

Though some how,their relationship had improved and she was nice seeing him as more of a man than her boss, she still couldn’t bring herself to open up about Timothy. She was scared and worried.

She was scared that he’d reject Timothy and worried that he might decide to take him away from her. Or try to disrupt the normal she and Timothy were used to.

Jake’s eyes swept over her quickly, then settled on her face with that piercing steadiness she hated and loved at the same time.

"I could ask you the same," he said smoothly, his lips twitching into something dangerously close to a smirk. "Shouldn’t you be more worried about answering the door wrapped in nothing but a towel than asking me questions?"

Bella’s stomach dropped.

Only then did it truly register—she wasn’t just in a towel. She was in a towel with nothing underneath. No robe. No shorts. Nothing. More like she was naked in front of Jake and that thought brought memories she didn’t want to think about.

Her face flamed crimson. She tugged the towel tighter, feeling her cheeks burn hotter the longer Jake’s eyes stayed locked on her.

"I—just—what do you want?" she blurted, her voice sharp, trying to mask the panic bubbling inside her.

This was her chance. She needed to make him leave before Timothy stepped out with Rachel.

Jake tilted his head slightly, studying her with maddening calm. "What do I want? That’s a long list. But for now..." His gaze softened a fraction. "I just wanted to see you."

Bella’s throat tightened. His words held a warmth that made her chest ache, but the fear gnawed at her harder. What if Timothy came out now? What if Jake saw him? She wasn’t ready. She couldn’t be ready. Not yet.

Gathering her courage, she straightened, pretending to be unaffected though every nerve in her body was on fire. "Well, you’ve seen me," she snapped. "Now leave. I need to get dressed."

She stepped back slightly, hoping he’d take the hint. If she could just shut the door, she’d have time to think, to breathe.

But Jake didn’t move. His eyes narrowed slightly, as if sensing her attempt to push him away. "That’s all? You’re just going to slam the door in my face? You won’t even ask why I wanted to see you?"

Bella gritted her teeth. "Yes, and that’s because I need to get dressed. Standing here in this is making me feel naked under your scrutiny, Jake." She pushed at the edge of the door, but he stopped her with a single hand, firm but not forceful.

"Does it bring back memories? The one of that night, five years ago? Now that I think of it, you look even hotter than you did that night," he said, gazing into her eyes.

The air between them thickened.

Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. She could feel the weight of his presence pressing in on her, her towel suddenly feeling smaller, her skin too exposed.

She needed to think, to breathe but his presence was making it difficult to do any of that. She couldn’t let her mind sway from what was most important right now. Keeping him away from Timothy.

Every instinct screamed at her to run, to hide. She couldn’t let him in. She needed to get in and tell Rachel and Timothy not to step out until Jake has left but she first needed to find a way to get Jake to leave.

"Why don’t you go wait in your car? I’ll join you once I’m properly dressed——"

"Mama?" Timothy’s small voice cut in before Bella could finish her words.

Immediately, Bella froze.

This wasn’t happening. No. She couldn’t let him see Timothy. This was the moment she’d dreaded the most. What was she supposed to do now?

Her body went cold. Slowly, almost mechanically, she turned her head back and there stood Timothy.

He was dressed neatly—Rachel must have just finished buttoning his shirt—but his hair stuck up in the back, his face bright and innocent.

Timothy peeked out to see who was at the door and his eyes widened immediately.

Bella’s heart stopped when she saw Jake staring right back at Timothy. Her throat closed, her breath catching somewhere deep inside. Did he recognize Timothy? Does he think they look alike? Was that why Jake was looking at Timothy?

Jake didn’t move. He didn’t blink. His entire body went still, his sharp eyes locked on Timothy like he had just seen something he couldn’t process.

The little boy looked familiar and all he could do was try to remember why he looked familiar. Perhaps, he’d seen him somewhere. But why was he calling Bella "mama?"