CHAPTER339
“Here.” Jake hands me the small cooler bag that Nora packed for me, crammed with food and snacks, since I’m still eating like a starved animal and he only encourages it with a constant food supply.
“Thank you, gorgeous.” I wink at him and I’m rewarded with a smack on the ass as he walks past me with our cases. I grin at him; still the sexiest man alive, possessing the ability to turn me to mush with one look.
“Grab my sunglasses,” he calls, and I obediently pick them up, my beloved Jake defining symbol, and slide them onto my head, smiling at myself as I do. He doesn’t need them as much when he’s driving now since the weather is getting colder and the sun is disappearing earlier from the sky. But I still carry them around with me whenever I get the chance, holding them close, reminding me of him in so many ways, a constant item in our relationship of trials and tribulations. He’s driving us to Chicago and I’m in surprisingly high spirits, despite knowing what this journey is for. I’ve felt on top of the world ever since finding out Marissa never slept with Jake and nothing can ruin my buzz. That high feeling and relaxed smile ingrained on me and Jake is in the same amazingly good mood. Our black cloud is gone.
When he told everyone about Marissa there were some mixed reactions; anger and outrage and even tears from Sylvana, shocked that Marissa could be that manipulative, but for the most part everyone sighed with relief. Even Giovanni seemed pleased in his own little way, since he promptly sent over to our apartment a bottle of champagne and some fruit punch, tied together in a blue and pink ribbon. Jake glowered at them and left them on the counter. I don’t know what he imagines the symbolic value of the gift is, but I doubt it’s the same one I interpreted it to be.
To me, the gift from Giovanni symbolizes his congratulations to us on the removal of Marissa, and the building of a family between me and Jake. It’s that simple, he’s not so hard to figure out when you realize a good heart beats beneath his cool tightened demeanor.
Leila told me she and Hunter are off to a remote island destination for a week, despite still being an emotional enigma, to start putting the past behind them. Daniel is holding in there, treating her tenderly now that she’s not putting up such a fight. She sounds happier, less hostile, and not as angry bitchy, especially with his voice in the background cooing and telling her to come back to bed. It was noon when she called so I take it things are still going well, since they’re still in bed and I can hear him dotingly calling her his “princess” in the background.
“Baby, are you ready?” Jake’s voice echoes through the apartment and I look around for my handbag. This place is looking decidedly less polished nowadays that Jake’s favorite art and furniture have been sent to the Hamptons already, along with a lot of our personal belongings. We’ve decided when we come home from Chicago, we’re going straight up to follow our personal effects up there, then Jake is having this place redecorated and revamped as his pad to stay in when he comes over for work. He plans minor changes to the room layouts, making this apartment child friendly and moving our bedroom down to the hall with the guestrooms, bringing us closer to the nursery he wants to put there.
Nora is staying here aa housemaid since Jake’s going to be here at least once a week and Mathews is training the new security to be positioned here since we’ll be taking him to the new house; their choice of course, always so loyal to Jake.
Jefferson will be keeping on driving Jake around when he’s here and Mathews will be spending time chauffeuring and protecting me in the Hamptons, as well as training the new security staff at the house. Jake has kept on the previous owner’s house staff and once we’re moved in, they’re all coming back to work as they did before. Jake has this all effortlessly organized and everything smoothly in place.
I admit the thought of cooks and cleaners and chauffeurs is no longer something I balk at; a life looking after my child without the stress that most mothers endure sounds like heaven to me. I know how lucky I am not to have to worry about mundane house tasks or troubles with money. I am finally accepting it all, seeing it as a perk of loving the most amazing man in the world; another gift he’s effortlessly giving me in this fairy-tale life.
I’ll have the Carrero family nearby to support me, including Sylvana and her amazing cooking skills; Sophie, and Leila when she comes home to visit. Giovanni in his own little way. Daniel … and Arrick when he’s around too. All people as important to me as Jake, infiltrated into my life. Not to mention all the staff bending to help me at every beck and call. This move is the best way to start a new life with the perfect man of my dreams. I finally convinced myself daily that this isn’t a dream I’ll one day wake up from.
The one person I’ll miss more than most when I leave is Sarah, but she’s promised to head our way at least once a month for God-motherly visits and girly catch ups, so I’m sure everything will work out perfectly.
Jake appears at the door and visually scans me. He comes over and smooths his hands down me appreciatively, my little bump barely on show, yet somehow the dress draws attention to it because of the way the high waistline kicks out as it reaches the top of my bump.
“You changed your mind?” He rubs his nose against mine, affectionally, and I shake my head.
“No, just thinking about how much I’ll miss this place when we leave.” I look around the open sitting room and stark modern décor, realizing that it’s everything Jake used to be the epitome of bachelor pad. Jake looks around and shrugs.
“I guess. Been here a while, bambino.” He pulls me into his arms, turning me to spoon him, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and rests his head on mine as he looks at the four walls around us. “If these walls could talk.” that dirty laugh pulls a frown from me and I elbow him in the stomach; my green-eyed monster peeking through. “They would only say that I’ve had some seriously amazing sex with one feisty little PA.” He quickly replies and chuckles when I shove him again. There’s no way I’m letting him ruin my beautiful moment of reflection and sentiment with his prissy wild ways and past seductions of other women.
“That’s all they need to say.” I warn with a half-smile, bursting into full-on giggles when he spins me around under his arm, planting a big sloppy kiss on me.
“That’s all that matters, sexy.” He smacks my butt again and pulls me with him, tugging me playfully. “Come on this is a long ass painful drive so we’d better get going.”
I follow and grin widely at his sexy ass and broad set of shoulders."
