“Shit,” I mutter before reaching to swat it off the burner, but the stench lingers heavily. Reaching over Delaney, I unlock the window above the sink before struggling to open with only one hand. “Shit. Alright.”
Releasing Delaney’s hair, I swiftly jerk up the window with a grunt before gathering up the strands again. She spews mostly acid onto the plastic bags bundled up in the sink, and I rub her back as she arches sharply.
“Oh-h, Christ,” Delaney groans in torture, and she spits into the sink before slapping the faucet up. Cupping water in shaky hands, she rinses out her mouth to pant weakly. “That’s. . . not good.”
“You’re okay? I thought morning sickness was supposed to be. . . in the morning?” I wince at how stupid I sound as Delaney turns off the faucet and looks up at me. Water drips from her chin, and I reach to wipe it away with my shirt sleeve. “No?”
“Um, not really? It mostly happens to me at night,” She answers, gulping harshly, and I nod. “I’m still hungry though.”
“Sit, sit down. I’ll make the plates.” Wrapping my arm around her waist, I help Delaney over to the kitchen table to sit. She sprawls over the top, cradling her head on her forearms while I walk back to the stove. The plates are already out, just waiting to be laden with food, and I pull open a drawer to grab a fork.
“Is it true?” Delaney asks from behind me, and I twist to hum in question. “That you went ape-shite on your mother today. Kelly told me about it on my way out.”
“Oh, you heard about that? Not my finest moment, but truly. . . I’m tired of her micromanaging me and my business,” I reveal, and I pile on salad onto the plates before grabbing them to walk to the table. She sits up sluggishly, flexing her hands before taking the fork I offer her. “Why do you ask? Do you want to meet her?”
“I don’t know. You’ve always said she’s controlling and not very nice,” Delaney trails off, unable to do two things at once as she spears a tomato with her fork. I don’t blame her for being tired; not after the exhaustive episode she just had. “Do you want me to meet her?”
“Not particularly, but I don’t know if it’s avoidable. She’s supposedly leaving in the morning because of what I said to her, but I don’t know if it’s actually going to happen,” I answer, and Delaney glances at me warily through bright, bloodshot eyes. “She has a tendency to. . . act out when things don’t go her way.”
“What happened to your dad? My dad died shortly before I was born, and no one ever talks about him.” Delaney reveals, and I cut into my chicken to watch the steam curl up over my plate.
My father. . .
“Mine died as well, a few months after I was born. Heart attack. My brother, Klaus, said he was an elderly bastard who drank too much, so I suppose it could’ve been worse,” I answer, and Delaney hums softly. She pushes her salad around on her plate listlessly out of the corner of my eye. Worry tightens my jaw. “Then again, my mother was never around anyway. We were raised by nannies and staff. You’d think, becoming an adult, it’d give you freedom from your parents grip, but my mom became extremely controlling the more independent we became. It’s part of the reason I went to London.”
“Sounds like we’re both running from something that we just cannae shake,” Delaney sighs hotly, pushing her plate away and turning to me. “I’m too tired to eat. Will you stay with me, Baron?”
“Of course, love. Anything you want.”
CHAPTER14
DELANEY
“Ididn’t even know,” Glancing around the small breakfast buffet, I cross my arms and glare at Baron weakly. Walking together to work made me feel naughty. Not because he and I were together. Oh, no- because he comes in so late! It’s nearly 8 in the morning! “Was there always a breakfast bar? Or is it mostly for the construction crew?”
“I’ll be implementing it, but yes, it’s mostly for the crew. Employees are welcome to it as well, but by now, you’re usually neck deep in paperwork and growly at anyone who interrupts you,” Baron chuckles as I frown at him. He nudges my back encouragingly. “Have something. Waking up at 2 in the morning and eating cold chicken out the fridge doesn’t count as a meal, Delaney.”
“I happen to think it tastes better cold,” I chuff and turn up my nose, and Baron laughs lightly again. The clamor of people sounds behind us, and I twist as a dozen construction crewman saunter into the hotel. “Oh, you’re right. I will have something.”
I grab a paper plate and quickly pile it with a few pancakes. Grabbing a prepackaged cup of syrup, I walk over to a small table and sit down. I’m not a breakfast person, but today is an exception. Baron and I hadn’t eaten dinner after all the stress of last night, and my stomach churns with need. He smiles as he takes the seat across from me, watching the construction crew clean out the buffet in mere seconds.
“Good call. I know you had a busy day yesterday, but there’s only that retirement party later today, right?” Baron asks, and I nod as I cut my pancakes with a fork and knife. “My mother hasn’t checked out yet. I haven’t spoke to her since last night. She wouldn’t even open the door for me.”
“I don’t understand how a grown person can act that way,” I say, peeling off the top of the syrup container. “You’re a grown man, Baron. Your mother should be proud she raised a successful, self-sufficient, and productive member of society. Two of them, actually, right? You have a brother, and he’s doing well for himself.”
“Klaus definitely has a problem telling her ‘no’, but I really can’t say. She’s just my mother, you know? She’s been acting this way forever, and I’m used to it by now. It’s just who she is. Only recently did I realize exactly how frustrating and embarrassing her actions are,” Baron replies, a twinge of discomfort in his tone. “She’s used to being in control, and anything she doesn’t like, she just ignores. As juvenile as it is, she’s made it this far, and you are right to an extent. There’s definitely easier mental hoops to jump through.”
“Me mam died when I was six, almost seven, and the only thing I remember about her is her chasing Keenan around with a broom for sneaking cigarettes,” I smile broadly at that singular, crystalline memory and shake my head. “Whenever I try to remember anything else, Keeva, my sister, is the one that comes up in my mind.”
“I bet,” The conversation dwindles as I focus on devouring my pancakes. They’re pretty good, but they’d be better with chocolate chips. I glance up when Baron’s foot touches mine under the table, and he smiles at me warmly. “I was happy waking up this morning and you were still there, Delaney.”
“It was. . . my flat, though,” I smile broadly, and Baron snorts a laugh and shakes his head. My cheeks ache and heat as phantom warmth slithers along my skin. “I was happy, too. We should do it again.”
“We will.” He replies firmly.
I feel. . . secure. This relationship between Baron and I is stable. It’s good. And the baby growing inside me has little to do with his feelings for me. Now, I’m certain. Even though I never regretted being with him, I did have doubts. Worries.
But Baron had banished all of those dark thoughts. He’d told me he loved me, so genuine and sincere. Not only that, but he didn’t push me to reciprocate in the moment. I know I love him; there can be no other word for this feeling he inspires in me.
