“My baby’s gonna be a mama.” She sighed and put a smile in place. “More importantly, she’s beginning to sound like one.”
Riley laughed. Bubbling through her were the twin emotions of love for her mother and exuberance over the fact that the woman was truly proud of her. Mother and daughter laughed and cried while sharing a tight hug.
While Riley spoke to her mother regarding her real estate choices, Asher was standing smack-dab in the middle of his own real estate dilemma.
Talib whistled while scoping out the view from the gargantuan penthouse office.
“Does that mean you approve?”
Talib shook his head. “It’s worth it for the view.”
Asher eased both his hands inside olive-green trouser pockets and waited for a more substantial reply.
Talib massaged the back of his neck and turned his back on the Manhattan view. “Without question, we can fill the whole damn skyscraper with bodies and make tons of money. But can you take being back here on the regular, mate?”
Asher nodded, having expected that very question. Talib probably knew him better than his wife did.
“That’s why I’ve yet to sign on the dotted line.” Asher began to stroll the perimeter of the office.
Talib chose his spot along a wide window ledge. “You’re still hoping she’ll change her mind?”
Asher grunted a laugh. “I know that won’t happen. I don’t want it to, not because of some ultimatum I’ve issued.”
“So what is it, then?” Talib tossed his eggshell suit coat on the ledge.
Asher stopped his strolling. “I want to be where my child is. I want to be where Riley is, and I can do that from here and still make tons of money.”
“Except?”
“Except I need to come clean with her before we make this thing concrete.”
“Ah.” Talib’s handsome face was alive with sudden delight. “So you’ll finally tell her what happened that night?”
“I’ve waited long enough, right?”
“Amen.”
Asher studied the tip of his tie. “You think I made too much of it, don’t you?”
“Things got way out of hand that night, and I believe you have beaten yourself up over it for way too long.”
“If I hadn’t froze up that night—”
“You’d probably be just as dead as that son of a bitch who busted up that store. Telling Riley’s the thing to do, but unless you get past it, it’ll haunt you and your actions forever.”
“And just how do I get past it?” In spite of a quick laugh, there was still a noticeable bite to his tone.
Talib shrugged. “It’ll take time, I know. But you’re makin’ a big step by facing your fears now.” He grabbed his suit coat and clapped Asher’s shoulder on the way out of the office.
Alone, Asher admitted that he hadn’t come close to facing his fears. Not when his biggest fear was talking to his wife.
“What the hell are you doing!” Misha was fit to be tied when she found Riley in the kitchen, getting napkins from a cabinet. “You are the guest of honor and pregnant, you know? You should be off your feet and enjoying being spoiled, because once the baby comes, all this will be over, sista.”
Riley’s laughter came in uncontrollable waves. “It’s only napkins—not that thousand-pound cake you’re about to heft out of here.”
Misha tapped a nail on her chin. “If I didn’t know you better, I’d swear you were happy about this party.”
Riley winked. “Well, I am. Besides, I needed to blow off some steam. I would’ve never expected a baby shower to do that. But here we are.” She slapped her hands on the sides of her denim capris.
Misha nodded, understanding all too well. “So I guess turning this thing into a girls-only mommy-to-be event was all right?” she asked.
Riley drew her friend into a hug. “It was very all right.”
“So what’s the haps on the house?” Misha asked when they drew apart. “You haven’t said much about the place since we went to take a look with Miss V a few days ago.”
In response, Riley puffed out her cheeks and went to lean against the counter.
“I know you must’ve loved it. I loved it.” Misha pressed a hand to her chest and pretended to swoon. “So you’ve just got to buy it because I really need a place like that to kick back in after a hard workweek.”
Riley laughed, but the humor didn’t quite reach her eyes. “It just, um…put a bad taste in my mouth, that’s all.”
Misha concentrated. “Could’ve been morning sickness, you know?”
Riley managed a smirk for good measure. “It was a beautiful place, Mish. Incredible but…”
“If Asher’s not there, then incredible might be too strong a phrase?” Misha nodded when Riley smiled her agreement.
“What can I say, Misha? I want the job, the house, the baby and the man. I want it all. Why’s that proving to be so impossible to have?”
“Best things in life are usually the most difficult to acquire.” Misha turned to pull the cover off the cake.
“Amen.” Riley sighed.
Silence hung between the two, until their friends began to call out from the living room. Misha nudged Riley’s shoulder then. “You get the napkins. I’ll grab the cake.”
“Scandalous wenches…” Riley whispered two hours later as she tried on the third of five pieces of baby-doll lingerie her guests had presented her with.
According to the group of women who’d attended the party, there’d be cause for two showers. The first was for baby, of course, and the second was for mommy. And they had taken that quite seriously, having plied the mom-to-be with everything from sparkling grape juices and bath oils to her favorite chocolates and dirty movies.
Riley stood admiring herself in the full-length mirror just outside the walk-in closet. She smiled happily at the ever-rounder protrusion at her waist.
“Good thing I tried these on now, huh, kid?” Riley helped herself to a piece of chocolate and then flopped on the bed, where she shuffled through a few of the movies while glancing at the one presently playing on the television screen. Eventually, her glances grew lengthier, and soon she was wholly focused on the screen while absently nibbling the chocolate.
She was still entranced when her husband strolled into the bedroom. Asher’s mouth fell open at the sight of his wife, looking every bit the sinful dark treat atop a cake. As he leaned against the doorjamb, his handsome honey-toned face was a picture of stunned delight. Then he took note of the TV, and a smile tugged at the curve of his mouth.
“This any good?”
Surprised to find him there, Riley maintained her cool and offered a shrug with her guilty smile. “It was a gift from friends.”
Asher whistled. “Wanna trade friends?”
“My baby shower was actually a mommy shower.” Riley helped herself to another peanut butter cup.
“Ah…” Asher brushed the back of his hand against his scar. “Misha’s idea,” he guessed.
Riley snapped her fingers. “Give the man a cigar.”
Asher’s striking light browns narrowed at her attire once more. “I’ll have to remember to thank her.” He pushed off the doorjamb to ease out of the jacket, which was suddenly stifling him.
Riley pressed her lips together when a heavy silence touched the room. “So are you here for more of your stuff?” She felt desperate to make conversation.
Asher was checking his jacket pocket. “I have a present for you, too.” He pulled out a square velvet box.
Riley took it in both hands when he came to the bed. She lifted the box and smiled. “Guess it’s not another dress?”
“Open it.”
His serious tone caused her to clear her throat. She did as he asked, gasping when she saw the solid gold frame with their picture on one side. The other side was empty.
“‘My love, our life, my love.’” She looked up after reading the inscription.
Asher took his place on the edge of the bed. “
For the baby’s ultrasound photo, when we have it.” His index finger tapped the empty side of the frame.
“Asher…”
Across the frame he leaned, cupping her neck and nuzzling her nose with his. “I love you…and I do miss you.”
“Come home….”
He pleasured her with a thorough kiss as opposed to giving her an answer. The coral and lavender baby-doll teddy had teased him for far too long. He set about helping himself to what lay beneath. Gently and with unwavering intent, he moved closer in a silent demand that she lie back.
“I love you….”
“Come home,” she begged, her hands venturing beneath the hem of his jersey to stroke the array of muscles lining his abdomen. “Asher, please, I—” Her words ended on another gasp when he suckled her earlobe while his fingers delved into the crotchless bikinis and inside her body.
Biting her lip, Riley arched into the touch. She rode his fingers with abandon, having missed his touch so much more than she’d realized.
Asher pulled back only a tad, to pleasure himself by the look of sheer bliss on her lovely face. Still fondling her, he bowed his head, his perfect teeth untying the singular fastening of the lingerie.
Riley was lost in a myriad of sensations as his nose trailed along her collarbone and down and around the curve of her breast and the valley between. When his tongue outlined her nipple, she whimpered. When he suckled so lightly she could scarcely feel it, she sobbed. Desperately, she arched more of herself against his mouth as a silent invite that he take more—much more. She curved her hand about the back of his neck to make him obey, but he had other intentions.
Turning the tables, Asher captured her wrists in his free hand and held them above her head. All the while, he tortured her with the scandalous finger thrusts and the light suckling of her nipple.
“Mmm…Asher, please…please stop playing around.”
He chuckled. “Stop playing around? But you’re my favorite toy.”
“At least take off your clothes…”
Asher knew if he did that, the moment could be done with all too soon. Just then his wife’s satisfaction was his only agenda. Riley’s toes flexed into his thighs as her desire mounted when he finally suckled her nipples fully. When he alternated between them, her delighted laughter filled the room.
“That’s it….” Her moan was throaty and uninhibited. She began to strain against his hold on her wrists, but he held her fast. Adding another finger to the caress, Asher grunted when the creamy moisture drenched his skin.
Riley felt him release her wrists, and she celebrated her freedom. She went back to pulling the jersey from his back, but Asher moved before she could finish the chore. Kissing his way down her body, he stopped to nuzzle his face against the soft swell of her belly.
He encircled the area with his nose and then showered it with the most tender kisses. Those kisses adopted a new fire as he journeyed downward, across the smattering of hair dusting the triangle above her womanhood. His mouth brushed the sensitive flesh of her sex just before his tongue tasted the damp brought on by his generous affection.
The intimate kiss was thoroughly probing. Instead of thrusting, his tongue delved farther and farther, as if he were testing the depth of a well. Again, Riley tugged her lip between her teeth while rotating herself into his delicious exploration of her body.
Asher set his hands beneath her, and the penetration increased tenfold. Once more, Riley sobbed from the pleasure. When she began to tremble uncontrollably, he showed mercy, brushing kisses across her inner thighs as the orgasm ripped through her.
When Riley felt him next to her, he was as naked as she. Linking her arms about him, she worshiped his jaw with wet kisses as he claimed her. The second orgasm built just as deliciously as the first. Riley’s whimpers took on urgency as she sought to take all that Asher had to give.
Chapter 19
Riley woke, still surrounded by all her sexy presents, but there was no sign of her sexy husband. A stab of disappointment turned her satisfied smile into a momentary pout. But then memories of the night before emerged to stir a dull ache at the heart of her. With great effort, she cast aside the sweet images and prayed Asher would stay closer to her now.
One of the X-rated flicks Misha had bought was lying on Asher’s pillow. Riley noticed a sticky note on its cover, which read, This is a good one! and was scribbled in Asher’s distinct handwriting.
Riley’s laughter filled the room then. With a sudden burst of energy claiming her, not to mention the urge to pee, she whipped back the covers. She noticed the frame on the nightstand and recalled that she’d given Asher every clue to make him aware of how much she wanted him home.
In the end, however, it was always Asher’s way or no way. Unfair? Certainly. Still, Riley was fast approaching the point where she didn’t care. She wanted her husband. She wanted to raise her child with its father. She knew then that she’d sacrifice anything else to have that.
“When exactly do you plan to talk to your wife about all this?” Talib was asking as he topped off his coffee that morning.
Asher didn’t raise his gaze from the building contract. “Soon. Guess I better before Hayes runs that story, huh?” He referred to their sports reporter friend Hayes Ortiz.
“There’s also a lot of talent out there wanting to switch to Hud-Mason,” Talib noted, without sounding at all cocky. “Lot of talk out there that’ll probably beat Hayes’s story to the punch.”
“Doubt she’ll be upset by it.”
Talib’s brown eyes twinkled. “Yet you’re still dragging your feet by not telling her?”
Asher rapped his knuckles against the contract. “We ready to sign here?”
“Ready as we’ll ever be.”
“What else is on the schedule for today?”
“Got a meet with Rake Crawford’s physician at one. Why? You in a rush?”
Asher clapped Talib’s shoulder and stood. “Seems I need to have a serious and lengthy chat with my wife, mate.”
Gloria Reynolds smoothed both hands across her sheer hose while recrossing her legs. “Are you really sure about this, Riley? You’ve waited for a chance like this for as long as I’ve known you.” Her surprise was what would be expected in light of the decision her brightest writer had come to share.
Riley’s expression relayed just as much surprise, yet it also conveyed delight. “I never thought I’d want a chance to be a mom, either.” She shrugged. “I can’t think of a better use of my life than this.”
“But to quit the paper, Riley?” Gloria leaned forward, her firm voice hushed with disbelief. “Many women manage to balance work and motherhood, you know? You certainly don’t have to quit your job.”
“I do if I want my husband.” Riley raised her hands to ward off Gloria’s rebuttal. “I know, I know…It pisses me off, too. But he wants his wife and child where he is. How can I condemn him for that?”
Gloria’s expression softened, and she tucked an auburn lock behind her ear. “I realize his organization is a multibillion-dollar outfit. Guess I’d expect it to be easier for him to be where you are.”
“Yeah…I thought so, too.” Riley set the teacup and saucer she held on the small round table between her and Gloria’s chairs. “It’s just that I’m at the point where I’m not willing to risk my marriage and family by playing the holdout game.” Absently, she fidgeted with the hem of the hunter-green swing dress she wore. “I do plan to find out about his aversion to being here in New York, but I guess I’ll just have to do that in Phoenix.”
“I rest my case.” Gloria rubbed her hands across the carved arms of her chair. “But I have to tell you, I’ve got a feeling that you’re underestimating your husband here. Some men rise to a higher level when they become fathers. I wouldn’t be surprised if he changes his mind about demanding you go out there. He wouldn’t be the first man to have a baby turn him into a softhearted sap.” She leaned over to pat Riley’s knee. “You’ll understand if I don’t take your n
ame out of the loop just yet?”
Riley’s laughter filled the office. “Whatever makes you feel better.” She glanced at her watch and cursed. “I’m gonna be late for my doctor’s appointment.” She leaned over to kiss Gloria’s cheek and then hurried out.
Asher was making a notation in his PDA when Talib stepped into the hallway outside the doctor’s office.
“Crawford’s doc says his decision on whether he’ll be cleared for next season depends on how well the ankle surgery goes next month. All the other diagnoses we discussed in there look promising, but there will be another check following the surgery.”
“Mmm…” Asher continued making notes in the BlackBerry handheld. “Any specific date on that?”
Talib provided the info while he and Asher strolled toward the elevator bay, discussing the particulars. Asher was slipping the BlackBerry handheld into his coat when his bright eyes locked on his wife exiting one of the elevator cars at the far end of the corridor.
“See you later, Tal.” Asher walked in the direction she’d taken.
Riley was easing her keys into her purse when she felt her arm being clutched. “Hey!” she gasped, whirling around to see that it was Asher who’d caught her.
“Hey,” he responded in kind and followed the greeting with a throaty kiss, in which she eagerly participated.
Asher dropped his forehead to her shoulder. “What are you doing here?”
“Doctor’s appointment.” She tried to catch her breath. “And you?”
“Same. For a potential client.” He raised his head and smiled down at her. “You want company?”
She nodded quickly as a rush of happiness filled her chest. Arm in arm, they strolled to Lettia’s office.
“We need to talk,” Riley said.
Asher nudged her shoulder with his. “Damn right.”
They stepped into the office and were greeted promptly. Riley was right on time for the appointment, so they didn’t have to wait to be shown to an examining room.
Hudsons Crossing Page 21
