Summer Vows (Arabesque) (27 page)

“Your next baby? Are you telling me you’re pregnant?”

Placing the finger of her left hand to her mouth Vivienne nodded. The diamond on her hand reflected off the light coming through the windows, giving off blue-white sparks. Ana was familiar with the ring her grandmother had worn for eighty-five years before she gave it to her great-grandson for his fiancée.

“It was confirmed a couple of days ago, but Diego and I decided to wait until the end of the month before we make the announcement.”

“Your secret is safe with me. And I’m honored you’ve asked me to be godmother.” She glanced around her. “I’m not much a hostess if I’m standing around running off at the mouth.” Ana hugged Vivienne again. “We’ll talk later.”

Chapter 16

A
na sat at the opposite end of the dining-room table from Jacob, smiling when he winked at her. Her father had ordered enough food to feed a football team. There were trays of fried chicken,
perñil
—roast pork shoulder, white rice, black beans, Southern-style oxtail, collard greens, pulled pork,
bacalaitos
—salt cod fritters, chicken and beef empanadas,
tostones
and
maduro:
twice-fried bananas and sweet plantains. Conversations in English and Spanish floated around the table, while the children, seated on the floor, chatted comfortably with one another in English.

Her gaze shifted to her father, who had been staring at her throughout the meal. Lifting her water goblet, she gave him a silent salute, then mouthed
I love you
. A network of tiny lines appeared around David’s dark eyes when he smiled.

“You know you’re going to have to take some of this food home, Daddy.”

“Don’t you and Jacob want leftovers?”

“We’ll take some, but there’s still too much food for two people.”

Serena placed a hand on her husband’s arm. “Don’t worry, darling. Gabriel, Summer and the kids are going to hang out with us for a couple of weeks.” She turned her attention to Alexandra. “Alex, how long do you plan to stay?”

“I told Merrick I’d call him a couple of days before we’re ready to head back. You know how the kids love hanging out with their grandma and grandpa.”

“What about you, Jacob?” David asked his son-in-law.

Jacob set his fork down next to his plate, then dabbed his mouth with a napkin. “What about me?”

“When are you returning to Miami?”

“Are you asking when I’ll return to work?” He’d answered his wife’s father’s question with a question.

“No. I want to know once this
situation
is wrapped up, will you be returning to Miami to
live?
”

Jason shook his head in exasperation. “No, Dad. You tried this with Merrick and it didn’t—”

David waved a hand, cutting off his son. “Stay out of this, Jason.”

“I can’t, Dad.”

All eyes were trained on David, Jason or Jacob. “Will somebody please tell me what’s going on?” Serena asked, hoping to avoid a confrontation between her husband and son.

“Jason’s right,” Gabriel said in defense of his brother. With liberally gray-streaked hair and pierced ears he was a younger version of his father. “I don’t think Jacob’s going to be as benign as Merrick when you question him about his intentions toward Ana.”

Slumping back in his chair, Jacob forced himself not to glare at David. Diego had warned him about Ana’s father, but he’d hoped he would confront him in private. “Before, during and after this situation is resolved Ana and I will continue to be husband and wife.”

“What does my daughter say about this?” David asked, refusing to back down.

“Why don’t you ask your daughter, Daddy?” Ana snapped angrily.

Serena swung her napkin at her husband. “You are impossible! When are you going to learn to butt out of your grown children’s business?”

Ducking to avoid the cloth coming close to his head, David held up both hands. “I just want to make certain my princesses are happy.”

“We are happy,” Alexandra and Ana chorused.

A sheepish expression floated over David’s features. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize to us,” Alexandra said. “Apologize to Jacob.”

David stared at his plate. “I’m sorry, Jacob.”

Serena placed her hand over her husband’s. “Say it like you mean it, David.”

His head popped up. “I apologize for questioning your love for my daughter.”

A hint of a smile touched Jacob’s mouth. “Apology accepted,
Dad
.”

Laughs and guffaws exploded around the table. As if on cue, all of the adults raised glasses of water, wine and sweet tea, toasting Ana, then Jacob.

Ana touched shoulders with her sister. “What are we going to do with Daddy?”

“Love and humor him. It’s no different with Merrick. He babies Vicky but roughhouses it with Cordero. I have to keep reminding him that the boy is only two, but he claims he wants to toughen him up. I told him if he doesn’t stop, then his son is going to become a bully.”

“Let’s hope not.”

“When you and Jacob get some time to yourselves I want you to come to Virginia and stay with us.”

“I’ll talk to him about it.” Ana knew Jacob still had a lot of accrued vacation, so it wasn’t a question of him not being able to take off.

Vivienne entered the dining room cradling a bowl and carrying a tray with the deviled eggs. “Shame on you, Ana. I can’t believe you’ve been holding out on us. And there’s a tray of shrimp in the fridge, too.”

“I forgot to put them out because there’s so much food.”

Diego stood up and took the bowl from his wife. “You know I’m addicted to potato salad and deviled eggs.”

Pushing back his chair, Gabriel stood. “I’ll get the shrimp.”

The copious consumption of food continued well into the night. The children had crawled up onto the sofas and chairs to watch a G-rated movie, while the adults cleared the table, boxing up leftovers, then returned to the dining room to talk.

It was after ten when everyone prepared to take their leave. Arrangements had been made beforehand for Alex and her children to stay with her parents in Boca Raton, while the other out-of-towners would stay at the Cole family compound in West Palm Beach.

Jacob kissed S.J.’s forehead as the sleeping child clung to Diego’s neck. “Thank you for making her homecoming a memorable event.”

Diego nodded. “I don’t think it has anything to do with me, Jake. I’ve seen you with Ana and it’s as if she’s a changed woman.”

“I hope for the good.”

“It is. I think David has forgiven me for meddling in his
baby’s
life.”

Jacob shook his head. “Don’t worry about him, buddy. He’ll get over it once Ana makes him a grandfather.”

“On that note, I think I’ll leave before Vivienne starts texting me to come down.”

“Can you give me a heads-up when you think it’s going to go down?”

“I’ll text you,” Diego promised. “Good night, friend.”

“Later.”

Jacob stood in the doorway, watching Diego walk to the elevator and waiting until he disappeared into the car, and then closed and locked the door. The gathering had gone well. It gave Ana the opportunity to reunite with her family and for him to become better acquainted with his new family.

He turned the lamps on the table in the foyer to the lowest setting. He repeated the action with the lamps in the living room and switched off the chandelier in the dining room. Walking into the bedroom he saw the nightgown Ana had left at the foot of the bed. Striding across the room, he entered the en suite bath to find her in the bathtub, eyes closed, chest rising and falling in a slow, even breathing. Candles in various sizes lining the vanity, low tables and the ledge along the garden tub flickered like stars in the darkened space.

“What took you so long?” she murmured, smiling.

Jacob remembered her asking him the same question before on two other occasions. “I was saying goodbye to my godson.”

Ana opened her eyes. “He’s gorgeous. In fact, all our nieces, nephews and cousins are gorgeous.”

Leaning against the open door, Jacob angled his head, staring at the crest of her nipples peeking through the bubbles. “And don’t forget bright.”

“That they are.”

“What about our children,
m’ija?
”

“What about them,
m’ijo?
” Her voice had dropped to a lower register, sending a chill over his body.

“Will they be gorgeous and bright?” he asked.

Ana eyelids fluttered wildly. “Why don’t we make one now and find out.”

Jacob pushed off the door. “Do you know what you’re saying?”

“Yes, and I never say anything I don’t mean. Are you going to stand there with your mouth gaping or are you going to take off your clothes and make love to me.”

Needing no further prompting, he kicked off his shoes, pulled the hem of his shirt from the waistband of his slacks and unbuttoned it. His belt, slacks and briefs followed. Resting his hands at his waist, Jacob flashed a lecherous grin. “How do you like me now?”

“I must admit I like the view. Now, get your sexy butt in here.”

He got off a snappy salute before stepping into the tub filled with lavender-scented bubble bath. Pulsating jets massaged his lower body as Jacob sank lower in the large tub. “You’re the one with sexy butt,” he crooned, cupping her bottom. “It’s not as curvy as it was a few weeks ago, but that’s going to change.” His hands moved up, spanning Ana’s waist, he lifted her to straddle his thighs. “I’ve never seen you look more beautiful,” he whispered reverently.

Resting her head between his neck and shoulder, Ana pressed a kiss there. “You make me feel beautiful.”

Jacob caught her ear between his teeth. He wanted to tell her she’d always been beautiful. He’d thought that when he’d first caught a glimpse of her at Diego and Vivienne’s wedding and even more so at his godson’s celebration. Her hair was longer, framing her lovely face and the off-the-shoulder, pale pink, body-hugging dress flattered her compact figure and complexion. He’d noticed everything about her when she’d barely given him a passing glance.

Jacob gasped when Ana’s tongue found its way into his ear. Cradling his lean face, she kissed him, increasing the pressure until his lips parted; their tongues dueled, thrusting, parrying, and retreating like fencers. Her tongue was a blowtorch, scorching everywhere it touched, tasted.

Tightening his hold on her slender body, he reversed their position, devouring her mouth. He pulled back, giving Ana and himself a chance to catch their breaths before taking possession of her mouth again in a kiss that made her surrender to his unyielding, relentless assault.

Ana threw back her head, baring her throat as Jacob rained kisses along the column of her neck, shoulders and down to her breasts. His teeth closed on her nipples and a low keening sound caused the hair to rise on the back of her neck before she realized it had come from her. Seconds later there was another sound, a chorus of moans and groans when Jacob penetrated her. Electricity arced through her body, she straining to get even closer.

He reversed their position again, pulling out, rising to his feet and stepping out of the tub. Ana didn’t have time to react when she found herself in his arms as he took long, determined steps, walking out of the bathroom and into the bedroom.

Placing her body on the bed, Jacob moved over Ana and entered her again. It was as if he’d been possessed, sucked into an abyss of uncontrollable passion from which he couldn’t and didn’t want to escape.

She wrapped her legs around his hips, and he felt the turbulence of her passion sweep him up in a firestorm of the hottest fire. He was lost, submerged, drowning in a maelstrom of desire devouring him mind and soul. And in that moment Jacob knew for certain that he’d never loved another woman. He may have felt lust or even a fleeting infatuation but never love. With Ana it just wasn’t his need to protect her or the need to procreate. It was an uncompromising love, a true love for an eternity.

Ana didn’t want it to end—not yet. However, her body refused to listen to the dictates of her brain. Raising her hips to allow for deeper penetration, she felt the rigid hardness touch her womb and the orgasms began, swirling uncontrollably seeking escape. She felt Jacob’s heartbeat keeping time with her own, their bodies writhing in a rhythm as old as time as their passions peaked.

Gripping the pillow under Ana’s head in a deathlike grip, Jacob lowered his face in the pillow, smothering the groans when the explosions in his lower body rocketed him beyond any pleasure he’d ever experienced. He collapsed heavily on Ana, waiting for the lingering vestiges of ecstasy to wane.

He felt her trembling, and believing she was crying he pulled and stared at her moist face. “What’s wrong,
m’ija?
”

A dreamy smile settled into her delicate features. “You should ask me what’s right.” Ana sighed. “Baby-making sex is incredible.”

Supporting his weight on his elbows, Jacob combed his fingers through her hair, holding it off her forehead. “That’s because you’re incredible.” His expression changed, becoming serious. “Are you sure you want to walk down the aisle with a baby bump?”

Lines of concern appeared between her eyes. “You don’t want a baby?”

“Ana, please. Of course I do. I was just thinking about your family’s image.”

“What family image? I told you my mother was pregnant with Gabriel when she married my father. Vivienne admitted to being pregnant with S.J. before she and Diego were married. And I’ve lost count of some of the other Cole women with buns in the oven when it came time for them to exchange vows. But it’s different with us because we’re already married.”

He kissed her forehead. “You’re right.”

They were married yet there were times when Jacob didn’t feel as if they were. When he’d been assigned witness protection he usually would check into a motel with the witness, monitoring everyone coming and going. The only difference with him and Ana was they were married, and instead of living in a motel they were cloistered behind a manned gatehouse in a luxury condominium.

Rolling off her body, he pulled her bottom to his groin, covering their bodies with a lightweight blanket. The bed was wet but that didn’t matter. What mattered was Ana was safe and he would do anything in his power to keep her safe.

Earlier that evening he’d brought Jason up-to-date on his plans. Jason would drive Ana’s Ferrari and he would also use her card key which would allow him direct access to the elevator and the condo. There was one stipulation: he would call beforehand to let Jacob know he was coming.

He’d also directed Ana to suspend the cleaning service until further notice and to avoid using the concierge. Jason would bring groceries, pick up and drop off laundry. His brother-in-law had become the conduit, the connection between keeping Ana alive and those planning her demise.