Baby Love (59 page)

              "I think she gets that from me," I replied grinning.

              When we got back to the house I changed Preston's diaper, nursed her and then put her down for her afternoon nap.  The New Year's Eve festivities were at the Sinclair's estate this year since they alternated that holiday with the Andrews as well.

              I had pumped a couple of bottles of breast milk earlier and put them in the fridge. I was going to party this New Year's Eve.  I remembered quite well the fiasco of last year's which made me all that much more determined to make this year's better.

              Trey gave me a cat whistle when he came into our suite later in the evening and saw me putting the finishing touches on my hair and make-up.

              "I shouldn't let you out of our room dressed like that baby," he said perusing me from top to bottom.

              I was wearing a tight black dress that fell to mid-calf with a slit up each side that went mid-thigh.  The dress was strapless with a built-in underwire push up bra.  I wore four inch black pumps on with dark thigh high stockings. 

I accessorized with sparkly red jewelry; dangling earrings with shiny stars and a matching necklace.

              "Oh Trey," I said, "I just look festive tonight."

              "Just remember baby - the festivities take place later tonight.  You and me in that bed right there."

              He drew me to him tightly and his lips found mine in a warm and sensuous kiss.  I felt him harden against me.

              "Later baby," I laughed pushing away.  "I don't want you mussing my hair and make-up."

              "By the way Preston will be staying in Mom and Dad's suite right?" he asked pulling his shirt off getting ready for his shower.

              "Trey did you ever stop to think that perhaps your parents have plans in their bed tonight?"

              "Don't worry," he said with a wink and a smile, "They won't wake her."

___________________________________________

              Susan had bathed Preston and dressed her in her pajamas.  She said she would keep the crib in their suite again tonight so that Trey and I could sleep in tomorrow morning.

             
(Yeah, right….)

              Gina popped over to our suite while Trey was in the shower.

              "You look great," she said eying my outfit.

              "Right back at you Gina," I said.

              Gina was wearing a short royal blue spandex dress that had black sequins in a diamond-shaped pattern on the front and back.

              "Listen to this girlfriend," she said in an almost whisper, "Tristan wants us to get engaged and then announce it tonight."

              "No he
doesn't
," I said louder than I had intended.

              "Shhh," she whispered loudly, waving her hand at me.

              "Don't worry - I talked him out of it. I told him first of all I wasn't ready to jump back into marriage again and even if I was, I had no intention of him being tacky about announcing it like he had done two months ago on his birthday with that whore Libby."

              "But Gina you do love Tristan don't you?"

              "Of course I do Ty!  What the hell kind of question is that?"

              "Then why don't you want to get married?"

              "I didn't say ever!  Besides, I prefer to play it like you did."

              "What do you mean?"

              "I mean I don't intend to be a knocked up bride either."

              "Gina - you have such a way with words."

              We both giggled.  We heard the shower stop in the bathroom.

              "Hey I better scoot.  I wouldn't want to see the Hot Nazi coming out here in his birthday suit," she said scooting off the bed and heading out the door.

              Had Gina stayed thirty seconds longer that is exactly what she would have seen.  I was still sitting on the bed when Trey came out of the bathroom au natural and headed to his closet.  I never tired of looking at his body; he caught me doing so as he came back out of his closet with his evening garb.  He cocked an eyebrow at me his mouth curving into a sexy smile. 

              "No Trey.  I'm all ready and I'm not getting mussed up this close to the start of the guests arriving for the party.  I really mean it honey,” I pleaded as he sauntered over to the bed naked.

              Thirty minutes later I was re-doing my hair and make-up in the bathroom.  I caught myself humming some random tune by the Rolling Stones that had popped into my head.  It was something about not always getting what you want; but if you try sometimes you might just find that you get what you need.

             
(Hmmm . . .interesting )

              The party was in full swing with nearly all of the guests present by the time Trey and I got downstairs.  A DJ was spinning records in the large family room which had been expanded to include the deck right off of it.  The fire pit was going to keep everyone that had ventured outside to dance warm.

              Trey went over to talk to Nigel and I made a quick path to the bar and ordered an 'Adios Mother Fucker' having to recite the recipe to the bartender.

              Gina’s Aunt Becky was there; I hadn’t seen her in awhile.  She was watching Tristan closely; observing the way that he and Gina interacted I suspected.  She spotted me watching her watch them and waved me over.  She gave me a hug.

              “I saw you checking the situation out with Gina,” I said to her laughing.

              “I’m just looking out for my sister’s daughter.  Of course all of us were shell-shocked with what Ian pulled.”

              “Yeah no one saw that coming,” I agreed.

              “Did Gina mention that Ian was trying to get back together with her a couple of weeks ago?”

              “Are you shitting me?”

              Becky looked totally blown away by Ian's audacity.

              “I was there,” I said.  “She blew him off.  She is all about Tristan.”

              “That is apparent,” she said nodding her head.

              “Just so you know Aunt Becky – he is all about her as well.”

              “He damn well better be,” Becky replied, “Gina’s almost like one of my own.”

              Our conversation was interrupted when we both saw Landon and Caroline come in through the main hallway.

              “Well I see the entertainment has arrived,” Becky said wryly.  “I think I need another beer.”

              Caroline spotted me standing there and gave me a wave.  She came across the dance floor noticing Gina and Tristan slow dancing to the music.  She did a double take on her way over.  She had her signature glass of red wine in her hand.  She looked as if it was not her first of the evening.

              “Hey Tylar,” she said in her semi-slurred voice, “What happened to Tristan’s bitch with the flapping fig leaves?”

              “He traded up Caroline, can’t you tell?”

              “I know that’s right,” she giggled signaling for Landon to bring her a full glass of wine.

              "So what's this big news that Nigel and Tess brought with them from California?" she asked, taking a healthy swig of her wine.

              I truthfully had no clue as to what she was talking about.  Apparently that was evidenced on my face.

              "Really Tylar - are you always the last one to the party?"

              "Apparently so, Caroline.  I've heard nothing about any news they have.  Wouldn't Landon know since he is her brother?"

              "You bet your perky ass he knows," she slurred.  "He's keeping it from me.  He says I don't know when to keep my mouth shut.  Do you believe that horseshit?"

              I gave her a look of disbelief.  It was actually disbelief that Caroline hadn't figured that out already about herself with her numerous drunken tirades.

              "I know right," she nodded misunderstanding my look as being in agreement with her. 

              "But," she continued on as if I was even interested, "I will tell you this.  Landon is way stricter with me than Nigel had ever been.  Tell you the truth - it's kind of sexy."

              She started giggling about that time and swayed.  I wasn't particularly anxious to be wearing her red wine on me despite the fact that I was wearing a dark color.

              "Here comes your man Tylar," she said letting out a drunken version of a tiger roar, "TTYL."

              She staggered on her way most likely trying to find Landon and her full glass of Merlot.

              "What's 'TTYL'?" Trey asked coming up to me.

              "Talk to you later," I said.

              "Well excuse me; what the fuck did I do to piss you off?"

              "No Trey," I started laughing.  My alcohol consumption was giving me a very nice buzz.

              "TTYL are the first letter initials for the phrase:  Talk To You Later."

              I asked Trey to get me another ‘Adios Mother Fucker’ at the bar.

              "Tylar you aren't going to get shit-faced tonight are you?"

              Trey - it's New Years Eve.  When was the last time I really, really got to cut loose and party?  So to answer your question: yes, I plan to get totally shit-faced tonight and party till I puke."

              Trey grudgingly brought my drink to me. I sipped on it; about twenty minutes later I ordered another.   

              Trey and I danced to a couple of songs.  He noticed that Gina was not drinking.

              “What’s up with Gina tonight?”

              “What do you mean?”

              “It looks like she’s on the wagon for some reason.”

              “Oh I don’t know.  I think she promised Tristan she wouldn’t get wasted tonight.  I think she’s just pacing herself,” I lied.

              Nigel had come over after we had finished dancing.  He asked if he could borrow Trey for a few minutes to discuss a matter.  I decided to get my drink freshened up.  When I came back into the main room, Gina was sitting talking to Tess on the sofa.  I joined them.

              “Did all of our men dessert us?” I asked sitting down with them.

              “It appears so,” Tess replied sheepishly. 

              I wasn’t sure what that was about.  Tess was abstaining from alcohol as well. 

              “Are you feeling okay Tess?” I asked.

              “Oh yes, I’m fine,” she replied.  “I was just getting to know Gina.  I’m delighted that Tristan found his mind again.”

              I burst out laughing and both Tess and Gina looked over at me.

              I straightened up in my seat and looked over at Tess.

              “So how is everything in California, Tess?” 

              “Everything is great.  This will be our last trip back east for awhile.  Nigel and I will be busy the next few months trying to realize our dream.”

              I wasn’t sure exactly what that meant; I had enough alcohol in me to not care about being nosey.

              “Are you going to share your dream with us?”

              "Ty," Gina said in a rather admonishing tone.

              "No Gina - that's quite alright.  We've already told both sets of parents and Tylar is family; Gina I suspect you will be soon as well so I would love to share this good news with both of you."

              My curiosity was definitely piqued now.

              "Gina, I'm not sure that you know this but an accident some years back made it impossible for me to carry a baby.  I can conceive, but would never be able to carry a baby after the first trimester. Unfortunately when Nigel and I married we learned that he was sterile for all intents and purposes.  We recently have explored surrogate options.  I've had several of my eggs harvested and stored.  We are going to have my eggs artificially inseminated and have located a surrogate through the agency who will have the fertilized eggs implanted into her where hopefully they will attach to the uterine wall and she will carry the baby to term."

              "Oh Tess!"  Gina and I both said in unison.

              "That is great Tess," I said hugging her.

              "You go for it Tess," Gina encouraged, "I really wish you and Nigel the best with this."

              "Thank you," Tess replied smiling.

              Even in my extremely buzzed state I felt as if Tess was holding something back.  It was probably my imagination as I tossed down the rest of my drink and went back to the bar.  Trey was still nowhere to be found and I wanted so much to dance.