“I don’t even want to know.” I shake my head and laugh, sometimes it’s too easy to forget how this woman came into my life.
“Ahhh, Jack, how wonderful to see you.” Kaleb Jefferies smiles a smarmy smile as he steps right in front of me.
“Kaleb.” I greet my brother's best friend politely, even though I want to feed him his own nutsack.
“I see you’ve wasted no time fulfilling your family duties.” His hand reaches out to touch Gracie’s stomach, and I grab his wrist, drawing him tight to my face. “Try to touch my wife again, and I’ll put you in the fucking ground,” I warn, keeping my voice low enough to avoid causing a scene.
“I was just going to offer my congratulations.” He pulls away laughing nervously, and when I see the startled look on Gracie’s face, I release him and snarl.
“My father was hoping for an invite to the wedding; he has a business arrangement to discuss with you.” Jefferies dusts off the sleeve of his suit.
“Well, you can tell your father from me that I have no intentions of doing business with your family.” Thinking back to that night, eight years ago, makes me want to shame him right here in front of all those people, the same way he did that poor, innocent girl.
“That’s a shame; it would have been a profitable investment. I assumed being a father would make you start thinking about the future. I’m sure you’d like to set your heir up with the same privileges that your father rewarded you with.”
“You need not concern yourself with my heir or his future. Allyouneed to worry about is keeping the hell out of my way.” I take Gracie’s hand and move us along before I lose control of my temper, and she sees a side of me I’d rather she didn’t.
“What was all that about?” she asks as we step inside the marquee.
“Nothing, the guy's just a jerk.” I take a few calming breaths.
“Jack, he just wanted to congratulate us.” She laughs like it’s no big deal; she has no idea what an asshole the man is.
“He was going to touch what's mine,” I remind her, protectively resting my palm on her swollen stomach. “Nobody gets to touch you here but me.”
“You and Dr. Stratton,” she reminds me cleverly, and I manage a smile despite all my anger.
“So, how long do you expect me to suffer this?” She looks around at all the people chatting the usual nonsense, and judging others around them.
“We should at least wait until the auction is over. Do you want to sit down somewhere, take the weight off your feet?” I offer.
“Are you saying I’ve gained weight?” She fires me a warning look.
“No, I’m just pointing out that your…I was thinking you might want to?—”
“Relax, I’m fucking with you,” she laughs. “No, I don’t want to sit down, I want to make the time go faster, and standing around here isn’t going to help.” She moves over to the group of earls seated by the outside bar, discussing what they should bid for.
“Anyone here for a game of croquet?” She looks out to the lawn where a course is laid out.
“Oh, um…why not?” Lord Frances is the first to take her up on the offer, and she helps him to his feet, all while smiling over to me.
“You're not having all the fun, Abraham.” Lord Whitley grabs his stick and manages to stand.
“And how about you? Not going to sit here all alone, are you?” She gives that temptress smile to the final earl around the table.
“The hell I am.” He smiles, finishing the last of his brandy and wobbling over to his feet.
“Do you know how to play?” I ask her as she passes me, arm in arm with him.
“No, but I’ll figure it out.” She lifts up a mallet and smiles up at the sunshine.
“She’s quite the hit, isn’t she?” A voice I recognise interrupts me as I watch my wife knock the ball between her spread legs, backwards, through the hoop. She raises the mallet in her hand in victory when she knocks it through.
“Annabella.” I nod politely, deciding she’s not worth averting my eyes for. I’d much rather watch my pregnant wife entertain the old codgers whose asses she’s beating.
“Twenty weeks; you must have knocked her up before the wedding,” she comments, proving she’s been talking to Elizabeth as she sips from her glass and sniggers. “I assume Cecelia was too embarrassed by the whole affair to make an appearance,” she adds.
“It’s none of Cecelia’s concern.”
