See? My princess gets me.

Chapter 26

Kara

Thelasttwenty-fourhourshave been an emotional rollercoaster, to say the least, but I think we are now at least in the same book. We might not be on the same page yet, but we are edging closer.

Every time I look at him, I realise what I walked away from, and my heart pounds in my chest. I have never met or even seen a man as gorgeous as North. He is huge in all the right places, strong but has a really kind heart. And that smile. Oh. My. God. That smile. He only has to give those dimples over, and he can take what the hell he wants, but what I hadn’t realised before was how fucking bossy he can be. And I like it.

This morning, he dragged me round estate agents, and we looked at a few properties online. He’s booked some viewings for later in the week, and I’m surprised at how excited I am. I just need to broach the subject of me going back to France to get my things. I don’t have a lot there, really. Just a few bits of clothes. Most of my belongings are still at North’s mum’s. I only took what I could carry when I left.

I’m snuggled into his chest on the sofa, and we are watching some random house makeover show. The couple has sixty thousand to spend on their garden. Yes, sixty thousand. Who spends sixty thousand on a garden?

The elevator pings, making us both jump up to see who has arrived. Normally, reception will let North know he has visitors.

I hear her before I see her, though.

Huff, huff, fuck, fuff—

“Arghhhh,”Sutton groans. “I don’t think I can take much more of this.”

Jesus, she has grown in the few weeks I’ve not seen her. She is huge. She is carrying three babies, but still. North jumps up to help her waddle into the living room. He grabs one of the dining chairs for her to sit on.

I wonder what he’s doing, but I forget he’s been helping her whilst I’ve been away.

“She’ll get stuck if she sits on that sofa.” He laughs, and she glares at him with fire in her eyes.

“You cheeky shit! I could sit on that sofa if I wanted to. But you’re right.” She eventually laughs.

“Where’s West?” I ask.

“Traumatised,” she answers, shaking her head at us both.

“What? Why?” North laughs.

“Because you sent him a photo of Kara giving you head. That’s why. And, to top it off, you didn’t ring me back when you’d finished like North said you would, Kara.”

I can’t help it, but I am laughing so hard. North booms, and Sutton looks on, puzzled.

“He seriously didn’t think it was real, did he?” North croaks.

“Yes, he bloody well did. He was planning how to send Kara back to France so that he never had to look at her again. He was completely mortified.” She is seeing the funny side now. “Anyway, why didn’t you ring me back if you weren’tbusy?”

“I never said we weren’t busy, Sutton. We have been out most of the day looking at houses. I don’t want to go back to that house, and I’m not staying here in North’s Shag Pad,”Kara said.

“His what?” she shrieks, laughing.

“His Shag Pad. That’s right, isn’t it, honey? This used to be your dirty playroom, didn’t it?” I can see North blushing under his tanned skin, but this material is just too good to pass up. He digs me hard in my ribs with his elbow.

“Stop it,” he demands, his eyes flaring.

“Okay,” I whisper back.

“Anyway, baby mama, what are you doing here? I would have met you downstairs if I had known you were coming.”

“I haven’t seen you in weeks, and I wanted to check you were okay.” She smiles. I know that smile, though. She’s here to check that everything is okay between me and her. She’s worried because the only person that knew where to find me was her and, suddenly, North appears. Yeah, that is no coincidence at all. To be honest, I am grateful for her intervention.

“I’m good, and so are we. So, stop fretting, okay?” I grab both her hands, and tears fill her eyes. God, I hope I don’t get this emotional when it’s my time for kids. “Come on now, don’t get yourself upset. We’ve talked a lot, Sutton, and we are working to get it right this time.”