Page 46 of Handle Me

After a few more minutes, she groaned. “My mother forgot about us,” she announced. Before I could stop her, she opened the door and peeked through it. “Can we join you?”

I didn’t hear an answer, but a moment later, Lola was walking inside. I followed cautiously behind her.

“Give her the flowers,” Lola ordered.

I locked my jaw, doing my best not to call her bossy in front of her whole family. Although, they probably already knew. I wondered if they knew how hot and cold she could be. Like right now, she was as cold as ice, even though half an hour ago, she’d been molten as she rode my cock in an abandoned room.

“I know how to bring a woman flowers,” I growled.

“Thanks.” Alexander intercepted them before I could get closer to his wife.

“Can we see the baby?” Madeline asked.

“Only from an observation window.”

Madeline looked miffed, but to my surprise she didn’t argue.

“That’s fine.” She took her husband’s arm and started toward the door. “Lola?”

Lola looked to her sister than to me, a battle waging on her face.

“I should…” Alexander started, equally stressed.

“Anders will be here,” Clara said to my surprise.

But what shocked me was Alexander’s silent nod of approval. Since when did he trust me with his wife? Or maybe he knew that there was no way I was going to try anything less than twenty-four hours after her giving birth.

Or maybe he’d figured out what was going on with me and Lola.

“Georgia’s in the hall,” Alexander said. He gestured for Clara’s family to follow him, lecturing them about his expectations. Maybe he wasn’t just a controlling prick where I was concerned.

Maybe he was a controlling prick.

Too bad Clara didn’t seem like the type that might submit, because releasing some of that dominant streak might do Alexander a lot of good.

“How are you?” I asked tentatively, picking up the flowers Alexander had left on a chair and taking them to her bedside table.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said in a small voice. “How are you?”

“You really want to know?” I frowned, my frustrations getting the better of me. “Your sister is driving me nuts!”

Clara’s eyes widened, and I realized she was holding back laughter.

“She’s thrown out half my clothes, insists on taking me to fancy dinners to practice my etiquette”—I held up a pinky—“and she keeps talking about a plant-based diet. I don’t mind some veg with my rashers, but I’m not about to become a bloody vegan…”

By the time Alexander returned, I’d managed to make her smile.

“Clara needs to feed the baby, and well, obviously…” He pointed toward the door.

Magically, no one argued. Instead, Madeline rushed over to plant a kiss on her daughter’s forehead.

“We’ll visit tomorrow,” she promised.

I looked expectantly at Lola. She had to be fucking exhausted. We’d been up all night, fucking and worrying. But she studiously avoided my eyes.

“Your room is ready,” her mother told her as we stepped into the lounge.

I raised an eyebrow. My bossy handler still lived with her parents despite her trust fund. That surprised me.