Chapter 23

“You look sexy as hell. I’m not sure about leaving you in that bar for an hour. This was dumb.” He rakes a hand through my hair, catching it in his fist and giving it a little pull to bring my mouth to him for a gentle kiss.

“Leila will smell a rat if you’re all there when we walk in. I want her to loosen up a little so give us time to talk before you two come crashing in.” I’m trying to be patient with him tonight, his jealous and protective side is wanting to dominate but his loving side is trying to give me a little space. He is visually struggling with himself.

“Then you should’ve let me arrange a quiet club. Less people, less chance of someone knocking into you and—”

“Stop.” I lean up and kiss him. Jake’s heart is thudding, and the way he keeps rubbing his hands on his jeans tells me he’s on the verge of a panic attack. He’s turned into a complete contradiction of who he normally is over this, like our proposal night all over again, and it melts me. He’s been sweating rivers since we arranged this little Operation, at the thought of me being out in the big old world without his constant protection and I giggle at the thought.

“I’ll be fine, we’re going to get a corner seat, ply her with cocktails, and just talk. It’s a weekday, the place will be quiet, no real party animals on a Tuesday night, Jake. Just people meeting for drinks.” I’m trying to soothe away the face that has come over him, furrowed brow, infamous Carrero glare and touch of childish pouting. My heart softens to goo.

“An hour though? I’ll go out of my mind. Maybe if Mathews sat …” He’s close to pacing again, like he was before, a frantic wild-eyed look draining over his face.

“No. Stop. Seriously.” I take both of his hands and pull them to my waist, he follows obediently.

“Trust me to take care of myself. I was doing it long before I had you. You on the other hand … I’m not sure you can be trusted out with Daniel Hunter, there’s a lot of things you two could get up to in an hour.” I point out and his face crumbles.

“You know I never would again, Emma … You know...” Again, with the panic-stricken expression. I silence him with a kiss.

“Trust,” I say slowly and deliberately with two raised eyebrows and he sags with defeat. That green-eyed glare is turbulent, but he’s resigned to the fact that this is happening. Realizing that trust is a two-way thing and he wants me to trust him more than anything in the world.

“Keep your cell out. We’re going to a bar that’s close, really close so if you need me sooner, I’ll be there.” He raises an eyebrow at me in finality.

I sigh at him then kiss his cheek indulgently before moving off to finish getting ready. He sighs heavily as he goes to the wardrobe to fish out his usual black shirt and jeans for a night out. I know this isn’t easy for him, the thought of not being there to look after me, but he needs to let this go. He trusts Nora and Mathews to take care of me here in the city, and he trusts Sylvana and her staff to tend my every need when in the Hamptons, so now he needs to trust that I can take care of myself when out with my girls … when out anywhere in general really. He needs to learn this, or my life is going to be almost impossible with him in the future.

“Don’t come until I text you. That’s the deal. If Leila is still too hostile, then it won’t go well, so let us talk her round first. Promise me, Jake.” I turn toward him with my most efficient PA Emma tone, the one that used to get him to behave. He tenses his jaw as he stares into his wardrobe mulling over his response.

“You have an hour, max, if no text after an hour, then we’re coming.” He grits his teeth and I find myself eye rolling. I’m not in the mood to keep this going. I’ll have to play it by ear and hope I can deter the force that is Carrero from turning into a cyclone in that bar if he tries to enter before I need him.

“Stop glaring at your clothes and come over here and help me with my necklace.” I smile at him, a tad happier as I catch that naughty look wash over his face. I’m in for some serious groping, before Jefferson takes me to meet the girls; no doubt of that.

* * *

“Whatever you have that’s going to get me smashed in

the shortest amount of time.” Leila eyes the bar tender, wildly tossing that choppy blonde hair back off her

face. She’s dressed to kill, wearing a strapless, short, tight, electric blue dress with killer spiked heels that look rather dangerous. Steel spikes sticking out the rears with a defiant look welded to her face. She’s been this way since we picked her up at her apartment and she’s not our usual, bubbly, happy Leila at all.

“I’m not getting smashed tonight.” Sarah cuts in. “I have work tomorrow and last time was brutal; we cooked seafood all day. Do you know how bad raw seafood is when you’re hungover?” She grimaces at the memory.

“I obviously can’t drink.” I point down. “So, I suppose, I’m on orange squash or something fruity and non-alcoholic.” Both girls throw me a pitying look but then smile and rub my belly, almost in sync. They’ve already declared themselves aunties and argued over godmother rights of my future Carrero offspring.

Back at our seats in the corner I relax a little as I look around, even for a weekday the place is busy and full but there’s a mellow atmosphere and people are milling around chatting rather than hard core partying. The DJ box in the corner is on low, playing some chilled music, only adding to the calm atmosphere. I find myself aching for him to be here already, despite myself, and push it aside.

“Get that dreamy look off your face already and tell me when they’re coming.” Leila breaks in with a look that says busted. She doesn’t sound happy but not angry either, just resigned, knowing this would happen at some point.

“What?” I blink at her rapidly, guilt coursing through me and wonder how the hell she worked it out from just one expression on my face.

“Oh, come on. I’ve known Jake practically my whole

life and I happen to know what he’s like over you. This phony little freedom right here …” she says pointedly, drawing a circle around me in the air, “…without armed security and a huge plastic bubble keeping you and his heir safe from people breathing on you … God forbid … I knew instantly you two had set me up.” She looks rather pointedly at me and then Sarah accusingly. I blush and Sarah just giggles.

“Gee this one’s sharp. Is that common with all Jake’s friends? Far too quick on the uptake!” Sarah takes a sip of her drink and watches us both with amusement. I should’ve known she would figure this out, she’s completely right. My being out of Jake’s sight for any length of time these days screams of huge red warning flags.

Dammit.

“Okay fine. But we did it out of love and Daniel really wants to see you, Leila. You dumping him is just plain absurd.” I wave my hands guiltily. She throws back her drink and starts waving manically toward the bar with her glass in the air. The tender throws her an obvious What? shrug, informing her this is not a table serving service, but starts making her a new drink regardless.

Leila and her power of persuasion.

“I can’t do it.” Leila looks down at the table and sighs, the feisty girl I adore taking a moment to lower her angry guard. “He’s going to crush me; the longer I see him the more I fall for him and he’s going to fuck it all up.” She flails at me in complete raw despair while Sarah reaches out a careful hand. Leila just looks so broken somehow.

Sarah’s always been good at giving touching, empathetic, love.

“Leila, it’s fear, you’re not really giving him a chance,” she croons at her with her wide doe eyes in sympathy.

“You never saw him, some girl all over him trying to get in there and he was just so … blank.” A single tear fills her eye and she wipes it away, angrily, with the back of her hand. Her little face crumbling and her lip wobbling adorably.

“I’m lost. I don’t get you?” I sit back trying to analyze her face. Trying to put myself inside Leila’s head and failing. The girl has as many complicated walls and levels as I used to have.

“He didn’t exactly push her off, the way Jake would for you. No beat it or fuck off, he just stood there watching her gyrating at him with her hands on his chest. Then it hit me, if I wasn’t there then he would’ve totally fucked her.” She brings a red-rimmed set of heartbroken eyes to me and I sigh. I know how soul destroying that kind of insecurity can be. Hunter probably wasn’t even aware of the affect his indifference to the girl had on Leila.

“I know he wouldn’t have. You’re not giving him a chance, Leila. You’re so sure he’s going to disappoint you and hurt you that you’re looking for fault. Looking to push him away.” I take her hand in mine, trying for mature and direct. Sarah can be the soft one, I need Leila to see sense.

“Did you confront him?” Sarah is watching her with the same expression as me, maybe she’s decided logical is the best route too.

“Of course, in grand crazy bitch fashion, the stupid me who has been giving him hell for weeks.” she sighs and sinks even lower in her seat. “I told him to fuck off, we were done, and I threw my drink at him. Told him to take the whore if that’s what he wanted.” A blush of red surges over her delicate features as she cringes at the memory; at least she has the sense to realize she acted like an insane woman.

“Jealousy is a killer.” I point out, knowing fine well I probably would’ve kicked Jake’s ass if it’d been me. Jealousy makes us irrational, seeing red no matter how innocent the situation.

“Well, aren’t we little angelic bundles of insecurity?” Sarah chirps in with a smile, patting Leila’s hand. “I once threw an entire plate of pasta at Marcus in a restaurant because some ex-girlfriend kissed him on the cheek when she came by to say hi.” She shrugs as a matter of fact.

“I tried to convince Jake I was climbing into another guy’s bed because I heard a girl in the background when he was on the phone to me.” I also shrug. The three of us regard each other for a moment, then burst out laughing. Even Leila laughs and wipes her smudgy eyes.

“None of that is healthy at all.” Leila looks deflated. “But it makes me feel less insane. I know I flew off the handle, but honestly, this is so hard. Daniel has made an art out of fucking my head up for the last ten years and now he’s doing it again. I’m so scared that one of these days he’s going to turn around and be like … “This ain’t for me, kitten.” She does a very good Hunter impression, alarmingly so, even the way she tilts her head and raises a palm.

“Have you ever thought about not being so hostile and giving him a genuine chance? Letting him in a little so that maybe he won’t want to turn and run?” Now it’s my turn to pat Leila’s hand and she sighs as the bar tender nudges in with a round of drinks, leaving his card in full view in front of Leila, cockily and a little too smoothly. A move Jake would’ve pulled off a hundred times more seductively.

“Call me.” He winks at her, before wandering back off back to the bar, with a smile. All three of us watch him go with equally unamused expressions. He’s tall like Hunter, overly muscular and blonde, but way less appealing. He has an I’m in love with myself, so I bet you are too aura about him, making him unattractive instantly.

“Arse,” Leila retorts, dumping the card over her shoulder toward the floor, no care to the fact that he can still see her.

“So, if sexy barmen dropping their card on your lap are not going to cut it then what next?” Sarah is the one trying to decipher Leila’s thoughts now, appraising her intensely.

“Guess you better tell the assholes they can come in

then and at least try to pretend to look surprised at seeing

us here.” She mumbles, sitting up straight, and taking

a steadying breath. Fingers in her hair, tidying it up, self-consciously.

* * *

As soon as Leila knew they were coming she lost courage and high tailed it to the ladies’ room alone, telling us she needed a minute to breathe and fix her face. I know the men won’t take long to get here, knowing Jake they are probably camped out on the bar doorstep. He’s probably wearing out a hole in the pavement from frantic pacing.

Sarah and I sip our drinks watching the scenery, chatting non-descriptively, in the few minutes it takes that sexy six-foot two Adonis to come swaggering in, making my insides liquefy. He has the same effect on me every time I see him. He makes everyone else disappear, with just an appearance, like watching him course through the crowds at the Charity Ball all over again and my heart soars.

He spots us with his eagle-eyed observation and immediately turns our way with Hunter behind him. Some little brunette appears, stopping their progress, waving her hands and hips at him and a frown crosses Jake’s face as he looks down at whatever she’s saying. He gently and firmly puts a hand on her shoulder, pushing her aside without another glance, and he just keeps coming toward me.

Suddenly, I get what Leila meant. She wanted some sort of sign that Daniel was hers, not just weird angry dating and sex. She wanted to see him show loving possession in subtle ways like Jake just did. The girl was a test in Leila’s messed-up head, and he failed where Jake just succeeded.

Hunter needs to start making obvious shows of his love for her, be demonstrative, and assure her that this is the real deal for him. I doubt that he’s had any chance of showing any form of softness while Leila’s been in high maintenance feisty mode. He needs to be the guy he was when she was sixteen, the gentle boy who made her first time beautiful, if he’s ever going to win her round.

Leila is the same insecure and terrified girl I was. She needs Daniel to cut through all her crap and see it too.

He needs to romance her, rather than handle her; under

that crazy spirited exterior she’s still a girl shielding a

fragile heart.

When they approach, Jake swoops in and kisses me hard on the mouth, a hint of aggression telling me the last half hour has probably been torture for him and now he’s here needing to expel all his tension. I tilt my head back, straining my neck with the ferocity of his kiss and lose my breath at the sheer passion in it.

“Steady on, Carrero.” Sarah giggles, slapping him on his huge muscular shoulder. “Let the lady breathe. You might actually break her neck if you keep that up.” Jake throws her a non-apologetic smirk then comes back to kiss me, a little gentler, while still cupping my face and saving my neck from injury.

Daniel is holding back behind Jake, looking around sheepishly. He seems tired and stressed and, need I say, a lot heartbroken. He looks nothing like the Daniel Hunter of old, the little lost soul inside of him on full view.

“Where is she?” He butts in, doing another eye sweep of the room. It’s obvious he’s on tenterhooks and can’t seem to stand still. Jake stands and motions to the bar almost ignoring his question.

“We’re going to get drinks; we’ll be a couple minutes. You need top ups?” He strokes a hand down my face, turning away when Sarah and I shake our heads.

“Bathroom.” I raise my eyebrows at Hunter as Jake pulls him away, part of him so sure she wouldn’t be here, and he relaxes a little.

Bless him.

“Wait,” I say hurriedly. Jake halts and both men look my way. “I know you’re expecting fiery hell-cat and her usual shitty attitude, Daniel, but she needs some tender handling. It’s all an act and maybe if you try the gentle approach it might make a difference. She needs the guy who made her first time the best time,” I raise a brow subtly, seeing the way his frown ripples across his face as he takes in what I’m saying. Jake throws an arm around Daniel’s neck with a rather intrigued and mildly aggressive expression …

Oops … a reaction to finding out about Hunter’s removing of Leila’s virginity I expect.

“In that case, seeing as I’m the ‘pussy touchy one’ that you’re nothing like, we should compare notes, right?” Jake jibes Daniel’s own words back at him and pokes at his ribs with his free hand dragging him off to the bar. I would love to be a fly on the wall in their next few minutes of conversation.

I watch the pair saunter to the bar; heads close as Jake obviously imparts some words of much-needed wisdom or maybe drags Leilas first time truth out with hostility. They’re only just getting there when I spy Leila appear across the room. She instantly spots the most attractive pair here, by a long shot, and she loses every ounce of Leila confidence and spark. She fumbles with her bag and turns, retreating to the ladies’ room as though her ass is on fire.

This is not going well.

I go to get up, but Sarah catches my arm sitting me back down, her eagle eyes having seen Leila too.

“Let her regroup and try again, she’s only just laid eyes on him and I’m guessing it threw her. Give her time to do this on her own.” Sarah is always the wise one and I nod as we watch impatiently for any sign of her return. I can’t help catching the way Daniel’s head tilts in the same direction and I know he’s watching for her coming out, he didn’t see her the first time. His body language is emanating all kinds of fear and tension. The boy is seriously desperate to see her, it’s so touching. If Leila can’t see how much he loves her then she’s quite frankly a fool.

It feels like a long time of Sarah and I passing silent tense facial expressions before she nods toward the distance. I turn to see Leila walking out with head held high, a look of pure defiance on her pretty little face and the stride of a woman in complete bitch mode. She looks at us, locking onto her focus, before marching our way on a mission. She turns as she gets to the DJ box swinging her hips sexily as she makes her way toward him, leaning in and touching the DJ on the shoulder, whispering something in his ear.

I catch Hunter out of the corner of my eye looking her way and he moves out. Jake’s hand on his chest stops him, suddenly, and Jake leans in saying something in his ear. Close and serious and Daniel nods without tearing his eyes from his prize.

The DJ nods at Leila and seems to put on whatever request she has made as she moves back with a satisfied fake smile on that little face.

The sound of Pink “So What!” starts flowing across the room and I know Leila is trying to convey to Daniel that she doesn’t care one iota about his presence. She’s in full defensive mode and the walls are up. Her song choice is one of attitude and I don’t need you.

So definitively Leila She’s obviously found her spark again and Daniel better bring his backbone.

She turns to saucily saunter away from the DJ booth and I’m drawn to the fact that Daniel is almost upon her, catching her arm mid-stride, she recoils and tries to haul it from him. But he just keeps a strong hold tugging her back with him by the wrist to the booth. His arm stretched out as she tries to go the opposite way, but he keeps a firm hold of her while leaning into the DJ and saying something. He holds out what looks like a hundred-dollar bill then the music is cut instantly. As soon as the softer notes of a new song starts Hunter turns back to the deathly still, glaring, girl in his grip.

Ed Sheeran “Thinking Out Loud”, waves across the room and I can’t help but smile. Hunter is taking my advice, doing this the softly, softly way. I could almost applaud him right now; instead of bringing his wild cat back to heel he’s sweeping her off her feet. He should have done it this way long ago.

The only thing on his face right now is fear, and I watch in fascination. Her little chin lifts and bristles with defensiveness, his body sags and he becomes completely submissive to her, almost in response, reading her.

Daniel is not being his usual dominant, cocky self with his little fury girl. He’s reaching inside showing her a part of him that obviously existed when she was sixteen years old, when he’d made her first time with him memorable. A part of Daniel I’m guessing no one ever really gets to see.

Jake slides in next to me, placing two beers on the table, sliding an arm around me and joins in on watching The Hunter and Leila Show.

“I told him to stop with the games and just talk to her, like a normal person; to stop acting like this was all some “casual see where it goes bullshit” and just be honest with her,” he says huskily.

Games huh? Not so long ago I knew a certain guy who was rather partial to our little games. That guy seems to have calmed down nowadays though.

I smile up at him, warmly, receiving a kiss on the forehead as a reward before my eyes snap straight back to the couple that I really want to sort things out.

Leila tries to tug herself away again, but Hunter won’t let go, despite her resistance her normal fire is absent, and she turns her body instead, so she can look away from him. He only steps closer so he spoons her, his hand instantly moving to her hair, gently brushing it away as he leans in saying something in her ear. His whole manner is soft and agonizingly sincere, and I can’t help feeling like we’re getting a glimpse into something deep and meaningful. The music flowing over the entire bar only adds to the heart tugging scene before me, the song, somehow, crazily Daniel.

Whatever he’s saying is having some sort of effect as Leila’s lip starts to wobble, and she bites on it to stop herself from crying. The music obviously giving a helping hand as her defenses start to crumble, lifting that chin again, tensing her body to try to resist. He lets go of her arm and runs a trail of fingers from her wrist to her shoulder, still bent in low, talking directly into her ear. She physically trembles and I smile, knowing exactly how Jake can make me feel by doing that, knowing Leila has zero chance with Hunter if she does love him. Brief tender touches have a way of going straight into your soul.

Daniel stands up straight, walking around her so they’re face-to-face. He tilts her chin up on gentle fingertips, softly. Leila stiffens and presses her lips together hard. She’s trying to stop herself from crying, stop herself from submitting, but Daniel is obviously doing an amazing job with whatever words are flying from his mouth. He has an expression of sheer adoration on his face as he moves in, slowly lowering himself to her height. He looks nothing like the boy I met so long ago, smug, and cocky, checking me out. Instead, there’s the softness of a heart on show, desperation to win back the woman who makes him whole. It pulls a little tug of emotion from my chest.

It’s obvious to the entire room that Daniel Hunter is well and truly deeply in love with Leila.

He delicately cups her jaw with one hand, brushing back stray hairs from her face with the other, he’s still saying something to her. In fact, the whole time they’ve been standing there, while she’s been in defiant silence, he hasn’t stopped talking to her. Her body is slowly loosening its stiff resolve.

A tear rolls down her cheek and he wipes it away with his thumb gently, kissing her where it was. There’s a body flicker a little at the contact. He leans in lower, bringing his mouth achingly close. Sarah and I are locked on, with bated breath watching and waiting. Captivated by every beautiful moment unfurling across the room, mentally pleading with Leila to let him in.

Jake’s drinking his beer, casually stroking my shoulder, not as fascinated by this emotional scene as we women are. I nudge his thigh and point, urging him to look and take some interest in what’s happening here.

Daniel and Leila are really connecting.

I glare at him as he smirks and shakes his head at me. He’s obviously a typical man after all, having no clue or care right now and looking moderately bored. Watching him means I’m missing them, so I flip my gaze back to the pair feeling Jake’s hand run across my head, petting me, because once again I’m so devastatingly adorable to him. I sigh, eye rolling at his typical guyness, and wait with bated breath.

Daniel is so close to her that their mouths are almost touching, he’s still talking, still moving painfully closer. Edging in, softly, keeping her eyes locked on his.

I wonder what the hell he’s been saying all this time?

He’s cradling her face and slowly the tension in her body seems to be sapping away. He’s breaking down the Leila defense system and the walls are slowly lowering. Finally, agonizingly, he bridges the gap and kisses her, painfully slowly, eyes fully locked. Their gaze, one of the gentlest and tender I have ever witnessed in my life and it tugs right into my stomach causing a huge pit of female emotion.

Sarah and I both clasp hands and gasp “Aww …” at that same moment I catch Jake eye rolling, dramatically, which earns him a smack on his thigh.

Unfeeling bastard.

As soon as Leila relaxes into Daniel’s kiss, their eyes close and he slides his arms around her waist and lifts her up to his height. Her arms slide around his neck and presses into him, so they mold together perfectly. All cute little compact curves against tall hard and athletic muscle, they make a gorgeous blonde couple.

Leila’s heels pick up, she bends her knees so any passing victim could be impaled on those shoes, but neither of them seem to care. They are oblivious to everything around them as they move into a deep passionate kiss with a lot of tongue, getting as close to one another as is humanly possible.

I know how that feels.

I shy away with an uncomfortable frown as their passion turns up a gear.

Okay, so cute when it’s romantic. But now it’s just a little pervy to be watching them hit full-blown erotica.

Jake leans into me and kisses me on the cheek. I guess that’s his little ‘Oh I’m happy for my mates’ gesture, and now he can get back to convincing me that I really want to go home. He seems to be completely unaffected by this scene and I wonder what the hell he’s done with my normally so loving Adonis. I guess that side of him only comes into play when it’s about us.

* * *

We’ve been here hours and it appears everyone, except me, is moderately drunk. Leila is wrapped around Hunter, on his lap, and the pair of them haven’t stopped ogling and kissing one another since they sat down. We gave up trying to keep them in conversation ages ago. They only have eyes for each other tonight. The crazy aggressive nature of their relationship is completely missing, all gentle looks and caresses, and they seem so ridiculously in love. I guess there will be no bloody noses and bruised jaws when they finally get to a bed.

Jake has pulled me against him in a very possessive manner, arm looped casually around my neck, hand hanging loose in front of me. He’s been this way since he got here, constantly close.

A few more of Jake’s friends have joined us at the table, familiar faces from Arrick’s birthday. Sarah’s lost in conversation with two brunettes who keep ogling over Jake and Hunter, despite the men being very obviously attached to Leila and me.

They’re lucky I’m too tired to care. Jake has spent the entire time looking at some guy to his right and Daniel is too wrapped up in Leila to even notice. Luckily, or both those bitches would have very sore faces.

I yawn, snuggling against Jake, bored with drunken chat, aching to go to sleep. Jake is merry and not as sober as he seems which, I’m guessing, is why he’s relaxed enough to let us stay. Jake wasn’t interested in staying after his bro’ and Leila hooked up. I wanted to stay, and with some perfectly placed doe eyes and pouty lips aimed his way I started to realize just how much I can wrap him around my little finger. Outright defiance bristles his domineering side, but sweet soft looks seem to melt all his resistance.

So much for marching me home before ten!

I won this little battle, not that there won’t be

many more in our future, knowing him. I think Jake is enjoying kicking back again, drinking and being in a club is something he’s avoided since the night with that bitch. I sigh up at him, adoringly, no tug of pain from thinking about her at all.

Am I finally ready to just accept what happened? All of it? Baby included?

Jake spots me yawning for the second time and slides his beer on the table, an instant change of expression as full-on care giver mode moves in.

“Come on, baby, let’s get you home.” He kisses me gently on the temple and for once I’m not arguing, I’m completely exhausted and happy to be going home to curl up with him. I can’t imagine anything more tempting in the world.

He pulls me up with him and starts looking around for something.

“I didn’t bring a coat if that’s what you’re looking for.” I yawn again, ignoring the look of irritation pass over his brow. He picks up his leather jacket and puts it on me instead. I smile, especially when he tugs me forward to zip me up like a child. I get a tiny vision in my head of Jake doing this for his child. He’s an absolute natural and I can’t help but notice the sheer envy on the two brunettes faces at the way he’s tending to me.

“Danny? I’m taking Emma home.” Daniel lifts his bottle in acknowledgment over Leila’s head then goes back to saying something close to her mouth that makes her smile and she kisses him gently. Completely enamored, all signs of feisty Leila dissipated, this tame snugly version far more her somehow. Hunter has one hand on her ass, the other on his bottle but his eyes are all for her.

Maybe they have a chance this time.

“Sarah, you can come now, or you can let Jefferson come for you when you want to go? Danny has his number.” Jake nods toward her and she grins back at him, shamelessly drunk.

So much for going easy on the booze.

“This here is Delilah; she’s taking me home as we’re both from Queens.” She beams a little too drunkenly and Jake doesn’t smile back. He takes his caretaking role very seriously.

“Then you won’t mind if Jefferson takes both of you, it’s non-negotiable.” He’s obviously in no-nonsense mode, thinking practically, looking after my friend, and dismissing her wishes.

I love him!

“Okay, okay, keep your hair on.” Sarah laughs, good humoredly, and I Jake relaxes. “I don’t know how you put up with him being so bossy.” Sarah smirks at me but I just curl myself around him and snuggle in.

“Because I like it for the most part,” I mumble, as his arm tightens around me appreciatively and he lovingly kisses the top of my head.

Jake leads me out through the milling people, and we head toward the main entrance of the bar. His hand is entangled with mine and his jacket warm around me smells of him, in a very sexy manner that has my tiredness giving way to something naughtier.

Thoughts of Jake in the back of the car are sweeping through my head at a hundred miles an hour and I’m suddenly so eager to get him alone. Drunk Jake is usually a lot of kinky fun and far less cautious of being gentle.

“Jake?” A male voice cuts into my thoughts, the instant aggressive stiffening of Jake’s entire body alerts me to him as we stop in the foyer. He turns and looks over his shoulder at the direction of the voice and scowls with a deathly glare I’ve only seen on him once before. I gulp and turn as I see who invokes that reaction. My stomach hitting the floor and instant apprehension prickling my skin.

Ben Huntsberger. Oh shit.

He’s making his way toward us from across the room and he looks anything but friendly. Jake tugs me behind him in a heartbeat and seems to grow about two feet as he rounds in front of me, putting himself between me and Ben like he’s posturing for a fight and the waves of sheer terror move in.

“What the fuck do you want?” Jake growls and snarls; it’s the most unnerving sound in the world. His body bristling with sheer aggressive tension and I start to feel afraid. Last time Ben appeared, Jake shoved me out of the way, not once but twice.

Am I in danger of being roughly handled again?

The coldness sweeps through me at the thought of what harm an innocent push could do to the child inside of me, my hand instantly comes up to cover my stomach protectively. I start to try to free my hand from his grip in panic, wriggling my fingers to be released and pulling back.

Jake, feeling my attempts to disentangle, seems to sense my unease and looks back at me with a slight softening to the look he’s throwing Ben’s way. His eyes go to the hand on my belly and back to my face with an intense gaze.

“Emma, no! You know … I’d never …” He utters softly to me, a moment of tenderness in his eyes, reassurance during the cyclone rearing its ugly head.

Still. I’m scared.

“I need to talk to you.” Ben finally comes level, seemingly more agitated than aggressive, despite Jake’s posturing and bristling like an alpha male. He has none of the scowling smug behavior of last time we saw him and looks directly into Jake’s eyes confidently. They are matched in height and being stuck in a corridor behind them is not exactly my idea of a good night at all.

“What the fuck would I have to say to you?” Jake’s being charmingly Carrero. No fake politeness or friendliness, just direct and to the point.

“Look I know we have a history but right now I need you to put that aside, because we have one big fucking thing in common and I need to talk to you.” Ben raises defensive palms raking his hand through overly neat hair, weirdly Jake-like. It’s crazy how much more they resemble one another, especially now that Ben’s hair is a little messier. I wonder how the hell that happens with two men who are completely unrelated.

Jake’s grip on me loosens a little and I sigh in relief when his body seems to go back to natural stance, losing that terrifying fighter’s attitude.

“And what would that be?” He still sounds defiant and most definitely aggressive. No love lost and all that.

“We both fucked Marissa in the week she fell pregnant. Me more so than you.” Ben states as a matter of fact, with a raised eyebrow, and a look that says, ‘Yeah exactly’ …

Fuck.

Wait … What?