Page 50 of Sin and Seduction

Her room is large, with vaulted ceilings. Her bed is dressed in red velvet linens and matching armchairs. She also has a balcony outside her room, but hers is much smaller. Old, classical paintings are on the walls, and I love this room, but I can tell it’s not exactly her style. She’s much more modern.

“How are you feeling today?” I ask, sitting down on the bed and feeling her forehead.

Her color has come back, and her temperature feels normal. Even the bags under her eyes have eased, and her hair is shiny. She looks more like her regular self, but she still has me worried.

“Much better. I’m hungry as hell, though. This child does not stop eating. I’m going to get so fat,” she says with a pout, and I laugh.

“You’re not going to get fat; you’re just going to get healthy. I promise,” I say, looking around her room.

“You know, the designer is coming today. We can change this room if you would like,” I say, and she looks around before smiling.

“Don’t. I actually like it. Feels like home, and I need that right now. Some flowers would be nice, though,” she says, and I agree.

“I’ll go make us some breakfast,” I say before walking to the door.

“Emmie, wait,” she says, and I turn to look at her.

“I know the doctor said I have to take it easy and believe me, I will, but I hope this doesn’t stop me from working for you,”s says, and I immediately shake my head like her brother would.

I don’t care if she gets mad at me; I’m not going to work her while she’s pregnant with this baby.

“Absolutely not. I hate telling you that, trust me. But you heard what the doctor said. This pregnancy is going to be a healthy one because you’re going to rest,” I say and she rolls her eyes.

“He said to take it easy; he didn’t put me on bed rest. I can do work on the computer and the phone and help you plan and design. I don’t need to be doing heavy labor or much movement to do that,” she says, sitting up.

She’s got a point.

“At least wait until we have the first appointment. Please allow me that peace at the very least,” I compromise with her, and she thinks it over before nodding.

“I can do that. By the way, I think the baby wants your pancakes,” she says, and I laugh.

“Pancakes it is,” I say before leaving her room and walking to the kitchen.

As soon as I walk into the kitchen, I am greeted by Javier sitting at the counter with a laptop and a cup of coffee.

“Javi!” I cry, running to him and pulling him in for a long hug.

“I missed you so much. I’m sorry I didn’t have much time to talk to you at the wedding; the food was absolutely spectacular,” I say, and he waves me off before getting up and pouring me a cup of coffee.

“Nonsense, it was your wedding night! But now that it’s over and graduation is in a couple of weeks, I think it’s time to look over and customize this restaurant plan of yours,” he says, and I nod excitedly, sipping my coffee and sitting across from him.

“Gabriela wants pancakes, so we will talk while I cook. Are you hungry?” I ask, and he smiles.

“I’m a chef; when am I not hungry?” I laugh as he begins typing on his keyboard.

I start making the pancakes, and Gabriela comes down, freshly showered and in a long, flowy, red shift dress. Even her lounge dresses look extravagant on her.

“You’re supposed to be in bed,” I say, placing a plate of pancakes and a glass of orange juice in front of her.

“Don’t start with this. I feel like Dante is going to walk in with a wheelchair at any moment,” she says, and I laugh as I serve more pancakes to Javi and me.

“He just might,” I say in between bites.

“No wheelchair, just little ol’ me,” says a voice from the doorway.

We all look up from our plates and to James Rowen, who is casually leaning against the doorway. Gabriela drops her fork and sits up straight, her eyes wide and face pale.

“What are you doing here?” She gasps, and James laughs before walking to the counter and grabbing a couple of berries, popping them into his mouth casually.

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