The Austin Arrangement novel Chapter 13

"Kids..No."Jeremy placed his arm around the back of my chair and rubbed my shoulder."We're certainly not thinking about that yet,Are we sweetheart?"

"No,Not just yet."I faked a smile and picked up my wine glass."There's still time for all that."

As in never..It will never happen. I doubt Jeremy Austin will ever have any children..I really couldn't imagine him as a Dad.

"You're so right,there's plenty of time for Kids.You're just married,your time now needs to be spent enjoying each others company."Colin's wife Darla, picked up her third glass of Champagne from the waiters tray.

Colin looked in my direction"What is it you do,Vanessa?"

"Um,I teach dance actually. Just three days a week at the Gyms studio."

I had that uncomfortable feeling just talking to them about it,I didn't want to be judged.

Their life is very different than mine,or at least it used to be.

"Intriguing,Tell me..What type of dance classes do you teach?"

I glanced at Jeremy beside me hoping to gauge his reaction. I guess I was trying to see if he was giving off a certain look so I would know not to say anymore."I teach Ballet Mondays and Thursdays to kids,and Ballroom to Adults on Fridays.

Dance is something I've done since I was five years old,so it feels good to be able to teach it to others."

"She's a wonderful Dancer,I've seen so with my own eyes."Tom smiled at me from across the table.

"You can do much more with your talent in the years to come,Darling."

"Your wife is quite an impressive woman,Jeremy."Colin looked at me,then back to my husband sitting beside me. You must be a very proud man."

"I certainly am."Jeremy rubbed my shoulder again in a fake display of affection."I couldn't imagine myself with anyone else."

He looked into my eyes and smiled,seeming totally genuine but I knew he wasn't. I'm sure there are plenty of other things he'd rather say about me right now,I'm sure it's even killing him just to be close to me and playing pretend.

It's killing me too.

***

It was after midnight before we stepped foot inside the mansion again,I had unlocked the front door and Jeremy stumbled inside.

It seemed the more the men talked business the more they drank,but Jeremy had already had his fill before we even left for dinner so by midnight it was my job to bring his drunk ass home.

"I bet you're glad you didn't wear that dress now,told you it was a respectful dinner."

"That dress wasn't that bad."I closed the door behind us.

"I noticed some other women were showing a lot more leg than I was."

He sighed."We have a reputation to maintain as Husband and Wife. I wouldn't allow my wife to go out in public dressed like a Prostitute."

I didn't understand why he was making such a big deal out of the dress,it was shorter than the knee but it wasn't showing my butt or anything.

The women that Jeremy has slept with in the past haven't been all that respectable,I've seen the online photos.

I followed Jeremy towards the stairs."Well when you have a real wife it won't be up to you,you'll have to allow her to make decisions for herself.

You can't control everything,Jeremy."

"I haven't sleep with quite as many people as you have,but I know what it feels like to have sex.

I'm not a Virgin,Jeremy."

"I'm not ashamed of the woman I've slept with,it's just fun. It's no big deal."He proceeded to take off his trousers,and stood in front of me in a pair of black boxer briefs.

"Obviously you think differently than I do,I don't sleep with everyone that takes my fancy only the ones that are nice enough to get to know me."

My eyes wandered his body,although I willed them not to. I noticed a scar on the right pec,a scar that I hadn't seen the last time I saw him without a top on."That scar..What happened?"

"Nothing."He rubbed the area with his hand,almost like it hurt just to talk about it."It's not something I want to talk about,you should go to your room."

"I just want.."

"NOW!!"He snapped."You don't get to ask me question and demand answers. You don't know me,Vanessa.

Don't waste your time in trying,I won't let you in."He walked towards me,causing me to walk backwards.

He stood at his bedroom door,holding it and looking at me."You need to leave."

"Goodnight then."I turned around and walked the hallway towards my bedroom.

That scar,I wonder how he got it..And why he's so uptight about it?

Just another mystery of Jeremy Austin that I'll never get an answer too!!

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