As much as I try to prepare myself by pulling on my most efficient PA Emma face none of it truly prepares me for the blast of sickening pain when I am finally faced with one Marissa Hartley.Walking down the stairs and into the dining room I don’t take in the beautiful room, elegant settings, or wonderful smells of food. I just see the girl with the long, curled, brown, highlighted hair. The seductive, Latino looking face with sensual lips, wearing an overly tight floor length animal print dress, fully emphasizing her bust, curvy figure, and undeniably compact baby bump protruding at her front. I also can’t ignore the way her eyes devour Jake hungrily as he walks in behind me with a guiding hand.She exudes pure sexual energy, every movement calculated for maximum impact, hips swinging and cleavage swaying. Her pouting and hair flicking mannerisms all made for pure seduction.

“That’s not what fucking happened, and you know it.” He yells at her and I cringe in fright pulling myself back in my seat, my heart rate going crazy, my mind a swirl of emotions of images of him and her. I don’t even know what to believe in. She seems to find pleasure in sitting up straighter, meeting his fire head on and I seriously start to wonder if there was more between them that night. My doubts and insecurities filtering in as I try to get a handle on the pain in my chest.“I’m surprised you can even remember, Jake darling, seeing as you were obviously high on God knows what and probably can’t remember exactly what happened. You were an absolute mess if I remember rightly.” She purrs and flutters at him. I feel sick to my stomach, my head a mass of confusion, I look to him and her and back again in painful panic. I don’t want to believe her, I shouldn’t.I can trust him. He’s been proving tha

Jake climbs into bed minutes after I do. I’m lying awake staring at the semi-dark ceiling lost in thought when he comes in. He strips off, without looking over, and climbs into bed sliding up against me, pulling me into his arm. I can’t help but smile that he did come swiftly along when Arrick intervened on the drama with his father.“I’m awake,” I utter quietly, turning toward him so I can face him, melting into his body heat and feeling glorious against him. Its dull in here but not pitch dark so I can see him.“You okay?” He leans in and kisses me soundly, mouth molding to mine, hand running up my spine delicately. I can’t help the tingles he ignites or the way my inner thighs tense deliciously at his touch.“Surprisingly fine,” I say when we finally break apart. My desire aching to strip off the rest of his clothes and start licking every inch of that taut smooth tattooed skin. I’m starting to

“So, when do you move in?” Leila lounges across the bed in Jake’s old bedroom and takes a grape from the platter of food between us; snacks and sandwiches including lots of fruit, courtesy of Mamma Carrero and her constant care.Sylvana is the perfect host and she’s been doting over me when the house is empty during the week, when the men are at work or doing whatever the Carrero men do when not glued to their women folk. She enjoys my company and Leila has flown to see me when I finally drummed up the courage to tell her about the baby.To say she was ecstatic is an understatement and the five-foot teddy bear suspended on helium balloons, in the middle of the bedroom floor over the massive hamper of baby products, was her arriving gift, humped in by two very good-looking men.It’s been four days since the house viewing and Jake had to go into the city to oversee some business details and deal with the house sale. He’s been go

“Please don’t. I can’t bear to think of Jake that way, knowing we were both hurting and both too stupid to just be honest with each other. If we’d been honest after we did get together then the mess with Marissa would’ve never happened.” I sigh, laying my cup down on the low table in front of us.“Honesty is very important … as is communication, and still cherishing one another even after the first throws of passion and excitement have died.” Sylvana focuses on me very seriously. “I know from first-hand experience that marriages can stray if you don’t keep a focus on what you mean to one another and if you stop telling each other how you really feel.” She pats me again and I get the impression she’s talking about Giovanni’s affair.I have no idea what to say, or ask, or even let on that I know what she’s talking about. I