“Yes.”
“He’s definitely out of your life?”
“I never want to see him again,” she told him fervently.
Tension drifted from his shoulders. “Then it doesn’t matter.”
***
Jacey stared up at Derrick’s house as he pulled the car up to the front door. She let out a small sigh as he jumped out of the car. Undoing her belt, she reached her for her door handle. She’d tried to protest, but he’d brushed her arguments aside, telling her to sit back and rest.
To her chagrin, she’d done just that. It was just so easy to let Derrick take over. She knew it wasn’t right. She had so many secrets, so many reasons why she couldn’t get involved with him. But right now those reasons had flown out the window.
She just needed to catch her breath. She didn’t want to take advantage of Derrick. As soon as she felt better, she’d leave. But she was seriously worried that she would be jeopardizing the health of her baby if she were to go back out on the streets at the moment.
Derrick opened her door and reaching in, scooped her up into his arms.
“Derrick! I can walk.” She blushed.
“Save your lungs, love. Besides, I like carrying you. You wouldn’t deny me that pleasure, would you?”
Robert approached them as Derrick headed toward the front door. “Let me get the door for you.”
“Thanks, Robert. Jacey, do you remember Robert?”
She nodded at the older man who smiled down at her.
“I’m going to take Jacey upstairs. She needs to rest. There are a few prescriptions sitting in the car, could you go get them filled for me? I’ll be working from home for at least the rest of the week.”
“Certainly. Hope you feel better soon, miss.”
“Please, call me Jacey,” she said with a smile.
Robert closed the door behind them and Derrick carried her toward the staircase.
“Derrick, you don’t have to rearrange your life for me,” she said in protest. “I’ll be perfectly fine here on my own.”
“Baby, the best thing about being the boss is that I can do whatever suits me. And right now, what suits me best is to work from home so I can keep an eye on you.”
He strode into his bedroom and Jacey gave up arguing. Truth be told, she just didn’t have the energy. Derrick sat her on the side of the bed and Jacey looked around as he walked over to a chest of drawers.
“My backpack!” she said with relief. Derrick turned.
“Yes, you were wearing it when I found you. I brought it back here with me. I haven’t opened it. I can unpack it if you like.”
“No, that’s okay,” she told him, not wanting him to see that she carried her whole life in that bag.
She stood, swaying slightly as spots danced in front of her eyes. “Sit down before you fall down,” his deep voice growled, pressing on her shoulders. Then her head was being pushed between her knees, a firm hand surrounded her nape as Derrick murmured to her soothingly.
“That’s it, take another breath.”
“I’m okay now,” she said, coughing as he helped her sit up. Derrick reached over and poured a glass of water from the pitcher on the nightstand and held it up to her lips. Jacey sipped from it.
“You can unpack your backpack later, after you’ve rested,” he said, his stern voice stirring her in ways it shouldn’t have. What was it with her and take-charge men? Why couldn’t she fall for an easy-going guy who would do what she said?
“Raise your arms.”
“What?”