CHAPTER201
The departure from the boat this morning is tense, Marissa calls several times, ending in heated arguments over Jake’s refusal to meet with lawyers until she agrees to Jake’s terms and not hers. Every time causes Jake to hang up in agitation and throw his phone in various directions, violently, cursing and going off in a full Italian rant. I sit watching with my breath held until he calms down, unsure what to say to bring him back to a simmer instead; there isn’t much to calm that hot temper and I know to let it run its course. His emotions are on edge with the topic of the baby and Marissa seems to know exactly how to push his buttons.
The flight home is silent, listening to music as he thrashes emails back and forth to his legal advisor about the meeting over paternity rights. He’s tense and agitated and very much the Jake Carrero I used to work for; boyfriend Jake on hiatus as he frowns his way through a heated typing rampage, his poor laptop taking a beating. The Carrero glare, stuck firmly in place as I watch him hit the keyboard several times. That fiery Italian temper is always out of place in the cool calm demeanor of the most laid-back Carrero alive and I smile, despite the look on his face. I had even missed that part of him when he’d sent me away, his monumental arsey moods and dangerous glare never phased me at all. I watch him pull out his phone, give the screen the most hateful look I’ve ever seen then he rejects whoever is calling before returning to pounding keys.
“I think your laptop might need medical attention when you’re done.” I poke him in the rib lightly. Hoping to calm some of that brewing storm.
“I think Marissa will need it if I talk to her right now.” He grinds out.
Ahhhhh, enough said.
* * *
We get to his apartment late evening; his staff dump our bags in his master bedroom and leave us in peace. We never spoke again about the things I told him of my past and I’m glad. I feel like all I needed to tell him is now done, I don’t have anything more to say about it, nothing else to get off my chest, putting an end to a chapter of my life in a way I wasn’t even aware I needed. Sharing, telling someone who matters to me has done more than years of hiding it in the recesses of my mind. Having that person show me they don’t blame me. He knows enough and now I hope we can forget about it. He seems to sense it too, always attentive and hasn’t brought it up again, although I know he is still mulling over it. His gentleness since that conversation a testimony to the fact. He’s treating me like fine china and even though I thought it impossible, is managing to be even more adoring of me.
He picks up his phone, his expression turns to death and he stalks out of the room, once again barking Marissa’s name. I bristle internally, aware she is already imposing on us and this is only the beginning. By my calculations, she must be two months maybe two and a half months pregnant, three at the most.
This is going to be a long six months if this is how she’s going to play it, and then what? When the baby’s here, how is it going to work?
There’s a massive bang in the other room which makes me jump and freeze, listening intently as Jake curses and then appears in the room again, shaking his hand about as though he’s punched something.
“I literally hate her.” He snarls, pacing past me to the bar in the sitting room and reaching for the ice bucket, he throws some in a cloth and holds it to his fist. “Now I need someone to fix my goddamn wall.” His glare breaks, and turns into a remorseful smile, looking at me with shame etched on his face. I shake my head and heave a sigh of relief at his change of mood.
“What could she possibly have said to piss you off this time?” I smile sweetly, my voice laced with sarcasm. She’s only called him on average every hour, all day.
“Same bull … She doesn’t want you around “her” baby … she wants me to promise not to bring you with me to LA. I don’t know what her goddamn problem is suddenly. She stayed on a boat with you and never said a wrong word and now she thinks she has some leverage; she can call the shots. She’ll soon realize that when it comes to you then she hasn’t got a fucking chance!” He snaps again then sighs. Moving the ice bag on his hand to a new spot.
“I’m sorry, baby … I’m trying not to yell at you. This isn’t you … It’s her. She knows how to get under my skin.” He leans on the bar and goes to lift a glass, thinks better of it, and walks away. I’ve noticed over the last few days he hasn’t drunk any alcohol at all, hasn’t pushed me to drink either despite boss Carrero being someone who had wine with every meal and tried to get me drunk at every opportunity. It crosses my mind, but I let it go.
“She’ll just keep hounding you until you agree, Jake … I think she’s still in love with you,” I reply boldly; he pauses as he walks to the couch near me and looks me up and down in disbelief.
“I don’t think so … It’s been years and she’s the one who screwed my best mate and caused me to break things off.” He grabs my hand and pulls me with him, yanking me down on top of him when he sits, the soft leather cushioning me. He wraps me in his arms, pulling me with him as he slides onto his back and stretches out along the seat, me laying over him. His mouth against my temple and our arms wrapped around each other, face to face. I love this position; it always feels so restful and safe.
“I think it’s why she hates me so much … I know you think I’m wrong, but I’m a girl … I understand girls … She’s still in love with you, it was obvious even on the boat weeks ago.” I point out with a yawn, tired from our trip.
“Well if she is then that’s her problem, not ours … Good luck to her, because she’s never going to get anywhere with it. Her problem with you better stay away from me, I’m the last person in the world you want to be around if they have a problem with you.” His hand comes to the back of my hair, holding me against him tightly, he kisses me on top of the head.
“Want to have a movie night and some hot sex? I brought home that bondage gear we found on the boat, best way to kill stress.” I catch the smile in his voice, he’s already bored talking about Marissa and wants to forget about it for one night. My body is already responding to his suggestion. I lift my head up and grin at him, showing my full cooperation.
“As if I ever say no to you.” I grin widely, eyes already heavy with desire and body churning with heat.
“Maybe we’ll skip the movies and just go straight to bed.” He grins back. “We can have dinner later.”
Without warning he scoops me up into a bundle and jumps up from the couch, carrying me to the bedroom. He tosses me on his huge bed, kicking his door shut behind him, coming at me like a playful child, jumping on top of me and hauling me over on top of him."
