“So you didn’t meet up with a woman?” she checks again, clearly suspicious of my change in suit
“I told you, we’re exclusive. I’m not interested in other women. The one I already have keeps me busy enough,” I remind her, smiling at how fucking adorable she is when she’s jealous.
She slaps me hard in the chest when I start to laugh, and I grab her wrist so she can’t get away from me.
“I’m sorry for hurting you.” I lean forward to kiss her, and she takes me by surprise when she pulls away, straddling my lap, and taking off the t-shirt she’s wearing.
“How sorry?” She lowers our hands so they disappear under her skirt, and I decide that I like the way my girl expects me to grovel.
I happily oblige.
GRACE
Two Months Later
“Ireally don’t see the point in all this,” I tell Jack as he does up the zip of my dress and kisses my shoulder.
“It’s a baby shower, you're supposed to have fun.” He laughs, spinning me around to face him and taking my huge, swollen belly in his hands. “You look amazing in this dress.” He looks down at the huge bulge between us, proudly.
“I look like a planet, and you just know there are half a dozen women downstairs who can’t wait to tell me that.” I know it's expected that a woman puts on weight when she’s pregnant, but I wasn’t expecting to be this big. I feel enormous, and still have a whole month to grow.
“You know my opinion; the bigger the better. You’re cooking me a strong, healthy boy in there.” He smiles.
“And the bigger he gets, the harder it will be for me to get back in shape, once he’s vacated.” I turn back to look in the mirror, still not entirely sure I’m wearing the right dress, not that I have much choice. Jack likes to dress me in a way that shows off my figure to its full potential. He likes control, and I have to admit, I’m really starting to like giving it to him.
“I don’t want to do this, Jack. Can’t you just tell them I’m sick?”
“Olivia and Bea have put a whole lot of effort into this; once you get into the swing of things, you’ll enjoy it. There's going to be gifts.” He tries to make it sound more enticing.
“You're forgetting that this baby isn’t mine. What's the point in me having a shower or gifts?” I go back to my original argument.
“Andyou'reforgetting that people don’t know that. Look at it as a job; you're trying to con the room that you're a mum-to-be, in love with her husband, and excited aboutherbaby coming. Once it's done, you can spend the evening in one of my tracksuits, eating all the ice cream you can stuff in your face, while I rub your feet.” He looks down at the heels I’m wearing, disapprovingly.
“Iamexcited about this baby coming…just so I can see my damn feet again!” I hiss back at him, looking down over my bump. “And I’m actually giving up ice cream,” I add, deciding I need to cut back. I’m sure I could convince myself to crave salad instead. I swear it's all a mind-over-matter thing.
“I’ll believe that when I see it.” He kisses my forehead and spins me to face the door. “Let's get this show on the road. The sooner you make an appearance, the sooner it will be over.”
“Oh, I’m not going down there alone, you're coming with me.” I grab his arm.
“I don’t think it’s a guy kind of thing.”
“It is today.” I leave him no choice and drag him down the stairs.
“The duke is very attentive, isn’t he?” Delilah Fairbank stares at Jack dreamily after he’s finished bringing me over a plate of canapés, to spare me the embarrassment of struggling to get up. I decide not to take advantage of the fact I can now use my stomach as a table, and remind myself to sit straight and smile
“I’m a very lucky lady.” I look across at him and lick my lips. He’s working the room perfectly, so that I don’t have to, and looking as sexy as hell while he does it
“Or should we say luckyduchess?” Her friend, whose name I can’t remember, laughs so high-pitched it pierces my ears, and while I look to Jack and roll my eyes, Bea steps in quickly to save me.
“Excuse me, girls.” She wiggles herself into the small gap between us and turns her attention to them both.
“Delilah, are the rumours true that you’ve been dating Lord Dumfries’ son?” she questions, in a tone far too enthusiastic to be genuine. “Imagine that, Delilah Dumfries.” Bea makes an over-exaggerated laugh of her own, while I tuck into my canapés and try to avoid the glares I’m receiving from Cecelia and Annabella, on the other side of the room.
Cecelia looks me up and down with the same displeasure as always, and I wave across and smile, knowing how much it will piss her off.
“Have you thought of any names for the new duke or duchess?” Delilah quickly changes the subject.
“I’m leaving that to Jack.” I smile, putting down my plate and trying to get comfortable.
