Mr. Big Jerk: A Forbidden Second Chance Romance (Kinda Cocky Series Book 3), стр. 34
Roxy
Two Weeks later
“Then I said, ‘who in the world do you think you are, messing with my sister like that. She said no’. And do you know what he said back to me?”
Clint sipped his Coke. “What?”
“He had the audacity to say that I was encroaching on his territory and that I needed to back off.”
“Please tell me you punched him in his throat.”
I scoffed. “Oh, I did more than that. I slapped him across his face, then hooked up with his best friend that night. And you should’ve seen his face when I came out of his friend’s bedroom. I wish I would’ve had a camera!”
He barked with laughter. “Roxy, you are one ballsy woman. And I like it.”
I reached for my water as his face lit up with joy. I still couldn't believe that things had gone over so well with him and this pregnancy announcement. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he was actually happy things had worked out like this. Nevertheless, I enjoyed every moment I spent with him. Including our lunch hours at work.
Which we took together now, despite what people in the office thought.
“Uh, Roxy?”
I set my water down. “Yeah? What’s up?”
He nodded to my shirt. “Your button came undone again.”
I looked down, scoffing. “Are you fucking kidding me? Come on.”
He chuckled. “It’s kind of a nice look on you.”
I shoved my tits together to button it back. “There we go. All fixed.”
But, the second I let my tits relax, the button burst open again.
“Oops,” Clint said.
I groaned. “Damn it, I hate this. I absolutely hate it. I’ve read literally everywhere that women don’t have to buy new clothes for pregnancy until their second trimester, at least! But, all of my clothes are already growing tight. Every time I get up, my boobs are bigger. I couldn’t button my favorite pair of jeans the other day. Even my ankles are already swelling. I can’t slip into some of my heels anymore! And let me tell you something, I look terrible in flats. I can’t pull them off like Kelly can. I used to fit my little body into the latest fashions. I used to be a walking billboard for shops around here, you know? And now, I can’t even keep my blouses buttoned up. What in the world am I going to do?”
Clint’s voice pierced through my rant. “You could let me take you shopping like I’ve been telling you for days now.”
I looked at him sheepishly. “I’m so sorry. I’m rambling for no reason right now.”
He held out his hand. “Come here, princess.”
I melted inside every time he called me that, and I quickly slipped my hand against his.
“I’m really sorry. I just can’t get over how quickly my body is changing. It’s just--.”
He squeezed my hand. “Rest for a second and listen to me. Okay?”
I drew in a deep breath. “Okay. I’m sorry. What is it you were asking?”
He grinned. “For starters, you’re gorgeous. Curves look great on you, and I struggle at work sometimes to keep from staring at you.”
I blinked. “You do?”
He nodded. “I really do, Roxy. Your new curves are…”
He shook his head and licked his lips, making me blush in the booth we scored for lunch at my favorite deli place.
“You really like them?” I asked.
He growled. “More than you know.”
I smiled. “Well, if you like them, then I’ll stop complaining about them.”
“Hey, you listen to me right now. You’ve got plenty to complain about. Your body is changing at a rate you haven’t ever seen before. You're tired. Your favorite foods are making you nauseous. You complain however much you want. Just know that I’m here to listen and that I secretly love how your body is changing.”
My heart stopped in my chest. “How do you always do that?’
“Do what?”
“Make me feel so good after feeling so bad.”
He shrugged. “It’s a gift.”
I clicked my tongue. “Pompous windbag.”
He smiled. “Sexy vixen.”
I giggled, lowering my voice. “Daddy.”
His eyes darkened. “Be careful with that word, princess. Or I might just have to take you into the bathroom.”
“Is that a promise?”
He stood, pulling me up from the seat. “Come with me. I want to take you somewhere.”
“Hey, hey, hey. Now, wait just a second, mister.”
He paused. “What?”
“What makes you think I’m done eating?”
“The fact that you haven’t touched your food in well over fifteen minutes and have been waiting for me to finish my food. The ketchup made you sick again, didn’t it?”
I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t know whether it’s nice or terrible that you can read me like that.”
“Maybe I just find you worth studying. Ever think of that?”
After tossing some money onto the table, he offered me his arm. And I gladly took it. These past couple of weeks with Clint felt more like a dream than a nightmare, and I wondered if he felt the same way. My feelings for him were growing stronger. Every time he showed up at my place with food and a kiss, I melted a bit more toward him inside. Granted, taking things slowly seemed stupid at this point. But, I still tried to keep an air of decorum around him.
He made it hard, though.
And some days, it was damn near impossible.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
He led me out to his car. “You’ll see.”
“So, we aren’t heading back to work?”
“Nope.”
I eased myself into his car. “Don’t we kind of need to go back and earn our paycheck?”
He chuckled. “I’m the boss. And as your boss, I say you can go back when I go back. There. Happy?”
I giggled. “If you insist, Bossman.”
He closed my door and jogged around to his side of the car, slipping quickly beside me behind the wheel. His hand gravitated to mine, and he held it as we took off, weaving our way into a part of town I didn’t recognize. There were plenty of places in Vegas I hadn’t visited, mostly because I was a creature of routine. Once I found a place I