Clouded Judgement. NICHOLA HARVEY
juicy scotch fillet on my plate into my mouth, I glanced up and grinned. “Just life. Ultimately, Teddy and I are on the same page and in a beautiful place, and that’s all you need to know – for now,” I simpered, chewing away happily.
Asher twisted the fork in his hand and chuckled. “You normally tell me everything. Anyone would think Teddy was pregnant the way you were acting.”
Unwittingly, I began choking on my food.
His eyes widened. “Teddy’s preggers?”
“Keep your voice down,” I whispered hoarsely, lifting the water glass to my lips and taking a few tentative sips. “The answer to your ever-enquiring mind is yes; Teddy is pregnant. Nevertheless, we are only in the first trimester, meaning we aren’t telling anyone just yet. So, Asher, I implore you, please be a mate and keep it to yourself because if I receive an angry phone call from my mother, then I’ll know you shall have told yours.”
“My lips are unequivocally sealed,” he wisely replied, closing an imaginary zip across his lips.
I gave a satisfied nod. “Good.”
Asher eyed me speculatively over the lip of the wine glass in his hand. “Well as your mate, I’m curious, particularly when only days ago you were contemplating taking a break: care to fill me in?”
I shrugged apathetically. “All it took was one night of carelessness my friend. And just so you know, Teddy isn’t aware that’s what I was thinking, so for the love of God, please don’t tell her.”
He picked up his knife and fork, resuming his meal of Asian style pork belly as he scoffed. “No, I’d hate to upset a pregnant woman, specifically yours.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your discretion.”
“I’ve always got your back, Ari; you know that. Anyway, let’s discuss finding you a new engineer. When do you want to start headhunting?”
And just like that, the discussion regarding my private life was over.
“The sooner, the better.” I smiled widely sawing off another chunk of steak. “And whilst we’re on the subject, can you ask HR to advertise further afield for both the engineer as well as a grad student. Stipulate that the grad student needs to be either fresh out of university or about to graduate. But as long as they’re more than happy to work whilst learning beneath our new employee, I don’t mind either way.”
“Like an understudy?”
I concurred with a brief nod, “Something along those lines, I suppose.”
“Fresh meat, I like your thinking.” Asher grinned and dug into his pork. “This little search is going to be fun.”
I lifted my fork to lips, murmuring in agreeance, “Indeed, it shall.”
Chapter Three
Teddy
“PACK AN OVERNIGHT BAG – enough for two days,” Ari sultrily requested, gliding the tip of his tongue along my sweat laced spine whilst skimming his fingers through my swollen cleft as I lay sated on my stomach.
I tutted mockingly, “Manners, Mr Jaeger. Whatever happened to please?”
“Ms McGovern, it would please me greatly if you packed an overnight bag,” he poshly murmured against my dampened skin.
“Ooh, so formal. I like,” I playfully breathed. “Now fuck me.”
Tutting disapprovingly, he unexpectedly spanked my arse, making me groan loudly before swiftly flipping me over and pinning my wrists either side of my head. Darkened eyes playfully stared as Ari hovered above me, his warm breath whispering across my face as he scolded me, “Whatever happened to please, Ms McGovern?”
“Fuck me, please, Mr Jaeger.”
His intense gaze seared. “Much more appropriate.”
From there on in, he left me far too incoherent to bother asking him how he’d convinced Spencer to let me take yet another day off work. I didn’t care; I was too busy riding high.
The sun blazed through the tinted windows as the sleek BMW cruised along the freeway, leaving the outskirts of the city nothing more than a multicoloured blur.
Raising a dubious brow, I looked over at a whistling Ari. “So, where are we going?”
His mouth curled into a rather devilish smile as he tapped the side of his nose. “It’s a secret. But I shall tell you this: I thought the two of us escaping the rat race for a few days wouldn’t hurt – and trust me, you won’t be complaining about our mini getaway for long…cause every damned minute shall be extraordinarily pleasant.”
My brows furrowed. “Why do you have to be so damned cryptic?”
He chuckled. “Makes life less dull, wouldn’t you say?”
Accepting he wasn’t about to tell me willingly, I sank against the soft leather seat and reached across the centre console, stroking the inside of his thigh over his tan chino shorts. “Not even a little hint?”
“No, I told you, it’s a secret. Just sit back and enjoy the ride,” Ari simpered as my fingertips tantalisingly grazed over the swell bulging at his crotch.
Made cranky by his impervious attitude, I snatched my hand away and began trolling through the music selection on the dash. “Well, Mr Jaeger, you keep your secret, but as punishment, it means you have to put up with my singing for however long we’re on the road,” I singsonged.
Ari groaned humorously as Tim McGraw’s I like it; I love it began blaring through the car’s speakers. “It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.” He chuckled loudly before finally giving in and joining in with me.
After what seemed like hours, we eventually stopped.
“We’re here,” Ari announced, forcing me to drag my head out of the dreary gossip magazine I’d bought along the way.
“Thank fuck for that,” I uttered tossing it aside, making him laugh.
“I honestly don’t know why you bother with that trash; good for firelighters, and that’s about it in my book.”
“It’s amusing, that’s why.” Both of us releasing our seatbelts, we climbed from the car. But the second I stepped out and realised where we were, my doldrum mood disappeared. I squealed excitedly. “Oh my god, Ari, The Sorrento Hotel?” I ran and jumped into his arms, wrapping my arms and legs around him as I peppered his face with chaste kisses, making him chuckle. “This place is gorgeous! Thank you!”
“I was desperate for some alone time with my girl. No distractions, no family, and most importantly, no work,” he murmured, skating his lips along my throat. “Now let’s simmer down and hurry inside before we give anyone else more than they bargained for.”
“Good idea.”
He grinned before slanting his lips over mine in an enticing kiss as he slowly guided me along the length of his well-defined body until the soul of my strappy wedges touched the bitumen. My gaze glued to his beautifully shaped backside, I followed him as he strolled to the boot at the rear of the car. Popping it, he bent to grab my small suitcase first only to elicit a groan as he lifted it. Whoops, my bad.
“What in the devil did you pack in this thing?” he complained, dropping it beside him with a thud. “I said two nights, not a bloody week.”
I struggled to subdue a smile. “Oh…I may have bought a few extras for you know…a little fun.”
Darkening eyes perceptively glinted as the air around us suddenly shifted. “Oh, did you just?” The huskiness of his voice alone did enough to send that all-knowing flutter directly to my groin.
My throat bobbed in anticipation. “I figured it would have