Anneliese was speechless.


    Am I really like that?


    A big softie?


    She instinctively turned her head and immediately caught sight of Jonathan standing by the bed, calmly stepping into his trousers.


    ck cks settled snugly around his lean waist, outlining a wless inverted triangle that left absolutely nothing to the imagination.


    He bent to retrieve the shirt from the bed and gave it a light shake. Sunlight streamed through the window, turning the white fabric almost translucent as it draped over his shoulders, just long enough to conceal a glimpse of powerful back muscles that made one want to whistle outright.


    Wow.


    It seemed Jessica hadn''t exaggerated at all.


    Anneliese flushed, snapping her gaze away as she lifted a hand to the corner of her mouth.


    Thank goodness I''m not drooling.


    "I left half an hour ago. I''m already on my way to the airport," Jessica said briskly


    over the phone. "Juste straight there. We''ll meet at the terminal."


    Before hanging up, she added a warning with lethal emphasis, "If you miss sending me off again, you are dead."


    The call ended, and Anneliese immediately sprang into action.


    She and Jonathan headed downstairs together. Breakfast had already been prepared and kept warm by Margot. Anneliese ate quickly, barely tasting it, then stood up.


    "I''m heading out."


    Beside her, Jonathan wiped his lips unhurriedly. He rose and reached for a napkin.


    "I''ll take you to the airport."


    As he spoke, he rested a hand on her shoulder and gently dabbed at her lips, wiping away the faint sheen of oil left behind by a custard bun.


    Anneliese looked up at him. "Are you sure you want to?"


    "Why wouldn''t I?" he replied calmly. "I''m heading to the operations center anyway. Come on."


    They really were short on time. He''d lost a bit of control this morning. And with her this flustered, there was no way he''d feelfortable letting her drive alone.


    Anneliese shrugged lightly. "I was just thinking that it might be awkward exining things to your best friendter. I mean, if you don''t go see her off, you could still tell Zane you had no idea Jess was leaving. See? I''m thoughtful, right?"


    Jonathan studied the sly glint in her eyes and snorted inwardly.


    She thinks I can''t hear the trap beingid?


    He was certain that if he so much as followed that logic, she''d immediately lump him


    and Zane into the same category of irredeemable scumbags.


    He picked up his suit jacket, took her hand, and guided her toward the door.


    "Don''t worry, Sweetheart," he said


    Anneliese rose onto her toes and nted a satisfied kiss on his sharply defined cheek.


    "Honey, you really are pure as theye."


    On the drive to the airport, Jonathan loungedfortably behind the wheel, eyes rxed, mood visibly content.


    In the passenger seat, Anneliese was in a frenzy, scrambling to do her makeup.


    Concealer was absolutely non-negotiable. The marks on her neck and behind her ears were far too obvious.


    Every time they stopped at a red light, Jonathan would tilt his head and openly watch her as she applied her makeup.


    She shot him a look. "Why are you staring at me like that?"


    Doing makeup under that kind of gaze is stressful, okay?


    His lips curved. "Because you''re beautiful. The kind I could look at every day and never get tired of."


    He meant it. Truly. If every morning began with watching her sit there, focused and glowing as she did her makeup, his entire day would feel lighter.


    What does a man work so hard for, after all?


    Isn''t it so the woman he loves could live beautifully?


    Watching her like this felt peaceful, it was as if time itself had slowed down.


    Anneliese snapped herpact shut, reached out, and brushed her fingertip across his lips before pulling back and turning her face toward the sunlight streaming through the window.


    "What are you looking at?" Jonathan asked knowingly.


    She wiggled her finger. "The grease on your lips. See? My fingertip''s shiny."


    Jonathan raised a brow. "Are you sure that wasn''t because you''ve been touching me so much you''ve practically worn me smooth? You slept like a jogst night, yet you didn''t even leave my abs.


    Anneliese was too shy to speak.


    Trading banter the entire way, they arrived at the terminal with just half an hour to spare before Jessica had to board.


    Anneliese grabbed Jessica''s hands andunched into her final round of instructions.


    "Call me the moment yound in Harborview. As soon as you get a new SIM, contact me again. If anything happens, tell me immediately. And if things get hard out there, youe straight back.


    "I swear that even if Zane tries to take the baby, I''d sell myself before I let anything happen to you or our little one.


    "But honestly, I hope you fly free out there. And if you happen to meet a few blond, blue-eyed guys-older, younger whatever and fall into a couple of passionate romances, that wouldn''t be bad either."