Beth fell against the counter, laughing hysterically. “God, please stop! I’m going to pee my pants if you don’t shut up and leave this bathroom now!”
They continued to laugh, but Nick took the threat seriously and made a hasty retreat. Suddenly, the door opened again and he had a questioning look on his handsome face. Shaking her head, she said, “No, they aren’t coming.”
Giving her a devilish grin, he said, “Sweet!” and slammed the door.
* * *
The remainder of the week passed in a blur of work and sex. How had she ever believed she could deny herself the pleasure of sex with Nick? If the man had one specialty, it had to be in the bedroom—or the kitchen, living room, bathroom, hell, pretty much everywhere. She couldn’t seem to get enough of him.
He was also on his best behavior outside the bedroom. As she continued to get sick almost every morning, he was right there holding her hair back, and cleaning her up after it was over. They had also settled into a new routine for their meals. He ate most days before he got home and she continued to let him think that she was eating earlier. The few times he had brought her something sweet, she had nibbled on it until she could discreetly throw it away. Her new diligence seemed to be paying off because she had actually been down a pound that morning for the first time.
Even though her weight seemed to have stabilized, her clothes were still getting tighter and tighter. She was wearing more dresses because the waistbands of her slacks were no longer buttoning. She had resorted to holding the last pair that she had worn to the office together with a rubber band. Due to her pregnancy she could now see the faint outline of a tummy that hadn’t been there a month ago. She was waiting for Nick to say something stupid like “More woman to love.” If he did, she would probably sit down and cry for an hour since her hormones were out of control. Luckily, he seemed to have good self-preservation instincts and had been unusually sweet and supportive.
Nick’s mother had called her yesterday and they had talked for a long time. She was so different from her own mother. If Beth combined all of her phone conversations with her mother in the last ten years, they probably wouldn’t add up to the length of this one call with Nick’s mom. Vicky was so funny and excited about the baby, and she didn’t mention Beth’s relationship with Nick or ask if they were getting married at all. Vicky wanted to give her a baby shower when she was further along because, as she put it, “We have a lot of friends with money who love nothing better than to spend it.” Vicky also made it clear that she and Nick’s father were completely supportive and were there if she and Nick needed anything. Beth had promised that they would go to Charleston for a weekend soon to spend some time with his parents. She had a feeling that she was going to like them immensely.
Beth decided she should probably start lining up replacement parents anyway because her own weren’t likely to ever speak to her again. Vicky and John were going to be at Gray and Suzy’s this evening and Beth was looking forward to spending some time with them without her own parents ruining the evening.
Chapter Twenty-one
Suzy was nowhere to be seen when Beth and Nick arrived for the barbecue. Gray answered the door and ushered them into the living room. Due to a last-minute “meeting” with Nick on the sofa, they were the last ones to arrive. Nick’s mother and father hugged her warmly and then Nick and Beth walked over to talk with Jason, Declan, and Claire.
“Well, Declan and Ella are both here, but things look a bit tense,” Claire whispered.
Nick was talking to Jason and Declan and Beth motioned Ella over to where she was standing with Claire. “I love the dress we picked out. You look wonderful.”
Blushing with pleasure at the compliment, Ella said, “Thanks, but I don’t think anyone else has noticed.”
“Oh, I think he noticed all right. I just saw him checking you out,” Claire said. “Just play it casual and let him come to you. I’m betting that before the evening is over he won’t be able to resist at least talking to you. He might not drag you behind a bush, but conversation is a starting point, right?”
Beth looked around the room and asked, “Where is Suzy? We know she isn’t in the kitchen cooking.”
Shrugging her shoulders, Claire said, “I don’t know. She’s usually the center of attention. I asked Gray and he just said that she had a few calls to return.”
“That’s weird. I don’t know of anything major that we have going on at work so I can’t imagine what it could be,” Beth replied.
At the other side of the room Nick clapped his brother on the shoulder and asked, “So, are we eating tonight? If not, you might want to pass the drink tray around.”
Gray laughed. “Yeah, I’m just waiting for Suzy.”