Free This Man Confessed by Jodi Ellen Malpas Page B

will that be, lady?”
    I nibble a corner of toast and shrug. “When I have time. I’ve got a lot to sort out at work. My husband knows that.” I turn accusing eyes on him, and he grins at me. “What are you grinning at?”
    “You.”
    “What about me?”
    “Everything about you. Your beauty, your spirit, your need to drive me insanely crazy.” He reaches over and straightens my diamond. “And the fact you’re mine.”
    I see my mother in my peripheral vision swaying with giddiness at my challenging man and his open need to drown me in his adoration. “Oh, Joseph,” she croons. “Do you remember being that much in love?”
    “No, I don’t.” Dad laughs. “Come on, I want to get on the road.” He brushes his mouth with his napkin and stands.
    Mum doesn’t reply. She’s too busy smiling fondly across the table at us. Dad leaves the restaurant, and I turn my attention to Kate. She looks terrible, her skin looking even paler than usual and her vibrant red hair appearing dull. She’s picking at some cornflakes while Sam chats buoyantly to her, seemingly oblivious to her despondent state. It’s obvious that she’s struggling with more than just a bad head and a queasy tummy. Sam can’t be that ignorant. My eyes leave Sam and Kate and travel back across the room to Dan. He’s still staring at her.
    “You’ve noticed it, too?” Jesse asks quietly when he’s obviously caught the direction of my gaze.
    “Yes, but I’ve been warned to mind my own business,” I answer without taking my eyes from Dan.
    “You have, but I didn’t say you couldn’t tell your brother to back off.”
    My eyes shoot to Jesse’s profile, but he ignores my shock and stands when my mum rises from the table. “I’ll be back soon to say my good-byes.” She brushes her skirt down and leaves the room, giving Kate a shoulder rub en-route. Kate smiles a little, then looks over at me, but quickly diverts her eyes. I sigh to myself and wonder what on earth I’m going to say to my usually fiery friend. She looks in complete turmoil, but I can’t help but be mad with her.
    I quickly remember what Jesse said before my mum left the table. “You want me to warn my brother off?” I ask.
    He looks at me carefully as he sits back down. “I think he needs to be told. I don’t want to upset you by doing it myself, so perhaps you should have a word with him.”
    I’ve already tried to have a word, and I know it fell on deaf ears, but I won’t be telling Jesse that because it will undoubtedly prompt him to intervene. “I’ll speak to him.” I put my unfinished toast back on the plate. “And before you start, I’m not hungry.”
    “You need to eat, baby.” He makes a play for my breakfast again, and I slap my hand over his.
    “I’m not hungry.” I load my voice with lashings of confidence. “Can we go home now?”
    He shifts his hand and grips mine firmly, looking at me thoughtfully. “We can go home now. Come on.”
    *  *  *
    After seeing my parents off, ignoring my brother, and telling Kate I’ll call her later, I’m deposited in the DBS and taken back to Lusso. My home—the place where Jesse and I will live together as husband and wife.
    I open the door and step out, letting out a shocked yelp when I’m swept off my feet. “I have legs.” I laugh, linking my hands over his neck.
    “And I have arms, and they were made to hold you.” He plants a chaste kiss on my lips and kicks the car door shut before striding into the foyer of Lusso. “I’m putting you in our bed, and I’m not letting you out until morning.”
    “Deal,” I agree, but he better be set for some hard action. I’m not feeling like softly, softly.
    My attention moves to the concierge desk when Jesse stops abruptly and his eyes widen.
    My eyes widen slightly, too. Standing behind the desk with a phone to his ear is a man—and it’s not Clive. It most certainly is not Clive. I purse my lips and grin to myself. Oh, this is going to provoke some