by C. C. Gibbs
‘Not because I wanted to be. But I’m back now.’ He softly inhaled. ‘Business,’ he said flatly. ‘It can be a pain in the ass.’ Then he deliberately changed the subject to something other than his recent absence. ‘Tell us about the children, Amanda.’ His voice was suddenly smoothly urbane. ‘We’re both interested,’ he smiled, ‘for obvious reasons. In fact, we’re thinking about taking notes tonight since we’re such tyros.’
‘Would you like to see our angels?’
‘Could we?’ Kate practically leaped up from her chair. ‘I didn’t know if I dared ask.’
‘Ask away,’ Justin said, quickly coming to his feet. ‘We’re the crazy parents you hear about who think their children are perfect.’
Rising from his chair, Dominic moved around the coffee table and took Kate’s hand. ‘We already feel that way, don’t we?’
She smiled up at him. ‘Totally.’
‘Along with our own kind of crazy,’ he said gently, gazing down at her, remembering how they’d both been baby crazy in Hong Kong. ‘From the very first, right?’ His voice was velvet soft.
Kate took a deep breath and nodded, her eyes filling with tears.
‘Hey, hey,’ Dominic whispered, pulling her close, running his hands gently down her back. ‘Everything’s good.’
Justin was thinking he’d seen everything now.
Amanda was thinking how nice it was that Dominic was no longer alone.
And the couple holding each other forgot where they were.
As the silence lengthened, Amanda and Justin looked at each other, unsure whether or not to intrude.
Then a baby’s wail shattered the stillness.
‘Oh dear,’ Amanda murmured. ‘Bee was supposed to sleep for another couple of hours.’
‘It’s the baby, Dominic.’ Blinking away her tears, Kate smiled at him, then at Amanda. ‘Please, may I hold her? I mean if you don’t mind.’
‘Certainly. Ah … there,’ the crying abruptly stopped, ‘the nurse picked her up. I left a bottle just in case. Come,’ Amanda said, indicating the doorway with a wave. ‘We’ll show off our perfect children.’
The upstairs nursery was a two-room suite next to the master bedroom. Kate and Dominic admired the baby first while the nurse fed her. There was no need to be polite out of courtesy as was sometimes the case with newborns. Bee was a beautiful baby.
Kate jabbed Dominic in the ribs, grinned and said under her breath, ‘What do you think?’
‘I think I can hardly wait,’ he murmured, grinning back. ‘Although it’s going to be a whole new universe for us.’
‘But we can do anything, right?’
He laughed. ‘Absolutely.’ He looked up at their hosts. ‘Sorry. This is all really still very new. We’re super—’
‘Giddy,’ Kate interposed.
‘Pretty much.’
That was another of those tagged moments that would go in Justin’s memory book. Dominic Knight admitting to giddiness. No one who knew Dominic would ever have bet on that happening – the description would previously have been inconceivable for such a ruthless, intensely private man.
Amanda stepped into the small silence. ‘Let me show you Adam,’ she offered and led them into the adjacent room.
‘What a darling,’ Kate whispered a moment later, standing by the small bed where the dark-haired toddler lay sleeping, a stuffed bunny under his arm. She glanced up at Justin. ‘He looks like you.’
‘That’s what my mother said.’
‘I’d love to hold him, but maybe some other time when he’s awake. Although, a toddler probably doesn’t care to be held at all.’
‘He has his moments,’ Amanda noted. ‘Mostly when he’s tired. But you’re right. He prefers being what he calls “growed up”. If you’d like, I’ll have the nurse bring the baby down once she’s finished with her bottle. A sleeping baby is easier to hold than a screaming one.’
Kate looked up at Dominic, smiled, then glanced back at Amanda. ‘I’d adore that. Maybe Dominic could hold her too. We’re slightly daunted by the whole situation. Everything’s happened so quickly.’
‘You’re not alone. We weren’t planning on starting a family so soon after our marriage, but—’
‘Amanda forgot a couple of pills,’ Justin said, grinning.
‘Because you whisked me away for a surprise weekend,’ She gave her husband an amused glance. ‘Although we couldn’t be happier how things turned out. And you are too, I can tell,’ she added, smiling at Dominic and Kate.
‘It’s a great feeling,’ Dominic said. ‘Better than anything, isn’t it, baby?’ he pulled Kate under his arm and kissed her cheek.
‘Way better,’ Kate agreed, thinking life couldn’t be more perfect if she had a fairy godmother with a magic wand calling the shots.
Perhaps ten minutes after they returned downstairs, the nurse brought the baby into the conservatory. Kate immediately held out her arms and as the newborn was placed in her lap, her breath caught in her throat. ‘She’s so little,’ Kate whispered, then glanced up. ‘Come look, Dominic.’
The men were surveying Justin’s collection of Highland whiskies. Dominic smiled at Justin. ‘I have better things to do.’
Walking over to Kate, seated on the sofa, he stood for a moment gazing at the captivating picture of mother and child. Then bending, he gently touched the baby’s small hand.
‘Oh … look – she smiled.’ Kate glanced up. ‘Did you see that?’
‘I did,’ Dominic murmured. ‘That was a sleepy little smile.’
‘She’s just precious, isn’t she?’
‘Absolutely precious.’
‘You don’t mind if we have a girl, do you?’
‘Whatever you give me, baby, will be perfect.’
‘Are you sure?’
He squatted down so their eyes were level. ‘I’m a thousand percent sure,’ he quietly said. ‘Don’t ever worry about me loving our child. I do already. Now and for ever. OK? You got that? My love for you and our baby is unconditional, world without end.’
She nodded, too choked up to speak.
Amanda caught Justin’s eye, signalled to the nurse, quickly rose from her chair and shooed them out of the room.
Dominic and Kate didn’t notice.
‘Sometimes love is too small a word for how I feel about you,’ Dominic whispered, smiling faintly. ‘I need a bigger word.’
‘Supercalifragi—’
‘Yeah, like that.’ Rising, he dropped onto the sofa beside her. ‘We must have embarrassed them.’ He flicked his finger at the empty room. ‘Not that I give a shit.’
‘You never do.’
He shrugged. ‘I’ll teach you how to ignore the world.’
Kate grinned. ‘And I’ll let you hold the baby if you’re careful.’
‘Really.’ He looked amused. ‘I have your permission?’
‘Careful now,’ she said, gently lifting the baby and placing her in Dominic’s arms. ‘Oh my lord, now she really looks tiny.’ Dominic held the baby’s head in his large palm for a moment before adjusting the small blanketed form in the crook of his arm.
‘They grow fast.’ Dominic smiled. ‘I remember Nicole as a newborn. Although she had a full head of dark hair instead of this blonde fuzz. She liked the trampoline.’
‘You’re not taking our baby on a trampoline,’ Kate said nervously.
‘I bounced lightly. I barely moved. Nicole loved it.’
‘Well, maybe then. We’ll see.’
He looked up and grinned. ‘Are you in charge of our baby?’
‘I am at the moment.’
‘And looking tempting as hell in mommy mode,’ he murmured. ‘Do you suppose they’d care if we left now?’ He gave her a playful leer.
She giggled.
The baby jerked.
Dominic shushed Kate with a quick kiss and the baby with a professional little jiggle. And Bee went back to sleep.
Wide-eyed, Kate watched the baby drift back to sleep. ‘You do know what you’re doing.�
�
‘More than you, apparently. Didn’t you ever babysit?’
She shook her head. ‘Well, twice, and Nana was there.’
‘So you didn’t babysit,’ he said with a grin. ‘I can see who’s going to be taking care of the baby.’
‘While you’re busy at work no doubt,’ she scoffed.
‘Not a problem. Although, you’re going to have to stay close because we’re going to need your milk.’ He looked up, brows raised. ‘You could have the office next door to mine. We could work together on everything. Sound like a plan?’
‘Tempting, Mr Knight,’ she purred.
‘Did I mention, most of my offices have a bedroom for the nights I work late? Once the baby’s sleeping, we could put him or her in the crib, shut the door to the bedroom and make use of the couch in my office. Interested?’
She dropped back against the sofa cushions and shut her eyes. ‘Jesus, Dominic, it sounds like heaven.’
‘I’ll give you the heaven of your choice if you agree to work with me.’
She opened her eyes. ‘You mean it, don’t you? You’re not teasing about Knight Enterprises?’
‘I never tease about business. Especially my own.’
‘You’re saying we could take care of the baby together.’
‘We could or – if you don’t want to – I could.’
She gave him a small stunned look. ‘You’d do that?’
‘I’d do anything for you, Katherine,’ he said softly. ‘There’s nothing I wouldn’t do.’
She started sniffling. Shifting the baby to his other arm, he pulled Kate into the solid warmth of his body. ‘It’s OK, baby, cry all you want. Just not too loud or you’ll wake Bee, OK?’
She punched him softly so she wouldn’t wake the baby.
‘There’s a handkerchief in my back pocket.’
Reaching behind, she dug the handkerchief out and wiped her eyes. ‘Boy Scout,’ she whispered. ‘Always prepared.’
‘Tell Martin that. He put it in there. His daughter had two babies. I guess he knows.’
She sat up, looking shocked. ‘He said that?’
‘Relax, baby. He didn’t say anything. I just saw I had a handkerchief and put two and two together. I don’t usually carry a handkerchief in my jeans pocket, so you should thank him. Hey, I’m just teasing,’ he quickly added at her look of alarm. ‘I’ll thank him.’
She snorted. ‘You’re very annoying.’
‘But you love me anyway.’
‘How can I not when you know how to take care of babies?’
‘There you go. Done deal. Now give me a kiss, then we’ll eat and get the hell out of here. I’m actually starved.’
‘You’re always starved,’ Kate murmured. Grabbing the neck of his ocean blue Cucinelli polo shirt he’d worn in deference to Amanda’s style of casual, Kate stretched up.
Dominic dipped his head and met her quick kiss, then smiled from close range. ‘I’m just making sure I get enough to eat to keep my strength up, baby. You like to fuck a lot.’ His smile widened. ‘Ready?’ Cause the sooner we eat, the sooner we leave.’ Rising from the sofa with the baby in one arm, he held out his other hand and pulled Kate up.
‘I was just checking with the cook,’ Amanda said, bustling back into the conservatory from the hallway where she’d been keeping watch. ‘Let me get the nurse for Bee and we’ll have dinner.’
The table was beautifully laid with the fine china, silver, wine glasses, and a colourful display of mostly roses in a tall silver epergne that some artistic florist had created in order to leave the sight lines at the candle-lit table free.
Amanda served as hostess with the aplomb of someone to the manor born, directing the progressive courses with an imperceptible glance or gesture. And her idea of casual, as Dominic had known, meant pearls instead of diamonds and a street-length skirt rather than an evening gown. But Justin wore jeans like Dominic and neither man paid any attention to who was serving, only to what was served. Both men ate with appetite.
‘You’ll get used to it,’ Justin kindly said, after watching Kate’s gaze follow the young woman who was serving them dinner. ‘I put myself through Columbia on scholarships and student loans and I barely notice anymore.’
‘I’m sure you’re right,’ Kate politely said, when she knew she would never get used to servants. In fact, she was wondering where the young woman waiting on them lived, did she have children, how late did she work on an evening like this, how did she get home?
Dominic smiled at the patent fraud in Kate’s reply. ‘Katherine has an anarchist soul, don’t you, baby? You don’t have to change.’
She gave him a grateful smile. ‘I’m not sure I could.’
‘Or would want to.’ He grinned. ‘Right?’
‘Probably,’ she said very softly, becoming increasingly embarrassed with Justin and Amanda watching them like spectators at a tennis match.
‘We’ll work something out,’ Dominic said, equally softly. ‘I don’t want you unhappy. You’re not drinking your cider?’ he added, a touch of concern in his voice. ‘Or eating much. Do you feel all right?’
‘Really, Dominic, I’m fine.’ Kate wasn’t going to say she didn’t like the salmon tartar, although the citrus dressed watercress was tasty. And mushrooms had never appealed. She’d tried to eat around the mushrooms in the risotto without making it too obvious. She had eaten the au gratin potatoes and some of the steak, until the sizzling grease made her think about barfing.
‘You didn’t like the steak?’ Dominic gently asked. Both men had had seconds.
‘It was wonderful.’ Kate smiled politely at Amanda. ‘I just don’t have much of an appetite at the moment.’
Amanda nodded. ‘That’s perfectly understandable.’
‘Still, baby, you have to try and eat,’ Dominic urged softly.
‘Would you like something else? Peanut butter and toast? You like that.’
‘Not right now. I’m good.’
Justin and Amanda were mesmerized; neither had ever heard Dominic speak to a woman with such solicitousness. He’d barely noticed women before – other than as sex objects.
Dominic suddenly turned his gaze on Amanda. ‘You wouldn’t happen to have chocolate milk?’
He might have asked whether she cleaned her toilets herself, she was so shocked by his question. ‘Ah … we … might – I’m not entirely—’
‘I’ll go ask the chef.’ Dominic was on his feet and moving towards the butler’s pantry before anyone at the table – mainly Kate – could protest.
Could she please just melt into the floor? Embarrassed to the max, Kate rolled her eyes and said in almost a whisper, ‘Sorry. As you see, Dominic worries about me not eating.’
‘How sweet of him,’ Amanda said, having regained her composure. ‘I’m sure he means well.’
Kate sighed. ‘In his own overpowering way. I’m used to eating a lot of pizza and Dominic doesn’t approve.’
‘Pizza can be nourishing,’ Amanda politely noted, when it was clear she was actually saying, Pizza, really?
Justin smiled. ‘My mother made pizza from scratch. I grew up on it and I’m not exactly what you’d call stunted.’ He was a big man like Dominic.
‘Maybe you could tell that to Dominic,’ Kate said, grateful for the reinforcement. ‘And save me a hassle.’
‘I heard that,’ Dominic said with a grin, carrying a large glass of chocolate milk. ‘We’ll get that recipe from you, Justin. And if you drink your milk, baby, I’ll do something nice for you.’
Everyone at the table understood what he meant.
Or interpreted what he meant from individual, enshrined memory.
Pulling up a chair beside Kate, rather than take his seat opposite her and blithely ignoring her if looks could kill stare, Dominic handed her the glass. ‘Drink, baby. It’s good for you.’
‘We’ll talk about this later,’ she said under her breath, taking the glass.
‘Be happy to,’ he cheerfully replied. �
�Would you like a straw?’
What she’d like to do was beat the shit out of him. Since that wasn’t an option and he damned well knew it, she drank the milk, under Dominic’s sunny gaze and the barely concealed amazement of her hosts.
Opportunely, since a patent awkwardness crackled in the air, the chef suddenly walked through the swinging pantry door carrying a Baba au Rhum, magnificently decorated in sugared kumquats and green grapes. She placed it on the table with a flourish, then deftly cut and served her masterpiece. The dessert was as delicious as it looked, topped with mounds of whipped Chantilly cream and rum sauce.
Kate had no trouble finding an appetite for it.
Although she understood Dominic’s concern, and the need for good nutrition in pregnancy the fact was that other than sweets and carbs, very little appealed to her right now.
‘You liked the Baba,’ Dominic said, glancing at her almost empty plate. ‘And thanks for drinking the milk,’ he quietly said.
‘Thanks for getting it.’ She spoke as softly. ‘That was nice of you.’
Leaning over, he whispered in her ear, ‘I’ll be even nicer when we get out of here.’
She sucked in her breath as a flutter of arousal stirred her senses and settled with a delectable ripple between her legs.
‘Just a few minutes more,’ Dominic whispered, then looked up, smiled at Justin and reached for the port decanter Justin was pushing his way.
A few minutes later as the dessert plates were being taken away and the men were enjoying their port, Amanda understood that if she wanted her question answered, her window of opportunity was quickly closing. ‘I have to ask,’ she said, her glance swivelling between Kate and Dominic. ‘And you may tell me it’s none of my business, because of course it isn’t, but are you planning on getting married?’
‘Jesus, Mandy,’ Justin muttered, giving his wife a sharp look. ‘That’s a little personal.’ He glanced at Dominic and grimaced. ‘Sorry.’
‘It’s all right.’ Dominic gave Justin an easygoing smile. ‘We’ve already talked to a wedding planner. Mrs Hastings is taking care of things’
Amanda’s eyes opened wide. ‘Really, Mrs Hastings?’ She spoke like one would on seeing a Martian for the first time – in a tone of breathless wonder. ‘She’s incredibly difficult and overbearing.’
