I wake in the dark, my hand automatically seeking Lia. Her place next to me is rumpled but cold. With less than a month of her pregnancy left, she is having a hard time getting comfortable enough to sleep. Since my subconscious always alerts me when she’s gone, I inevitably wake and then go looking for her. Sometimes she’s asleep on the sofa and other times she’s on some late-night cleaning spree.
Throwing the covers aside, I slip from the bed and walk down the hallway to the spare bedroom. We’ve been working on the baby’s room for the last few weeks so I’m not surprised to find her curled in the rocking chair while she looks at a magazine. I lean against the doorframe, taking in the scene before me. Her blond hair is tousled and hanging in waves around her shoulders. A grin tugs at my lips as I see that she’s using her stomach for a table, with what looks like carrots lying on it. She picks up one, munching on it as she turns a page. She’s quietly humming a tune I can’t identify and she looks so peaceful it brings moisture to my eyes.
I look around the room for probably the hundredth time since it’s been painted. The walls are a pale green and the trim is off-white. But what really catches the eye is the large cherry blossom tree adorning one wall. The lines of the tree and the varying shades of pink lend an almost mystical air to the surroundings. Like Lia, I find myself coming in here just to relax. It’s soothing and serene—the perfect place for our daughter.
“I knew you’d come for me,” I hear Lia say softly as my gaze flicks to her.
“Always,” I reply simply. “You know I can’t sleep when you aren’t next to me.” I cross to her chair, going down on my haunches to drop a kiss on her bare shoulder.
“I love you, Luc,” she murmurs before rubbing her swollen belly. “Can you believe the wedding is this weekend and then shortly after, the baby will be here?”
“It’s been a busy year.” I laugh. “We’re probably going to need to have twins next year if we want to top this one.”
“Don’t even joke about that,” she groans. “I think we’ll just be a small family for a while until I see how well you handle dirty diapers.”
I smile, not freaked out in the least. I can’t imagine anything I won’t do for my child. I’m not saying that some things might not be more pleasant than others, but I’m in, regardless. “We still need to decide on a name,” I remind her. “I don’t want her to be called Baby Quinn when she’s born.” Lia has picked at least ten names, only to discount them overnight and frantically begin searching through her huge book of baby names. “I’m still partial to Leo—you know how many good memories we have there.”
Rolling her eyes, she slaps at my arm. “We’re not naming our daughter Leo. But…I do have another idea." I wave my hand for her to proceed, hoping it’s not another trendy name, when she says, “How about Lara Anne?”
“After my mother?” I ask in surprise.
She nods her head. “Yes, and Debra’s middle name is Anne, which sounds so good with Lara.” She rushes ahead saying, “I know you’d probably like to name her after Fae as well so if you don’t like it, then we can pick something else. I just thought it would be nice to name our daughter after the women who gave us life. Your mother had you, and Debra is my mother in every way that counts.”
“Lara Anne,” I manage to choke out of my suddenly tight throat. “I think it’s perfect, baby, and I know Fae will feel the same way. It’s a beautiful tribute to two amazing women.”
She takes my face in her hands, stroking it sweetly before saying, “I’d give anything for a McDonald’s cheeseburger right now.” Ah, sweet bliss. Sometimes I’m making love to my woman and sometimes I’m feeding her. And if I’m really a good boy, she shows her gratitude for the late-night food run in the most inventive of ways.
Chapter Nineteen
Lucian
I’m leaving the office when my phone chimes with an incoming text. I pause, seeing that it’s from Aidan.
“Can you stop by my place on the way home? Need to talk to you.”
“Something wrong?” I ask, feeling uneasy. He’s normally the type who calls rather than asks for a face-to-face.
“Cassie & Monique—big problem. When will you be here?”
“Fuck,” I bite off as I grab my jacket and briefcase. It was probably asking far too much that we have more than a few weeks of quiet before something else falls apart. “On my way now,” I text back as I leave. Sam took Cindy to an appointment, so they’re both already gone for the day. I make my way at a fast clip to my Range Rover and within fifteen minutes, I’m parking at the curb at Aidan’s apartment. He buzzes me up and has the door ajar, waiting for me when I step off the elevator. I shut it behind me, not seeing any sign of him. “Hey, man, where are you?” I call out as I walk through the foyer. I turn the corner into his living room before coming to a halt. Monique is standing in front of the fireplace not looking at all surprised to see me.
“Hello, Luc, glad you could make it,” she says smoothly.
The hairs on the back of my neck prickle as I ask, “Where’s Aidan?”