She could hear Gray expel a deep breath. “Thank goodness, I’ve been out of my mind with worry. I thought something had happened to you, and my brother was no help at all. Why didn’t you let him go back with you?”
“Gray, get a grip, I’m fine, I promise. How was your trip? Do you think you will have to be there all weekend?” Suzy had been surprised that Gray had been forced to leave for a business trip on a Friday. He’d explained that the customer they were trying to land was having a gathering at the CEO’s home that weekend and he’d been invited. This was a chance to meet the other principals of the company and conduct business in a less formal atmosphere. He was hopeful that he’d be able to close the deal on the Monday following the gathering. The customer was located in Nevada, which meant hours of travel time and a time difference, as well.
“I hope I can wrap it up quickly. I don’t like leaving you this soon after your accident.” Lowering his voice, he continued, “I’m going to miss lying beside you tonight. I’m afraid I’ve gotten spoiled to having you in bed beside me. I want your face to be the last thing I see before I go to sleep and the first thing I see when I wake in the morning.”
Even though her heart was melting at the love she could plainly hear in his voice, Suzy kept it light, “You aren’t going to make this easy for me, are you slick?”
Gray laughed, always seeming to appreciate her sense of humor and know exactly what she was trying to say. “You might as well wave the white flag right now, sweetheart, because there will be no retreat.”
“I’d be disappointed if there was,” Suzy admitted.
“I’ve got to run, baby, please be careful today and I’ll call you tonight.”
When Suzy pushed the end button on the cell phone and handed it back to Nick, he was making a gagging motion with his finger. Since she couldn’t take her hands from the crutches to hit him, she settled for sticking her tongue out to which she got nothing but laughter in return.
Soon Suzy was settled in the back seat and Beth was forced to the front beside Nick again. Claire had called Nick while they were in the doctor’s office to check on Suzy and he’d invited her to lunch with them. They were going to eat at the sandwich shop around the corner from Danvers.
Claire was waiting for them in the parking lot when Nick pulled up in his mini-van. Suzy had to admit that seeing a pregnant woman laugh that hard was almost scary. Nick gave them all a look of disgust and walked ahead to hold the door of the restaurant open.
After they were settled at a table, Suzy looked at Claire and bluntly asked, “When is that bun coming out of your oven? You look like you’re about to explode.” Claire choked on the drink of tea she’d just taken and Beth had to pat her on the back until she could catch her breath.
“By bun, I assume you’re referring to my baby, and he or she’s due in about three more months.” Rolling her eyes, Claire continued, “I’m sick of the swollen ankles, the fatigue and the hemorrhoids are a real pain in the butt.” As soon as the last word left her mouth, Claire seemed to remember Nick’s presence.
Suzy wasn’t sure whose face was redder at that point, Nick’s or Claire’s. They both looked like they wanted to climb under the table. Suzy jabbed her elbow in his ribs and said, “For heaven’s sake Nick, you have been around the block more than a few times, stop acting like a convent girl.”
Nick held his hands up, still refusing to make eye contact and said, “Ladies, I don’t have many rules, but I have to draw the line at talking about hemorrhoids, tampons or PMS. If you want to talk about sex, then I’m your guy, well unless it’s with my brother, but no talk of the female cycle or anything hanging out of your body, ok?”
They all laughed, and Suzy called the waiter over to order a beer for him. For such a ladies’ man, the guy really needed to loosen up. She had to appreciate the fact that although he didn’t know them all that well, he was still willing to spend his day taking her to a doctor’s appointment and then spend lunch with three women. From what she could tell, like his brother, Nick was a good man.
All too soon lunch was over and they dropped Claire back at the front doors of Danvers. Suzy tried to convince Nick to let her go into the office to pick up her mail, but he adamantly refused. He did offer to pick it up on Saturday and bring it to her. By the time they made it home, Suzy was exhausted and her body seemed to be aching all over. She didn’t want to admit it, but she’d overdone it a bit today. She was grateful when Beth suggested she rest on the couch for a while.
Nick offered to stay for a few hours so that Beth could go to the supermarket and pick up some of Suzy’s clothing. She’d refused to wear sweat pants for another day so Beth had caved to pressure and promised that she’d have her own clothing by tomorrow.