Closing Time (27 page)

“You have a really nice ass,” I blurted.

He smirked. “I saw you staring at it.”

“Well, I like it.” I pulled the covers over me then turned on my side, the only position that was slightly comfortable.

“Good. I like your ass too.” He came closer to me after he cooled off then tangled his body with mine. Sean wasn’t a cuddler in his previous relationships. Even when he was with Penelope, they stayed on opposite sides of the bed. But with me, we were so mixed together that you couldn’t tell us apart. I liked feeling his warm body next to mine, listening to the sound of his quiet breathing.

“Thank you for being so wonderful to me,” I whispered.

“How could I not be? You’re carrying my baby.”

“But a lot of guys would find any reason to leave the house just to get away. They wouldn’t want to b
e intimate because the belly would be such a turn off, and they certainly wouldn’t be so sweet.”

“Well, I’m not like other guys.”

“I know.”

“I think your
body is perfect. And those tits…they never disappoint.”

I felt my heart swell with warmth. “You’ve made me feel beautiful even when I looked like a hideous troll. Y
ou took care of me without ever complaining. And you took time off of work just to be with me. I really appreciate it.”

“I know, baby. Now you know I’ll always be there for you.”

“I already knew it.”

His hand moved to my lower back and he rubbed me until I fell asleep.

Sometime in the middle of the night, I felt a flash of heat and a strong pain in my stomach. It lasted for a few second
s then it was gone. I was vaguely aware of it, but being asleep, I dozed off again and forgot about it. But then it came again, jolting me awake even though I wanted to fall back asleep. Then I felt my stomach and sat up. The sheets beneath me were soaked in sweat, my forehead was damp, and my back was killing me. “Sean…”

He sat up, his eyes still half closed, and then reached for me. “Baby, you okay?”

“My stomach hurts.” I leaned over the bed, trying to catch my breath.

Sean threw the bedding off then jumped to his feet. “You’re having contractions. The baby is coming.”

Oh. Contractions. Duh
. I feared something horrible was happening again.

Sean pulled on a change of clothes then grabbed the bag he already packed. The car seat was in the BMW and everything was ready to go, except me. He came to me then helped me changed into a dress. “Can you walk?”

I nodded. “But I need help.”

He grabbed my hand with the bag over his shoulder. “I got you. Come on.”

We waddled down the stairs until we reached the front door.

“Is she coming?” I asked.

“Yep. Our baby is finally on the way.” He grabbed his keys and wallet then chauffeured me to the car. He gave me a boost into the seat then checked my safety belt. “You’re doing great, honey. Just keep breathing.”

“Okay.”

He got into the driver’s seat then headed to the hospital.

“We need to call everyone.” I pointed the AC at me so I would cool down.

“I will when we get there.” He grabbed my hand and held it. “Through your nose and out your mouth.”

I breathed like he told me to.

When we arrived at the hospital, Sean got me a wheelchair then pushed me inside. I was freaking out about going into delivery, but Sean was calm and in charge. Every other time we’d been to the hospital, he was a crazy mess. But right now, he was collected.

After Sean checked me in, I was given a private room in the labor and delivery department. Sean had the nurse call our doctor for the delivery, and I changed into my gown then lay in the bed that thousands had laid in before me. When I looked out the window, I saw the distant rays of the sun emerge, meaning the morning was almost here.

Sean came back into the room then sat at my bedside, his hand in mine. “Everyone is on their way. And they are excited.”

“Ryan?”

“They just got off the plane. After they drop off their luggage, they are coming straight here.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. I d
idn’t want my brother to miss this. “I hope Skye doesn’t hurt me…”

He smirked. “If she does, I’m sure it isn’t intentional.”

“Yeah…”

He pulled the hair from my sweaty face. “If it’s unbearable, we’ll get a surrogate next time.”

“No,” I said immediately. “Being pregnant was tiring and uncomfortable, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’ll have a connection to my daughter that can never be taken away.”

He kissed my hand. “You will.”

When another contraction came around, I squeezed his hand with everything I had.

He didn’t react to the pain. It didn’t seem like I hurt him at all. “Keep breathing.”

When it passed, I sighed and lay back on the pillows. “Should I get to the delivery room?”

“The doctor is going to examine you first.”

“When the hell is she going to be here?” I snapped.
Whoa…that came out of nowhere
. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap.”

He laughed. “It’s okay, baby. I know you’re under a lot of stress. Snap at me all you want,
but just try to keep everyone else out of it.”

“I shouldn’t snap at you. You’re the sweetest man in the universe.”

He gave me a cocky smile. “The universe? Not just the world?”

“The galaxy,” I said with
affection.

“Well, I do have a nice ass.”

I laughed and almost peed myself. “Don’t make me laugh again.”

The evil gleam came into his eye. “I can’t promise anything…”

“Sean Preston,” I said firmly. “If you make me laugh again, we won’t have sex for a very long time.”

He laughed. “I’m sure.”

“I mean it.”

“Whatever.”

I growled at him. “Why don’t you believe me?”

“Because you’re a slut—only for me.”

I couldn’t bluff with my husband. He knew me too well.

The doctor came in and she shook Sean’s hand. “Your wife looks ripe.”

“She’s ready for Skye to arrive,” Sean responded.

After the doctor washed her hands and put on gloves, she placed my feet in the stirrups then sat at the end of the bed. She lifted up my gown and touched me down there. I didn’t react but I was still comfortable. “She’s dilated seven centimeters. She still has a little way to go.”

“How long do I have to wait until I start pushing?” I blurted.

She shrugged. “It could be hours. I’ll check on you regularly and keep a close eye on you.” She disposed the gloves then washed her hands. “Let the nurse know if you need anything.”

I sighed in annoyance. “When Cassandra had her baby, it slipped out of her the moment she got to the hospital.”

“Well, she’s loose,” he joked.

I glared at him.

“Okay…now isn’t the time to joke, apparently.”

My emotions were all over the place. Tears welled into my eyes faster than I could stop them. “I just want her to be here…I want my baby. I’ve waited so long and have been through so much shit! I just want her here, in my arms! Why is that so hard?” I covered my face and cried.

Sean flinched at my outburst then sat beside me. “It’s okay, baby.”

“I’m sorry.” I couldn’t look at him. I was too embarrassed.

He pulled me into his shoulder and rubbed my back. “Just
be patient. Skye is eager to be here too. It’ll happen. We’ve come this far. Let’s not lose our cool now.”

“Our cool?”

He kissed my forehead. “Scarlet, she’ll be here soon. Can I get you something in the meantime?”

“No.”

He grabbed my wrists and pulled them from my face, exposing me. “Don’t ever be afraid to cry in front of me.”

“I’m just embarrassed. I can’t control how I feel.”

“And I understand that. You’re going through a lot right now. I’m not judging and I’m not thinking less of you.”

I sniffed. “You don’t think I’m a…bitch?”

“Never.” He rubbed his nose against mine then wiped my tears away. “This is a very happy time for us. We’ve finally found each other despite taking ten years to figure it out, we finally have our baby, who’s perfectly healthy and beautiful, and we have an amazing family to support us. We’re so blessed, Scarlet. Keep that in mind.”

He was right. “I know.”

His fingers slowly moved through my hair.

The closer Skye came to being here, the
more Sean changed. He became more mature and responsible, for me and everything else in his life. The days of his youth were long gone. No longer was he immature and selfish. He was a fine man, someone I was proud of. And he reminded me of someone. “You remind me of your father—in a good way.”

“I do?” he asked in surprise.

I nodded. “When you say things like that, you sound like him.”

His smile stretched. “Thank you for the compliment.”

“You’re welcome.”

“And you’re hot-headed and annoying like your brother.”

I laughed. “Thanks for the compliment.”

He chuckled. “Anytime.”

“Here it is!” Ryan said from the hallway. He walked into the door, looking ridiculously tan, while Janice came behind him. “Phew, we made it. Scarlet is still fat and ugly.”

“Shut up, Ryan. And whoa…what the hell happened to you?”

Janice smirked. “This idiot got tanning oil and sunscreen confused.”

Ryan’s face was as dark as an Aztec. He and I were naturally pale with white skin that was sensitive to direct sunlight. “You look…weird.”

He glared at me. “If Scarlet 2.0 wasn’t on the way, I wouldn’t have shown my face for weeks.”

“Months,” Janice added. “That coat of color is going to last a long time.” She laughed while she stared at his dark face.

Sean stepped back slightly. “You look like you just came out of a coal mine.”

“Can we just talk about Scarlet right now?” Ryan said irritably. “You k
now, the woman having your baby?”

“She’s not having it right now,” Sean snapped. “And you can’t just walk in here looking like that and not expect us to make fun of you mercilessly.”

“Payback,” I said. “For all those cow jokes you made.”

Ryan turned to her. “My skin may be dark but it will fade. You, on the other hand, are a fat cow and you’ll be one for a while.”

“Stop being a jerk,” I said.

“Stop making fun of me,” Ryan responded.

“Never.”

“Fine.”

Janice sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. “How about we drop this little feud for now?”

“Okay,” Sean said. “But keep that…thing…away from me and my wife,” he said as he looked at Ryan.

Cortland stepped through the door with an arrangement of flowers. “Hey, what’s up—” He faltered in misstep then dropped the flowers on the ground. “Shit, what the hell happened to you?”

Ryan’s scowl deepened at the reaction.

Janice covered her face and laughed loudly, tears coming out of her eyes.

“Go to hell,” Ryan snapped.

“Were you kidnapped and held hostage in a tanning booth?” Cortland asked in a serious tone.

“You want me to beat you up in front of your wife?” Ryan threatened.

Monnique came behind Cortland then looked fearful. “Protect me from that monster, honeybunny.”

Ryan put his hands in his pocket
s then clenched his jaw, clearly annoyed by everyone’s reaction.

When Mike and Cassandra walked in, I knew it was going to get worse.

Mike smiled when he saw me, but when he spotted Ryan, looking like a black dot against the white walls, he froze then pushed Cassandra, who was holding Trinity, behind him. “Baby, stay back.”

“That’s it,” Ryan huffed. “I’m leaving.”

I laughed then grabbed his arm. “We’re so kidding.”

Cortland still stared at Ryan like he might spread wings and fly up his nose. “How did you get that dark?”

“The Caribbean is at the equator,” Ryan said irritably.

“And is the equator two inches from the sun?” Mike asked incredulously.

Ryan was losing his cool. “My sister is about to have a baby, so why don’t we acknowledge the reason why we’re here.”

“Shit, Skye is going to be so scared when she gets a glimpse of you,” Cortland said.

Ryan headed to the door. “Fuck you all.”

Janice laughed then grabbed his arm. “Baby, they’re teasing. Let it go. It’s all in good fun.”

“Fun isn’t the word I’d used to describe it,” Ryan said through clenched teeth.

“What happened anyway?” Mike asked. “Did the hotel not have a roof?”

“Enough with the jokes,” Janice demanded. “You’ve had your fun.”