When I’m With You (Indigo) (27 page)

Caitlyn straightened and indignantly asked, “Who did you hire?”

Marcel smiled. “A woman.”

Her hands landed against her hips. “A woman?”

Grinning, he hitched his brow. “You jealous?”

She shrugged. “Of course not.” Then she asked in a less-than-enthusiastic tone, “What’s her name?”

Marcel chuckled. “I think you know her, and I believe you’ll really like her. She’s smart, witty…has tons of experience running a foundation.”

Caitlyn was seething.

“Just so you know, we’ll probably be spending a great deal of time together—private time that is.”

“What?” Caitlyn’s voice escalated to a shout.

“Settle down, tiger. You see, after she’s had some time to get to know her father better, I believe she’ll be ready to head up our foundation.”

“Oh, Marcel…”

“Well, are you up for the challenge?”

Caitlyn pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. “What about my center?”

“I’m positive you’ll find a qualified replacement. Well?”

“Yes.”

“Yes what?”

She sighed with a smile. “Yes, I’ll run the foundation. Happy now?”

“No.”

“No?” She stared, stunned.

“There’s one more thing.”

“What is it?”

Marcel reached inside his pocket and pulled out a ring and held it in front of him.

Caitlyn widened her eyes and formed a perfect “O” with her mouth as she stared at the round four-carat pink diamond in a platinum setting. It had several smaller princess-cut diamonds on each side. She reached out to retrieve it, but Marcel pulled it back.

“Uh-uh. Not so fast here. The last time I tried to give you a loaner, you rushed out the door like the building was on fire. I love you and I’m loaning you my heart for eternity. I need to be sure you’re not going to rush out on me again. Let’s get married tomorrow.”

“I want to wait until after I testify at Cole’s trial. I want us to start our lives together with that nightmare behind us.”

Marcel grimace. “That might not be for a while, though. I can’t wait that long.”

Caitlyn frowned. “What do you mean, ‘a while’?”

“Cole’s recovering.”

“Recovering? From what?”

He held up a defensive hand. “Now kitten, all of this is secondhand, of course, but after his bail was posted, he had a little accident.”

“Bail?” Caitlyn lifted her brow. “Cole’s bail was over a million dollars, Marcel.” She folded her arms across her chest. “So exactly how did he come up with that kind of money and all of a sudden have this little
accident
?”

Marcel shrugged. “I heard he’s coming along nicely. The last time I spoke to Judge Ramsey, he assured me that Cole is receiving excellent treatment at the prison hospital unit.”

She slowly bobbed her head up and down. Although she didn’t have any proof, she’d bet everything she had that Ken and Alex, along with the Baptiste men, including the one standing in front of her, were somehow involved. She smiled. “I think I’ll take you up on the suggestion to spend some time getting to know my father before I take over the foundation. Thank you.”

“How do you feel about finding out that Ken’s your father?”

“Scared, overwhelmed, frightened. It’s a big shock to learn that after all these years I have family. I’m just grateful I don’t have to worry about Cole anymore.”

He wrapped her in his embrace. “Cole is a closed chapter in your life. There’s no need to worry about him. I’m the one who needs to be worried.”

“Why?”

He chuckled. “Your father has issued a warning to me.”

“What warning?”

“That I better do right by you.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “Really.”

She laughed. “And what did you say to him?”

“What any man in his right mind would say.”

Caitlyn smiled. “What’s that?”

“Yes, sir.” He dangled the engagement ring in front of her face again. “So, will you marry me?”

“
Oui
.”

“
Merci
.” He swiped her lips with a kiss. “When?”

“The fifteenth day of December.”

He frowned. “That’s two months away.”

Caitlyn nodded. “It’s also my father’s birthday.

Kenji and Max barked in unison.

Marcel smiled because he understood. With one arm still holding her to him, he held up his finger. “I need to take care of two things real quick.”

Confused, she looked up at him. “What?”

He grabbed his cell phone and punched in a number. “Moni…yeah, yeah.” He shook his head. “Listen…no, Moni, you can’t talk to her. Just do what you do best and get the word out that she said yes.” He shook his head again. “Look, Moni, she’s not taking calls until noon tomorrow. Got it?”

Caitlyn laughed. “What’s the second thing?”

“We need to drop these two members of the canine species who think they’re people off somewhere.” He looked down at Max and Kenji.

Max growled. Kenji whimpered.

“Why?”

“I don’t plan to share you with them or anyone tonight.”

Caitlyn looked down at the two puppies. “Guess I’ll see you guys in the morning.”

“Don’t count on it.”

Marcel suggested to Caitlyn that instead of them going back and forth between her apartment and his estate, that she move in with him until their wedding. She said no on the basis that it was against tradition. He countered and politely reminded her he wanted his
bébé
sleeping under his roof every night, and if she could find a way for that to happen without her sleeping there, he’d give her idea full consideration.

She moved in the same day.

The reality of impending fatherhood finally hit Marcel about two o’clock one morning and he snatched back the covers from Caitlyn’s body and cradled a protective hand over her stomach. “God, my
bébés
are in there.” An early ultrasound had revealed not one, but two strong, tiny heartbeats, just as Mama Z had predicted.

The days that followed made impending parenthood even more believable when Caitlyn would awake with morning sickness. They stumbled upon the fact that plain oatmeal helped with her bouts of nausea, and Marcel made sure he had a bowl sitting on the nightstand by the time she woke every morning.

* * *

“Marcel Xavier Baptiste. Turn her loose. Ya don had her long enough.” Mama Z stood in the middle of the foyer with her hands against her hips. Mama Z, along with Aimee, Moni and Vic, had burst through the door of Marcel and Caitlyn’s estate like a SWAT team arriving at the scene of a crime.

“Come on, people. We’ve got a wedding happening at five o’clock around here.” Brie rushed around with her entire staff following in her wake. She had Caitlyn’s wedding gown draped on one arm and her accessories on the other.

At the top of the staircase, Caitlyn and Marcel stood together laughing at the scene unfolding below. She lifted his chin and looked straight into his eyes. “Remember, when I’m with you…no fear.”

“No doubt,” he whispered.

She smiled and whispered back, “No shame. Nothing but love…”

Marcel caressed her cheek. “Nothing but love.” He kissed her tenderly and patted her stomach before he descended the staircase.

He planted a kiss on his grandmother’s rounded cheek, bowed, and tossed her a bad-boy grin. “She’s all yours now.”

Moni rubbed her belly and looked around at everyone. “What have they been doing all morning? I don’t see why Caitlyn isn’t downstairs already. She knew we’d be here—”

“Moni, shut up.” Vic turned and tossed an annoyed look. “Go sit down somewhere. You’re already a week overdue, and I don’t have time to be delivering a baby…not today. She was probably doing the same thing that got you both in the condition you’re in now.” She looked up at Caitlyn and issued another warning. “You need to stop playing honeymooner, Caitlyn Renee Thompson. Let’s go.”

Moni remained in her seat as ordered. Aimee took charge of Taylor and Tyler, Caitlyn’s flower girls, while Vic raced around, giving directions to the wedding planners. It wasn’t long after their arrival that the estate was transformed into a winter wonderland, and the heady aroma of over ten thousand imported white roses sweetened the air.

Marcel and Caitlyn’s wedding day proceeded without a hitch of the fifteenth day of December. At five o’clock sharp, Caitlyn descended the staircase on the arm of her father, wearing a sleek, long-sleeved white gown designed by Valentino and accented by an antique diamond necklace and earrings, a wedding gift from the groom. A cluster of white rosebuds helped to fasten her lace-and-silk veil to her hair, which was beautifully arranged in a French twist. She carried a cascading bouquet of white roses that complemented the blossoms adorning her headpiece.

As she entered the living room, she spotted her foster mother, Ms. Ruby, sitting in one of the front chairs with Kenji and Max cuddled securely on her lap.

When she reached him at the front, Marcel almost reached out and kissed Caitlyn before the ceremony started.

He was handsome in a white double-breasted tailcoat. It was tailor made with a six-button front and a satin-notch lapel. He was wearing his wedding gift from his bride, a pair of sterling silver cufflinks.

On tiptoe, Caitlyn whispered in Marcel’s ear. “I thought you said you were getting a sitter for Kenji and Max today.”

Marcel whispered back. “I know, kitten. But aren’t they family? They had to come, too.”

With their fingers entwined, they heard the minister begin: “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…”