179
“You two look very relaxed,” Sylvana points out, standing by her kitchen island and making a salad as we enter. My body flushes seven shades of morbid embarrassment. Jake regards me with a frown and leans in to whisper for my ears only.
“There’s no hiding what we’ve been up to, is there?” His mouth lingers seductively by my ear, and I give him an elbow jab to move him away. Luckily, Sylvana seems oblivious or has the good grace to pretend she is.
“We had a little stroll in the greenhouse and the garage,” He answers his mother smoothly, with no hint of shame in his voice or manner. I keep my face down so my hair hides my hues of pink skin, heating all over.
“Oh, my roses look beautiful today; I only watered them this morning, that’s if you noticed the flowers, of course.” She beams at us, and I catch a knowing look in her eye, which only makes me want the floor to open up and take me.
Jake lets go of me and dives into the fridge for two bottles of water, handing one to me. I didn’t think I needed it, but I’m soon guzzling it down my throat like someone who has been stuck in the Sahara for a week, trying to push down my external blush and calm that internal flurry of panic and awkwardness.
Jake’s quizzing his mother on anything he’s missed within the family for the last couple of weeks, as this is the first time he’s been home since being with me. I get lost inside my head, thinking of nothing, just a sense of fatigue and a slightly surreal feeling in the back of my mind. I blame him and his undying energy and libido. I need a vacation from him to lie down and sleep. I’m a little warm too and feel both of their eyes on me; I look up warily.
“Emma isn’t okay with all this yet, Mamma,” Jake warns as he pulls me toward him and places me on a stool next to him. I’m confused but say nothing. I must have zoned out for a bit and had no idea what they said.
“Well, it isn’t going to go away, and it isn’t exactly how I expected my first grandchild to come into the family.” She sounds upset, and my stomach tightens at the topic.
Great time to zone back in. Well done.
“It’s not how I imagined becoming a father either,” he mutters, glancing at me for signs of emotion or even anger, but I keep it all locked safely inside and focus on my water bottle and the growing heat up my spine. I catch him looking at me with a frown, second-guessing my blank expression. Sometimes his knowing me this well is a curse. I tighten my resolve to give nothing away and ignore him.
“So, what did you finally agree on?” she pushes, oblivious to anything I may be feeling since she doesn’t know my PA Emma's face or my ability to lock down and act fine. Jake stares at me warily. Seeing nothing, he carries on.
“I attend classes to prepare for the birth, I go to the birth, and after it’s here, I get visitation for two days every other week until the baby is older. Then we’ll re-meet to arrange weekly times and days.” I can still feel his eyes on me, waiting for a reaction. Instead, I focus on peeling the label off the bottle, my lip finding its way between my teeth absentmindedly. From the corner of my eye, I catch his frown and take my lip out of my teeth.
“Well, it’s best to get these things sorted out and legal. Marissa has always been one to change her mind like the weather,” Sylvana retorts, and for the first time, I sense a dislike for the girl. “Has your father discussed the DNA test with you?” she adds in, hastily averting her eyes back to her task as Jake bristles instantly, his body close enough to mine that I feel the air buzzing from him as he sends out signals every which way.
“Do you mean, has he ordered me to enforce one after the baby comes?” he responds; I catch the icy tone and glance up at him in surprise.
“He’s only ensuring our family's name is protected, Jacob … that you really are the father.” She leans out and pats his hand gently. “Women can be very manipulative, with a means to an end, zuccherino.”
“Marissa doesn’t need money; she doesn’t need my name either. Her family does just fine on their own,” he huffs. In agitation, he reaches for an apple from the fruit bowl and starts tossing it between his hands. Jake is entering his ‘I’m done with this’ mode. Fidgeting is his nervous habit.
“You never told me about a DNA test?” I finally butt in quietly. Jake’s eyes snap up to mine, surprised at hearing my voice and that I am interacting with this topic.
“You never wanted to talk about it, Bambina, and I didn’t think there was any point in telling you since it’s a moot point.” He looks annoyed with Sylvana yet wary that I’ve started talking about something I normally avoid, like the plague.
“Why?” Sylvana demands, “Because Marissa and you had sex? Jacob, women who want something will sometimes do all in their power to get it. Marissa has always wanted you back; this isn’t about money or title,” she boldly points out.
“She’s definitely pregnant, and she knows that she has no chance with me … ever,” he snaps and turns, pacing to the patio doors, looking outside, his body emanating aggression. The pain coursing through my heart right now is enough to make me stay seated, unable to go to him.
“I don’t doubt that she is,” Sylvana responds calmly. “And despite you saying you believe her, I think it would be best for everyone if we just made it official after the birth.” She is trying to smooth over his bad mood. I take in his straight, stiff posture and know best when to leave him be. He is in angry mode, and she needs to stop talking and leave him be.
Back off, Mamma Carrero. Your son is on the verge of rage mode.
“Maybe we should drop it for now,” I smile quietly at her. “I don’t feel so good,” I add without thinking and realizing it’s true. Since I’ve been sitting here and gulping down water, I have started to feel lightheaded, and my cheeks are burning. It’s come over me almost instantaneously. Jake turns and comes to me quickly, tuning in as soon as I say it.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” His hand comes to my face; it’s the last thing I remember before darkness overtakes me.
* * *
“She’s coming around.”
I hear Sylvana’s voice above me and feel something cold and damp pressing on my forehead. Jake’s face comes into focus, leaning over me, etched with concern. His normally playful expression is now dark and foreboding, and his green eyes are almost black. Sylvana appears beside him and removes the damp thing on my head, replacing it with another colder one.
“Hey,” Jake breathes as I flutter my lashes open. “You scared me, Bambina.” His voice is husky and shaky, his hands gripping both of mine tightly, and I can feel the tension radiating from him.
“What happened?” I ask weakly, closing my eyes again as exhaustion washes over me. I feel woozy still.
“You fainted, zuccherina,” Sylvana cuts in softly, a warm, gentle hand stroking my cheek. “Luckily, Jake was quick enough to catch you before you injured yourself. You were only out a couple of minutes. I think we need to get a house call from our family doctor.”
She smiles at me as I focus on her face again. I realize I’m lying flat on my back. I feel nothing but fatigue and disorientation, as though I’ve been asleep for days. I can see a large ornate ceiling above me with a chandelier surrounded by an elaborate ceiling rose; I’m in some grand sitting room.
“Emma, look at me,” Jake’s voice urges, and I do, focusing on his worried face, his mouth set in a thin line. He’s frowning deeply, his shoulders hunched forward as he scrutinizes me. “The doctor is a good idea, Bella.”
“No. No doctors,” I say, finding inner strength and trying to sit up, but he pushes me back down.
“You don’t get a say,” he commands, that furrowing brow coming close to a domineering Carrero face.
“Yes, I do. Look, it’s been a long day; we had an early start and two flights today followed by an … um … long walk,” I add, blushing wildly and avoiding looking at his mother. I catch the smirk on his face at my meaning. “I’m just exhausted and a little overwhelmed.” His hand strokes across my face, sending tiny shivers through me. “I don’t want a doctor. I think I just need a nap. I’m so tired,” I point out. It’s been an emotional day, and I’m seriously flaking right now.
“I don’t think that’s wise—” Sylvana starts but Jake cuts in.
“I’ll take her upstairs and let her sleep. If she’s still shaky later, I’ll be the first to get her a doctor, Mamma, I swear … okay?” I relax as Jake sides with me. I know he wants nothing more than for me to do as she says, but he also knows if I want to be stubborn, I’ll point-blank refuse to let a doctor touch me. She regards his expression for a moment and then me.
“Okay, take her to your old room, zuccherino. I had all the beds made up fresh when you told me you were coming.” She leans and kisses him on the cheek before moving back.
“Come on, you.” Jake leans in, scooping me in his arms and hoisting me up; I then see that I have been lying on an expensive-looking white couch. He carries me out toward that sweeping marble staircase in the grand hall.
* * *
I wake in the darkness, my body held tightly in Jake’s arms, and maneuver to free myself a little. I’m surprised to find that both of us are undressed and under the bedsheets. When I fell asleep, I was fully dressed, lying on his chest as he watched a movie. It’s dark around us, and, reaching for my phone, I’m shocked to find it’s after 4.00 a.m.
How long have I been asleep? I must have been exhausted.
I look down at his still face, breathing heavily in slumber, his strong arms encircling me protectively. It takes away the urge to get up. Instead, I nuzzle back down into him, nose to nose, and watch him sleep before slumber overtakes me again.
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