Chapter XXVII
''Good?'' John chuckled, as he glanced at Anna, who was currently stuffing her mouth with another piece of toast and some scrambled eggs.
''Mhm,'' she smiled, not caring how she might look at the moment. She really had had no idea how hungry she was, until she had walked into the hall and inhaled the wonderful cooking smells coming from the kitchen. ''Can you pass the butter, please?''
''Sure.'' He set his cup of coffee down and reached for the butter dish. ''Here.''
''Thanks.'' She started buttering yet another piece of toast.
''Some jam, maybe?'' John pushed the jar closer to her. She was literally shoveling everything she could into her mouth, and she looked absolutely adorable.
''Yes!'' She reached for the jar and then stopped suddenly. ''I look like a lunatic, don't I?''
''Well, maybe just a little,'' he smiled, appreciating the light blush that tinged her cheeks.
''Sorry.''
''No, no, it's a good thing. It's nice to know you've got an appetite.'' Plus, it was really good to see her eating like a normal human being. Many women John knew seemed to always nibble on their food, as if they were afraid someone might suggest that they were not being ladylike, whatever that even meant.
''Well, I'm not a lady.'' Was she reading his mind? ''And I don't pretend to be, so…may I have some more eggs?'' She picked up her plate. ''Pleeease?''
''Sure, give it here.'' He refilled her plate at the stove, then brought it back to the table.
''Enjoy,'' he whispered, kissing her cheek as he placed the eggs in front of her.
''Thank you.'' She could not help but smile. This felt so surreal to her. So much had happened in the last few days, but this - being with John like this - meant the world to her. She felt safe and strong having him by her side. And brave.
''Are you going to answer it?'' she asked, as John's mobile vibrated for the third time since they had sat down at the table.
''No.'' He muted the incoming call.
''Who is it?''
''Moretti.'' He looked at her, silently communicating that the news of Green's death must have already reached Italy.
''John, you have to pick up.''
''No, I don't.'' He finally turned the phone off, stood up, and walked over to her. Kneeling down, he placed one hand on her knee while the other one found its way into her hair. ''I don't want to deal with that right now. I just want to focus on you. All the rest can wait.''
''John...'' Saying his name so freely made Anna blush, and seeing him care about her so openly, as well. ''The whole team worked really hard, and I don't want you to lose a client because of me.''
''I don't care about...''
''John... call him.'' Anna turned her whole body to face him, and wrapped her arms around his neck. To make himself more comfortable and most importantly to be closer to her, John gently nudged her legs apart and knelt between them.
''I will. But not now…later.'' He looked directly into her sky-blue eyes as he circled his arms around her waist.
''You promise?''
''I do.''
''Good,'' Anna said, leaning down and pressing her soft lips onto his. He could taste a hint of sweet strawberry jam on her tongue, and the little gasp that escaped her calmed him instantly.
''Thank you,'' he said breathlessly, when she ended the kiss. Her fingers were still playing with the short hair at the nape of his neck, and he kept his eyes closed to savour the feeling. She was perfect, John thought, even more so because she had no idea. But she was.
''Any time.''
John couldn't see her, but could sense that she was smiling as she placed more kisses on his forehead, his closed eyelids, nose, and the side of his mouth. The kisses were soft and intimate and he wanted to stay like this forever. And for some reason, they made his eyes fill with tears.
''Hey, what's wrong?'' Anna moved her palms to his cheeks and brushed away a tear with her thumb.
''Nothing.'' He finally opened his eyes, wiping them quickly with the back of his hand, then took her right hand in his, slowly pulled it to his lips, and kissed it gently. ''I'm just happy you're here with me. Safe and sound.''
''I'm glad to be with you, too,'' she reassured him. ''Thank you for breakfast,'' she added brightly, trying to lighten the mood.
''You're welcome.'' He nuzzled his nose against hers. ''How about we…''
Suddenly the doorbell rang, immediately followed by a series of very loud knocks.
''Come on, Bates, open up!''
''What the hell?'' John got to his feet, instinctively moving Anna behind him before walking out of the kitchen to the front door. Turning the key, he began opening the door but somebody was already pushing their way in.
''Where is she!?'' A woman with red hair pushed John out of the way, and walked in.
''Hey, who are you?'' John called out.
''I'm Gwen, you idiot! Where is she?!'' she barked.
''She's in the kitch-…'' John began, but in the next second, Anna appeared in the hall and was immediately swallowed in a big bear hug.
''Oh, god, Anna! Are you all right!? That fucking son of a bi-…'' Gwen spat. ''Let me look at you. Are you OK? Oh, I'm so sorry for leaving you alone! I-, I-…'' She burst into tears, with Anna soon following. They just stood in the middle of the hall, their arms around each other, crying.
John let them have their moment, slipping away to make that phone call to Moretti, and when he returned, they were still standing in the same spot where he had left them.
''Where is John?'' Anna managed to ask, when their sobs finally subsided.
''Mine or yours?'' Gwen laughed through her tears.
''Yours.''
''He's packing. We're leaving that place, Anna! All three of us.''
''And going where?''
''I don't care! I'm not letting you go back there! Not after…'' Gwen had made the decision for her, but Anna really didn't mind. She loved their place, but she could not imagine living there any longer.
''You can stay here, if you want,'' John ventured. ''All three of you, of course,'' he added, when he saw Gwen's wary expression.
''John…'' Anna began.
''You mean for free?'' Gwen interrupted.
''Gwen!'' Anna could not believe what she was hearing.
''Yes, for free,'' John chuckled, putting his hands into his pockets. ''Look, I have plenty of room, and - to be honest - I'd like for Anna to be surrounded with people who love her. Especially now.''
''Love her, you say, hmm?'' Gwen turned her gaze on her best friend with a twinkle in her eye. What on earth had happened between these two in the last few hours? The last time she and Anna had talked, it had sounded like John had run from Anna as fast as he could.
''Yes, love her,'' he repeated, and smiled directly at Anna, not giving a damn if Gwen knew how he really felt. He was in love and he wasn't about to hide it, not anymore.
''Well…all right, then.'' Gwen gave Anna another hug. ''I'll go and tell John we've got ourselves a new place. I'll be back soon.'' She was about to leave, when she remembered something.
''Oh, I've got some of your clothes here.'' Gwen removed the bag from her shoulder. ''But I see you're already taken care of.''
''I am. Very well taken care of, actually,'' Anna smiled.
''Well, then…I'll see you soon.'' Gwen gave her another quick hug and was about to leave, when she stopped in front of John, who was standing by the front door. ''I'm watching you,'' she whispered, narrowing her eyes at him.
''I…''
''Bye, Anna!'' Gwen interrupted, and then she simply turned and left.
''So, that's Gwen, huh?'' John turned to Anna and extended his arm to her.
''That's Gwen.'' She took his hand and let him pull her into a hug.
''I like her.''
''And I'm sure she'll feel the same about you…in a few days,'' Anna giggled.
''She knows about me acting like a jerk, right?''
''I'm sorry, I just…'' she hesitated, afraid he was going to be upset that she had confided in Gwen. But Gwen was her best friend, and she had needed someone to vent to when John had been sending her mixed signals.
''No, no…I didn't mean…'' He pulled her hand between them. ''…I did some things I'm not proud of, and because of the way I was acting towards you, it is only natural and healthy that you needed to talk to someone about your arse of a boss.''
''There is nothing wrong with your arse, Mister,'' Anna said cheekily, but felt a blush creeping over her cheeks.
''Miss Smith!'' John raised an eyebrow, pretending to be surprised by her statement. ''Is that a proper way to talk to your boss?''
Anna's face fell. ''What? You know I was just teasing, don't you?''
"Of course," John chuckled.
''What are we going to we tell them?''
''What do you mean?''
''The office? What do we tell them? Do we say that we're together? Do we tell them about Green? What should we...''
''We don't need to tell them anything. I've never discussed my personal life with any of them, except Joe, but he doesn't have to know either. None of them. I'll do whatever you want. Whatever makes you comfortable.''
Looking at him, she had to smile - he was absolutely perfect. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she reached up and gave him a quick kiss.
''I think I'd like to keep you to myself a little longer…''
''But...?'' he grinned, when he saw her bite her lower lip hesitantly.
''Well, Gwen already knows…and I think I need to tell Thomas.''
''Barrow? Why him?''
''Well, he's been so sweet about us since the beginning.''
''What are you talking about?''
''Rome, one bed...''
''That little...'' John finally understood. He'd wondered why Thomas had booked them just one room, but it had never dawned on him that Thomas been trying to push him and Anna together. ''All right, tell him. But you do know that he'll tell James about us, too?''
''Don't worry, I can handle them.''
beta: annambates! :) thank you! xoxoxo
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