Chapter 16
Emilia
This is my first morning coming into the kitchen after spending the night naked in Haden’s bed, but like he said, it’s not a secret. As I enter the room, holding Haden’s hand, I find the Wilde wives sitting in the breakfast nook. They wiggle their brows at me, but no one pokes fun.
If they only knew just how unbelievably domineering Haden is. They’d all be red in the face.
There’s a spread of options on the island, and Haden fills my plate for me. He at least checks with me to find out what I want and doesn’t say a word about my selections, which leads me to believe he approves. I bet if I said I wanted pancakes with too much syrup and a Danish, he would balk.
Haden pulls out a chair for me at the breakfast nook, helps me get settled, and then leaves me to fix his own plate.
None of the women are drinking coffee. They don’t anymore.
Since getting pregnant, their bossy husbands don’t let them have caffeine, either.
I’m still a virgin, and I’m not allowed to drink coffee.
“Are you pregnant already?” Melody asks in a low voice, pointing toward my juice.
Shaking my head, I sigh. “He likes to be proactive.”
They all giggle.
The men have filled their plates and are headed for the dining room.
We’ve gotten to the point where we’re running out of space in the breakfast nook for ten people to crowd around.
Besides, it’s probably for the best. I’m sure the men are in there already leaning over those blueprints while they eat.
“So?” Claire asks.
I lift a brow. “So what?”
“Who wins? When’s the wedding?”
I shrug. “We didn’t get that far yet.” I don’t meet their gazes.
“But you talked about it,” Reagan comments.
“Maybe…” I say noncommittally.
Arianna elbows me. “Don’t hold out on us. We’re sisters. What’s the deal?”
I decide to make their eyes pop out. “I’m due to start my period today. He has it all worked out that we’ll get married in two weeks when I’m most fertile so he can be sure I get knocked up on our wedding night.”
Everyone’s eyes are wide.
“That’s intense,” Claire says, sipping her never-ending lemon-lime soda. There’s also a plate of crackers in front of her. Breakfast is still not her friend. Sometimes lunch and dinner aren’t either.
Melody looks a bit pale, too. Also not surprising. She’s picking at a croissant and sipping orange juice. “Well, we certainly never had a discussion about my period. I didn’t have one between meeting him and getting pregnant. I doubt I’ll ever have one if Brody has his way.”
“Lucky,” I groan.
Arianna swallows a bite. “Dallas says you’re going to work for Haden, starting today.”
“Yes. We haven’t even discussed what that means or what my duties are. I think all he cares about is keeping me close so he can boss me around.”
“Which you love,” Reagan adds.
“Apparently,” I grumble, even though I can’t keep from smiling.
The surprising thing about this morning is that I should be in a foul mood.
I can tell by the cramping that I’m going to bleed to death in a few hours.
That’s how my first day often is. I suspect the hard spanking that caused me to cry helped me purge some of the melancholy I often feel when I start my period.
Soon, everyone scatters. They all have jobs to get to.
Haden returns to the kitchen to collect me, and we head out for the new office. I’m surprised when we enter. It’s already furnished and ready to go. The men worked hard yesterday. There’s a small waiting room inside the door with a desk, laptop, and phone.
Haden points to the ergonomic chair. “This will be yours, jitterbug. Go ahead and sit so I can adjust the height.”
I plop my butt in the chair and watch as Haden works the levers at the side until he’s satisfied with my seating arrangement. It’s difficult not to feel like a pampered princess.
“Why is it so cold in here?” There are goosebumps on my arms. My teeth are chattering.
“I had Brody turn down the air earlier before we arrived. It’s hotter than hell outside. When the workmen come in, they need to be able to cool off.” He takes long strides into the room next to this reception area.
When I lean forward, I can see most of the inside. It must be his office. He returns with a giant navy San Antonio sweatshirt and tosses it at me.
I narrow my gaze at his smirk. “You turned down the fucking AC so I would freeze to death and need a sweatshirt because you think my jeans are too tight and my T-shirt is too revealing.” I knew he didn’t approve when I picked this outfit out this morning.
I was surprised when he didn’t say a word at the time.
I should have known he would figure out a way to get me to comply.
He shrugs. “Did it work?”
I huff as I pull the soft, thick sweatshirt over my head. “Yes, but you’re a neanderthal.”
“And you now have three swats coming later tonight, potty mouth.”
I roll my eyes.
“Four.”
“Hey! You didn’t mention eye rolling.”
“I have now. I reserve the right to add rules as we go along.”
“That’s not fair.”
“It is because you’re smart enough to know what will become a rule. Make better choices.” He shrugs, his eyes twinkling. He’s so proud of himself.
“Tomorrow you’ll either make better clothing selections, let me dress you, or you’ll sit in here wrapped in my sweatshirt again. Your choice.”
He wins. How did this happen again?
The bossy man rounds behind me and starts fingering my hair. Before I know it, he has it divided into three sections and is braiding it down my back. He even has a hair tie in his pocket.
I don’t ask why he wants it pulled back. I can guess. He’s obsessed with it, and he thinks every man who comes in will be, too. If he keeps my hair restrained and my clothing boring, no one will hit on me.
Honestly, it’s kind of sweet. I’m not sure I’ll think so in a week or five years, but his jealousy is cute. It makes me feel oddly special. Like I’m so gorgeous I need to be hidden.
“What’s my job description?” I ask when he’s done.
“We’ll make it up as we go along. For now, I want you to answer the phone and manage the calendar.
Mark when people are due to arrive. Inform the guards at the gate.
That sort of thing. I’ll be in and out today.
Two men are coming to work on the windows.
I’ll set them up in the rooms that aren’t occupied.
I’ll do all the inhabited rooms myself.”
“Okay.”
He squats in front of me so we’re at eye level and strokes my cheek with one hand. His voice is lower and softer when he speaks. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine so far. Don’t make a big deal out of it, okay? I don’t need everyone thinking I’m a wuss, especially my brothers.”
“No one is going to think that, baby. I promise. You can’t help nature.”
“Well, I’d appreciate it if you’d let me quietly disappear to go lie down for a bit when I need to. I’ve never had a job I needed to call in sick for when I got my stupid period.”
His frown unnerves me. “This is a real problem for you, isn’t it?”
I shrug and pick at imaginary lint on the front of his incredibly comfortable sweatshirt.
Haden grabs my thighs and pulls my chair closer. “Emilia. Look at me.”
I cock my head to the side and roll my eyes. I don’t even care about his spanking tally. I like it when he punishes me. He can do it every night for as long as he wants. “Can we please not discuss my fucking period any longer?” And there’s another tally mark.
“Baby, have you had issues every month that caused you to miss classes?”
I groan and tip my head toward the ceiling. He’s not going to let this go. “Usually in college, I could muscle through my classes and then climb into bed.”
“How long are you out of commission?”
“A few hours. Just today. I’ll be fine after that.”
“Have you seen a doctor about it?”
I drop my head and glare at him. “Haden. It’s fine. It just happens to some women. The last time I saw my GP, he prescribed something to help with the cramping on the first day of my period. I’m going to live. Drop it.”
“Okay, tell me what you need from me.”
“I need you to stop talking about it. Just let me go lie down for a while and let it go.”
“That’s not going to happen, baby,” he says softly. “There’s no way I would leave you hurting and do nothing. Tell me what helps so I can be prepared. Where is your medication?”
“In my bathroom.”
“Heating pad?”
“Also in my bathroom. I can manage. I’ve been doing so for seven years.”
He flinches. “Well, now you’re not alone. You text me when you start feeling bad, and I’ll come help you get comfortable.”
I inhale deeply. “Fine.” The only way to get him off my back is to agree, so I do. And I will text him because I can’t imagine the wrath he’d unleash on me if I don’t.
Haden holds out a hand, palm up. “Give me your phone, baby.”
I tug it out of my back pocket, open the screen, and hand it to him. A few seconds after he taps away on my screen, his own phone pings.
“There,” he says as he sets mine on the desk. “I texted myself, so now I have your number, too.”
Just as Haden stands, the door to the office opens. A man I don’t know steps in. “Are you Haden?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“Mike Sparks.” He holds out a hand.
“Nice to meet you. I’m glad you’re here. I’m just getting started on renovations, but we can use all the help we can get.” Haden nods toward the entrance. “Let’s head over to the mansion, and I’ll show you what we need to do.”
Relief that he’s going to stop hounding me makes it easier to breathe.
Haden grabs the braid he fixed himself and gives it a tug, forcing my head back. When I’m looking up at him, he bends down and kisses me. “Text me,” he orders. And then he’s gone.
Apparently, our working relationship will not be separate from our personal one. He just fucking claimed me possessively in front of a stranger.
Why am I grinning?