Instead of grabbing the handle on her suitcase, she walks out of the room, a clear sign she expects me to carry her things to the car.
Some part of me really wants to throw the damn thing across the room, but I turn the plate over the trash instead, letting the pastry and small container of cream cheese fall into it before shouldering my own bag and grabbing both of hers.
She’s waiting outside the car because I have the keys, and it makes me walk slower, my cock threatening to thicken at the sight of her scowl. What is it about this woman that no matter her emotion, it turns me on?
Happy? Get on my dick.
Irritated? Get on my dick.
Angry? Guess what? Get on my dick.
She huffs in annoyance as I click the unlock button, but she doesn’t say a word. I don’t take any joy in folding myself behind the wheel of her car, and although I’ll take her to her grandfather’s house, I don’t know that I’ll let her get anywhere near Will Varon again.
She doesn’t say a word as we make our way to her grandfather’s property, but when we arrive, I don’t let her go inside alone. No matter how irritated I am with her, I can’t seem to let her face something dangerous alone. I used up all that strength yesterday when I watched her ride away in that fucking blacked-out SUV.
Nothing looks different when we walk through the house until we get to the baby’s room. The crib is still in the room, but the limited supplies Naomi had for her daughter are gone. The small amount of clothes I noticed hanging in the doorless closet yesterday are gone, hangers included.
“I’m glad my aunt called. If I came over here today and saw this without the confirmation that they were safe, I’d lose my mind.” Sylvie runs her finger over the edge of the crib, a lost look in her eyes before she turns her gaze to me.
I swallow at the vulnerability there, but I refuse to look away. I don’t have a damn clue why this woman is so damn different from all the others, and despite that scaring me more than anything else, I think I’ve disrespected her enough to last a lifetime.
I open my mouth to apologize, but she speaks before I can manage it.
“My childhood didn’t look anything like this,” she whispers.
“I know. Your grandfather is a good man. He raised you the best he could,” I say, repeating the words she told me that night before taking it one step further and shocking myself. “I’d like to meet him sometime.”
Her eyes narrow, and I think if it was physically possible, there would be steam coming out of her ears.
“You’re the biggest asshole in the world. You know that, right?”
I stand in the room for a few seconds after she shoves past me, and when I walk out the front door, I see her struggling with a soddened box from the front porch. I grab the other one and follow along behind her, popping the trunk before she has to ask.
I don’t understand her reaction, but what the fuck do I even know about women other than how to please one sexually?
I blame the unexplainable need to please her for why I take her right to Will’s office despite knowing it goes against my better judgment.
I don’t know much, but I do know I don’t want her to be mad at me, and since I found this place while driving around looking for her yesterday, I know the huge glass windows on his business allows for me to see inside.
She doesn’t question how I know where to take her before she climbs out of the car.
I watch, jaw clenched to the point of pain as Will exits his office. He stares at me over her shoulder as he presses his lips to her cheek before dropping his hand to her lower back and escorting her inside the building.
It’s just my fucking luck that the sun is shining at just the right angle that it shows a reflection of her car and my scowling face rather than being able to see inside.
I hate that she’s inside with him. I hate that she showered the scent of me from her skin yesterday. I don’t consider any of that a form of jealousy, or at least I try my best to convince myself it isn’t. It’s a reaction to Will’s way of asserting dominance with his forceful handshake yesterday. It’s a way to counter that look he gave me like he has the ability to take what’s mine and is able to do it right in front of my face.
My knuckles turn white as I grip the steering wheel, but I somehow manage to keep my ass locked firmly in the car even though my mind is running rampant with thoughts of all the things they could be doing inside.
Chapter 17
Sylvie
“Did your friend want to come inside?” Will asks as we step inside his place of business.
I don’t miss his emphasis on the word friend, much like I didn’t miss the way he pressed his lips to my face in greeting while we were standing on the sidewalk a few seconds ago.
“He’s going to wait in the car,” I explain, wishing Spade hadn’t even come on this damn trip with me.