Page 67 of Nobody's Girl

For the first time, Sofia noticed an edge to Ivo’s voice. She fixed him with a steady look. “He looked at her. He didn’t touch or hold or wake her. He wasn’t even close to her crib. He looked in, is all, Ivo.”

Ivo’s face was tight but he gave her a quick nod. Clemence glanced at Sofia. Sofia felt irked – she hadn’t done anything wrong.

“Hey, how was the funeral? Is your Dad okay?”

Sofia shot a grateful look at Clemence. Ivo nodded. “He’s okay. Still reeling, but I suppose we all are at everything that’s happened. Especially you, little Princess.” He nuzzled his nose to the baby’s and Sofia felt her irritation slip away.

It was clear, however, on the ride home in the taxi, that Ivo was still pissed about Grant Christo. “I just don’t get why you had to bring him to the hospital.”

Sofia sighed. “He offered and I was exhausted. I had just helped deliver your child, Ivo.” She looked out of the cab window. It was raining again and the streetlamps had come on in the gloom.

“Do you see him a lot?”

Sofia ignored the question. Why was he being like this? It wasn’t like Ivo to act so jealous. Even taking into account the stress of recent events, he was being unreasonable.

At the hotel, Ivo went to run a bath and Sofia went to the kitchen to fix a sandwich without asking him if he wanted one. She was spreading butter on the bread when she felt his arms slip around her. “I’m sorry,” he murmured into her ear. “I guess I’m a little cranky. Mom’s funeral was a strain and… some other stuff went on, and then hearing about Little Peanut…I’m a mess.”

She turned in his arms, studying his expression. There was no malice, or anger in it. She stroked his hair back from his face, smoothing the line between his eyes. “There is, nor will there ever be, anyone for me except you, Ivo.”

He nodded. “Nor for me, either. I love you. I’m sorry if I got a little jealous.”

She pressed her lips to his. “You’re forgiven.”

He tangled his fingers in her hair. “Come join me in the tub.”

Sofia felt the tension in her bones seep away in the warm water, and suddenly she felt very sleepy. She lay back against Ivo’s chest as he moved the soap over her breasts, her belly, between her legs. “You know, in all the stuff, we forgot something. Our apartment is ready for us to move into. Well, once we get it furnished.”

Ivo nuzzled her ear, nipping at the lobe. “I could always hire an interior designer to do it.”

Sofia made a face. “Only if I can work with her, or him, or it won’t be personal to us. I’d love to make sure it reflects both of us.”

“Good call. Although, with my nomadic lifestyle before you, I’m not entirely sure what my style is.”

Sofia sat up and turned to face him. “Can I tell you how I see you?”

“Go for it.”

“When I think of you, I think of elegance, muted colors like navy blue, duck egg, and of course, sea green, like your gorgeous eyes. Your personal scent is woodsy and spicy, very male, so a lot of natural fabrics, wood furniture. Bookshelves – and that would suit us both.”

Ivo looked impressed. “I like the sound of that.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’ll make up some mood boards. What about a dog? We could get a dog.”

“Whatever you want, it’s yours, baby.”

She grinned as he kissed her. “This is going to be great, my daring love. Our own place, at last.”

Ivo smiled at her, kissing her gently. “I can’t wait…”

Chapter Thirty-One

Tamara slicked on another layer of scarlet lip gloss and studied her reflection in the mirror. Tonight, at last, her club would open and she would be the talk of the town…at least, that part of town who were already slathering at the thought of the debauchery on offer.