Looking at the women watching as their eyes grow wide, I was pretty sure they were wishing he was doing it to them. When I turned to Jenna, her expression was the same, but she stepped behind me when the stripper looked directly at her; I didn’t blame her. She probably thought he would go to her next. And sure enough, he got off Nicole and headed toward Jenna, but one of Nicole’s friends grabbed him. She was a willing participant he gladly took instead.

As much as I was enjoying being with my friends, now that I was dating the man of my dreams, it didn’t seem right. Though I wasn’t participating, or screaming and lusting for these men, a part of me felt guilty. I wouldn’t want Matthew to be in a room full of almost naked women parading around for him to lust over. Now I understood why he didn’t want me to go.

Chippendales were not all that they were cracked up to be, not that I was expecting much in the first place. If I were single, the experience might have been different. Nicole and her single friends had a blast, and that was all that mattered. After the show ended, we dropped off Nicole’s friends at their hotel and went back to ours.

Chapter 6

Jenna

It was late afternoon when we finally arrived home. The first thing I smelled was the sweet fragrance of roses. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me until I saw a couple of vases full of the fragrant flowers on our dining table. Not only there, but also in the kitchen, on the coffee table, and in our bedrooms. I was just glad the fragrance of them didn’t make me want to vomit.

“That was so sweet of them,” Becky gushed.

While Becky texted again, most likely to Matthew, I dropped my purse on the dining chair and searched for a possible note. There it was. I took out the note that was addressed to me and read it.

My dearest Jenna,

Hope you had good time.

I missed you liked crazy.

I wanted to welcome you home,

but I didn’t want to be overbearing

so I thought roses would do the trick.

I’m trying to seduce you through this letter.

Come to me!

TLKS,

Max

My lips spread into a huge smile. I looked up to see Becky’s doing the same while reading her note.

“I’m going to Max’s place,” I said, caressing the rose petal. Feeling the softness of them always put me in a state of tranquility.

“You’re going to tell him, right?” Becky gave me a reassuring smile and plopped on the sofa.

“Yes. I’m going to tell him.” I felt bad that Nicole and Kate knew before Max. Who knew who else would find out before he did? Knowing Kate and Nicole, they probably would tell their significant others. “I’m going to give him a surprise visit and one hell of a surprise he won’t be expecting.”

“It’ll be fine, Jenna.”

“I know,” I agreed, but I really wasn’t sure.

I opened Max’s front door with my set of keys. Before I could even push it open, the door swung so fast that I almost fell. Actually, I did fall...into Max’s arms. I let go of my bag and allowed Max to hold me.

“I knew you would come.” Max started kissing me all over my face. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too, Max,” I said between his lips on mine. “Maybe I should go away more often.”

Max gave me a strange look. If his expression could speak, it would say ‘hell no’.

Taking my hand, he led me to the kitchen. I stood by the entrance while he went straight to the stove. “You came just in time for dinner.” Max stirred whatever was inside of the pot with the wooden spoon. “Did you eat? I’m making beef stew.”

“You made dinner? You know how to cook?”

“I know how to, I just don’t do it that often.”

There was something indescribably sexy about seeing a man cooking. Just watching Max brought out a strong sexual desire within me, especially when Max took the spoon out to take a sip. His lips smacked and then his tongue slid across his lips. Even though he wasn’t trying to be seductive in the least, I saw it that way.

Little did he know I felt sick to my stomach and food was the last thing on my mind. I’d heard of morning sickness, but whoever thought of the name should reconsider calling it pregnancy sickness. Morning sickness should mean only being sick in the morning. Hell, I was feeling sick all day. Pregnancy was not fun at this point. Regardless, I had to pretend that I was feeling well, at least until I told Max the news.

“I ate a little,” I lied. “But I can eat with you.”

Max turned away from the pot to look at me. How he could make cooking so sexy was beyond me. With his disarrayed hair, comfortable cotton shorts, and plain white T-shirt that framed his toned chest, I wanted to eat him. Forget about food!

“So, what did you do while I was gone?”

Max raised his brow flirtatiously, and when he spoke, his playful tone was hot and heavy. “If you want to know, come here and get your answer.”

“Maybe I don’t need an answer,” I teased back.

“Then maybe I had tons of women at my place and I stripped for them. Not only am I a great singer, I know how to dance well, too.”

I frowned at his words. Although I knew he was joking, I didn’t like the idea at all. “Maybe I let one of the dancers touch me.”

Max’s lips formed into a straight line. “Not funny, Jenna.” He turned away.

Was he mad? Jealous? Surely he knew I was playing around. I didn’t know what had gotten into me. Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones acting up, or maybe it was simply the fact that I missed him more than I would admit. Whatever the reason, I had to have him now.