me, is all.” His sphinxlike smile was somewhat disconcerting. “Anyway, back on track, my man. Considering we have several options based in the sunny state of WA, I had a thought.”
“A dangerous task, I’m sure.”
“Ha fucking ha! Anyway, smart arse, I was thinking as opposed to flying them here, we go over there. Whatcha think, boss man?”
“I’ve always liked Perth….” I languidly murmured with a bob of the head, indicative of my approval. “….Sure, why not. You organise the interviews and pass on the finer details to Thomas to organise: flights, accommodation etc.”
A scarily eager Asher leapt from the chair and rubbed his hands together. “I’m considering taking up ornithology as a hobby during our visit. They have a particularly rare breed of bird I’m interested in researching. I hear they’re rather alluring and the best part is, they mostly reside at the beaches.”
“I wasn’t aware your fetish extended to seagulls,” I insinuated dryly.
He waltzed towards the door, laughing. “Nah, I prefer a bird who has the gift for deep-throating; a pelican, for example…”
As mortifying, and crude as the visual picture was, it failed to prevent an eruption of roaring laughter. “Get out gigolo! Your damned pheromones are stinking up my office!”
Unable to help himself, Asher stuck his head back around the door and squawked.
I roared in stifled amusement. “Out!”
Life was never dull with that clown. In saying that, I had a mountain of work to scrape through before the day was over and his antics certainly weren’t helping my concentration. I was still shaking with laughter as I quickly scanned over my schedule. To my surprise, I discovered I had a few spare minutes before my next appointment arrived, and made a point of using my time wisely by checking my emails. Again to my surprise, Drew Griffyn, the Managing Director of Griffyn Real Estate, had promptly replied to my request, informing me that both properties were available to view that very afternoon if it suited me.
Before committing to the appointment, I thoughtfully picked up the phone and called Teddy first. “Hey gorgeous, are you busy?”
“No, not really. I’ve been staring at the same set of damned plans for the last ten minutes if that’s any indication. So, what’s up, handsome?”
Her endearment made me smile warmly. “Do you think you could perhaps leave work a little earlier today? There’s something I would dearly love to put past you before I make a decision.”
“Am I allowed to know?”
I chuckled upon hearing the amusement in her voice. “No, it’s a surprise.”
She tutted disapprovingly. “Party pooper. Aha…well, I’ll wait for you to pick me up in say, an hour?”
Pleased, my smile broadened. “You know me, always punctual.”
Teddy’s sweet laugh echoed down the phone. “Don’t I know it? I had better get some work done then, hadn’t I? I would hate to be late or fired. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
At least I kept my promise. Unlike Teddy, who left me waiting at the kerb for another ten minutes, and like the patient man I’m not, I called her.
“Where in the devil are you?” I gruffly asked.
“I’m coming now, as we speak. Be there in two,” she breathlessly answered before hanging up on me. Unimpressed by the lack of punctuality, my lips flattened into a hard line. Without a doubt, I had the feeling Teddy’s rushing was due to a distraction, something that happened a lot of late. I frowned: perhaps there was such a thing as baby brain after all? I might simply have to delve into some research after dinner just to find out. Who doesn’t love a little homework after a gruelling day at the office?
Just as I tucked my phone into my trouser pocket, a flash of copper red hair caught my eye. And surprise, surprise, Teddy was indeed rushing. She barrelled through the glass doors directly into my arms, kissing me as if we hadn’t seen each other for months.
She nervously pulled back, apologising as she sheepishly eyed my disgruntled expression, “Sorry, time slipped away from me.”
“I thought as much,” I dryly murmured tucking a loose curl that had slipped from her ponytail behind her ear. “Now, get into the car, or we’ll be late. Traffic’s hell as it is.”
Her nose guiltily scrunched as she lowered into her seat. “I said I was sorry.”
“I know you did, doesn’t mean you can’t make it up to me later,” I growled before closing the door, only to chuckle as her audacious smile radiated through the tinted glass.
Rounding the bonnet, I swiftly jumped in and buckled up before turning the key and chucking the car into gear. A horn blared behind me as I swerved into the oncoming traffic. “Fuck off and get in line!”
“Ooh, someone’s grouchy!” Teddy quipped.
“And whose fault would that be, I wonder?” I pointedly asked, settling amongst the flow of slow-moving vehicles.
Hazel eyes mockingly rolled challenging me. “Our impending child’s, that’s who.”
I tutted. “Poor little mite’s not even here yet, and already you’re using our son as an excuse for slowing you down. Shame on you.”
“A he, huh?” Teddy scoffed mockingly, lightly patting her still flat belly. “This little tot might be a she for all we know.”
“Hence why we’re running late then,” I wryly countered motioning to the chaotic traffic surrounding my car.
“Ouch, you’re so sexist, Mr Jaeger. And here I thought you were all about equality…” she argued through a yawn.
“Oh, I am,” I verified as she yawned yet again. “A bit tired, love?”
“Yeah, I’m drained. I might close my eyes for a minute. You don’t mind, do you?”
Curling a hand over her shapely thigh, I shook my head. “No, it’s fine. I’ll wake you once we’ve arrived at our destination, okay?”
Her head inclined in her palm, she closed her eyes and hummed a weary reply that made me chuckle. My poor petal. Yet another unpleasant side effect of early pregnancy.
I hit the freeway and pushed my foot down on the accelerator with the journey taking the best part of an hour due to the suffocating peak hour traffic. Relief hit the moment we veered off the bustling Nepean Highway and onto St Kilda Street. Much quieter, so to speak. Enough to have heard the rumble from under the bonnet at least.
Finally parked at the kerb of our first stop, I failed to resist the enticing sight of Teddy’s parted pink lips and leaned over the console, lovingly pressing mine to hers. The persuasion of my sedate kiss rousing enough as glazed, sleepy eyes fluttered open and peered up at me. I smiled warmly; she looked adorable.
“We’re here,” I
