❤

He knew she was toying with him and she was most definitely enjoying it.

They had been married for five months and in that time, he had come to realize how much joy he has having Nadine and Nichole in his life.

Life couldn't be any better with their twins on the way.

He had been over the moon when he found out about her pregnancy days after the wedding. Call him caveman but it had taken all his self control and his knowledge about how she would resist the idea of making her stay glued to his side throughout the pregnancy to stop him from taking her on every trip out of Folks with him.

She was his life and he would do anything and everything to protect her and make her happy.

He'll even protect her from the likes of Enzo Verdino who she was at that moment, making her way towards with Philip.

Before he could check his impulse, he started making his way across the room towards her, cutting off the conversation a long time associate was having with him. He was going to be doing some apologizing later but that could wait.

All he cared about right then was getting to Nadine. He didn't want her around Enzo because he didn't like the admiring and wistful look he had seen him giving her earlier.

Philip excused himself from the group when he noticed his approach.

Wise decision.

He got to them as he was laughing over something Nadine said.

"Hey. Are you alright?" He moved to her side, wrapping his arm around her lower back, subtly claiming his wife.

The move wasn't lost on Nadine or Enzo.

"I was just telling Nadine here how much she reminded me of a friend I'll love to meet again."

They were on first name basis already. Just great, Nicholas thought to himself.

"And I asked him who the friend was."

"Then I told her it was a one-night stand."

He had no idea why the conversation was being repeated to him because he wasn't even interested but the mention of a one night stand made him want to evacuate the room with his wife as soon as possible.

"She must have left quite an impression." He stated the obvious.

It had to be the case. A man like Enzo couldn't possibly go around remembering all his casual one night stands and he looked like he had had a lot of them. But he didn't understand and neither did he like his wife being compared to one of his hussies.

Even one that left an impression.

"I fail to understand how my wife compares to a one night stand."

"No, she doesn't. I didn't mean it that way. Your woman is one of the best I've met so far. The woman was a good one too, or so I'll like to think about her."

"Thank you Enzo." Nadine realized she really liked him. Talking about the woman, a sad look had entered his dark eyes.

He just smiled and gave Nicholas a brief nod, turning to go.

"Can you make time for a visit to the countryside?" She didn't know where that came from and she wasn't even ready to think about it.

Nicholas' hand on her waist tightened but the smile on her face didn't flinch. She had just wanted a chance to know him in a setting where he wasn't the host of a party and his attention wasn't in urgent demand.

And for another reason that was suddenly blooming in her head.

He watched her silently and she felt the need to rescind her invitation. There had been no need for it in the first place and she realized she had only burdened him with it. She felt awful.

"I'm sorry. It's the hormones. They make me do and say things I don't really mean and..."

"I'll love to," he cut off her tirade, taking her by surprise. "I've not been away from the city in a long time."

"That'll be great. When should we expect you?" She couldn't stop smiling.

"This weekend."

"Great! Nicholas will be at the airport to drive you. You wouldn't know your way around Folks."

"Hey!" Her husband turned his killing look on her. "I'm busy."

He had been silent all through the exchange as there was no point in trying to change Nadine's mind but he wasn't going to be her errand boy driving Enzo.

"Oh. I could do that myself." That got her the result she desired.

"I'll do it." There was no way he was allowing her drive around that long into her pregnancy.

"Good. It's settled then. I'll look forward to your visit."

...........

"Why are you giving me that look?"

She didn't have to raise her head from the safety of his shoulders to know his eyes were boing holes into her head. They were in his limousine, on their way back to their penthouse.

She absolutely loved being rich.

"What look?" He knew she was up to something but he couldn't for the life of him guess what it was. She raised her head and looked into his eyes, her green eyes glowing mischievously.

"Can I use your phone?" He withdrew his mobile from his pants pocket reluctantly, anticipating her next move.

Nadine dialed Sheila and put the call on speaker. She picked up almost immediately.

"Hey cuz," came a sleepy reply from the other end of the line.

Sheila had been really restless in recent times and he knew Nadine was beginning to worry about her.

"You should drag your lazy ass out of bed more often."

She chuckled. "Pot calling kettle black." Nadine had been the sleepy lazy ass for the last couple of months. The sound of rustling sheets as she moved out of bed was the only sound over the line until she asked what was going on.

"I've a guest coming over this weekend and I'll really need your help with planning. I get tired so easily these days I get to do very little at a time. I was hoping if you could help me out."

"Say no more. I'll love to. When are you flying back?"

"Tomorrow."

"Tired of the city life already? How's the overprotective husband?"

"He's right here," Nicholas answered before Nadine could. Sheila laughed over the line.

"How's Nichole?" She had been unable to come with them because of school and she had been pissed about it.

"She's fine. I've to go. See you guys tomorrow."

All the pieces fell into place as Nadine ended the call and handed back his phone with a knowing grin.

"For Goodness's sake Nadine, your new thing is playing matchmaker? Is it the hormones again?"

"You could say that. I just see them getting along. Call it hormonal instincts but I could bet I'm right about this."

He didn't feel good about her meddling in the lives of two grown adults but there was really nothing he could do about it. From the glint in her eyes, there was going to be no stopping her.

"You always blame the hormones."

"Should I blame you instead?" She cuddled up in his arms again. Nicholas wrapped his arms around her warm body.

"At least, now I know you don't want him for yourself."

"You are the only man I want for myself, forever."