Amorous (The Lincoln Series Book 1) (25 page)

She relaxed against him. “I hope this doesn’t last too long.”

“Me too. This floor is heated but not very comfortable. I don’t plan to spend a lot of time on it so let’s fix that.”

She stood up. “I need to rinse my mouth.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” He patted her ass. “I’d like to kiss you again.”

Warren stripped off his pants on his way back to the bed and pulled back the comforter and sheets. He half expected her to protest getting back into bed since she was an early riser like him, but she crawled in with no complaint.

He piled pillows behind them and leaned back. He pulled her against him and held her while he stroked her hair. He thought she had dozed off when she spoke.

“You told me last night that you wanted this baby but what if you change your mind? What if you regret your decision later?”

“Do you love me, Marie?”

“Yes.”

“Then I won’t have any regrets. I love you more than anything and my only regret would be if I let you get away.”

“But you weren’t planning on having a baby right now.”

“Neither were you.”

“I know, but…”

“And do you have any regrets?”

“No. I already love Xavier.”

“Who the hell is Xavier?”

“Our son,” she whispered.

“Our son. It’s a boy? How do you know?”

“I don’t I just feel it.”

He laughed. “Okay. So if you love Xavier already don’t you think that maybe I might too?”

“But this child is growing inside of me. He’s a part of me. I don’t have a choice.”

“You always have a choice, Marie. You could give him to me and walk away. He belongs to me too.” He sighed and kissed the top of her head. “Just because he’s growing inside your body doesn’t mean he’s more important to you than he is to me?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think about that. I’ve been so confused since…”

“Baby, I’m not looking for an apology I want you to understand how important this child is to me. How important
you
are to me.”

She sighed. “Pickles.”

“What?”

“I’m hungry for pickles. You know the big fat ones you get at the deli on Main Street?”

He laughed. “Pickles? I’m pouring my heart out to you and you’re thinking about pickles?”

“Well, you have to admit they are really good pickles.”

“I can see this is going to be a very long nine months. Just don’t get too crazy and paint my house purple okay?”

She giggled. “Actually, it’ll only be another seven and a half months and we’ll have to put together a nursery for Xavier. Purple would be—”

“No purple. Anything but purple.”

“Okay. No purple.”

He sighed. “So, if
he
turns out to be a
she
do I get to pick her name?”

She grinned devilishly. “Maybe.”

“I think I see a pattern forming here. Am I going to have
any
say in our child’s life?”

“I suppose since you had a part in creating him I could let you have an opinion once in a while.”

She squealed when he flipped her to her back and pinned her beneath his body. He held her hands above her head and tickled her nipple with his tongue.

“You were saying?”

She arched her back and pressed her breast against his mouth. “Do that again.”

“And what do I get if I do?”

“Anything.”

He suckled her nipple then kissed a trail up to her neck. When he licked the seam of her lips she opened for him and he took her mouth with a gentleness she didn’t expect.

He raised his head and looked at her. “How about a compromise?”

“A compromise?”

“You can pick the baby’s name if I can pick a new one for you.”

“And what name would that be?”

“Jackson. Marry me, Marie. Let me give you my name.”

A wicked grin curled her lips. “Make me.”

One Year Later

AJ’s latest Executive Assistant was scurrying out of his office looking like she was going to be sick. Warren hid his smile behind his hand and stroked his chin. He could hear AJ cursing in his office.

He couldn’t help but feel a little guilty about the fact that AJ was having so much trouble finding a replacement for Marie. After all, he was the one who turned her into a stay-at-home mom. He peeked around the doorjamb and knocked on the frame.

“Is it safe to come in?”

He tried not to laugh at the glare in AJ’s eyes.

“No. But, by all means come closer, so I can choke you.” AJ threw another file across his desk.

“Come on, AJ. She can’t be that bad. You’re just being too hard on her.” Warren lounged back in the soft leather chair in front of AJ’s desk.

“If I pay for a fulltime nanny would you let her come back to work?”

AJ’s desperate plea brought a smile to Warren’s face. He had found out fast, after Marie moved in with him, just how detailed she could be. She would be a hard act to follow for any Executive Assistant.

“She would love that. It would get her out of the house, but unfortunately it’s against company policy to have spouses working in the same department.” He grabbed a pencil from AJ’s desk and twirled it in his fingers. “Besides, if she was here all day neither one of us would get any work done.”

He laughed when AJ smiled.

“I’m really happy for the two of you, Warren. Despite the inconvenience it has caused me.” He stood and stuffed files into his briefcase. “You and Marie are good together. And you definitely make good looking children. Speaking of which, how is my godson?”

Marie was thrilled to have AJ as Xavier’s godfather but Warren was willing to bet AJ was even more thrilled.

“Vocal as ever. I tell you that child is either going to be a rock star or a politician. He definitely has the lung capacity for both.”

Warren shivered when he remembered the fit his son had thrown that morning when he hadn’t been fed fast enough.

“Good. My curse of revenge is working perfectly.” AJ smiled and picked up his briefcase from his desk.

“I have a meeting with the hospital administrator.” He glanced at his watch. “Actually, I should have been there five minutes ago. But my Executive Assistant, who you seem to think I am too hard on, did not have everything ready for me when I got in.” He paced to the door.

Warren stood and followed him. “Don’t forget about tonight, AJ. I’ve been planning this party for months.”

“I will not forget. Five-thirty sharp. Parillo’s private dining room. Park down the block.”

AJ laughed and shook his head as he stepped through the door. “Good God, you are pussy whipped.”

Warren just smiled and watched his friend head down the hall to his meeting. AJ had learned to relax just a bit. Actually, it was a little less than
just a bit
but it was a start. He had no idea what he was missing out on by not having the right woman to come home to at the end of the day. Maybe if AJ could find her, he’d be human again.

****

Dr. Douglas Jameson was tapping his pen impatiently on his desk when AJ walked into his office.

“You’re late.”

“Thank you for noticing Douglas. I am so glad you appreciate everything I do for Central Valley.”

“I would hate to waste your precious time so I’ll get straight to the point. I have a scheduling conflict with the Las Vegas conference next week. Samantha will be going in my place.”

“Your secretary?”

AJ was shocked. The presentation they had planned to give at the conference was a pitch for funding for a new wing of the research center on the hospital campus. The new wing would house AJ’s research projects on cognitive function and related brain disorders.

“Samantha is the assistant administrator and she knows enough to assist you. She will present my report at the conference.”

“I see. So this is one of those days when she is conveniently qualified to do your job?”

“Filling in for me is her job and she is more than qualified to do it!” He smirked. “I’m sure with your guidance she’ll do just fine.”

“The investors are expecting you, Douglas, not Samantha! We will never get the funding if you snub them like this!” AJ took a deep breath and tried to slow his growing anger. “What the hell is so important you cannot make it?”

“It’s personal and none of your damned business. Samantha will schedule a meeting with you for Monday morning. You can make any necessary changes to the presentation then.” He looked up at AJ with distaste twisting his features. “We’re done here. Shut the door on your way out.”

AJ hesitated for only a moment then without another word turned on his heels and slammed the door. He glared at Samantha as he passed her office. A sudden feeling of uneasiness rushed through him when he looked at her face. He saw the hurt in her eyes and watched her swallow hard. The gesture left him with an uncomfortable feeling. His gaze wandered to her features, her emerald green eyes that looked too perfect to be real, her long blond locks that gently curved under her chin and around her neck, the slender oval shape of her face and pouty lips. She was beautiful but he found her flawlessness unsettling. She looked manufactured, like a Barbie Doll.

AJ blinked to clear his vision and looked at her again. This time he saw the hurt etched in her face and sighed in disappointment. If she couldn’t handle a few harsh words from AJ, the investors would tear her apart. This deal was dead.

****

Marie’s party was in full swing when AJ snuck away to a dark corner of the room. He nursed his bourbon and rubbed his hand along his chin. He had to figure out how to make this presentation work. Life was such a pain in the ass sometimes.

Maybe if he convinced Samantha to sleep with a few of the corporate investors he might still be able to gain their financial support. He laughed to himself when he pictured the slender blond seducing a man while he slipped a money clip full of bills into her cleavage. She’d probably do it anyway considering her reputation, so why not let her do it for a good cause?

Losing Doulas’ presence at the conference was a devastating blow. It would appear that the hospital didn’t support his research. He blew out a heavy sigh and realized he had been having to work harder lately to keep the administration’s backing. Before Dr. Jameson was promoted to hospital administrator, AJ had the full support of the administration as well as the board of directors. Now it seemed Douglas was using his position to make AJ’s life as difficult as possible. Maybe it was time for a change. Other hospitals had approached him over the last several years trying to persuade him to move his research to their facility. Maybe he should make a few calls when he got back from Las Vegas.

AJ scanned the crowd and stopped when he saw Warren kiss Marie and his son, Xavier, affectionately as they talked to a small group of well wishers. They had gotten married nearly a year ago after they had discovered Marie was pregnant. Despite their non-traditional way of starting a family, AJ had no doubt it was meant to be. Anyone who looked at the two of them could see the love and devotion they felt for each other.

He laughed softly to himself when he remembered the first time she had met Warren’s family. He had seen the flash of fear cross her face when they walked into the reception as a large group. Warren had never let go of her hand while she was introduced to each and every one of them. And as AJ had expected, she had put on her professional game face and come out of the ordeal victorious. Now Marie and Warren’s sister, Liz, were as close as sisters. Marie had flourished in her new family. The thought of her so happy with her new family made him smile.

He never thought about having a family of his own. For so many years he had been looking at life with tunnel vision. The only thing that mattered was his career. He hadn’t even realized what he had been doing until Warren came to town and swept his best Executive Assistant off her feet. Literally. Now he looked at the small family at the other end of the room with slightly broader vision. They were happy. Maybe someday he could have the same, but for now he was content to watch. Besides, life has a funny way of turning out just the way you
didn’t
plan.

I grew up in western Pennsylvania as a second generation born American and I currently reside in western North Dakota. I manage my husband’s private practice during the day and write romance by night. Our two children, of the four legged variety, a German Shepherd and short hair domestic cat, do their best to be supportive but on occasion they can’t resist the urge to demand my attention.

My characters have become close friends, not only to me but to my husband who insists on being my most trusted advisor. I love to tell their stories of love and loss and I truly hope you will enjoy reading about them. And maybe someday they will become close friends of yours too.

Find out more about Susan Baer and her upcoming books online at
www.susanbaerauthor.com

Other Titles by Susan M. Baer

Conceit; It’s All About Jake,
The Lincoln Series, Prelude

Come Home To Lincoln,
The Lincoln Series, Prelude