Pregnancy Countdown

by Linda Wisdom

  “You looked cute before, but now you look downright beautiful.” He dropped a light kiss on her lips. “I’d like a hell of a lot more, but I’m pretty grubby right now.”

  “I wouldn’t mind,” she murmured, leaning toward him.

  Mark’s eyes flared blue. “Ah, honey, now that’s the kind of thing I like to hear. But not when your neighbors are watching us.” He took her arm and escorted her to his truck.

  Nora had been to Mark’s apartment when they were dating before. She noticed the lack of dirty laundry and commented on it.

  “I wanted to impress you.” He grinned.

  She grinned back. “You have.”

  “You want something to drink?” Mark asked her as they walked into the apartment. He headed for the small kitchen.

  “Yes, thank you. Whatever you have.” She walked around, noting only a few changes. His television set was now a big-screen, the furniture seeming to be centered around the TV and his stereo system. She wouldn’t be surprised if his mother hadn’t helped him choose the couch and chairs since they were a durable fabric in an oatmeal shade with navy throw pillows for accent. She saw a family photo on a side table. “Do you mind if I put on some music?”

  “Choose whatever you like.” He returned carrying two glasses. He handed one to her.

  Nora lifted the glass to her lips and sipped. “How did you get this?” she asked, pleased to discover it was her favorite lime-flavored sparkling water.

  “There are some stores that carry it.” He unlocked and opened the patio door. “Want to sit out here while I grill the food? Luckily, it’s not too cold. Oh, one more thing.” He disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a large beef bone that he presented to Brumby. The bulldog accepted the bone with his usual dignity and headed for the patio with his prize.

  “Mind if I take a shower?” Mark asked once he’d turned on the patio light and started up the barbecue.

  “Not at all. I’ll sit here and relax.” She smiled up at him.

  It wasn’t long before Nora heard the sound of water running. The picture of Mark in the shower ran through her mind again. She shifted uneasily in her chair.

  “Hormones,” she muttered. “All hormones.”

  Needing to do something other than sit there and imagine him in the shower, she got up and went back into the kitchen. Her exploration yielded plates and silverware that she set out on the small table on the patio.

  When Mark returned, he was dressed in a pair of jeans shorts and a dark red T-shirt. His hair was still damp from his shower.

  “I thought you were going to relax,” he teased her when he saw the table already set up.

  Nora blinked. “I can’t believe it. You actually own a shirt in a solid color?”

  He looked down at his chest. “Sometimes I surprise even myself.” He checked the fire then put the potatoes on the grill.

  “This is nice,” she commented, looking out over the landscaped area complete with a small running stream. “Very restful.” She watched a man in shorts and tank top running along a path. “Do you use the trails for your runs?”

  “I like another area where there’re some hills to make my run more interesting.” He settled in the chair next to her and stretched out his legs.

  Nora looked down and noticed Mark’s feet were bare. She never thought of a man’s feet as sexy, but there was something about his that inspired fantasies.

  She started.

  “The baby?” Mark asked, noticing her movement.

  She nodded. She took his hand and placed it on top of her belly.

  Mark’s eyes widened as he felt a thump under his palm then another. “Damn!” He laughed. “With a kick like that, she’s definitely going to grow up to be a soccer player.”

  “Try sleeping with someone doing somersaults inside you,” Nora groaned. “She’s definitely a night owl. It always seems the minute I get comfortable in bed, she starts her gymnastics. It’s like sleeping with a Mexican jumping bean.” She smiled, letting him know it didn’t bother her as much as she claimed.

  “It must be one wild sensation.” He got up to turn the potatoes and put the kabobs on the grill. “That’s why women have the babies.”

  “True, you guys wouldn’t be able to handle monthly cramps.” She shifted in her chair.

  “Hey, we’re tough guys,” Mark argued.

  “When a member of your sex gets a simple cold you think you’re dying,” she teased.

  “You’re spending way too much time with Ginna,” he grumbled. “So, what did you think of the last Ducks game?” He mentioned an ice hockey team.

  “Changing the subject?”

  “There is no way I can win the battle of the sexes, so I’m not even going to try,” Mark said, getting up to check the chicken. “Let me know when you’re ready to set up the nursery and I’ll help.”

  “I was thinking about looking for furniture next week.”

  “My truck can hold pretty much anything you’d want to take with you,” he offered.

  Mark noticed Nora’s smile. “What?”

  “I’m seeing this new side to you and I don’t know what to think,” she replied.

  Mark leaned over and planted his hands on her chair arms. “Then don’t think. Just feel,” he whispered just before brushing the lightest of kisses across her lips. “Nice. You’re wearing that champagne-flavored lip gloss again.”

  “All my lip glosses have that flavor. It’s my favorite,” she murmured.

  “And rapidly becoming mine,” he said against her lips as he stole another kiss.

  Nora didn’t have to order her arms to move upward and curl themselves around his neck. They did that all on their own. She could smell the familiar hint of lime warmed by his body heat.

  She could have told herself her response was all hormones, but she knew better. The sensation was too elemental. She felt her breast swell under his touch, her nipple harden as he rubbed his thumb over the aching peak.

  It would have been so easy. All she would have had to do was stand up and suggest they continue this in his bedroom. Except a part of her wanted this part to go on. The man was romancing her and she was determined to enjoy every second of it.

  “Mark,” she said his name in a breathy sigh.

  “Hmm?” He transferred his attention to the curve of her neck.

  “I think it’s starting to burn.”

  “Oh, honey, I was burning the second I saw you.” He nibbled her earlobe.

  “I mean the chicken.”

  It still took a second for her words to form a coherent statement in his mind. Mark slowly raised his head.

  “You did promise to feed me,” she murmured.

  “Right.” His smile showed some regret but understanding. He straightened up and walked over to the barbecue. “Just in time.” He used tongs to pick up the potatoes then piled the kabobs on a serving plate to set in the middle of the table. “Madam.” He grasped her hands and pulled her to her feet.

  “That’s the fastest I’ve gotten out of a chair in months,” she laughed as he seated her at the table.

  “I have my uses.” Mark offered her the serving plate.

  “It all smells so good.” Nora chose two kabobs and put them on her plate then chose one of the potatoes. She nibbled on the chicken and grilled vegetables. “The man knows how to barbecue.”

  “Cleanup consists of tossing everything in the trash. I usually use paper plates so there’s nothing to wash. I’ll even barbecue in the rain so I don’t have to clean the kitchen afterward.” Mark tossed Brumby a piece of chicken. “Think he’s going to be able to handle not being an only child anymore?”

  “Knowing Brumby, he’ll watch the baby the way he watches that fence when the kids are playing in the park,” she replied.

  Mark kept the conversation light and easy throughout dinner as he asked Nora what she wanted for the nursery and they compared schedules for nursery-furniture shopping. He leaned back in his chair with one arm draped along the back an
d watched her with a small smile tipping the corners of his lips.

  “What?” Nora asked. “Do I have food on my face?” She looked down at her chest as if she thought she might have spilled something on herself.

  Mark slowly rose to his feet and walked around the table to crouch down by her side.

  “I enjoy just looking at you,” he said quietly. He reached up and cupped her cheek with his palm. “And touching you. My idea of a perfect day is spending it with you.”

  Her lips trembled. “You don’t need to lay on the charm, Mark Walker.”

  He shook his head. “I mean every word.” He glanced past her at her plate. “I think it’s getting too chilly out here for you. Maybe we should go inside.” He stood up and held out his hand.

  She didn’t take her eyes off him as she accepted his helping hand. “Yes, I guess it is.”

  Once they were back inside, Mark closed the drapes. Sensing his presence wouldn’t be required, Brumby made his way into the bedroom. Mark pulled Nora into his arms and dropped featherlight kisses along her forehead. In response, she slipped her hands under his shirt and placed her palms against his bare skin.

  “I don’t think there’s anything that feels as good as your hands on me,” he murmured. His mouth slid down to the corner of her lips.

  “Oh, I can think of something that I’m sure feels even better,” she breathed, sliding one hand downward.

  Mark sucked in a sharp breath as he felt Nora’s hand rest warmly over his zipper.

  “Woman, you are dangerous. I don’t think I’m going to let you leave tonight,” he gasped as he reached for the hem of her top and started pulling it upward. When she started to speak, he touched her lips with his fingertips. “No excuses, Nora. You don’t have to worry about the dog because he’s here. I’ll even set the alarm so I can get you home in plenty of time to get ready for work. Stay with me,” he whispered, kissing the side of her neck.

  Nora closed her eyes and just luxuriated in the touch of his mouth. She grasped his hands so he couldn’t pull her top up any farther. “I don’t look the way I did six months ago.”

  His gaze was solemn with sincerity, but there was no mistaking his desire. “Nora Summers, you are so beautiful you make my teeth ache. That will never change.”

  She blinked rapidly because the tears were forming so fast. “Oh, Mark, you’re making me cry!” she wailed. She felt weak at the knees from the warm expression in his eyes.

  Mark laughed softly as he resumed his attack on her top. He pulled it up another inch. “Then let’s hear it for your crazy hormones.”

  “I don’t have any appointments tomorrow,” she softly admitted.

  “Even better.” He nibbled on her ear.

  Nora heard the intrusion before Mark did.

  “Mark!” She grabbed his hands again, staying the motion.

  “Nora,” he teased as he tugged her top upward.

  She shook her head. “No, someone’s at your door. Your doorbell just rang.”

  He leaned in and nuzzled her neck. “What doorbell?”

  The melodic chimes echoed again.

  Nora snatched her top out of his hands and hurriedly pulled it down. She cast frantic looks at the door as if whoever was on the other side could see her.

  “That doorbell!”

  “If we remain quiet, whoever it is will go away,” he whispered against the curve of her ear while his fingers traced her bare skin under her bra.

  “No one is going to think you’re not home when the lights and stereo are on,” she argued, but whispering all the same. She shivered under his touch.

  He nibbled on her earlobe. “Best way to make burglars think you’re home is to keep the lights and stereo on when you’re not home,” he murmured.

  “Mark, open up!”

  Mark slumped. He dropped his head onto his chest and cursed roundly.

  Nora smacked him hard on the arm. “Don’t you ever say those words around the baby!” she ordered fiercely.

  He flexed his jaw. “Go away! I’m not home!” he yelled.

  Pounding on the door followed the constant ring of the doorbell. “Dammit, Mark, let me in!”

  Nora pushed Mark toward the door. He glared as he reached for the doorknob and threw open the door. He was ready to kill the intruder who dared ruin the evening he’d worked so hard to plan.

  “Do not expect to be named the baby’s godfather,” he snarled at his older brother.

  “She threw me out.” Jeff rushed past him. He was the picture of distraction when he faced Nora. “Hi, Nora.” He showed no surprise she was not only there but looking disheveled. Not that he was looking much better. Jeff’s short dark brown hair stuck up in wild-looking spikes and his eyes were bright blue orbs wide with shock. He looked as if a truck had run over him. “She told me to get the hell out of the house and not come back.” He dropped onto the couch and buried his face in his hands.

  “Abby threw you out?” Mark asked, just to make sure he understood his brother. “Why?”

  Jeff shook his head. “I don’t know,” his words were muffled. “We were having a great evening and then the next thing I knew she opened the front door and threw my keys outside. Told me to go find them and not come back until I’d learned some sense.”

  “Oh, Jeff.” Nora sat down beside him. She touched his arm. “There has to be a reason for her to do this.”

  He looked up. His blue eyes were now wild with panic. “There was nothing! It’s a special night. There we were, celebrating our anniversary and everything was great. Next thing I know, Abby said I have no clue and kicked me out. What am I going to do?” he pleaded with her.

  “Mark, why don’t you get Jeff something to drink,” she suggested.

  Mark curled his lip. This was not how he’d planned his evening. He made a “he has to go!” gesture to Nora while she glared at him and mouthed, Do it!

  “I wonder if I have any hemlock in the fridge,” he muttered, going into the small kitchen. He kept his attention centered on the conversation going on in the living room as he pulled a can of beer out of the refrigerator. He walked back into the living room with purpose in his stride. “Drink it fast because once you’ve finished it, you’re going back to your own home and working things out with Abby,” he told Jeff, handing him the can.

  “I can’t. She told me not to come back,” Jeff moaned, accepting the can. “You know Abby. She never says anything she doesn’t mean. I can sleep on your couch, can’t I?”

  Mark opened his mouth ready to say no way in hell are you staying here but Nora pinched his thigh. He flinched.

  “Of course you can stay here,” she soothed Jeff as if he were a small boy. She moved to stand up.

  “No, he can’t,” Mark muttered, earning himself another pinch. His glare at Nora couldn’t stand up to the one she was returning. He quickly moved in to take her arm and help her to her feet. “I drove you here, remember?”

  “And you’ll drive me home then come back here and talk to your brother,” Nora informed him in a low voice.

  “Jeff can go stay at Brian’s,” Mark argued sotto voce.

  “No, he can’t. He came to you.” She picked up her purse from the table. “Brumby, come.”

  Mark now understood what it meant to whine. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to sit there and howl at the injustice of it all.

  The overnight guest he’d planned for wasn’t his oldest brother.

  “Jeff, Mark’s going to take me home then he’ll be back.” Nora spoke gently to the man. She looked sternly at Mark as he muttered, “Or not.”

  “Okay,” Jeff said. He appeared lost and forlorn as he looked around the room. “I can’t believe she did that,” he said sadly. “It’s our anniversary.”

  “Mark will be back in about ten minutes,” she assured him, patting him on the shoulder.

  “This is not how I’d planned our evening to end,” Mark muttered as they walked out to the parking lot.

  “He’s your brother,
” she reminded him unnecessarily. “And he came to you for comfort.”

  “Jeff has Brian, he has Mom and Dad. Hell, he can even go to Ginna or Nikki. Why me?” He helped her into the truck then picked up Brumby and set him in the back seat.

  “That doesn’t matter, you are the one he came to and the two of you need to talk.”

  Mark settled behind the wheel and quickly started the engine. He switched on the heater. He adjusted the vents so the warm air would flow directly at Nora.

  “I shouldn’t have answered the door,” he grumbled.

  Nora leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Think of all the good karma you’re racking up,” she teased.

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” He put the truck in gear.

  Mark took his time driving back to Nora’s house. He pulled into her driveway and stopped the truck. He half turned in the seat.

  “I bet he won’t even miss me.”

  “Go back and talk to your brother,” Nora advised. “Do the male-bonding thing.”

  Mark helped her out of the truck and walked her to the door with Brumby trotting at their heels after he made a quick pit stop at one of the bushes.

  “This isn’t how I’d planned our evening to end,” he said again as she unlocked the door.

  She looked up and smiled. “I know. But maybe there was a reason for my not staying.”

  “Yeah, a great reason. My idiot brother with the world’s worst timing,” he grumbled.

  Nora stood up on her toes and kissed him lightly. When he tried to deepen the kiss she stepped back.

  “Thank you for a lovely dinner,” she murmured.

  Mark’s chest rose and fell with a heartfelt sigh.

  “This is one of those times when I wish I were an only child.”

  She smiled. She reached up and cupped his cheek with her hand. “No, you don’t.”

  “Oh, yes, I do,” he said fervently.

  “There will be other evenings,” Nora murmured.

  “I’m holding you to that.” He kissed her swiftly and walked away before he did whatever was necessary to talk her into allowing him to stay.