Chapter 20

Chapter 20
Ellie’s POV
He was close. Too close.
I could feel Nolan breath against my skin before I even dared to meet his gaze. His face hovered inches from mine, his eyes narrowed, sharp and unreadable. My back was against the cool stone wall of the alley between the café and the bookstore, and his arm was braced above me, caging me in.
There was tension in the way he leaned in, like he was studying me. Or worse, smelling me.
Because he was.
His nose brushed the edge of my jaw, and I shivered, caught somewhere between discomfort and a rush of heat that pulse through me.
I gritted my teeth. “Nolan I muttered low, annoyed at how hot my body was getting.
He studied me, silent. His gaze dropped briefly to my lips, then back up. His lashes were ridiculously long up close.
I suddenly remembered Rae was still there.
“Are you trying to kiss me?” I demanded.
“No,” he snapped. “Why would I-?”
“Check my scent? Because if you’re trying to do either, I’m gonna throw my coffee at you.”
He stiffened. Rae actually laughed, but with one glare from Nolan, her hand slapped back over her mouth.
“Is this part of the contract?” I deadpanned. “Because I’m pretty sure invading personal space wasn’t in the fine print. Or sexual harrassment.”
He ignored me, taking one last breath behind my ear, sending a silver down my spine. His lips tightened, and for a second, he looked almost… disappointed. Like he was expecting something and didn’t find it. Then he pulled back just enough to meet my eyes directly, the chill returning to his face.
“Go home, Ellie.”
I crossed my arms, forcing some space between us. “Ah, excuse me?”
“You’re my Luna. Hanging around on a crowded street like that, letting strange men grab your arm? If someone got a photo of that, it would be on the gossip boards in under five minutes. I have enough rumors to deal with.”
“Wow,” I said, voice syrupy sweet. “You really know how to make a girl feel special. Public image this, public perception that,”
“You agreed to the contract,” he snapped.
I snorted and pushed past him. “Right. And I also agreed to the paycheck. So don’t worry, I’ll play the part. Perfect Luna. Submissive wife. No more coffee dates for me.”
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Chapter 20
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Behind me, Rae was waiting, eyeing Nolan like he was a rabid wolf barely held back by a leash. But sehe seemed to have enough. She grabbed my arm and pulled me away, giving Nolan a forced smile. “Sorry, sir. We’ll be just a second. Forgive the intrusion.”
We stopped few step away, huddling together as she hissed. “Hello?! What was any of that?! Are you seriously going back with him? I thought he was going to kiss you!”
I rolled my eyes, “No! He was just trying to get a whiff for my pregnacy. But he didn’t find anything, I could tell.”
I paused for a moment. “Thought, he has a point,” I muttered, trying not to sound too annoyed.
Rae blinked rapidly, “What? About sniffing you?”
“No,” I chuckled. “Reputation and all that. We did agree to a deal were I make him look good. Maybe it’s time I head back.”
She tipped the last of her coffee to her lip. “Fine, we did have a banger of a day. But
if he tries sniffing you again like a creep, I’m kicking him in the teeth.”
I laughed, genuinely this time as I turned to leave. “Deal.”
I stifferened as her hand caught my sleeve, pulling me back. She softened a little, but her eyes were still worried. “Before you go, are you feeling okay? Morning sickness yet.”
“It comes and goes,” I lied. I wasn’t about to confess in the middle of a public street that I’d nearly thrown up twice just walking past a seafood stall. I was trying ot make this day as perfect a I could.
She sighed and launched into a dramatic list of things to avoid, waving her empty coffee cup like a tiny dagger. No caffeine. No raw fish. No lifting heavy things.”
I was too busy laughing, “Yes, nurse Rae,” to notice Nolan had circled back until his voice cut through the air.
“Feeling unwell?”
Both Rae and I jumped near to the moon.
We answered in unison. “Just tired.”
His eyes lingered on me longer than I liked. For a moment, I wondered if he could see past it, if he could smell what he was so desperate to prove before.
But then he just nodded once. “You two finish you’re shopping. I’ll be waiting in the car by the north side of the shops when you’re done.” He rubbed the back of his nack awkwardly. “Go… have fun.”
I blinked. Rae blinked. Somewhere, a pig probably flew.
“Ah,” I said, completely lost. “That’s okay, really. We were finishing up
“Oh,” he said, straightening his jacket. “Are you sure? I heard outtings like this help with… depression or… whatever.”
We blinked again.
Since when did he care about my mental health?
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After a few beats of imcreditbly awkward silence, I waved a hand. “Really… we’re good.”
He nodded stiffly and motion to the black car not far from us. “Then shall we go home?”
I could have sworn I was in a twilight zone. Despite my confusion, I nodded, following him to the car.
He even opened to door for me.
I climbed in and waved goodbye, mouthing another silent thank you to Rae. She mouthed back, Call me if he breathes too close again.
At the villa, Nolan barely looked at me as we entered, tossing his jacket to the hook.
“I appreciate you corraperation in coming back here, but I have urgent work to do. Don’t disturb me unless it’s important.” 1
And… the jerk was back to his old self. He must have been real annoyed not to find any scent of my pregnacy, I was careful to show no signs.
“Oh, believe me,” I said, breezing past him, “you are the last person I’d want to disturb for company.”
I headed upstairs, changed into workout clothes, and cranked up music in the guest room. Then I did yoga. Stretched. Hummed along with a playlist. Whistled.
This was the easiest this house had ever felt.
But just when I thought I was in the clear, my stomach lurched. Hard.
In his suspicious look, My body twisted with warning, and I rushed for the bathroom.
I barely made it to the toilet before I was throwing up everything I’d eaten that day with Rae.
I flushed, wiped my mouth, and sank back against the cool tiles, breathing in through my nose.
Damn the morning sickness…
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