You're Mine ~ A Sweet & Steamy Romance

by Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku

  When the clapping ended, the head volunteer stepped forward and handled the microphone. “As a token of gratitude, we have gifts for each of you. Please come forward to receive your gift when your name is called.”

  Once Rachael accepted her gift, she gave a short thank you speech on behalf of the other volunteers. Banjo did not waste a minute more as he whisked her out of the venue, ignoring her protests to trade goodbyes with other volunteers. The only person who Rachael greeted at the end of the party was Sabrina because Banjo agreed.

  Just as Banjo guided her into the rented car, they heard someone shout, “Rachael!” It was an aggressive shriek.

  Immediately, Banjo’s fingers tightened around her wrist and he settled her in the passenger seat before he shut the door. As Banjo moved away from the car, one man rushed toward the car.

  And Rachael huffed! “Kelvin, what are you doing here?” She spoke through the wound down window.

  “I texted you I was coming to see you today. Didn’t you get it?”

  Yes, she got the text and she deleted it as swiftly as the memory she had of him. “Frankly, we have nothing to talk about.”

  Meanwhile, Banjo stood in front of Kelvin, preventing him from drawing closer to the car.

  “Why are you stopping me from talking to her?” Kelvin asked, directing his hard glare at Banjo as if he would not hesitate to punch him.

  “Rachael just told you she doesn’t want to talk to you. Time to go back to wherever you came from tonight, mate,” Banjo said gruffly, not moving a step.

  “And who are you to speak for my girlfriend?” Kelvin railed, charging forward.

  Just as she hoped, Banjo easily rebuffed Kelvin’s approach by lifting one strong arm in his face. Banjo stopped short of bashing Kelvin’s head.

  “Ex-girlfriend,” she inserted for Banjo’s benefit. “I don’t have time for any drama, Kelvin. Go home.”

  Totally unperturbed by her denials, Kelvin insisted. “Tell this man to get out of my way. We have to talk about our baby.”

  Even in the dim light casing the car park, Rachael saw Banjo stiffen.

  “What baby?” she hissed, trying not to laugh in his face. “Do babies grow out of nothing?”

  “Who’s the father then? As far as I know, I’m your last boyfriend, except you’ve seen someone new in the last seven months.”

  “Did you come here to find out if I had a new boyfriend? It isn’t your business if I do. You and I are done. We were done eight months ago to be precise. So get lost!”

  Without waiting for any more exchanging of words, Banjo wagged his finger in front of Kelvin’s face. “Stay where you are or turn around. The choice is yours.” From where she sat, Banjo’s tone sounded ominous.

  “This isn’t over!” Kelvin spat, but he did not take a step forward.

  “Rachael says you’re done!” Banjo repeated, just in case Kelvin was not sure he heard right the first time. Then Banjo glared at Kelvin before he circled the car and got in the driver’s seat.

  “We’re not through, Rachael and you know it. We can still work things out.”

  Without delay, Banjo started the engine and drove out of the car park in a dash.

  For the next ten minutes or so, an awkward silence engulfed the inside of the car. What was wrong with Kelvin? When she had received his text, she had immediately decided she needed a bodyguard, but she had no idea he would act like such a bully.

  “Can you tell me what the hell just happened with Kelvin?” Banjo asked, his tone sharp as he took a narrow bend.

  Rachael had to cling unto the door handle with both hands to avoid colliding against Banjo’s shoulder. A little while later, Banjo looked through the rear-view mirror and side mirrors before he parked the car in a safe spot along a quiet street.

  One look at Banjo’s face and hoops formed in Rachael’s belly. “I’m sorry for the awkwardness,” she swiftly apologized, knowing she should have warned him about Kelvin’s visit.

  “I’m not interested in your apology,” Banjo snapped. “What was he talking about?”

  Swallowing in a flurry, Rachael kept her gaze averted. “You heard him. We dated. We broke up. I moved on and that’s all.”

  “Don’t give me that bullshit story,” he snarled, thumping his fist against the handbrake. “Is he responsible for the pregnancy?”

  Keeping her eyes fixed on the dark sky, she shrugged. “I don’t want to talk about it.” If there was one thing she disliked, it was being queried about things she preferred not to discuss.

  “Are you listening to yourself, Rachael? I want to know the truth.”

  Shaking her head, she spread out her hands. “Banjo, there’s no truth. Kelvin’s crazy. I’m not pregnant for him.”

  “Dammit! Whose baby are you carrying? Is he a married man?” Banjo skewed in his seat, his posture menacing.

  And her skin pricked beneath his harsh gaze. “Leave this story alone. Honestly, I don’t have to tell you anything until I’m ready. And I’m not.”

  “I can’t leave it alone,” he said angrily. “And you know why.”

  Wanting to water down his anger, she offered an olive branch. “You asked me why I moved here from the US. Can I tell you about that instead?”

  Grinding his teeth together, he drawled. “I’m listening.”

  Heaving a sigh, she narrated the story that still had the power to slash her insides to tatters. “Simply put, it was a heartbreak that left me desperate to switch location. His name is Tannon King. It has nothing to do with Kelvin.” Leaning back against the headrest as pain knifed her sides, she paused until it cleared.

  “Take your time,” Banjo spoke softly, reaching for her hand.

  Nodding with her eyes shut, Rachael carried on. “Actually, my mom suggested the change of environment for my sanity. Of course, you know both our moms went to Mercer University. Anyway, from Georgia, I contacted your mom. I spoke with her several times a year when I was growing up. If I didn’t come here, only God knows where I would have ended up.”

  Tightening his hold around her fingers, Banjo asked. “Were you hurt in other ways?”

  “Not physically. But I caught the common cold following the heartbreak. It started out like a harmless cold. But as days turned into weeks, I just became weaker. From there, my health went downhill and my mom feared the worst.”

  Banjo jerked, urging her to talk. “By that you mean what exactly?”

  “I got here a month later. For several months, I struggled with constant fatigue and an inability to do simple chores. After undergoing series of medical tests and scans, I was eventually diagnosed with CFS.”

  Banjo’s eyes narrowed, pouring his concern into her soul. “What’s CFS?”

  “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I had never heard of it myself.”

  From his blank countenance, it was clear he had no clue what she was talking about. “How bad is it?” Banjo sounded practical, yet with a hint of empathy.

  “Bad enough to stop me from working to earn a living. Most mornings, I can’t even get out of bed till almost midday. My life is at a standstill for days, sometimes. Coming on the back of the heartbreak, it was too much to take in.”

  Leaning forward, Banjo rubbed her neck with one finger, showering heat straight to her chest.

  “Oh, I thought you were working,” he said, stroking the heart-shape tattoo on her collar bone, triggering commotion in her nerves.

  Her fingers trembled in his grasp. For a full minute, she struggled to keep her thoughts together as she squeezed out a reply. “I wouldn’t risk getting a job. I volunteer instead. Because I can’t rely on my body to get up every day at say, nine in the morning. I know I can’t fulfil my contract to be at work at a certain time, attend meetings or meet deadlines. I’ve no idea how I’ll feel from hour to hour or from day to day. That’s my reality. But I’m not complaining.”

  Dropping his hand to her arm, he groaned. “Lord! Isn’t there some treatment or medication that could ease your fatigue?”


  “No. What you saw earlier today happens when I strain myself. I’m still grateful to be alive. There are people who live with far more debilitating conditions.”

  Touching her left cheek with his right palm, he whispered. “I’m so sorry, Rachael. I had no idea.”

  Sparks ignited everywhere he touched on her skin. “Don’t be, Banjo. I’ve come a long way. And your mom’s a blessing to me. I don’t like to talk about it because it’s something I’m grappling with day to day. It’s a condition that has no cure yet and many people know nothing about it. But I tell you, I’m going to beat it by God’s grace.”

  “Amen.” Banjo was quick to answer. “What sort of things can you do to avoid exhausting yourself to the point where you break down?”

  Shrugging, she whispered. “Except I do absolutely little. Simple chores like tidying up my room, vacuuming, cooking and climbing the stairs means I have to lie down to rest afterward.”

  “So why didn’t you tell me you couldn’t go shopping with me when I asked?”

  Snapping her head up, she gaped at him. The glow was back in his dark eyes. “Because you begged me. And I wanted to anyway. I like to get out now and again especially on my good days.”

  “Are you tired now?”

  Kindness threaded his voice, pushing every hard button in her body to its limit.

  “Yes. But I’m pleased I attended the party. Now I can go back and have a rest till whenever I wake up tomorrow.”

  Banjo took her fingers in his own again. “Getting pregnant in your condition can only deepen your fatigue. True or false?”

  “Not now,” she yawned, hoping he would get the hint she needed her bed. “Please take me home, Banjo.”

  Without asking further questions, Banjo drove them straight home. Once he cut off the engine, he rushed out of the car and opened the passenger door. When Rachael stepped down, she leaned against the door because her legs felt numb. She ground her teeth together, struggling to maintain her balance.

  Rachael did not have to ask. Banjo bent down and carried her inside. Grinning slightly, she folded her arms around his neck. But not for a second longer as her whole body felt as weak as a whisper in a rock concert.

  “You’re flappy from head to toe,” Banjo grumbled, pulling off her shoes after he placed her on the bed.

  Even as lethargy mowed her down, she heard the panic in Banjo’s voice. She could not call up the energy to speak comforting words to dispel his fear. Through her weariness, slow shivers gunned down her neck as Banjo removed the pins and clips in her hair.

  “Do you want me to unzip your dress or call mum to help you?”

  What did it matter who undressed her now? She was too drained to do it herself. Nodding at him with her eyes half-closed, a part of her hoped he would just carry on.

  Banjo must have understood her signal because he rolled her to her right side and unzipped her dress. Then he unhooked her bra. Comfort washed through her. She tried to lift one arm so he could remove the bra completely, but her hand weighed a ton, falling back on the bed.

  Thankfully, Banjo peeled off her bra and slipped off her dress. At the moment, she did not care if Banjo was put off by her swollen belly and big boobs. All her body needed was to give in to the urgent call of sleep.

  Banjo covered her with the comforter. Then she felt his lips on her cheek and brow–the perfect end to an exhausting day.

  Eventually, she heard herself mumble, “Thank you,” as she fought and finally lost the battle to stay awake.

  Ten

  With a glass of clementine and lemon gin in one hand, Banjo made his way to the swimming pool area. It was almost midday. The palm trees provided a shade from the glaring heat of the sun. While pacing around the pool, Banjo called his friend and business partner, Hugh West.

  “Hey mate! What are you up to in Monaco?” his buddy asked as soon as the line connected, making a slurping noise over the phone.

  Laughing, Banjo poked his friend. “Isn’t it too early to gulp down super strength beer, mate?”

  “My beer belly needs to know who’s in charge.”

  “Don’t come cap-in-hand begging for my kidney.” Brutal honesty was one thing his friends counted on with Banjo.

  Hugh snorted. “Nothing wrong with mine. Keep yours!”

  “How’s Rhianna? Is she taking it easy?”

  Hugh’s wife had a fall while on holiday in Mexico a month ago, but she did not take things slow.

  “My missus does what she likes. Rhianna’s doing okay. But I can’t tell you what she’s doing with her leg while I’m working. Have you found your soul mate yet?”

  A warm smile grew on Banjo’s lips as he took a leisurely stroll around the length of the garden. Thank God, Hugh was not seated in front of him. “Not yet. But I met a bird or should I say a woman. I can say for a fact she’s fascinating and annoying and she doesn’t listen either.”

  Laughing heartedly, Hugh whistled. “What a great combo! Is there any woman who isn’t annoying? Take what you get.”

  Banjo laughed. Even in Rachael’s absence, her interesting, yet stubborn eyes haunted him. “I don’t know if I want her for keeps. It’s early days.”

  “Forget that speech. You’ll know once you’ve spent an hour with her.”

  Fresh need seized Banjo’s jaw, so he rolled his neck to unlock the strain. “You reckon?”

  “Go with your gut feeling.”

  “There’s a little hitch.” Banjo mentioned, climbing down to a lower level in the garden.

  “Which is?”

  “Rachael’s beautiful, brainy & feisty. Every time I see her, my stomach walls tighten and heat gushes to my chest. But she’s out of bounds to me. Aside from the fact she’s my mum’s god-daughter, I think she’s pregnant. Only I don’t see any man showing up to claim responsibility for the bump she carries around with pride. But I’m in the city for about a month, not enough time to find out if I want her in my arms or to think of her as mine.”

  Hugh hollered in his ear. “You don’t say! If she’s your mum’s god-daughter, it works. But I hope she’s not a ghost,” he joked. “Apart from your baby’s mama, I’ve not met the women you talk about. And Rachael sounds like a hand full.”

  “Only because I don’t want you running away with my bird, like you did with Hannah back in school.”

  Sobering up quickly, Hugh yelled. “Remind me to skin your hide when I see you. How many times do I have to tell you innocent-looking Hannah was a cheap girl who jumped on me?”

  “That’s not what Ian believed at the time,” Banjo reminded him as usual.

  Ian was a nerd in secondary school. He had no friends. The only girl he ever had the courage to talk to and who appeared to fancy him suddenly rode off into the sunset with Hugh. Ian never forgave Hugh for taking his girl. Anytime Banjo wanted to wind Hugh up, he dug up the dead story.

  “Shut up!” Hugh ranted. “Why do I allow you get into my head?”

  “Because you’re guilty as sin,” Banjo insisted. “Now are you going to stop downing alcohol?”

  “I’ve emptied the bottle--hopefully, my last drink for today.” Repeating the slurping sound, Hugh burped. “Have you cleaned up your mum’s finances?”

  Back to the shaded area beneath the trees, Banjo stretched out his legs across two garden seats. “Done and forgotten.”

  “Well then, I just heard your baby’s mama is moving out of her parents’ home.”

  Banjo frowned, swinging his feet off the seats. “I beg your pardon? Cut off the crap! Are you sure?” Theresa, his daughter’s mum often sprang a surprise on him and he found it maddening. He hoped to God Hugh got his fact wrong.

  “Well, Rhianna mentioned it last night. I can’t say I’m a hundred percent sure. But coming from my missus, I would bet it’s true.”

  Frisking his fingers over his hair, Banjo voiced his suspicion. “Is she planning on running away with my daughter? I didn’t get a notice from her.”

  “Time to call her, mate.”

&nb
sp; “Thank you, buddy. Will catch up later.”

  When Banjo hung up, he immediately dialled Theresa’s number. And she answered on the second ring–a very unusual habit. Many times, she let the phone ring a dozen times.

  “Hi Tess, how are you?” Making small talk was necessary even if he was not in the mood.

  “I’m happy. Things are looking up. How are you?”

  “I’m doing well. How’s Olivia? Is she okay?”

  “Olivia’s fine. If she’s not, you’ll be the first to know.”

  Yeah right! His daughter could well be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro today and he would not learn of it until she had broken her limbs. Tess’s comment was hard to believe considering all that had gone on between them over the years.

  “Great. I want Olivia to spend a couple of weeks with me and mum in Monaco during the summer holidays. Are you cool with that?”

  A lengthy pause followed.

  “Tess, are you there?”

  Infuriatingly, as is often the case, Tess would have to ask for her family’s consent to release his own daughter for any period more than a week.

  “Let me think about it and chat with Olivia. I had other plans.”

  “Oh!” Banjo exclaimed. “What plans? We could work something out for sure.”

  “It’s still early days. But I’ll let you know when I decide.”

  Early days, Banjo almost slated. The summer holiday would start in a matter of weeks.

  “If you’re making permanent plans, please don’t involve Olivia. I need to see her more, not less. When can I expect your answer?”

  Another pause followed and Banjo hoped he did not have to yell down the phone to unglue her mouth.

  “Give me a few days.”

  “I’ll wait for your call. Give Olivia my love.”

  The phone line cut off. And Banjo seethed. But he had no time to sulk over Tess’s aggravating attitude. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rachael leaning against the thatched roof gazebo at the other end of the pool with her hands wrapped around her body. Christ! The woman looked beautiful in a tight, bright yellow dress that emphasised her curves. It was the first time he had seen her since he undressed her last night. Many images of her supple body bombarded his mind the whole night and even now.