Touching the Heart of Ace novel Chapter 69

I smiled when Gabe sat next to Jason and his hand, having its own mind, clutched on Jason's thigh. But when Jason's hand looped over his, without even noticing, I turned my face away. It was so intimately private.

My brother looked like he was in love. Was that why people said if you once loved someone it was so difficult to remain just friends?

Jason and I talked nonstop in FaceTime. He was going crazy with worry and I was glad Gabe was there to stop him from doing anything reckless. I hoped Jason would come clean and tell me that they were boyfriends. It had not happened yet but Gabe got promoted to 'friends'.

I meant I had met many of Jason's friends-with-benefits and he never showed them any affection anywhere. But with Gabe he was definitely different.

Gabe was different too.

Why else would he come from Milan to Paris when my brother was freaking out?

"I told you. He is fine." Gabe told Jason and he nodded.

"I worry."

Gabe chuckled. "Oh, really? I did not know."

Jason pushed him away, annoyed but he bounced back laughing.

"I am right here, guys."

"Oh, shut it. You forget about us when your man is next to you."

"Ah! I would never." I dramatically placed my hand over my heart and they rolled their eyes.

"Remember my birthday?" Gabe asked.

"One time! That was one time." I glared. That was no big deal. Robbie and I might have slipped out for a bit of, kind of, sort of, most likely, may be, had very normal, completely innocent, sex in our car.

Couples did that. All the time. It is no big deal. Well, Jason might have looked around us for cake cutting and definitely thought we had taken off because we only returned during dinner... which was perfectly fine.

"How about we talk about conference in Ottawa?" Jason helpfully added.

I crossed my hands over my chest. Fine, that time too. Two times were not bad.

"Oh, on yacht, remember? God I thought I had to bleach my eyes." Gabe chortled.

"You had to bleach your eyes? Dude, I walked right into that one and saw that fucker... with my brother, babe, my brother." Jason rubbed his eyes hard.

Babe? Wow! That deep?

Gabe dropped his head on Jason's shoulder. "You can come to my next session. My therapist has been asking for you, anyways."

"What the eff! Why did you not tell me?" Jason pushed his shoulder to drop Gabe's head.

"It is not a big deal." Gabe kept on looking at me to avoid Jason's stare.

"What is not a big deal? Your therapist asking for me or plain o' me? Is that it? I am not a big deal?"

"She would not have asked for 'you' if you were not a big deal." Gabe glared at him right back.

"Whatever." Jason tried very hard to look angry but his eyes gave him away. Next time he gave me a hard time for not coming clean to my Robbie sooner I was going to grill his equally pathetic ass.

I noticed Gabe's fingers nervously tapped on their love seat and I saw Jason's hand slowly inching closer. In few seconds they were tightly holding each other.

Ah, to be in love and hidden, again.

Young love!

Well, I was still in love but not hiding it.

But I was hiding it but not to who it mattered. What was he doing anyways? Nothing drastically changed these weeks. He still sounded tired and I sounded border line whiney.

Did we look like how Jason and Gabe looked right now?

No wonder people were not as surprised as we thought they would be. I wanted to call out on Jason but I remembered all that time when I was hiding, I did not want anyone to point it out.

I let them be.

Jason would tell me when he was ready.

"Jace, I love you."

I noticed the slight flinch from Gabe and a flash of pain in his eyes. Good! It showed he was serious with Jason.

"I love you more, Goose." He told me sincerely but I noticed the squeeze of his hand and Gabe smiled.

The classic 'you are more special, love' squeeze.

I missed my man. He might have skipped his lunch... again!

"I will see you, day after tomorrow, Dave." Gabe promised me. He was the only one in the family who could meet me without raising too much speculations. He was our brand ambassador and finding us together in public was not that suspicious.

There were freelance paparazzi still after us. Apparently social media and gossip columns heavily depended on them for some tea.

I waved at the screen before switching it off.

What are you doing, Daddy?

Terry is playing hide and seek.

[Terry is the lawyer, for my cute potato readers who forget names. I love you.]

I sighed. Did you have lunch?

Soon. Baby, I gotta go.

Okay, xoxo. Please don't skip meals.

He would but I had to try, right? I was not surprised when I received only a kiss emoji after an hour.

I did not think a day would come where I would miss our beach house; Lia, Robbie and I playing around till night. But I did.

I could not wait to go back.

I missed cooking my Big Baby his favourite dishes, I missed picking up his messes and glaring at him, I missed his nightly visits and I missed his warm hugs, I missed him not listening to my 'no's.

"DAVEY!!!" I felt a weight smacking on my back and a happy giggle. "K no K no."

I smiled shaking my head. "Who is there?"

"Pupple."

"Purple who?"

"Pupple Uncon."

"Ah! A purple Unicorn. Where is she?"

Lia tiny head popped on my shoulder, and I knocked our heads together affectionately.

She had her plushies in her hand and we played until Levi came in with treats for Lia. He was spoiling her rotten. I had no idea how I could keep up with all these amazing afternoon snacks when we went back home.

When would that be?

I sighed for the umpteenth time.

"What is with the sighs?"

"Missing him."

Levi nodded understandingly. "If it is any consolation, my husband went to meet his family in Italy. I miss him too."

"Why can't they just stick to our sides, right?"

"Right!" Levi bobbed his head.

And my sigh made a new friend with Levi's sigh.

Good job, Ace. Now you made Levi miss his man too.

Finally, I had enough of the pity party and we watched some movies.

"Did you talk to your husband about wanting kids?"

Levi's smile dropped. He gave out a fake chuckle. "Apparently I am a kid enough for both of us."

"Oh."

He nodded. "It is fine. It is not like it is a big deal. It is too difficult, you know. Surrogacy is really expensive and... adoption could be a hassle... kids make mess and we won't be able to chill, then someone has to stay at home until they were old enough to talk... it is... it is difficult..." He smiled and turned his face away fast.

"What is the real issue?" There was pain in Levi's eyes and I knew it was something personal related to his husband. So, I did not push. "Bring him to us one day. Maybe seeing Lia might help to change his mind."

'Doubt it' was all he said and we changed the subject.

That night sleep did not come at all. I stayed awake next to my sleeping kid thinking about Daddy and the things I had taken for granted.

His presence.

I always thought he would be with me and every time it got remotely threatened, I had broken down. This time, though he was not next to me physically, emotionally he was never closer. He was fighting for a divorce. I could not believe it sometimes.

He wanted... needed to be mine but when had things gone right in our life? That thought scared me. What if nothing went the way I wanted it to? Every time I got one step closer to Robbie, life would push me back a mile.

But this time... this time I would fight. I would fight for my man, my child and my freaking happiness and peace.

Nobody deserved them as much as I did.

I could not wait for all the obstacles to throw things my way so I could show my family how much they meant to me.

I cradled Lia to my chest and started talking about the dreams I wanted her to have.

Next three days were blurry and I mainly focused on Lia and the occasional chats with Robbie. He told me he was coming a bit earlier than anticipated. He sounded breathless and hung up the call before I could bug him for more information.

I called Levi to arrange some refreshments and waited impatiently by the door.

At least this time I had enough brain cells to remember not to let my kid know. So, she did not fuss ?Cmuch- when I put her down for a nap.

I rushed to the door and threw my hands around his neck as soon as he came in.

"Hi, Pretty." He kissed both of my cheeks before sniffing my hair and neck.

"I missed you a lot, Daddy."

"Not as much as I did."

"I doubt it." I pouted, refusing to take my head off his chest. I wanted to hear his heartbeats.

"Angel, I have good news and bad news." He was restless and almost giddy but his face gave nothing away.

"Okay..." I had a bad feeling about this. I thought about life pushing me back a mile. But I would fight back. Whatever it was, this man was staying. Whatever he did, I would also take the responsibility. I would stay by his side as his equal and help him with whatever he needed.

"Pick one." Robbie and prompted.

I could brush away the fear that crawled to my throat. What could be the bad news? What would I do, if it was something...

No. Whatever it was, I wanted to know. I would find a way.

"Bad news first."

Please, dear God, please...

"My lawyer wants us to go to couple therapy and work this out. This is apparently so normal and it does not warrant a divorce. Janice and I still had hope. I should have put more effort to her needs and this would have been avoided." There was a slight smile in his face and he looked hopeful.

No!

No, no, no...

Please no.

What about... he said... he promised... body needs... me? Us? Them? What...? What about me?

I rapidly gulped. My throat felt so dry.

I pulled away from his hug.

Could I go back the way we were? Blood rushed to my ears and my heart thumped angrily on my chest. I could not go back. I could not pretend not to care anymore. I wanted him, I wanted a life... with him.

What about holding hands?

"...baby."

"Huh?"

I nodded. What was I nodding to? I took a step back when he took one forward and he stopped.

"I..."

I can't do this Robbie. I want you. I need you. I want to hold your hands.

Why was my tongue not working?

"Ask me about the good news, love."

Love. He called me 'love'. He always did.

Was I really his love?

"Ask me, baby. Please." He held my hands in his and I looked at our joined hands. They looked perfect.

His big tan rough hands, smothering my pale, smooth, flimsy ones.

"What is the good news?" I whispered. I was scared. And my voice did not conceal it.

"I fired him. Now I have three divorce lawyers working on our case and they are 101 percent sure that I would get a divorce in a year. It would not take that much but they did not want to dishearten me if it takes long. Can you believe it? Baby..."

Okay... so Janice and Robbie decided to work it out... what about Lia... wait what?

"What?"

Robbie chuckled. His eyes wrinkled at corners, his mouth stretched in a mischievous smirk... then he said.

"They have already filed a divorce petition, this afternoon." He laughed.

"No..."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes, baby, yes..."

He fired his lawyer and hired some other people and... he was getting a divorce.

My Robbie...

"Can wait for an eternity, huh, Angel? Look at that adorable face. Come here, baby."

I shook off his hands and anger pushed my chest.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU, ASSHOLE BRANTLEY!"

"I thought you could wait." The bastard laughed.

"Oh my god. I assumed the worst... you... you... freaking fucking... bas..." He kissed my lips but I pushed him away. "You... you..."

He was laughing harder and then the situation finally settled in my brain.

"You are getting a divorce." I had to confirm it.

"I am."

"They have already..."

"Yes, they have... I had to go to bank and do some paperwork. They did everything before I got back."

"Ohmygodohmygodohmygod..." I was walking in circles until Robbie looped his hands on my stomach and pulled me closer.

"Don't you dare touch me, Robbie... you scared me." I whispered and he pecked my lips.

"For what? I would have come back to you anyways."

"I can't believe it. Tell me you are lying."

"Why would I lie to my Angel? I am not lying. I am getting a divorce. Even if this fails... and nothing good come of it... I also have a plan B. We will leave hereto somewhere far away. Just the three of us. Jason would have to wait a couple of years, but he will survive. But we are going to be together the way you want... the way I want. Holding hands, telling everyone that you are mine... fucking you into the mattress every night until you fall asleep with that special smile on your lips..."

"Robbie..." I chastised him.

"What? Not going to lie."

"Not every night. I will be too sore. Some nights."

He stared at me. "Fine, six nights a week and all the days."

"Stop it... three nights and some days."

"What? No! Five nights and all the days."

I giggled. "How about four nights and some days."

"How about when the mood strikes? Fuck the counts." He pecked my lips before taking my bottom lip and pulling.

I nodded and then we were passionately kissing. "I can't... believe... mmm... you are... we... are together... Robbie..." I said between the tongue duelling.

"Anything for you. Anything to have you as mine."

"I am already yours."

We kept on kissing until his phone dinged with message. I frowned but Robbie's face spilt in a big smile and he showed me the image of the petition of his case.

I shrieked and jumped to him, my legs looping on his hips. I peppered his whole face with kisses. But soon I remembered what he did! For whole three seconds which felt like thirty years I believed he was planning to work things out with Janice.

I pinched his biceps and climbed down.

"I can't believe you! You are too much..."

"Baby, come on..."

"No... no... hell no... you are staying right there. I am angry at you."

I swished my body left and right, away from his hands, as he kept on laughing and trying to catch me. I finally let him though and he clutched me to chest, sighing.

"Gods! You make me so happy, Angel." He kissed the nape of my neck several times and I melted.

His phone rang again and he rolled his eyes seeing the caller.

Janice!

He switched it off and made chewing motion on the edge of his phone, making me giggle. He threw it on the couch but it dropped to floor after a bounce.

I missed seeing him throwing things.

"Robbie, stop throwing. It will break." I scowled and picked it up to place it on the coffee table.

I suddenly gasped and remembered to pack our stuff.

I could not wait to get back home. I wanted to cook him lots of foods. He was skipping his meals and he looked tired.

"Baby... what are you doing?"

"Packing things! We have to go. Oh, start now before Lia wakes up. She will play with stuff if she wakes up. Come on Robbie... chop chop! Levi brings Lia all the sweets in the world and now she is going to bug me until I make some... Oh, what do I do Robbie. Oh! I have to ask Levi for that recipes. Do you know he can't cook? His husband can't either. They live off hotel food, Robbie. That is so bad. Maybe we can invite both of them to our home... Oh, hold this. Let me get that carry bag... What was I saying? Oh, about Levi..."

"Baby... baby... Babe... Angel..."

"... stop standing there and get your suitcase too. I will fold..."

"Love..."

"Whaaaat?" I whined. Why was he not helping me to pack? We had to pack, so we could go back.

"What is the rush?"

"Huh? We have to go back to home. We can, right Daddy?" I dropped Lia's toys back to the floor confused.

"We can. We absolutely can." He yanked me by my hand and I cuddled back to my place on his chest. "But... we don't have to. Not yet."

"Why not?" I looked up to him and he dropped his head to kiss my lips.

"I missed you so much."

I smiled, a bit smugly. Good! He should. I was going crazy.

"How about we have this night... just two of us?" I blushed and Daddy did notice. "My Baby and I could have some dinner, some wine, with a candle and rose in the middle, maybe you can dance at the bar; you haven't done that in a while... I could watch and see all those idiot losers thinking they have a chance..." I giggled. "... but you are all mine and I will rub that on their face... what do you say? Pretty Angel. I am sorry we can't go out to some other restaurant just yet, but this hotel serves the best food in town. So?"

I nodded, all shy and blushing.

He picked my right hand and dropped a kiss on the back of it. "Dress up all you want. I have gotten a new attire for you. It is a surprise. It will arrive only at five."

"I love surprises."

"I know, Baby. Then late at night I may rip your surprise. So don't get too attached to it."

"Can't. I am already attached to it. Hold your horses, Robert Brantley."

He groaned. "Brat! Fine. Taking my time to properly undress you is also fun."

"I love you so much, Robbie."

He only sighed and I noticed his heart beating rapidly for a few seconds before turning normal.

"I... give me some more time, Angel."

"All the time in the world, Demon. I just want to tell you."

He nodded. "Listen, Angel. I have a short meeting in the evening. Your dress will come about that time. I will come back and pick you from here?"

"You don't have to come here just to pick me up, Daddy. I will wait you at the bar. Like in Pretty Woman. All dressed up. Only for you."

"You are more beautiful than that lady, Angel."

"That lady is Julia Roberts. And if I had not already known you were blind with love, this would be a very revealing moment."

"I am serious."

"Of course you are." I shook my head. He opened his mouth to counter my response but an excited squeal interrupted his comeback.

"DADDY!!!"

I pulled back from him and smiled when I felt him squeezing my waist before letting go. He dropped to the floor on his knees stretching his arms and Lia jumped to him.

"Daddy daddy daddy daddy daddy daddy daddy daddy..."

Lia didn't know 'Daddy' was not his name.

He missed Lia so much. I listened to him talking animatedly to her about all his adventures and Lia was oooh'ing at all the right moments.

Daddy and daughter needed to tone down their cuteness; my heart was already so tender.

This time though, Robbie stretched his arm to me to hold. I thought for a few seconds and Robbie noticed my indecision. He decided to drop his hand but I caught on it fast.

I held his hand in lover's hold.

The smile he gifted me would stay in my eyes till the ends of time.

We walked to the bedroom and Lia and Daddy played to their heart's content. She missed him too much that she completely ignored me and showered all her attention to the man of our life.

I wouldn't have it other way.

I lied behind Robbie with my head popped on my elbow, listening to her happy chatter as she dropped plushies after plushies on Robbie. She would feed her 'cooked' food and put on 'make up' on him and when she could not hold all the emotions in her tiny heart, gave him a hard bite on his hand.

She was so much like Robbie in many ways. Robbie also had the habit of gifting painful hurts as a token of affection.

"Little Baby, it hurts Daddy." I told my disobedient child as I rubbed away another teeth mark from his wrist. Her teeth were tiny but did not mean it was not painful. My thumb had suffered a great deal when she was teething. She would pop my finger inside her mouth and go to chewing heaven.

Baby Demon.

I pulled her to my lap when she pranced in front of me and trapped her in my embrace.

"Baby girl stop. You can't hurt Daddy like that." She had twisted her face and latched on his bicep. I sighed as she refused to let go of her bite. Her daddy was smiling and that was not at all helping things.

My baby reserved her bites only to the people who she loved with all her heart. Uncle JJ was gifted one when he gave her a makeup set last time.

"Baby... let go." I poked her cheek.

"Mmblubbludwawee." She mumbled around her mouth.

"You don't bite the people you love, sweet baby. Now let go of daddy."

"Really?" Robbie smirked and I glared. What was that supposed to mean? "She learned from the best; that is all I am saying."

"Lia..." I warned and she let go. I wiped Daddy of her drool and bite marks, again.

"She missed me so much." Robbie told me and I nodded. She did. "Baby Kitten..." He kissed her tiny head and he slowly fell asleep on my chest listening to Lia's ramble.

"Daddy..." She poked his cheek.

Robbie was right. She imitated me in many ways. Had to stop biting Robbie outside of the bedroom.

"He is sleeping, baby."

She popped her thumb in her mouth and stared at him.

"He is tired."

"Tyed?"

My fingers brushed through his thick hair and Lia did the same.

Mini me.

"Little Baby..." I waited for Lia to look at me. "Always love daddy, okay? Sometimes daddy will be busy with his work but he loves you very much. So you have to tell him that you love him a lot, okay? So daddy will never forget."

"Lille Baby lub daddy."

I smiled. "I know. Daddy loves Little Baby."

"Little Baby lub Davey."

My heart soared. "I know. Davey loves Little Baby."

She blinked twice before climbing on Robbie to play. Robbie was used to it and it never disrupted his sleep. So I let her be.

I woke him up for the meeting he had. But the surprise came before he could leave. The surprise was not just for me but for Lia too.

Levi came in with two gorgeous teenage girls in tow dressed as Jasmine and Elsa. Were they from a costume party?

"Princess, come here." Robbie hollered and a tiny "Daddy, comeeee." hollered back before pitter-patter came in running. Her mouth dropped seeing the girls with Levi.

"Nuuu..."

"Yes."

"Nuuuu...."

Robbie shook his head with a smile and looked at me.

"Yes, Baby Angel."

"Hello, Princess Lia." And my baby twitched. It took all her Diva self-training not to turn around and point at herself.

"Yes?"

"I am Princess Jasmine and this is Queen Elsa. Your father has told us that he has a princess too. We are very happy to meet you."

"Davey..." Lia called out and I let out a breathy chuckle.

"Yes, Princess."

She came running and hid behind my knee.

Awwww!

My baby got shy. She rubbed her face on the curve of my knee and it tickled.

'Elsa' kneeled down and started talking to 'Jasmine' about the beautiful princess hiding behind me. Something about the party of all princesses and princes. Soon Lia came out from her hiding and got curious enough to ask questions.

"A moment, Angel?"

I nodded at Levi to watch over the girls and we went to the bedroom. "So... I thought Lia would have an epic time with the costume party. I have cleared everything. The girls' details are sent to your mail. They came with awesome credentials. Levi will be there. So..."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"It wouldn't be much of a surprise, now would it? So you are okay with it? I just wanted to have you all by myself."

I nibbled on my lips shyly. "Of course, I am okay with it. I want to be with you too. I know you would never jeopardise her safety."

He sighed. "I know you don't like leaving Lia, so... I only asked the girls to keep Lia company. If you are not okay with it, they will go without Lia and it is perfectly fine."

"No... no. I am okay with it. More than okay with it. She will have a lot of fun and I can keep a tab on her via my tablet. It is okay, Daddy. It is perfect."

He smiled really big again. Was it just me or was he really smiling a lot today?

"I will die to protect your smile, Robbie. I will cherish it forever. It is too precious."

His steel grey eyes widened in surprise and they shifted not meeting mine. I put my palm on his cheek. "What got my Demon all shy?"

"Not shy. Just... no one has ever told me that before. No one has told me my smile is precious."

"Well no one has ever loved you like I do. Are you really surprised by that? Everything we do, we only do it for us. No one had done anything to me ever like the way you do too. And I don't want anyone to."

He closed his eyes and the tip of his nose turned red. He got so emotional.

I kissed his nose and he smiled. "Now get to your meeting. I want to know those girls and Lia would be joining the kid's costume party. When do you think my dress wi..."

The doorbell went off and we chuckled.

Lia was in heaven wearing the golden fairy gown. She would be the prettiest of all the Princesses in the party, I was sure.

I opened my attire only after Lia had left with the girls and Levi. I took a warm bath filled with Robbie's favourite fragrances preparing myself for the long night that was waiting for us.

The dress was beautiful. I thought this was the best attire I ever owned. It was navy blue suit shirt with black crystals adorning the edges. A 'V' shaped cut was running across the shoulder blade, showing off my pale skin. The cut was so magnificently designed that it accentuated the curve of my spine. A bead of big black crystal hung from the middle of the cut teasing and taking all the attention right to my exposed skin.

To the most beautiful man in Robert Brantley's life, we are presenting you, our Celestial collection, worth only to Prince of Angels ?C Killers.

Ace Davidson Truscott was written in beautiful cursive handwriting inside the shirt.

I loved it so much.

The pants were skin fit and plain with two slashes on the knee. The back pockets had the same crystal designs as the shirt, pulling the whole look together.

I kept my makeup simple. This dress deserved all the attention it would get. I went with silver for my accessories. Silver choker, silver ring with sapphire stone, silver anklet and black waist chain with silver clasp ?C only for Robbie to find out and appreciate ?C before tucking the shirt inside my pants.

I was beautiful.

Every gifts from Robbie made me feel like I was standing on the top of the world.

I did not put any products on my hair, let it naturally fluffy and flying around.

Spraying my Robbie's favourite body mist I twirled around.

Daymn!

Robbie was so going to lose his ever loving mind. I giggled thinking of all the ways I could make our dinner torturous for him. I had decided to keep my wrist bare but finally settled to wear my black TAG HEUER CARRERA watch.

I put on my glossy black shoes and did some last minutes' tweaks here and there then went down to the bar.

It was packed, but not overly so. It was spacious even with a disco floor on the other end. The wet bar was in the middle with intimate dinner settings on the one side and much more playful bar slash disco on the other end. The construction, architecture and the ambience were off the world.

If someone decided to sit on the other end of the same room the disco music would not reach their ears.

I did not even remember the last time I was in a bar. I bobbed my head gently to the beats of the music, while I sat on the high stool for my man to come.

For our date.

I would consider this as our official first date. We were cooped up all our lives and those little eloping we did once in a while would not consider as dates.

Then those little get-aways before his marriage would certainly not count because I thought I was the only one with a crush and he was just being nice.

This was the first time we went out after we accepted ourselves.

How could anything as imperfect as our love life turn out to be the perfect one for me? I could not wait to tell the whole world that I got the man of my dreams. I was prepared for the backlash; people just hearing a bit of our story and deciding ours were not up to their mark.

But well, if they had better life than me, I was happy. After all, that was what everyone wanted. A happy and peaceful life.

I had a happy life now and hopefully in a year, a peaceful one.