Total pages in book: 235
Estimated words: 227851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1139(@200wpm)___ 911(@250wpm)___ 760(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 227851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1139(@200wpm)___ 911(@250wpm)___ 760(@300wpm)
I spit, rinse, and pass Sarah, giving her a wide berth. “I’m taking Rosie out for a few hours.”
“Want some company?”
“No,” I answer shortly. It’s the only language Sarah understands. Curt. Abrupt. “Go find another man to hunt.” I look over my shoulder on an unamused smirk as I pull my T-shirt down my chest.
“But I like hunting you.” She approaches me, reaching for my arm. I grab her wrist before she can touch me, holding it, and she snaps her eyes up to mine. I shake my head.
“You’ll lose the fight one day,” she says quietly, moving her gaze to my lips.
“Never,” I answer her. Sarah’s an attractive girl, but she’s my uncle’s girlfriend. Their relationship isn’t monogamous. I don’t understand it, but I don’t have to. I just need to make sure Sarah never wins the fight. I think I must be the only man to walk in The Manor who has resisted her. She’s young, has a beautiful body, and she’s quite talented with a crop.
A magnet for the male members.
But I’m not a member.
And given she’s Carmichael’s in my mind, I want nothing to do with her.
Her way is not what I want in a sexual partner.
Never will.
“Excuse me,” I say, releasing her hand. She yanks it away, like she was in control of her freedom. “Have a nice evening, Sarah.”
“I will,” she sings as I leave her to go get my girl up.
* * *
I come back into my body on a gasp, a screeching noise piercing my ears. It takes me a moment to realize it’s my mobile. I dip into my pocket and pull it out, laughing under my breath when Sarah’s name glows up at me. God damn her. What if Ava wasn’t asleep? What if Ava thought Sarah was calling me regularly? As much as I’m still angry at Sarah, I know being cut out of my life has crippled her. And my conscience won’t allow me to reject the call. Fucking conscience. “Hi,” I say softly.
“Hey.”
How different she sounds to the Sarah everyone knows and doesn’t love. “How are you feeling?”
“Good.” She clears her throat. “Yeah, better, thank you.”
I nod, silence falling down the line. I don’t know why she’s called me. Her job? Has John told her about the baby? “You?” she finally asks.
“Since when have we done small talk?”
She huffs. More silence. “I went to see Ava,” she says.
I become rigid. “I told you to stay away from her.” What the hell was she thinking? And why hasn’t Ava mentioned it?
“I wanted her to see how sorry I am. I’m losing my mind, Jesse,” she says quietly.
I close my eyes and rub into one of the sockets. “Ava’s pregnant, Sarah,” I whisper, waiting. I definitely hear a deep breath taken. This will hurt her.
“She’s trapped you?” she blurts. “Oh my God, she’s done exactly what Lauren did to you.”
I laugh out loud. Fucking hell. “She didn’t trap me, Sarah.”
“I can’t believe you let this happen.”
“Sarah, she—”
“Are you some kind of idiot?”
“It’s not like—”
“Jesse, you need—”
“I trapped her, Sarah.” The silence that falls is unbearable. “It was me. I trapped her. I manipulated the whole fucking chain of events because I wanted her to be pregnant. I wanted to make it as hard as possible for her to run if she found out what I fuck-up I am. I stole her pills. I purposely put my dick in her repeatedly knowing she wasn’t protected. This is on me. So rein in your fucking opinions, okay? You don’t know me like you think you know me, Sarah, and you certainly don’t know Ava.” I feel my nostrils flare. “Only Ava really knows me. Because she’s my wife. And soon she’ll be the mother of my child.”
“You’re replacing her,” she whispers.
I’m shaking. In fury. I am not fucking replacing my baby girl. “Do not contact me again.” I slam down my phone, raging. I’m not replacing her! My hand shoots out, knocking a paperweight flying across the office.
“I’m not replacing you,” I breathe. “Never.”
I know, Daddy.
23
I didn’t sleep. Nowhere close. I’m not replacing Rosie. I hit the slow button and work my way down to a jog, grabbing the towel and wiping my face before laying it across my bare shoulders and wedging my palms into the handles, staring at nothing on the TV screen. Then I’m staring at something.
Ava.
My present. My future.
She looks peaky. Drained. Jesus, this morning sickness has got her good. “Oh baby.” I take in her sorrowful face. “Crap?”
“Terrible.”
That makes both of us. She’ll still insist on going to work, though. I scoop her up, carrying her to the kitchen. “I was going to ask why you’re not naked.”
“Don’t bother, I’ll throw up on you.”
Chuckling, I sit her on the counter. “You look beautiful.”
“Don’t lie to me, Ward.” She pouts. “I look like shit.”