“What’s with that face?” I whisper.
His bright green eyes sparkle, a lopsided grin gracing one side of his face. He stretches his arm across my lap, squeezing my thigh, as his thumb rubs small circles on the inside.
Instantly, my body is on fire from the heat of his light touch, making it impossible to hide the hitch of my breath, and by the way his eyes darken, I know he’s heard it.
Jack leans in slowly, brushing his soft lips against my cheek. “I’m just happy to spend time with you, sweetheart,” he whispers, then pulls back, not breaking eye contact.
I have to look away.
The energy radiating off him is not something I’m used to. I don’t understand what’s going on with him, and honestly, it’s freaking me out.
Our flirting has always been innocent, but lately, and especially today something is different.
His jealousy.
His lingering stares.
This feels like more, and I’m unsure what to make of that.
I rip my eyes from his, and find Lola wide-eyed, practically drooling.
“Stop,” I mouth so Sadie doesn’t see.
She’s probably dying inside after my drunk slip-up about our accidental nuptials.
“Listen,” Wills continues. “Of course I could ask any one of our friends to go, including my sister, but you’re Sadie’s brother.” Wills glances at Jack and then at me before adding, “And you’re practically her sister. You know, ‘sister soul mates,’ or whatever shite you two always say.”
Sadie smiles softly in my direction as she bounces Chloe on her knee. “Sheismy sister.”
I blow her a kiss, then look back toward Wills and ask, “Why isn’t the wedding planner handling this?”
Sadie chokes on her laugh, trying to hold it in. “My very loving but insanely paranoid fiancé thinks she has an ulterior motive and might be the one who sold the pictures of us to the paparazzi. He was two seconds from firing her, but at this point, it’s done, and she’s the one with all the connections. So, I insisted she stay, and he agreed as long as someone is there to supervise, more or less.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to help, but work is hectic, to say the least. I need time to organize the office. I’m not sure it’s possible for us to leave right away,” I say.
He shakes his head. “I’ve done it all already. I knew you would use work as an excuse, so I set it up with Lola. You leave in two days.”
I stare at her, and she shrugs. When did she become so good at keeping secrets from me?
Usually she’s foaming at the mouth to tell me everything.
“Plus”—he points to Jack—“he needs to get the fuck out of London before he kills Trey, and you need a holiday away, Annabelle. You work too damn hard. You’re going to burn out. Take it from someone who spent his life at work. A step back won’t make business stop. If anything, taking time for yourself can only help. Trust me on that. Going home at a reasonable hour these days has made all the difference.”
I lift an eyebrow. “Interesting use of words, considering you’re the least reasonable person I’ve ever met.”
“That’s for fucking sure,” Jackson mutters, and a deep chuckle comes from the door as Declan walks in.
He fist bumps Jack, leans over to kiss me and Lola hello, then continues over to embrace Sadie, taking Chloe out of her arms.
“What is this shit all over Chloe?” Declan asks, confused.
Wills ignores everyone and keeps going. “Declan is going to hold down the fort while we’re gone until he leaves to meet us. It’s all under control. I’ve learned to delegate.” He smirks.
Because he knows we will do anything for his fiancée, meaning neither of us will say no.
“But Wills, a whole week is a little crazy, no? They won’t even set up until a few days before.”
He crosses his arms, unimpressed.
