Patrick

“That’s not true!” she said in a horrified voice. “Was I? Was I being a bi*ch?”

“I would not quite put it that way,” he said openly amused.

“How would you put it?” she demanded.

“My sweet, you were being you, only ten times more.”

“I am sure you are exaggerating. Anyway, I was rubbed down and given the extra special treatment and the exfoliation that makes my skin feel tingly and soft. I can’t wait for you to put your hands on my boobs. She did something to them that have the nerve endings standing on end. One touch of your mouth on my nipples is going to set me off.”

She smiled impishly as he remained silent.

“Darling, are you still there?” she asked innocently.

“I am ditching the meeting for later and coming home earlier than I planned,” he told her huskily. “You are a terrible woman.”

“But you love me.”

“I love you,” he told her hoarsely. “Now, how am I going to leave the conference room and go to my office?”

“Cover it up with your jacket. And Patrick, baby?”

“Hmm?”

“I love you.”

*****

She was in the nursery when he got there. “Hey, I looked for you downstairs and you were not there.” He came behind her and put his hands around her belly.

“I keep coming in here to visualize our son lying in his cot,” she murmured as she leaned back against him.

He rested his chin on top of her head and looked around the room. In a week or two, it would be occupied with their son and he could hardly believe it.

“I do that sometimes too.” He released her and, taking her hand, propelled her over to one of the sofas. “I have something to discuss with you.” He lifted her feet and put them into his lap and started rubbing them. “We are trying to get the software off the ground, but the PR department is having problems getting the ad right.”

“And you want my expertise,” she said with a quick smile.

“And we want your expertise,” he told her resignedly. “I understand you had an idea that they want to run with, but because I forbade any of them to get in touch with you, they are having problems.”

“Of course you told them to call me.”

“I told them I would talk to you first,” he corrected her.

“The answer is yes.”

“I told them they would have to come to you. I will not have you coming to the office, Carrie,” he told her firmly.

“Of course.” She felt the excitement surging through her at being occupied until the baby arrived.

“I will have them call you tomorrow.” He pulled her closer to him.