XXVII.

Annie stood beside Jovon as Jack parked a sleek,silver, expensive convertible in front of them. She sighed as Jack got out of the car and walked up to them.

"Pretty car," she said when Jack got to them. "Very pretty car."

Jovon collected the keys from him. "We won't be needing you today, Jack." Then he turned to Annie. "Want to drive?"

She blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Drive. The. Car. You're supposed to be the smart one. I've seen you drive, and although it wasn't a pleasant meeting, I trust you to be on your best behaviour when driving."

She looked from him to the Mercedes and back. "But it's your car. You're a guy. And as far as I'm concerned, guys don't share their cars. Certainly not expensive ones like this."

"It's just a car,Annie. It's not my life." He shook his head. "Now answer the question. Do you want to drive?"

She snatched the keys from him before he could change his mind. "Absolutely."

But as she made her way to the driver's side, she glanced at him. Sure, Jovon had a lot of money and if something happened to his car, he could easily get another, but it was the principle of the matter. It wasn't normal behaviour. Was he really so secure with himself that he could let her do this without a second thought?

She settled into the leather seat ad surveyed the interior. There were basics she was used to, along with GPS display, dual zone air-conditioning and a sound system that looked complicated enough to be on the space shuttle.

"It's nice today." He said. "Want to put the top down?"

"Oh,yeah."

She scanned the controls and found the one that took care of the top, then put the key in the ignition and turned to watch the show.

It was a marvel of German engineering, she thought as the top automatically folded down and a built-in cover slipped over it. All without her doing anything.

Then she faced front, adjusted the mirrors, started the engine and prepared to be impressed.

"How fast can I go?" She asked.

"How much are you willing to pay for a ticket?"

"Good point. So where to?"

"Today we are taking care of food and dessert, tuxes and dresses, table linen and also party favours." He glanced at his watch. "We have an appointment at the clothes store first."

He gave her the address and she pulled out into the street. The car responded to her every instructions, the engine purred smoothly and she could feel the power hovering just a press of her foot away. The day was warmed, the wind danced across her face and she just felt pretty and damned happy.

"I could get used to this," she said as she came to a stop at a red light.

"So you've been tempted by the dark side?"

She grinned. "More than tempted," Obviously a car like this wasn't possible on her budget, but maybe a used convertible wasn't out of the question. It could still be fun.

She drove to the boutique and resisted the urge to take an extra trip around the block, just for the driving pleasure. Instead she parked and climbed out.

"Thanks," She said, handing over the keys. "That was great."

"Anytime."

"As if you mean that. Still, I'm deeply impressed you let me drive at all. You're very secure."

"I'm a macho kind of guy."

She laughed. "Not to mention modest. You're extremely modest."

The tux shop was well lit and elegant. Not exactly like those places at the mall. Annie felt distinctly underdressed, especially when the sales person, a gorgeous brunette in her twenties, stepped out from behind the counter in an outfit that looked as if it cost as much as Annie's wardrobe.

"May I help you?" she asked, her gaze locking on Jovon.

"We're here looking for tuxes," he said. "For wedding anniversary."

The woman-Isabella, according her nametag- sighed. "Yours?"

"No. I'm just representing some people. The men in question are in Philadelphia. I'm supposed to make the right decision without him."

"I see." Isabella turned her piercing gray eyes on Annie. "And you are?"

"The daughter and sister of the men in question. I get a vote."

"Wonderful."

Isabella's attention swung back to Jovon. Annie had a feeling it was never going to stray again.

"We have an amazing collection of designer tuxedos." Isabella said, her voice low and sultry. "They're available for rent or purchase. Does the groom have your build?"

Jovon glanced down at himself, the at Annie. "Two of the men in question are about the same size at as me and the older man is in his sixties, don't you think?"

Annie nodded. "Pretty much. We want something simple, but elegant. Unfortunately the colors haven't been picked yet, and we have to send the tuxes this weekend."

Isabella continued to gaze at Jovon. "That's fine. You can try on whatever you like to see what makes you happy. Then you would drop the address you want it to be delivered to and also pay the bills with your card."

Annie had the feeling that Jovon could visit everyday and Isabella wouldn't mind. It got on her nerves, but there was nothing she could do. Jovon wasn't hers,and he was free to do as he wished,but then again he had promised not to be with anyone while with her.

The three of them walked over to the display rack of tuxedos. Isabella eyed Jovon's body in a way that made Annie feel that she had stumbled into something intimate, then pulled out several selections.

"There are colour if choices, of course," Isabella said. "Traditional black, various shades of gray, and a few other colours such as dark blue."

Jovon grimaced. "Black or gray works for me. We're just looking for a regular tux. Bow tie and cummerbund."

"I like vests better," Annie said. Jovon looked at her, Isabella didn't.

"Vests?" He sounded doubtful. "I never wear a vest."

"How often do you put on a tux? Cummerbund remind me of a high school prom. A vest can be elegant."

He shrugged. "Okay, but then I want a regular tie. A vest with bow tie makes me feel like a grandfather."

Isabella ran her hand down his arm. "You're certainly not that, are you?"

At first, Annie wanted to march over to that whore and drag her away from Jovon by her hair but decided against it. Let him suffer.

"At least try on both." She suggested. "If you hate it when it's on, you can whine then we won't take it."

"I don't whine."

"Oh,please. I've heard you."

Isabella moved between them. "Let me get your size," she said, whipping a tape measure out of the jacket of her very tailored and body-hugging suit. "Just hold your hands at your sides and relax."

Annie leaned against the counter as Isabella did a very thorough job of the measuring. There was so much touching and cooing that even Jovon started to look uncomfortable.

"All right," Isabella said when she finally finished. "Let's get you into a dressing room and see how things go."

As she went into the back to get samples, Annie grinned even though her insides were crunching. "I hope she's quiet,because I embarrass easily. If the two if you start moaning, I'm out if here. Oh, give me the car keys so I can abandon you."

Jovon gripped her arm. "You're not going anywhere. That woman scares me."

She laughed. "Oh, please. Is the big, bad millionaire frightened by the little girl in the tux shop? Poor Jovon."

He narrowed his gaze. "You think this is funny."

"It kind of is."

It would have been different if they were in a real relationship. She couldn't play the role of a jealous girlfriend for the fear of Jovon getting angry with her and ending what they had. Isabella's act was disconcerting, but as it was, she could only have fun at his expense. Or pretend to at least.

"There was a ting twinge of some-thing buried inside her stomach, but she wasn't going worry about whatever stray feeling she might  have. This was Jovon. Someone who could never love her in a million years.

He pulled her into the dressing area with him. "Who's laughing now?" He asked as he jerked open a slated door to a big dressing area, complete with a wooden chair. "Have a seat."

She folded her arms over her chest. "Excuse me? I can't sit here and watch you undress." Her cheeks got hot just from her thinking about it. She lowered her voice. "We're in public."

"It's nothing you haven't seen before." He teased. "Besides, I am wearing briefs. What's the problem then? I am not going to be left Aline with that woman."

He was serious. She wasn't sure if she was shocked or about to break out in hysterical laughter. "You expect me to protect you?"

"Damned straight." He deadpanned. "In fact, I expected you to go all crazy mood on her when she got touchy-feely."

She felt her lips begin to twitch, but she managed to hold her grin. "All right. I'll sit here and watch you try on clothes. But I have to tell you, I'm a little disappointed. Given the way you reacted to me when we first met I thought you'd go ape-shit crazy on her. It's another hope dashed. Any more disappointment like this and I'll need therapy."

He glared at her. "I know her type. She's not going to take no for an answer."

"And the big bad millionaire doesn't want to hurt her feelings." Annie said, mocking him with baby voice.

His eyes narrowed,but before he could respond, Isabella appeared with several tuxedos. She came to a stop when she saw Annie in the dressing area.

"You're helping?" She asked in a voice that indicated such a thing could not be possible.

"Absolutely." Jovon told her. "Annie has perfect taste."

"He's pretty helpless without me," Annie said with a smile. "Practically unstable."

Jovon's gaze lasered in on her face and she had a feeling she might have to pay for that later, but who cared? This was a side of him she could never have imagined and she planned to enjoy every minute of it.

Not only seeing him as someone with flaws and weakness, she thought as Isabella hung the tuxes on hook and flounced out of the room, but as someone who was a lot more interesting than she'd first realized.

It wasn't until he began to pull off his shirt did she realize the small detail she had overlooked. The dressing room was oversized, but still relatively closed quarters considering she and Jovon were alone and he was about to take his clothes off in front of her.

He shrugged out of the shirt. His broad chest came into view and she got the full details of what she hadn't noticed in the morning. She liked the faint dusting of hair that trailed down to his waistband. But when he reached for that waistband, she found herself suddenly staring at the floor.

"Your brothers better appreciate this." Jovon muttered.

"They will." She said,noting his socks were dark and new.

There was a rustle of movement, then he pulled on the pants from the first tux. She decided to distracted to herself from the process by being busy. After handing him his shirt, she slipped the jacket off the hanger and studied the weave of the fabric, then fingered the lapel.

Isabella appeared in the doorway. "Vest or cummerbund?" She asked,holding out one of each.

"Vest," Annie said, taking it from her and handing it to Jovon. "You said you'd try it."

He grunted, then slipped it on. Annie admired the way cut emphasized the breadth of his shoulders and narrowness of his hips. A faint tingle came to life somewhere behind her belly button.

He took a tie from Isabella and eased it under his collar. After securing the knot, he put on the jacket.

"There's a three-way mirror out here," Isabella said.

He followed her into the large center area of the dressing rooms. He stepped onto the platform in front of the mirror and stared at his reflection.

"What do you think?" He asked.

"Splendid!" Isabella purred as she stepped up behind him and began smoothing down the shoulders and pulling at the hem of his jacket.

Annie agreed at the sentiment, even as the other woman's need to touch every inch of Jovon got to her nerves. This was a business, not a touching zoo.

Determined to be mature and let Jovon handle the situation, she ignored Isabella and her roving hands.

"I like the vest." She said.

Jovon nodded. "Me,too. I see what you're going for. It's less traditional than the cummerbund, but it looks great. We'll be taking three of this suits and the vests and ties. Also have them make slight altercation for the ones my size by adding an inch or two just in case."

"Huh, I'll write down the account number you're to deposit the payment into."

Annie held in a groan as Jovon sidestepped Isabella. "Awesome. Why don't you go and get that information now?"

She reluctantly stepped back. When she'd left the dressing room, he turned to Annie.

"You're supposed to be protecting me."

"You're big enough to protect yourself."

"We're supposed to be a team. I'd rush to your rescue."

Annie sighed. She couldn't figure put what he wanted from her. Was she supposed to act jealous or what?

Marching over to where he stood on the platform, she grabbed his jacket, pulled until he stepped down from the platform. The she raised herself on tiptoe, wrapped her hands around his neck and smashed her mouth to his.

There was nothing soft about the way he took her mouth. He kissed her like a man dying of thirst, as if he wanted to swallow her from her mouth down. His hands strayed to cup her breasts and kneaded them through the fabric of her bra and shirt.

A moan escaped her lips as he walked her back into a mirror and pressed her against it until his body was flush with hers. She pulled back just as she heard the sound of a very irrigated person clearing her throat. She opened her eyes and saw Isabella standing in the entrance to the dressing room.

"You two should get a room," she said in a icy voice.

"Interesting thought." Jovon drawled.

Isabella turned and left.

Several comments floated to the surface of her brain, but they all sounded stupid. Even if they didn't she wasn't sure she could talk. Her throat was dry and tight and she had a feeling her voice would sound breathless.

"Annie," Jovon began.

Annie shook her head. "I'll be waiting outside." She left him alone to change back in his street clothes and walked out to wait Buh the car.

If she'd stayed longer. She might have made the mistake of voicing her feelings which would do them no good at this point. So the best thing was to act ignorant.

Minutes later, they walked into the rental showroom.

"I called ahead," Jovon told her. "They'll have table set up for us. We can get some ideas of what colours work together and how informal or formal we want things to be."

They walked into the showroom and saw a dozen tables set for dinner. Each table was done in a different colour, with coordinating china and a centerpiece."

They introduced themselves to the clerk there, who invited them to walk around and get ideas.

Annie immediately moved toward a round table with yellow table cloth and elegant pink napkins.

The plates were cream, trimmed in silver: the centerpiece was a combination of pink and yellow flowers that trailed across the center of the table. Even seated, the guests would be able to see each other and the colours were warm and cheerful.

"I like it too." Jovon told her. "But I also like the one over there."

He pointed at the next to them and Annie winced. The China was black, the napkins were dark and the flowers looked like something out of a horror movie.

"It's elegant." He said when he saw her face.

"It's scary. We have children attending and I don't want them to be scared."

He huffed. "Fine, you win. But for the flowers we need more recommendations."

"You figure that one out. We also need chair covers."

He swore softly. "Those shits are expensive. They're four bucks each. With two hundred chairs, that's eight thousand dollars to throw a price of cloth over the chair. Can't they be naked?"

She patted his arm. "No. They look better covered."

He sighed as he glanced at his watch. "We still have to visit the careering services."

"Right."

After telling the clerk their decisions and making the necessary arrangements to have them shipped to West Mercer, the both of them set out for the car, where Annie was behind the wheels once more, after much persuasion and coaxing of course.

"Who's your favourite author?" He asked out if the blue startling her.

"Ben Carson."

He hummed. "Why him?"

"Well, he writes about reality, and not just plain fiction. His books speaks of morals, level of the societies today, the list is endless." She braked at a red light. Then turned to face him. "My favourite book is Rich Dad, Poor Dad. What about you?"

"Jane Austen."

Annie's jaw dropped open. "Wha-?"

He glanced at her from the corner of his eyes. "Why? Am I not allowed to like classics?"

"You don't strike me as a classic type of book guy." She picked her jaw off the floor of the car. "What do you know about Jane Austen?"

"Every good useless male who once dated models knows all about chick flicks and Jane Austen. It's required. I not only saw Bridget Jones' diary twice, I've seen the special feature. I even have the first published edition of Pride And Prejudice. Ask me anything."

She burst out laughing. The sound was light and sexy and made Jovon want to touch her. All of her. Unexpected heat swept through him, startling him with its intensity.

He was grateful when the lights turned green and she started driving. The rest of the ride was spent asking simple harmless questions. Like hobbies and more. After what felt like ages, thanks to the traffic, they managed to arrive at their destination a minute before the scheduled time.

"This place comes highly recommended." He said as they made their way to the front door. "It's supposed to be good food with more choices than beef or chicken. If this is the one we pick, we'll be able to customize the menu. Or in our case, argue over food options."

"You think we're going to argue?" She asked.

"Counting on it."

"I'm a pretty agreeable person, but I'm sure you'd be the difficult one." She said as he held the door open. "I'll be flexible on food,but not the dessert thing."

"What dessert thing?"

She smiled at him. "That we have dessert. It's one of the thrills of any party. You get dessert and cake. How often does that happen in life?"

"Far be it from me to get between a woman and her sugar fix."

"Pretty and smart." She murmured. "How impressive."

"I know." He turned his attention to the receptionist and introduced them.

"I'm Shekinah,"The woman said with a smile. "We're ready for you. If you'd come this way?"

They were led into a small room set up like a dining area. The table for twelve had two place settings at one end.

Shekinah seated them, then pointed out the menu printed on a single sheet by the plates.

"We'll go in order," she said. "We'll start with soups, then the salad and so on. Please make notes or write down any questions."

She left them returned immediately with three small bowls for each of them. 

"Lovely presentation," Annie said as she picked the sprig of garnish out of one of the bowls. "Why do they have to put some garden weed on top of a dish? What is it? How do we know where it's been?"

"The not knowing adds to the thrill of the moment."

She looked at him, her eyes wide. "Are you thrilled?"

"Beyond words."

"Liar," she murmured, then took a taste of the first soup. "Split pea with something else. Not bad."

He tasted it and shook his head. "No, thanks."

They both passed on the creamy mystery soup, while he liked the chicken vegetable and Annie complained it was too healthy.

"We're at an anniversary. Do we really have to get out fiver servings of fruits and vegetables in the first course?"

He poked around the bowl. "Not a lot of fruit that I can see."

"You know what I mean." She set down her spoon. "What about tortilla soup? Or quesadilla? Doesn't that sound good?"

"You want to serve Mexican food at your parents anniversary?"

Annie's shoulder slumped. "Not really, but I could go for some right now. I should ha e eaten before we came here and now I am really hungry."

"So you like food?"

She narrowed her gaze. "Yes, some women eat. I eat. Shocking, but true. I also run everyday, so I can eat what I like and enjoy it. Got a problem with that?"

"Running with that chip on your shoulder must help with your workout. The extra weight would increase intensity."

She opened her mouth, then closed it. "Are you saying that I'm a little sensitive about the food thing?"

"Would I say that?"

"Well, I don't seek approval from anyone but myself."

"Why would you?"

She smiled. "You're humoring me."

"It seems safest. You have some attitude on you."

"I know. I don't get it. I'm actually a fairly clean person. I'm not sure what is it about you that pushes all my buttons."

"It's because I am smooth and handsome," he said as Shekinah came in with several salad plates, along with a basket of rolls. "Or maybe you love me?"

You have no idea how accurate that is.

Annie chose to ignore him and watched as Shekinah placed the dishes in front of them and began to pack the soup bowls. After tasting the salad and finally deciding to choose one with less cream. Shekinah arrived again with another bowls and packed away the ones from before.

Annie stared down at the small plate of pasta in front of her. While she appreciated the artful prese-ntation, she was starting to get a little paranoid.

She leaned closer to Jovon and whispered. "Is it just me or has every dish been covered with some kind of cream sauce?"

"It's not you," he whispered back. "The salad dressing, that creamy soup, the chicken, the crab cakes."

"Now this pasta." She murmured. "If we pick this place, we'd have to have white as our accent colour."

She raked her fork through the perfectly cooked fettuccini. The shrimp were delicate, the diced vegetable crisp, the sauce a decadent blend of cream and cheese and whatever spices went into it, but still.

"We can leave," he told her.

"Do you hate the food?" She asked.

"No it's good. It's just..."

"Too much?"

He nodded.

Annie glanced at the food and raise the fork towards her lips with a skeptic look. Just as she caught the whiff of the food, her stomach turned and bile rose in her throat. Shekinah returned to the room just as she pushed her chair back and shot to her feet.

She seemed to know what's wrong,because she jerked her thumb over her shoulder. "Bathroom's that way. First door on your left."

She ran toward the bathroom and collapsed on her knees just in time to throw up into the toilet bowl. Annie had no idea how much time had passed. She'd already thrown up twice and had a bad feeling she wasn't done. She felt shaky and weak, hot and cold, and a distinct longing to never feel this horrible ever again.

She sat in the marble floor, her eyes closed and wondered if she had the strength to lift herself off the floor. First, she doubted she could make the trip back to the room without committing again. Second, she couldn't seem to focus on anything but how miserable she felt.

There was a knock on the bathroom door.

"Annie?""

She recognised Jovon's voice. Why had this had to happen here of all places? With him around?

"Yeah?" Was her weak reply.

"How's your stomach?"

"Awful. I can't figure out what's wrong."

"I can. Food poisoning. All those cream sauces."

"Must be."

"Come on. Let's go home now so you can rest."

She hesitated for a second, then staggered to her feet. Stretching out on a bed sounded really good right now. She opened the bathroom door and saw Jovon looking at her with concern.

"You look pale, slightly green and you have shadow under your eyes."

"Aren't we an attractive couple." She murmured as he took her hand and pulled her toward the entrance.

"We'll take picture so it would last."

Despite how sick she felt, she started to laugh. "You sure know how to treat a girl right."

"Tell me about it."

They got to the car and he helped her into the passengers seat before starting for the house. On the way home, Annie closed her eyes and leaned her head against the window, shivering slightly.  It was then it hit her.

She got her period last month!

Annie jolted upright. She hadn't seen it this month which was quite unusual.  She glanced at Jovon who gaze remained on the road, then her gaze fell back on her lap. She can't be... No way!

Besides, there was still few day before the month ended, which meant that it would be arriving later than usual. And her nausea must be food poisoning as Jovon said.

It had to be.

Consoling herself with that thought, she leaned her head against the headrest and closed her eyes.

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