Chapter 34 #2
I rub her stomach. “The media has already begun taking photos of us. I paid to get them taken down. We haven’t really talked about it. I wanted to make sure you were okay with it. I’m sure that’s why he was here. They want us to announce the pregnancy on my accounts.”
The soft touch of her fingertips on my skin calms every nerve within me from today’s madness Johnny showed me. She’s my tranquility after a chaotic storm. I close my eyes and relish the soft kisses she trails on my jaw. “What is it you want? I’ll do whatever you want.”
“What I want is to keep you to myself.” I pause, fixing her wild hair. “I don’t want to share you with the world. I want our life to be private. But at the same time, I want everyone to see the most important person in my life.”
She gives a sideways glance. “So romantic.” She laughs.
“I mean it.”
“I know you do.” She fixes her shirt. “You can announce our relationship, and the rest we can keep private.”
“Okay,” I tell her, kissing her knuckles. “I like the sound of that.”
After we clean up, Sol settles on the sofa with her laptop, working on homework while I get back to work. She’s a tempting little thing. Although I was inside her mere minutes ago, I want to run my tongue between her legs just to hear the sounds she makes when I satisfy every surface of her body.
Taming my wild thoughts and saving them for tonight, I order her a snack since we are heading to the gym after, then to dinner. I can’t have my girl hungry.
Sol
Before getting out of the car, Max reminds me to stay by his side and not to go into Carlos’s office, only to stay in view.
Which is strange because I’ve been there numerous times, and he’s never said anything like that.
I know it has nothing to do with being jealous or possessive, but protectiveness, yes, but why?
Did something happen that alarmed him? Maybe it was seeing him at the warehouse.
Walking into the gym, I square my shoulders and step in with a pep in my step.
I can’t show fear or that I suspect anything.
Max moves a couple of bags off the bench so we can sit.
There are only a couple of guys here and about three women.
Leo isn’t here. When I asked Leo earlier, he said he doesn’t want to go to Carlos’s gym anymore. I don’t blame him.
“I’m going to do a couple of workouts, then sparring. I won’t take long today. I know you’re going to get hungry.”
I chuckle. “Max, you fed me a large amount of snacks, including a sandwich. I promise I will be fine. Don’t worry, I’m going to be enjoying my view.” I wink.
He smirks. “What a flirt.”
“Only with you.”
“Better be.”
Carlos steps out of his office, walking toward us. I straighten my spine. Never in my life have I hated a man so much as this son of a bitch. Thank god Max’s mom never settled for this asshole. The woman was smart to run to another man.
“Sol, mija, nice to see you.” The words spill like diarrhea coming out of his mouth with a fart at the end. “I’m sorry to hear about your…café.” The words don’t land like condolences, more like a reminder. I ignore it and go straight for a jab.
I smile so wide my cheeks ache. “Nice to see you, Carlos. Wow, look at you! Did you lose weight since the last time I saw you?” I fuck with him like he’s doing to me.
Carlos rubs his belly.
I continue. “Looking slim and trim. You’re going to have to give me your diet plan once I have the baby.”
His eyes enlarge, as if he didn’t know. “Baby? Max, you didn’t tell me your lady is expecting.” What a lying sack of shit. I’m also surprised Max didn’t tell him.
“Well, I’ve been preoccupied with my girl. I haven’t told anyone.” Max brushes my cheek with his knuckles. “Look at her—she’s an aphrodisiac. Hard to leave her sight.”
My heart gallops, and heat coats my cheeks.
“What it is to be young,” Carlos says bitterly. “You’re welcome to hang out in the office,” Carlos offers.
“She’s fine here,” Max says, his voice hard.
Carlos laughs, making his body shake. “Max, no need to be overly possessive. Let the lady speak for herself.”
It’s damn obvious this man wants to catch me alone to throw more threats my way.
Max stands, and luckily, he changed into his gym clothing at the office.
The muscles on his shoulder and back flex.
Max picks up his hand wraps. “Possessive? No…” He shakes his head.
“Protective of her and our child? I am.” He finishes wrapping his hands. Done with the conversation.
Carlos’s laugh is strained. “I get you, Max. Nothing will happen in the office. She’s safe with us.”
“I’m good here, Carlos. Nothing makes me happier than watching my man in action.”
Carlos nods and pats Max on the shoulder.
Max doesn’t lean into it. Doesn’t return it.
He’s cold toward him. Just stands there.
Three months ago, that pat would have landed like a blessing.
Today, Max’s eyes are elsewhere. It has me worried because Carlos will think I told Max something and might hurt Leo or me.
Carlos noticed. He had to. I saw his jaw tighten for just a second.
He noticed. I need to talk to Max. Tonight.
Before Carlos does something. I’m also terrified of what will happen if I do tell Max.
Forty-five minutes later, Max walks back to me, drenched in sweat. I hand him a clean towel. He mumbles a quick thank you, wiping the sweat from today’s workout.
Max swings his bag over his shoulder, then places the palm of his hand on the small of my back and guides us toward the door. I freeze when Annette walks in with a cast on her arm. She has numerous bruises on her face. Her eyes are glassy and red. She doesn’t look our way but does side-eye us.
Carlos crosses the room in four steps. “What is it, sweetheart? What happened?” Carlos’s emotions for Annette are ones you would think a man like him wouldn’t have. But for her, he unfolds.
“My-my career is over.” She hands him folded-up papers. “The doctor said I’ll need surgery soon.”
We don’t hear the rest. Max opens the door as we step out into the hot evening air.
I glance back once. Carlos unfolding for her in a way he never did for Max.
I dislike the woman with a passion, but I wouldn’t wish anything bad on anyone.
“What happened to her?” I ask, looking over my shoulder at Max.
He shrugs, catching up with me. “Maybe her fat mouth and arrogance finally caught up to her.”
“Maybe…but I don’t wish her…”
“I don’t give a shit what happens to her. She fucked with the wrong person.” He shuts the passenger door.
My brows furrow. When he opens his door, I ask. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I wait for him to get in. “Did you do something?” I ask.
He stalls when he inserts the key. “I don’t hit women.”
“I know that.”
“I had nothing to do with it.” His words come out truthfully. He looks at a half-empty parking lot. I believe him. But I also believe he knows who did.
“Okay…are you and Carlos not getting along? You seemed terse with him. Never seen you so hostile.”
He’s silent as he backs out of the parking lot. “Let’s just say there have been things I’ve been noticing about him I don’t agree with.”
“Oh…I’m sorry. I know he means a lot to you.”
“He does…but now I’m not sure.”
I nod. “Max?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“When we get home.” I pause for a second. “Can I talk to you about something?”
He might hate me for withholding it, but I had to save my baby’s life and Leo’s and myself first, and also because he’s always seen Carlos as a father.
Watching him be cold toward Carlos without knowing why—I think he’s ready.
I hope he’s ready. Will he believe my gut feeling that Carlos caused the fire?
Now we know it wasn’t electrical; the report confirms it.
Someone did it. The question that hangs is, will it make things worse if I tell him everything? Will Carlos hurt Max?
“Of course you can.” He glances at me. “We’ll grab something up to eat, then you can tell me what’s on your mind.” He’s quiet for a second. “Did I do something wrong?” The space between his brows pinches.
“No, you did nothing wrong.”
“Okay, good. The look on your face has me worried.”
I lay my hand on his thigh, giving it a squeeze. Max laces his with mine. I’m making the right decision. I hope so.