“I liked it,” he admits. “This is how I’d prefer for our child to be conceived.” He looks down to where his hands are lazily stroking my stomach, again.
“Don’t fall in love with me, Jack,” I warn, because he should realise right from the start that all this can only ever be pretend.
“Don’t you worry about me, princess, there's no chance of that ever happening.” He smiles sadly before kissing me again, and I shake off the feeling of disappointment when he sounds so convincing and starts moving my body against his.
We have a baby to make, after all.
“That was exhausting.” I roll my eyes and flop onto the sofa when I find Jack in the living room on his laptop.
“I thought women were supposed to like shopping.” He laughs, closing it up and giving me his full attention.
“I’m a lost cause, I’m never going to remember all she told me. And I didn’t even look at what she charged your credit card,” I confess.
“And yet you're still wearing the clothes you had on before she came,” he reminds me. I look down and smile apologetically.
“It’s going to take some getting used to. I’m not from this lifestyle, I don’t know the difference between what's right for a luncheon and wrong for dinner. I didn’t even know those two things weren’t the same.”
“Relax, I have just the person who can help you.” He gets up and grabs his keys from the coffee table.
“Where are we going?” I ask as he drags me off the sofa.
“To visit Alex and Olivia Stanley,” he announces as he leads me towards the front door.
“Did they not just have a baby?”
“They did, and considering that the baby was almost delivered on my hallway floor, I think it would be rude of me not to visit and offer my congratulations.” I’m not convinced this is a good idea, but I can see he’s set on it, so I get inside the car when he opens the door for me.
“You know Alex met Olivia in circumstances very similar to ours,” he informs me as he pulls out of the gates and starts driving the long, winding lanes.
“A desperate one?” I shake my head and laugh, wondering why he’s chosen to drive himself today.
“Actually, yes. Alex was going to kill Olivia’s brother.”
I drop my mouth open in shock. Sure, it’s no secret that Alex Stanley lived an eventful life before he took over from his father, but I would never have thought the man capable of murder.
“Oliva offered herself as a sacrifice, and I guess things just progressed from there.”
“So wait, they’re not in love?” I find it hard to believe, you only have to look at the couple to see they adore each other. No one is that good at acting.
“Oh, they’re very much in love. I guess their agreement turned into something they didn’t want to end.” I notice the way his hand grips the wheel a little tighter. “We, of course, have no concerns of that happening, but I think it would be helpful for you to have someone to talk to; someone who had to adapt in the same way you will have to over the next year.” He stays focused on the road.
“So am I allowed to tell them about our deal?” I check.
“Like I said, you might find yourself needing someone to talk to, as might I.” The shrug he makes has me wondering if he’s having second thoughts. What happened between us last night was much more intimate than I intended it to be. We don’t seem to have any rules in place, and although I’ve never been much good at abiding by them, I feel with this situation we should lay some down.
“You can be honest with Olivia, she’s a good person, and she knows a thing or two about being pregnant,” he chuckles.
It takes a whole hour for us to arrive at the mansion where Alex and Olivia live, and I find myself getting nervous as the huge gates open to let us in.
“I feel awful just turning up, especially when the woman’s just had a baby.” I can’t imagine childbirth is something someone gets over in a few days.
“I texted Alex to say we were coming, and Olivia is fine; she’s looking forward to meeting you,” he assures me, pulling up outside the front door.
“Your Grace.” The doorman lowers his head as he greets us. “Madam.” He offers me the same respect before he’s interrupted by the door flying open and Alex marching out.
“Good to see you.” He shakes Jack’s hand so hard it looks like it might fall off, “And you, Grace. Olivia’s been looking forward to meeting you. Come in.” He has a beam on his face so wide, and the excitement in his tone makes me forget all worries of us intruding.
“Jack, I’d like you to meet my son, Maxwell.” Alex leads us through to his living room, lifting the toddler from the floor to balance him on his hip.
