Page 193

He thought that he heard her call his name.

But he didn’t respond.

Later, she would understand. And she would be grateful.

He was positive.

Chapter Seven

Esme was brooding at her desk the next day.

She had taken great joy in sending Alex a memo informing him that he would be paying for the entirety of her very extravagant wedding, along with a list of demands.

But her heart really wasn’t in it beyond that initial moment. She was still thinking about the lingering look that she shared with Adonis before he’d left last night.

Thinking about their deal.

Because they hadn’t really made one when it came to sex. He was acting like they weren’t going to have sex with each other, but she hated the idea of him being with anyone else, and barring them being abstinent until their kid grew up…

But maybe the issue was that he didn’t want her. Unless she was in a dress like the one she’d worn that night, unless she was playing the vixen. She could do that. She might not look hot like she had that first time—what with the baby bump. But she’d liked what they’d done. She liked his brand of rough and hard.

Oh. No. It was starting to turn her on to think about it and that was just lowering especially when he seemed so unaffected.

Her brooding was interrupted by her brother barging into the office.

“We have a slate of appointments today, and you should look happier about it.”

“I’m tired,” she said. “I’m pregnant.”

“Oh, I’m aware. That’s why we have the appointments. We are going to speak to a florist, we’re going to speak to a baker and then we are going to get your dress.”

“All of that?” she asked. She felt tired just thinking about it.

“Yes, I’m calling in favors all over the city. Because I’m good like that.”

Oh lord. He was riding high on this.

He was good—it was true. They both were. But still, weddings were a fearsome business, and the fact that he was lining all of this up so quickly was pretty impressive. They of course knew the very best people, though, and so the route to putting together the most beautiful wedding would be a bit clearer than it was for some.

“Venues,” Alex said. “Museum, outdoors…”

“Outdoors,” she said.

“Hanging ivy, romanticism and great views?”

She rolled her eyes. “Obviously.”

“I’ve got something in mind.”

“Really?” She couldn’t think of anything offhand.

“Yes. There’s a garden in the south of France. Totally canopied, flowers and creeping vines. I’m going to make sure that I can secure that for you this weekend.”

“This weekend?”

“You’re not getting less pregnant.”

“Maybe we should make sure that the groom isn’t busy.”