The manuscript in front of me is beautiful. Fifteenth century, illuminated margins, gold leaf that still catches the light after five hundred years. Normally I'd be lost completely in the pages of this. This type of thing is my dream. The type of manuscript I never thought I'd get my hands on, and yet, I can barely focus on it.
My eyes keep drifting to my phone. To the time. To the blank screen with no new messages.
Adrian always checks in. Always. Even when he's in meetings, he'll send a text. Something short. How are you? How's the baby?
Hell, lately, he'll send something dirty that makes the space between my thighs ache until I'm ready to jump him the moment he walks through the door.
I've become used to him being in constant communication. He never goes an hour without something. And maybe, that's co-dependent, but it's what I've become used to.
Today, nothing. It's been four hours since he left, and I feel like I am going to jump out of my skin. Where the hell is he?
"You're fidgeting."
I look up to find Leo leaning in the doorway, arms crossed, watching me with that knowing expression he gets.
"I'm not fidgeting."
"You've picked up that magnifying glass four times and set it back down without using it." He pushes off the doorframe. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm just..." I gesture vaguely at the manuscript. "Restless."
"Restless." He studies me. "I've never seen you restless in front of a book."
I roll my eyes. "You don't know me very well."
Leo doesn't crack a smile. "True, but your work focus is admirable and something notable."
I blush at the compliment. Leo isn't one to give them out freely. Still, I can't handle the unease in my stomach.
"Have you heard from Adrian today?" I ask, tapping my fingers against my thigh.
"He's in meetings. These things take time."
"I know. But he always calls."
"He will." Leo's voice is certain. "He's probably just dealing with something that requires his full attention. You know how he gets."
I do. When Adrian is focused on business, everything else fades. We have that in common. But still. The silence feels wrong. Heavy.
"If something happened, his guards would have alerted me."
Unless they were dead.
"Or the car system."
I raise a brow. "I have multiple levels of security on the family. Adrian is in meetings."
I sigh, but I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong.
"I need a break," I say, pushing away from the desk. "I need to feel the sun on my face. Breathe fresh air. Something."
Leo's expression shifts immediately. Cautious. "Sera?—"
"I'm not asking to leave the property. Just a walk around the garden." I press my hand to my stomach. Our son has been kicking all morning, restless like me. "I feel like I'm going crazy in here."
Leo sighs. I know he doesn't want me to leave the room—it's secure. But Adrian didn't say I was on house arrest, which means there's no reason for me to not go on a walk.
I snort as I see Leo's hesitation. Jesus, my husband is overprotective. "You can stand right next to me if it makes you feel better."
