The Consummation: Josh and Kat Part III (The Club Book 7)

by Lauren Rowe

  We all respond enthusiastically.

  I lie back on the examination table and the technician spreads some gel on my baby bump. “My heart is racing,” I say, putting my hand on my heart. “I’m really nervous.”

  Josh leans down and kisses my forehead. “The kumquat’s gonna be fine.”

  The tech puts the wand on my belly and moves it around and, suddenly, we’re met with the unmistakable image of an actual baby.

  “Holy crap,” I say. “That’s a baybay!”

  “Oh my God,” Josh says. “Definitely not a kumquat.”

  “Quite different than the first sonogram, isn’t it?” the doctor says. She begins pointing out various body parts, all of which, she says, look perfectly formed and right on track.

  “Oh, thank God,” I say, sighing with relief. “I was really worried I’d hurt the poor thing with too much partying before I knew.”

  “Well, this should put you at ease, then,” the doctor says, patting my hand. “So, do you want to know the baby’s gender?”

  “Heck yeah,” Josh says. “That’s the dangling carrot we used to lure Uncle Jo Jo and Auntie Sarah to this shindig.”

  “Do you already know?” I ask.

  “I sure do. The baby’s legs are spread wide and I’ve got an unimpeded view.” The doctor pauses for effect. “Any guesses?”

  “Girl,” Sarah says calmly.

  The doctor nods. “Yep. Congratulations. You’re having a baby girl.”

  Tears spring into my eyes.

  “Oh my God,” Josh breathes. He leans down and kisses me. “I love you, Kat.”

  “I love you, too,” I whisper into his lips.

  “I was hoping for a girl so much,” Josh says.

  I’m shocked to hear Josh say that—don’t all big, athletic men secretly hope for a boy who’ll grow up to play on the Seahawks one day? But when I look at Josh and see the moment he’s sharing with Jonas, I suddenly understand completely—this baby’s a tribute to their late mother in heaven, a baby girl to keep their mother’s memory alive.

  Josh and I haven’t discussed baby names yet—in fact, several times I’ve told Josh I was too freaked out about the booze and pot thing to think about baby names until I was sure everything was okay—but now that I’ve seen our baby girl growing inside me—and especially now that I’m witnessing the expressions of emotion on both Josh and Jonas’ faces, there’s only one name I’d even consider.

  “Grace,” I blurt.

  Josh’s face lights up. “Grace,” Josh repeats reverently, nodding. He bends down to kiss me. “Thank you.”

  I mumble “of course” into Josh’s lips, but my words are incomprehensible.

  “Grace Louise?” Josh asks, pulling away suddenly from my mouth.

  “Perfect,” I say, smiling.

  “Aw,” Sarah says. “That’s so sweet. Gracie Louise Faraday.”

  “Hey, Doctor,” Jonas says, putting his arm around Sarah. “Are you sure? I’ve heard stories of people painting a room pink based on the sonogram and then giving birth to a boy.”

  “Oh, I’m positive,” Dr. Gupta says. She points to the sonogram screen. “See between her legs there? Definitely no penis. The baby’s made it really easy for us by spreading her legs wide.”

  Josh snickers.

  “Don’t say it,” I warn sharply, slapping his arm.

  “Don’t say what?” Josh says, grinning.

  “You know what.”

  Josh chuckles and kisses me tenderly. “Babe,” he says. “I would never make a crass joke about my baby girl making it easy just like her hot momma does for me every night—because that would be rude and inappropriate. But, just so you know, if I ever do compare our beautiful daughter to her gorgeous mommy in any way, shape or form, I’ll always mean it as the highest compliment, no matter what.”

  Chapter 34

  Kat

  “So where do you guys want to go for lunch?” I ask, floating happily through the parking lot outside my doctor’s office, my hand caressing my baby bump. But when I realize nobody’s walking alongside me, I stop and turn around. “Guys?” I ask. “Any ideas on where we should go for lunch to celebrate little Gracie Louise?”

  “I’m sorry, honey,” Sarah says. “I can’t do lunch. I promised to help my mom today.”

  “Oh,” I say, deflated.

  “There’s only two more weeks before school starts back up, so I promised I’d help down at Gloria’s House every day ’til then.”

  “Oh, no problem,” I say, trying my best to sound sincere. Of course, I know intellectually that helping victims of domestic abuse is far more important than celebrating my baby’s gender—and, of course, I know we can celebrate any time, not just today—but I still can’t help feeling disappointed, nonetheless.

  “No worries,” Josh says breezily. “The four of us will go out another time. How about a celebratory dinner later this week?”

  “Great,” Sarah says. She gives me an enthusiastic hug. “Bye, sweetie. Congratulations again.” She pats my bump. “Bye-bye, Gracie Louise. I can’t wait to meet you, boo.”

  Jonas hugs me goodbye and then shocks the hell out of me by tenderly placing his palm on my belly—a move so full of affection—and so unlike him—it catches me off guard. “I can’t wait to meet you, Gracie Faraday,” Jonas whispers.

  I exchange a swooning look with Sarah.

  Josh follows suit, putting his hand on my belly when Jonas pulls his hand away.

  “I can already tell you’re gonna own me, Gracie Louise,” Josh says. He bends down and kisses my belly, making me swoon. “I already love you, Little G,” he whispers.

  Oh my God, I can barely stand, I’m so overcome by this beautiful moment. “Josh,” I say, barely above a whisper.

  Josh stands. “Good God, I’m gonna be surrounded by a shit-ton of estrogen in my own house,” he blurts, completely shattering the fairytale-nature of the moment. “I’m officially fucked.”

  We all laugh.

  “Yep. You’re definitely gonna hone your listening skills,” Jonas says.

  “Oh, you know you’ll love it,” I say. I look at Jonas and Sarah. “Okay, guys, I love you truly, madly, deeply, but the kumquat’s hangry—so if you’re not coming with us to eat, then you best get out of my freakin’ way so I don’t start barfing all over you.”

  “You’re still barfing?” Sarah asks.

  “Not nearly as much, but, yeah, on occasion, especially when I get really hungry.”

  Sarah grimaces. “You poor thing.”

  I pat my belly. “It’s okay. Seeing Gracie today made it all worth it.”

  Josh and I wave to Jonas and Sarah as they drive off in their car, and then, since we’d hitched a ride with Jonas and Sarah to get here in the first place, we grab a taxi.

  “Hotel 1000,” Josh instructs the driver as we settle into the backseat of the cab. “Okay with you, babe? There’s a new restaurant in the hotel I wanna try.”

  “Great,” I say. “What kind of food do they—Oh.” I abruptly stop talking, my hand on my belly.

  “What?” Josh asks, his eyes wide.

  I hold up a finger, holding my breath—and there it is again: a teeny-tiny jabbing sensation in my lower abdomen, poking me from the inside. “Oh my gosh,” I say. “I think I just felt the baby move.”

  “Really?” Josh asks, his eyes lighting up.

  I place Josh’s hand on my bump, right where I just felt movement, and it happens again. “Did you feel that?” I ask.

  Josh shakes his head, his eyes on fire. “What did it feel like?”

  “It felt like someone poking me—like this.” I touch the top of Josh’s hand with my fingertip. “Only imagine feeling that little jab from inside your body—like a little alien wanting to get out.”

  “That’s so cool,” Josh says. He places both palms on my bump, squinting like he’s concentrating on complex calculus—and for the rest of the taxi ride, he forbids me to speak while he silently touches every inch of my tiny bump,
trying with all his might to feel movement. But it’s no use. Every time I feel a little jab, Josh can’t feel it with me.

  “I guess the kumquat’s just too small for you to feel her yet,” I finally conclude. “I’m sorry, babe.”

  “Damn. Tell me every time you feel her move, okay? I’m dying to give her a high-five with my fingertip.”

  I swoon for the twentieth time today. Who is this adorable man sitting next to me in this taxi? I can’t believe the man touching my baby bump with such tenderness and enthusiasm is the same commitment-phobic playboy who not too long ago said he planned to wait until eighty to have a baby so he could simultaneously have the kid and forget he was ever born.

  “I love you so much, Josh,” I say softly, touching his cheek.

  “I love you, I love you, I love you, Kat—more than I ever thought possible,” Josh replies, just before planting a kiss on me that makes me forget where I am.

  After a moment, the driver clears his throat. “Um. Excuse me. We’re here,” he says.

  Josh brushes my cheek with his thumb, and then touches my chin with the tip of his finger, and finally, slowly, tears himself away from me to pay the man.

  We float inside the hotel together, Josh’s arm around my shoulders, but, much to my surprise, Josh steers us away from the restaurant in the lobby and toward the elevator bank.

  “Hey, isn’t that the restaurant?” I ask, pointing behind me.

  Josh stops walking and pulls me into him, a huge smile on his face. “We’re not going to the restaurant, my love—I only told you that to lure you here.”

  My love? Did Josh just call me “my love”? He’s never called me that before.

  “Why aren’t we going to the restaurant?” I manage to ask.

  “Because we’re going to our room,” Josh replies simply—and before I can say another word, he fishes into his pocket, pulls out a poker chip, and places it in my palm, a wicked smile dancing on his lips. “Let the mini-porno begin, baby.”

  “Ooh!” I squeal. “Yay! Which fantasy are we doing, babe?”

  “Actually, today we’re doing one of my fantasies—a fantasy I’ve never told anyone about, not even you.” Josh wraps me into his arms and smashes his hard body into mine. “It’s my top fantasy, actually—something I’ve only recently discovered I want to do.”

  “You didn’t write about it in your application?”

  “Nope. I’ve never told a single soul about this particular fantasy—didn’t even know I had it until recently. But today, for the first and only time, I wanna do it with you, Party Girl.” A huge smile spreads across his face. “My love.”

  Chapter 35

  Kat

  “Oh, that was good—the artichoke was hangry as hell,” I say, putting my napkin onto the table and patting my belly. I’ve just devoured a huge spread of food Josh had waiting for us in our hotel suite, and I’m feeling fine as wine and ready to role-play.

  “So you’re feeling good now?” Josh asks.

  “Yup. I’m feeling great. Heidi Kumquat reporting for duty, sir, any which way you please. So what’s your pleasure, sir? Whips? Chains? Donkeys?”

  Josh shoots me a sly smile. “You’ll see. The outfit I want you to wear for me is laid out on the bed in there.” He indicates the master bedroom of the suite.

  “Oh,” I say, raising my eyebrow. “French maid costume, maybe? Latex? Rabbit suit? Damsel in distress?”

  “You’ll see soon enough. I packed your makeup and toiletries, by the way—they’re in the bathroom.” He stands, his eyes blazing. “Meet me back out here in forty-five minutes. I’ll get dressed in the other bedroom.”

  “Oh. We’re doing his and hers costumes, huh?” I say. “What on earth have you been fantasizing about on the sly, you naughty Playboy?”

  “No questions. Just do as your told. This is my fantasy—not yours—you’re just my plaything today.”

  “Oooh, I like the sound of that. But, seriously, babe. I want to be sure you get your fantasy, whatever it is. What if I don’t know what to do?”

  “Oh, you’ll know.” He pulls me to him and plants a kiss on my lips that’s so passionate, I’m certain he’s about to bend me over the table and fuck me senseless right here and now. But, nope, he doesn’t. Instead, he pulls away and slaps my ass. “Now get showered and dressed, Party Girl. You’ve got exactly forty-five minutes—don’t keep me waiting.”

  “Yes, sir,” I say.

  I head into the bedroom, as directed, and gasp when I see what Josh has laid out for me to wear: a formal red gown, red lace bra and undies, black strappy heels, and a small clutch covered in sparkling Swarovski crystals. I look at the label on the gorgeous dress. Carolina Herrera. Oh my God. I can’t even imagine how much this beautiful creation must have cost. Quickly, I throw off my clothes and slip the gown on, even before showering, just to make sure it fits—and, man, oh man, does it ever—like a glove, baby bump and all.

  “Wow,” I say out loud, staring at myself in the mirror. “Hello, Pretty Woman.”

  It’s actually astonishing how much this dress looks like a modern update of the iconic red dress Julia Roberts wore in that movie. Of course, Josh wouldn’t know that since he’s the only human in the Western Hemisphere who’s never seen Pretty Woman, but, truly, this gown is a dead ringer for that famous dress. I giggle to myself. This is such classic Josh Faraday—even without knowing it, he’s managed to fulfill one of my top fantasies.

  I slip out of the dress and hop into the shower, singing “Pretty Woman” at the top of my lungs—and just over an hour later (oops, I’m little late), I emerge from the master bedroom wearing my beautiful Julia-dress and gorgeous, strappy heels.

  Josh is sitting across the room, looking down at his phone, dressed to perfection in a classic, tailored tux. At the sound of my entrance into the room, he looks up from his phone and his handsome face bursts into immediate flames.

  “Wow,” Josh says. He hops up and strides toward me. “Look at you. Wow.”

  I twirl. “You like?”

  “I love.” He kisses my cheek and I’m treated to the scent of his delicious cologne. “You’re absolutely stunning, Kat,” he adds.

  “So are you,” I say. “You look amazing.”

  Josh furrows his brow, apparently considering something. He blatantly looks me up and down. “Hmm.”

  “What?” I ask, suddenly feeling insecure.

  “Something’s missing.”

  “Huh?” I look down at myself. “There was nothing else laid out on the bed,” I say.

  Josh purses his lips. “Ah. I know. Hang on.”

  He strides with great purpose across the room and grabs a flat velvet box off the bar—and the minute I see that damned box in Josh’s hand, I know exactly what’s up. Red gown. Tux. Flat velvet jewelry box. Holy Julia Roberts, Batman—Josh is re-enacting Pretty Woman!

  I clamp my palm over my mouth. “Oh my God!” I gasp.

  Josh holds up the velvet box, a huge smile on his face, but before he can say a word, I begin jumping up and down and shrieking like a monkey escaping from the zoo.

  “Oh my God, I love this movie,” I shriek excitedly. I take a deep breath and shake out my arms. “You’re incredible-amazing-wow-I’m-so-excited-thank-you!”

  Josh laughs. “Are you okay? Do you need a minute?”

  I giggle like a hyena. “I can’t believe you did this! When did you watch it? Oh my God!”

  “Are you okay? Are you gonna pass out?”

  “I’m good. Oh my God. Go ahead. Holy shit. Okay, I can totally do this—I swear. Do it. Gah! Okay. Go.” I bite my tongue to keep myself from babbling further.

  Josh smiles. “Ready?”

  I nod, still biting my tongue.

  Josh slowly opens the box... to reveal the most redonkulous diamond necklace I’ve ever seen in my entire freakin’ life. It’s even more spectacular than the one Sarah wore on her wedding day—something I didn’t think was possible.

  Of course, I know this necklace
is just a rental—I’ve seen the movie twenty times, after all, so I know how this scene goes—but, still, this is so freaking exciting, so unexpected, I can barely stand. I can’t believe Josh even thought to arrange a Pretty Woman fantasy for me! I can’t fathom how that’s even possible.

  Josh is grinning wickedly, holding the box open, inviting me to enact what comes next in this scene—and, of course, I’d never, ever disappoint him.

  “Can I touch it?” I breathe.

  Josh nods, smiling from ear to ear. “I was hoping you’d ask me that.”

  I shudder with excitement.

  “Go on,” Josh coaxes. “If you dare.”

  I giggle. “I’m nervous.”

  “Dig deep, baby—be brave.”

  “Whew. Okay.” I reach slowly into the box, my Julia-Roberts belly laugh all cued up—oh my God, this is so freakin’ awesome!—and, as expected, even before my fingers have touched the sparkling necklace, Josh clamps the lid down on my fingers. And even though I had my Julia Roberts impression ready to rip, I surprise myself by bursting into authentic Kat-Morgan, dude-like guffaws, sending Josh into a fit of hysterical laughter along with me.

  When both of us have calmed down a bit, Josh removes the dazzling necklace from the box. “Turn around, hot momma,” he says. “Let’s get this bad boy on you.”

  I turn around and I’m rewarded with the sensation of my hair being pushed off my neck and Josh’s soft lips against my Scorpio tattoo—followed by Josh securing the outrageous necklace around my neck.

  I touch the dazzling rocks against my skin, trembling. “Oh my freaking God,” I breathe.

  “Lemme see you,” Josh says softly. “Turn around.”

  I do.

  “Gorgeous,” Josh says, his eyes blazing. “Wow.”

  I touch the necklace again, feeling slightly faint. “Josh?”

  “Yes, my love?”

  “If I forget to tell you later: I had a really good time tonight.”

  Josh laughs. “Thank you.” He leans forward like he’s going to kiss me, but, instead, he presses his lips against my ear. “It’s all yours, baby,” he whispers, his voice low and sexy.