“I was carrying a case! It was you who made me jump.” I don’t wriggle or try to break free.
“You shouldn’t be carrying anything, except my babies.”
“Our babies!”
“That’s what I fucking said!” He puts me on my feet. “No doing stupid shit, lady.”
I rearrange my top, huffing and puffing as I do. “How is carrying a case stupid?”
“Because you’re pregnant!”
Oh, I can’t bear this. “You’d better rein it in, Ward.” I point my finger right in his face. “Cornwall!”
He actually starts laughing, which only serves to notch my frustration up a few more levels. He should be worried, not laughing. “How many times are you going to threaten me with fucking Cornwall?” he asks cockily, like he knows I’ll never see my threat through. I might do, although, I don’t relish the thought of spending my whole pregnancy with my parents, but anything has got to be better than this.
“I’ll go now!” I shout in his face.
“Come on, then. I’ll take you.” He picks my case up and walks to the door, looking back over his shoulder at me standing startled on the spot. “Are you coming?”
He’s pulling my leg. “Have you called Patrick?” I ask, following behind. There’s no way on this earth Jesse will voluntarily take me to my mother’s.
“Yes,” he answers, short and sharp. “You need to be back in work by Tuesday.” He shuts the door behind me before calling the elevator.
We travel down in silence, me looking at him in the reflection of the mirrored doors while he makes a call to John. The doors open, and he nods to them as he continues his conversation, telling John to get Steve on it before advising him that he’s taking me to my parents’. I still don’t believe it. And get Steve on what?
“Hi, Ava.” Casey’s cheerful tone quickly has a bright smile replacing my fixed furrowed brow.
“Mrs. Ward!” Jesse barks, between words with John as we pass the concierge desk.
I ignore him. “Morning, Casey. Are you okay?”
“Very well, thank you. It’s a lovely day.” He nods outside, and I look to find bright sunshine. “Have a nice day, Ava.”
“Thank you.” I’m all dreamy as I emerge into the muggy air, instantly noticing my wedding present has miraculously made its way back to Lusso, but my bright white Range Rover is forgotten when I see an Aston Martin.
“Yeah, thanks, big guy.” Jesse hangs up and walks straight to the boot of the strange car, slipping the case in.
“What’s this?” I ask, pointing to the DBS.
He shuts the boot and clasps his stubbled chin thoughtfully. “I think it might be a car.”
“Sarcasm doesn’t suit you, God. I mean, where has it come from?”
“It came from a garage to replace mine until it’s located.” He takes my elbow and directs me in.
“They’ve still not found your car?”
“No,” he answers quickly and finally, with no room for pushing on the matter, not that it stops me.
“What’s Steve doing?” I ask, and he pulls back, momentarily faltering in his purposeful stride of actions.
“Nothing.” He’s lying, and I raise my eyebrows suspiciously. “He’s looking into a few things for me,” he huffs, reaching across to belt me up.
I bat his fussing hands away when he adjusts the lap belt across my tummy. “Will you just stop?” I push him out and shut the door on him, leaving a brooding mass of male on the other side of the window, glaring at me. I’m beginning to wish he was taking me to my mum’s. I don’t know if I can stand it, and I’m not going to even try and convince myself that he can stop. Double babies looks like double mollycoddling. Jesse mollycoddling. And I know damn well what Steve’s looking into. Jesse likely only left Steve intact on the condition that he investigates my drugging, and now the accident, too. I throw my head back against the headrest and turn a little to watch Jesse settle in the driver’s seat. “Why didn’t we just take my car?” I ask, nodding across to my shiny snowball.
He freezes and looks at me out of the corner of his eye. “You can’t drive too far.”
I smile on the inside. “No, but you could.” I should throw a hissy fit and make him drive the damn tank. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was bulletproof as well.
“Yes, I could, but I have this now.” He brushes me off and starts the engine, revving it loudly on a satisfied smile. “Listen to that.” He sighs, whacking it into gear and pulling off.
I begrudgingly admire the guttural roar of the DBS as I keep my relaxed head facing him, admiring his stunning profile. “Where are you taking me, then?” I ask, retrieving my phone from my bag.