Page 126 of Wicked Intentions (Wicked Games 3)
“I got accepted into Harvard,” she says with a shrug, like it’s no big deal.
“At fifteen?”
Tabby laughs at the expression on my face. “How’s your big brain feeling now, jarhead?”
“Shriveled,” I admit.
“And how are you feeling, Mariana?” Tabby gestures to the bump under Mariana’s pretty red dress.
Mariana looks down at her belly, smiles, and rests her hand on top of the bean. “Good,” she murmurs. “Other than the morning sickness, which should really be called all-day sickness, I feel great.” She glances at me, and her smile grows deeper. “It helps that I’m not allowed to lift a finger to do even the smallest bit of housework. I went out for a few hours yesterday afternoon to do some shopping, but mainly I spend my days napping and eating.”
“There’s a few other things you spend time doing, too.” I grin down at her and pinch her ass.
“TMI, bitches,” Juanita says, and goes back to her books.
“Got a call from Karpov this morning,” Connor drawls, looking at me.
“Karpov!” I say, surprised. “I know it wasn’t about the Hope, ’cause he got that back weeks ago.”
“It was about another job he needs us for.”
My brow creases. “Another job? What’s wrong this time? Don’t tell me his daughter was kidnapped again!”
Connor chuckles. “Nope. Now his son’s gone missing from his rich-kid prep school in London.”
A little chill runs down my spine. Maybe there’s something to the curse on that diamond after all. Mariana must sense what I’m thinking, because she squeezes my fingers and sends me a reassuring smile.
“Everybody to the table! Dinner’s on!” Darcy hollers at her normal, eardrum-shattering level.
We walk into the dining room, everyone oohing and aahing over the extravagant place settings and crystal, and take our seats while Darcy and Kai proceed to bring out enough food to feed an army. I’m happy when I see the turkey, golden brown and traditional, and even happier when I see fluffy white dinner rolls appear, wrapped up snug in a linen napkin in a basket.
“Oh, baby, turn off the TV, would you?” Darcy says to Kai.
His hands are full, so I offer to get it. I rise and amble into the living room, pick up the remote from the coffee table, and am about to hit the power button when something the perky blonde newscaster is saying stops me cold.
“—haven’t yet apprehended the perpetrators who broke into the store yesterday afternoon after it had closed early for the Thanksgiving holiday, but the theft is being called ‘incredibly well planned and executed’ by the police, who wouldn’t answer many of our specific questions, citing the ongoing investigation. One thing of interest they did share with the press, however, was the unusual method the thieves used to gain entrance to the flagship Harry Winston store on Fifth Avenue. Apparently, they came in through the air-conditioning vents.”
I turn slowly, the remote control in a death grip in my hand, and look at Mariana. “Angel?”
Radiant, she glances up at me with an expectant smile. “Yes?”
I gaze at the diamond studs glittering in her earlobes
. “Are those new earrings?”
“These? she asks innocently. “Oh, they’re just a little something I picked up in my travels.”
“Your travels,” I repeat flatly. I fold my arms across my chest. “You got somethin’ you wanna confess?” I growl.
Her smile glows as brilliant as the sun. “Only that I love you, sweetie!”
When I growl again, she bursts into laughter. She pushes her chair back from the table and comes to me, her eyes shining, that brilliant smile lighting up her whole face. She puts her arms around my shoulders and rises up on her toes to give me a kiss.
“You’re too easy to wind up, honey. I wouldn’t risk the bean or my future with you for a pair of earrings.” Then she whispers into my ear. “By the way, the answer to the other question you haven’t asked yet is yes.”
“Other question?” I say gruffly, holding her tight and inhaling her scent, pepper and clover and something sweet that’s all her. “What other question?”
She presses another kiss to my lips. Then she lifts her left hand next to her face and wiggles her fingers.
