Nora is staying here as a housemaid since Jake’s going to be here at least once a week and Mathews
is training the new security to be positioned here since we’ll be taking him to the new house; their
choice of course, always so loyal to Jake.
Jefferson will be keeping on driving Jake around when he’s here and Mathews will be spending time
chauffeuring and protecting me in the Hamptons, as well as training the new security staff at the house.
Jake has kept on the previous owner’s house staff and once we’re moved in, they’re all coming back to
work as they did before. Jake has this all effortlessly organized and everything smoothly in place.
I admit the thought of cooks and cleaners and chauffeurs is no longer something I balk at; a life looking
after my child without the stress that most mothers endure sounds like heaven to me. I know how lucky
I am not to have to worry about mundane house tasks or troubles with money. I am finally accepting it
all, seeing it as a perk of loving the most amazing man in the world; another gift he’s effortlessly giving
me in this fairy-tale life.
I’ll have the Carrero family nearby to support me, including Sylvana and her amazing cooking skills;
Sophie, and Leila when she comes home to visit. Giovanni in his own little way. Daniel … and Arrick
when he’s around too. All people as important to me as Jake, infiltrated into my life. Not to mention all
the staff bending to help me at every beck and call. This move is the best way to start a new life with
the perfect man of my dreams. I finally convinced myself daily that this isn’t a dream I’ll one day wake
up from.
The one person I’ll miss more than most when I leave is Sarah, but she’s promised to head our way at
least once a month for God-motherly visits and girly catch ups, so I’m sure everything will work out
perfectly.
Jake appears at the door and visually scans me. He comes over and smooths his hands down me
appreciatively, my little bump barely on show, yet somehow the dress draws attention to it because of
the way the high waistline kicks out as it reaches the top of my bump.
“You changed your mind?” He rubs his nose against mine, affectionally, and I shake my head.
“No, just thinking about how much I’ll miss this place when we leave.” I look around the open sitting
room and stark modern décor, realizing that it’s everything Jake used to be the epitome of bachelor
pad. Jake looks around and shrugs.
“I guess. Been here a while, bambino.” He pulls me into his arms, turning me to spoon him, wrapping
his arms around my shoulders and rests his head on mine as he looks at the four walls around us. “If
these walls could talk.” that dirty laugh pulls a frown from me and I elbow him in the stomach; my
green-eyed monster peeking through. “They would only say that I’ve had some seriously amazing sex
with one feisty little PA.” He quickly replies and chuckles when I shove him again. There’s no way I’m
letting him ruin my beautiful moment of reflection and sentiment with his prissy wild ways and past
seductions of other women.
“That’s all they need to say.” I warn with a half-smile, bursting into full-on giggles when he spins me
around under his arm, planting a big sloppy kiss on me.
“That’s all that matters, sexy.” He smacks my butt again and pulls me with him, tugging me playfully.
“Come on this is a long ass painful drive so we’d better get going.”
I follow and grin widely at his sexy ass and broad set of shoulders.
* * *
The drive to Chicago is long but pleasant, between listening to the radio and talking about everything
and nothing, Jake has me giggling for more than half of the journey. It’s like a huge heavy darkness has
lifted from us and we’re back to being who we used to be when I was his very close friend and
Personal Assistant. Although, back then, we didn’t stop the car a million times to fumble in the back
seat and get half naked like we have on this trip.
“You’re getting too good at that, baby.” Jake winks at me and zips up his pants with a smug look on his
face. I surprised him with a false nap in his lap with a naughty twist, something I’ve been bravely
improving on, returning the pleasure that he so freely gives me … many times over. I know it had to be
good when he groaned out loud and pulled into the first lay-by he saw. Jake, the master of control,
unraveled in under three minutes. I am feeling decidedly pleased at myself because of how quickly I
brought him to completion with some masterful oral.
“Well you’re driving me back to the windy city, so you deserved a little reward.” He sits back in his seat
and stretches his legs before starting the car.
“I’m going to miss these high levels of horny when tadpole comes.” He twists in his seat to check his
blind spot before pulling us back into traffic and my body heats up at his muscular frame and strong
neck. He has a profile that makes me drool, and watching him drive has me fluttering, in panty-
combusting heat.
“I don’t think it’s all pregnancy hormones.” I flutter lashes at him, as he turns to me, eyes running wide
over my face with one of his amazing swoony smirks. I’m sure the high levels of horny I’ve been having
are from the complete package of one Mr. Jake Carrero.
Hmmm. Swoon.
His hotness, muscular perfection, all round sexy voice and charm should be illegal. He has no idea of
the effect he has on the hearts of the female population. Yes, he’s good-looking and I know he used to
use that trait many times to his advantage, but it’s his caring nature and beautiful heart that wins me
over time and time again.
“Bambino keep looking at me like that and we’ll never get to Chicago. You make me want to find a
motel, fast.” He winks at me as his eyes roam my face, it makes me wonder exactly how much ogling
I’ve been doing. I giggle and exhale slowly.
“I shall try to contain myself until we get there; you need to stop looking so sexy. It’s ruining my calm.” I
moan as his fingers trail up my thigh lightly to under the hem of my dress, sliding into my inner thigh so
my body is instantly delirious with the tingles he ignites.
“Welcome to my world, miele, it’s called pay back.” His lust-filled gaze is distracting, and I’m surprised
that he’s hard so quickly for me; given the reason we stopped the car a few minutes ago. I push his
hand away as it gets seductively higher and shove his shoulder.
“Eyes on the road, Carrero, last thing we need is a prang in your stupidly expensive car because your
mind is between my legs.” I pull my knees together in a bid to calm my devouring need. He is right
though, if we keep this up, we’re never going to get to Chicago. The conclusion to the Marissa debacle
has sent our hormones on the crazy up and up lately. Not that it wasn’t already, but still.
“Our stupidly expensive car! My mind is eternally between your thighs, it’s all I think about, whether
you’re beside me or not.” He winks my way and it increases the heat in my lower pelvis more so,
making me squirm. “I was serious about getting you on the road.” Jake flickers a look at me, both
hands on the wheel, as an eye roll takes me over, instantly calming my fire. He’s been on me to learn
to drive so I can be more independent when we move to the Hamptons, but he’s handing me a
chauffeur so I don’t see the point, plus the thought of managing New York traffic terrifies me.
“For a guy obsessed with being overprotective; it’s pretty contradictory of you to want me to drive.” I
poke a finger into his cute boy dimple on his face and he catches my finger, kissing it before releasing
me.
“I’m protective, baby … not archaic. I do actually want a wife that has her own independence, a career
and something more than just me and babies.” He throws me a sympathetic look then concentrates on
the mirror and windscreen systematically as he maneuvers us into a lane.
“You surprise me, Mr. Carrero. I figured being the overbearing man you sometimes can be that you’d
be happy for me to laze around being served and kept.” I watch as his handsome profile picks up with a
beaming smile.
“I would be happy with that if it made you happy, but I know it won’t.” He answers diplomatically and we
both know if I chose to be a kept woman, he would have absolutely no problem with it.
“No, I suppose it won’t.” I sigh, relaxing into my seat a little snuggly. I have no idea how long we’ve
been driving; it feels longer because of the constant stopping and naughtiness on the journey so far. I
stretch out and run a hand over my stomach absent-mindedly, a mannerism becoming second nature.
“My mom is pulling a few strings for you, gathering
info on ideas and directions you may be interested in. She thinks you could start by maybe seeing a
counselor yourself … and talking through the past?” He tenses as the words come out a little delicately.
I know he’s waiting for my overreaction or possibly just an angry reply and I watch him go from relaxed
and cocky to unsure and nervous and my heart swells.
This suggestion met an icy and angry reply when
he mentioned it while we were stood on the hills of the
island overlooking his father’s boat, right before he stormed off for a week. But the past is in the past
and I’ve already moved on from everything else. Maybe now is the time to try to shake it all for good.
“It might be an idea, seeing as I can’t exactly encourage kids to talk if I haven’t had the guts to do it
myself.” I shrug when he glances my way, seemingly surprised then relief sweeps his face. “I mean if
Daniel of all people can handle therapy …” I smile with a raised eyebrow, waiting for his reaction.
“You never cease to amaze me you know? I never would’ve imagined this conversation going this way
a year ago,” His hand comes to my leg with an affectionate squeeze. He looks overjoyed with pride and
his smile is infectious.
“Yeah? Well I never imagined, even a month ago, that we’d be coming back here, or that I’d want to
see her alone and tell her what I need to say either but … things change.” I sigh, trying to push it out of
my head. The pit in my stomach of going to see her is starting to weigh heavily as the air around us
stirs up unwelcome memories.
“You sure you don’t want me to come with you?” He’s watching me with wary eyes. He’s been trying to
convince me not to do this alone, afraid she’ll hurt me as much as she did the last time we were here,
but this time is different. I’m not going to give her the ability to keep hurting me. Coming here is a test of
that since I’m not sure she even has that power over me anymore.
My mind, emotions, outlook, and whole life are very different to what they were the last time I saw her.
“I’m sure, Jake. Drop me at the door and come back for me, but I need to do this alone. I need to see
her alone.” It started with my mother and me, so it’ll end the same way. I owe her that much. I want to
show a modicum of respect despite her never having the decency to show me any.
“You should’ve told her we were coming.” He’s glancing in his mirrors and I realize it’s because we’re
cutting off, signs for Chicago are looming over us and a dreaded weight settles in my stomach with a
sickening lurch; my nerves jangling inside me.
“No, it’s better this way; surprising her means she hasn’t time to prepare or dress things up. I’ll catch
her off guard.” I tap my leg with my fingertips and start to bring my hand up to play with my hair, as the
tension of familiar surroundings sweeps over me. Jake, instinctively, places his hand over mine,
bringing it back down to my lap, grounding me effortlessly.
“I’m crazy about you, just remember that … no matter what she says.” He smiles warmly, indicating for
a turn off, eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. I can’t help but start chewing my lip as insides
churn despite his assurances.
“I know, trust me, it’s different now. I’m different. It won’t be like last time, Jake. I know what I want to
say and why I’ve come.” I sound surer than I am, I know I’ll find the strength to do this.
“I’d be lying if I said I won’t be pacing like crazy while you’re with her and you know, bambino … one
call, and I’ll be there for you.” The seriousness in his eyes warms me and helps ease the tightening
despair growing up inside my body.
“I know, I love you I just need to do this and get it over and done with.”
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