Chapter 37
“Brunch is almost here.”
Leia swam to blissful consciousness and smiled. “I love that you wake me up with the promise of food.”
A kiss landed just above her ear and lingered. “I love that you love that.”
She faced him and they grinned at each other before he pulled the sheet from her. Picking up the remote, he aimed it at the curtains and they slid back to reveal a cobalt-blue sky and glistening ocean.
Lifting her hands above her head, she stretched, contentment like she’d never known stealing over her.
She’d awoken in the middle of the night in Noah’s arms, and the words she tried hard to suppress had bubbled up to her lips.
I love you. I love you. I love you.
Even mouthing them had seemed like a monumental step, but the emotion was there in her heart, ready for when the time was right.
Because. Too soon, too soon, too soon.
Noah turned and cursed. “You’re swimming in dangerous waters, baby. You’re sore from last night and we need to eat and go meet this guy.”
She slowly bent her knee, crossed her wrists above her head and pushed out her chest. “Why, what am I doing?” She blinked innocently.
“God, you’re fucking lethal.” He started towards her just as the buzzer sounded. His curse turned way filthier as he crossed the room. “Get dressed and come down. If I have to come up and get you, you won’t be able to walk for the rest of the week.”
“Yes, sir.”
She basked in the grin he threw over his shoulder as he left the room.
Noah was still grinning when he pushed the buzzer. “Come on up.”
He poured two mugs of coffee and added cream and sugar to Leia’s. He took a gulp of his brew and grabbed his wallet for a tip as the elevator pinged.
The doors parted and he froze.
Of the two people in the car, Ashley stepped out first.
“You don’t need to tip me for bringing up breakfast, Noah. Consider it my good deed of the day.” She held out the white and gold bag from his favorite deli two blocks away.
Noah ignored it, his eyes fixed on the other occupant of the elevator. “What the hell are you doing here, Snyder?”
Even on a Saturday, the older man was impeccably turned out in a suit, tie, and pocket handkerchief. “I’m here for what is mine.”
Cold fury rolled through Noah’s gut. “I think you took a wrong turn somewhere, buddy. There’s nothing of yours here.”
“Manners, Noah. Honestly,” Ashley huffed.
Pins and needles shot up his arms, and he realized his fists were bunched tight.
He focused on the pain. “Leave now, both of you, before I throw you out. And you”—his gaze flicked to Ashley—“since you don’t seem to understand the words stay-the-fuck-away-from-me, I’m filing a restraining order against you first thing Monday morning. ”
She gave a mock shiver. “I’ve always thought there was something so sexy and dangerous about a restraining order. Maybe I should look into it. It’s that sort of danger that turns you on, isn’t it?”
“The problem with you, Ashley, is that you always thought you had me figured out. But you didn’t, which was why you resorted to silly mind games.”
Her lips pursed. “Oh, come on, we both know you thrive on the danger. What else would you call wanting to tie me up, gag me until I could barely breathe, and smacking the hell out of me? You got off on dicing with death. Dicing with my life.”
Horror dredged through Noah as her words sank into his skin like toxic claws. Had she really seen it like that?
“Noah?” Leia called from the kitchen.
Ashley turned. “Ah, there’s your little…” She paused at Noah’s warning growl. “Friend. Now we can all have a civilized conversation.”
Noah stalked past her as Leia entered the hallway. She was wearing his Vassar T-shirt and her leather shorts. Her sun-kissed hair was still mussed from sleep and she was barefoot. He’d never seen her more beautiful.
She looked past him, and her expression changed. “Warren? What are you doing here?”
“I’m waiting for a lucid answer to that myself.” Noah caught her arm and pulled her to his side. A shade of his fury abated when she melted into him.
“Like Miss Maitland suggested, I think we should sit down and talk,” Snyder said.
Noah noticed that Leia’s eyes hadn’t moved from Warren. The urge to physically block him from her view was instinctive.
Her gaze shifted to Ashley then to him. “What’s going on, Noah?”
“I don’t know but, fine, I’ll play.”
Gritting his teeth, he led the way into the living room and pushed her into the single armchair. He remained standing with a hand caressing her nape. She glanced up at him, and he smiled stiffly.
He waited till Snyder and Ashley seated themselves on the large sofa.
“You wanted an hour? I’ll give you ten minutes. Non-negotiable. After that I’m throwing you out.”
“Noah, I really wanted to do this in private?—”
“The clock’s ticking, Ashley.”
Snyder and Ashley exchanged glances. Noah hated the rock-hard dread that rolled into his stomach when Snyder’s gaze shifted to Leia.
“Did he tell you about how their relationship ended?” Warren asked.
Leia paled a little, and her gaze searched Noah’s before returning to Snyder. She totally ignored Ashley. “Why, what does it matter? It ended. The question here is, why are you interested?”
Shards of ice spiked around the dread. “Yes, I’m curious. Why are you interested?”
“Because after everything you’ve been through, I’m not prepared to jeopardize your safety?—”
“Think carefully about what you say next, Snyder. Or I promise, I will bury you.” Noah’s voice was a thin blade that sliced across the room.
Ashley flinched. Leia’s pulse jumped beneath his hand. He stared down at her.
“Leia?” Her eyes met his. His insides shredded with the wariness and confusion he witnessed. “No excuses,” he breathed.
Doubt rolled across her face, and she swallowed hard. Noah’s insides hollowed.
“My dear, you need to come home now, before it’s too late.”
“What does that mean?” Leia snapped at Warren, her arms crossing around her middle. “I’m not in the mood for one of your riddles.”
Ashley reached into her purse and pulled out a file. Warren took it from her and placed it on the table.
“This is a copy of the charges Miss Maitland filed against Mr. King in New York two years ago. The report and the pictures are clear enough. It lists her injuries?—”
“God, Ashley, are you really this desperate?” Noah felt Leia flinch at his raw disgust, but he was past showing mercy. Not when his world was caving in.
Snyder sat forward. “Leia, I’m not prepared to leave you to his mercy?—”
“I understand why he’s doing this but what the hell do you have to gain from this?” Noah snarled at Ashley.
Ashley twirled her diamond bracelet and her eyelids fluttered down, then back to meet his. “You weren’t supposed to leave.”
“Excuse me?”
“Two years ago. You were supposed to marry me and work things out with me. I would’ve forgiven you for your nasty little traits.”
Leia jerked away from him. He frowned down at her but her head was bent. He reefed a hand through his hair and fought for his sanity. “I left, Ashley. Deal with it.”
She shook her head. “I want you back.”
“Are you insane?”
“You can’t have him back!” Leia surged to her feet. Her fists were balled, and her eyes blazed pure determination. “You had your chance with him and you blew it. So trot back to New York on your little princess heels and leave him alone.”
God, yes!
His world began to right itself again and he breathed easier. He took a step toward her, desperate to pull her into his arms, feel her warmth.
“Remember when we talked about children, Noah?” Ashley said.
He froze mid-step.
“I was in the hospital after my kidney infection. We talked about having children one day. You wanted two. I wanted three. Do you remember what happened after we discussed it?”
Dear God. “No . ”
Leia’s gaze swung to his, horror alive in her grey eyes. He wanted to reassure her, but his tongue was frozen. His whole body was frozen, unable to move as his world imploded.
“Yes. I did it, Noah. I’m pregnant.” Ashley smiled. “You’re going to be a father.”