“Listen,” I chuckle, letting the flower fall into her waiting palm. “I can wine and dine like the best of them but this is a whole other ballpark. And the banana is for your health. You’ve got to remain in the best health now.”
I set the tray down on the edge of the bed as Cara crosses her legs and grabs one of the coffee cups to prevent a spill, teasing the flower to her nose and watching me through her gorgeous dark lashes.
“I’ll need more than a three-day-old banana but thank you,” she teases. I take my own cup and slide back onto the bed, resting against the pillows and completely unable to take my eyes off Cara as she picks up one of the pieces of toast and takes a small bite. Her cheeks dust pink when she catches me staring.
“What?” she asks around her bites.
“Nothing,” I answer honestly.
There really is nothing. I’m just… in awe.
“You’re staring.”
“You’re stare-able,” I reply and she squints at me.
“Is that even a word?”
I shrug. “I have no idea. But it’s true.” I pause, sipping the coffee and justwatchingher. Even something as mundane as this captivates me more. “I want to call Dante and tell him the news. Sienna will be able to help you.”
“No,” Cara replies without missing a beat and she sets her toast down, gently wiping the corners of her mouth. “I mean, not until we get it confirmed by a doctor, please? You know those tests can be unreliable and… with everything else going on, I want to be sure before we tell anyone.”
My chest tightens faintly at being restricted but I understand her reasoning.
“Okay. The doctor first and then we’ll see. Besides, even if the tests are false,” I tease lightly, leaning close to press my lips to her bare shoulder. “I’ll just keep fucking you until you are pregnant.”
Cara’s laugh is bright and full even as her cheeks turn a darker shade of red.
I love it.She’s filthy and innocent all at the same time.
“I can’t wait.”
She has no family left, the least I can do is follow her lead with this.
The pitiful breakfast is abandoned as Cara nestles back into the pillows and I make a mental note to ensure that the house becomes stocked with everything she will possibly need.
Although with the Mafia world at peace, maybe it’s time to abandon the house and look for a home. Somewhere to call our own to raise our child and live our lives. Selling my apartment will be safe now that there are no Russians left to track the building or where I’m living.
I kiss Cara’s shoulder again and slide off the bed, scanning the discarded clothes for my phone intent on making the appointment with the doctor but it’s not here.
“Shit, must have left my phone downstairs.”
Cara brushes her fingers along my back as I depart, hurrying downstairs to find my phone on the lounge table where I’d discarded it last night. It beeps into life, complaining of low battery.
All thoughts of the doctor slip from my mind when I glance at the screen and see several texts and two missed calls from Blair.
“Ah shit,” I grumble. I’d forgotten to tell her I wouldn’t be able to make dinner. I half suspect her agreement to even meet with me would be due to the news that we are now at peace with the Russians. If Feliks is taking care of the rogue cell, there’s no one left to have her back.
If she’s as much a rat as I suspect, she’ll come running to me looking for safety.
Her texts state that she was running late, asking if I’m there, do I have a table and if can I order her some wine. She then says she’s at the table and asks where I am before the calls. She didn’t leave any voice messages from the missed calls though.
Oops.
I dial her number and start the lazy stroll back up the stairs as the phone rings out.
Would she confess everything to me, admit her involvement with the Russians and beg forgiveness? Or would she play dumb?
These questions remain unanswered for now as she doesn’t pick up. I’m halfway up the stairs when a yell from Cara sends every nerve in my body into alert and I sprint the rest of the way, crashing into the bedroom to see Cara sitting upright, her phone in her hands.