Page 84 of His Wild Seduction

She was wearing the cutest little ballet flats that matched her blue jumpsuit. It was sparkly and clung to her lovely frame. The sapphire blue pant legs were wide and swirled about her legs as she walked.

The front was low, and I noticed the discreet clips on each shoulder, realizing that must be for easy access to nurse her baby. How clever! The bodice cinched beneath her breasts, and the overall effect was really something.

She looked like some sort of marine goddess. The fact she was curvy, like me, had me making a mental note to ask where she got it.

“Well, not exactly,” Destiny answered my question a few seconds later, after smiling and nodding her head at a few of her guests.

“There are people from the publishing house I don’t really know here. And some of the scary-looking men in suits are business acquaintances of Marat’s. And some are new neighbors.”

“Ah. Well, then maybe your husband has a point,” I hedged, not wanting to start anything.

But I could see why her husband would not want people wandering unsupervised through their new homes. Especially not when they had their baby there.

“Oh, that is so cute! You and Josef have the same attitude about safety!”

“Well, I don’t know if it’s cute. But, um, I was raised to respect proper security. Someone broke into my childhood home when I was in high school and they broke my things, took some jewelry that had been my mother’s, and they wrote nasty slurs on the wall,” I explained.

“Oh no! That must have been horrible,” she said, her big blue eyes filling with tears.

“I was fine. Please, don’t cry?—”

She opened the door to a private room, and I was stunned at how beautiful it was. I’d never seen a breastfeeding suite, but this was amazing. There was every convenience a mother could want.

A couple of cushiony rocking chairs lined one wall with matching ottomans. A pair of changing stations. A mini fridge. A play area with toddler appropriate toys. A flat screen television. An en suite bathroom. Bassinets decorated in soft blues and whites. And even a sofa.

A stunning woman in cropped silver pants topped with a black silk blouse turned around. Her smile was warm and friendly, and she was holding a precious bundle in her arms.

I never met her, but she looked vaguely familiar.

“Hi! I’m Sofia, you must be Meredith! I am so excited to meet you. I’m Adrik’s wife,” she said while handing the little girl to Destiny.

“Oh my God,” I exclaimed as recognition hit. “You’re Z. Wolff. I read all your books!”

Excitement short-circuited my brain, and I was two seconds from full on fangirling.

“You do? Thank you,” she said, laughing.

“And you’re her narrator! D. Wolff?! Holy shit! I love you guys!”

“Hear that Lucy, Mama’s got a fan,” Destiny cooed while she snuggled her baby to her breast and began feeding her.

“I really am a fan,” I said, clapping my hands awkwardly. “Sorry, I am making this weird.”

“Not at all. And thank you so much. Josef didn’t tell Adrik you were a reader,” Sofia said, gesturing to one of the seats beside Destiny.

I thought it might be awkward for her to have us sitting there while she nursed her baby, but she didn’t seem bothered. She had a soft-looking blanket draped over her chest, and a serene smile on her face as she rocked the chair back and forth.

“Oh, well, um, Josef didn’t tell me you were an author, and you a narrator,” I said, and shrugged.

I couldn’t help the momentary panic that filled me.

Why hadn’t Josef mentioned me? Was he ashamed? Embarrassed? Was our past too fraught for explanations?

“Hey, don’t look like that,” Sofia said, her tone gentle. “I’ve been married to Adrik for three years now. I know he considers Josef a brother, but that man is probably the most close-guarded human being I’ve ever met.”

“Josef? But we talk all the time,” I replied, frowning.

Slowly, I started to see her point. The more I thought about it, the more I realized I was the one who talked all the time.