Six Weeks of Seduction by Ellis O. Day
CHAPTER 60: SARAH
Sarah and Annie sat on the porch sipping wine and talking. She really liked Annie. The other woman was outgoing and friendly and it was nice to have another woman to talk to. For years, her only friend had been her sister.
“I can’t get over that he’s mine.” Annie stared through the sliding glass door where Patrick and Nick sat on the couch playing video games with Kyle.
“Yeah.” She felt the same about Nick, although she couldn’t help worrying that her possession was on borrowed time. As soon as he figured out how fucked up she was he’d bail. Who wouldn’t? She’d been afraid tonight would give him clues but Annie had been so friendly and open and the doctor’s suggestions had helped. She’d focused on breathing and keeping contact with the things that made her most comfortable. Her hand had stayed either on Tank or Nick for the first part of the evening, but she was relaxed now.
“Your nephew is great,” said Annie.
“He is.” And so was Nick.
He was Kyle’s new hero. Besides the video games which were the key to any young boy’s heart, he’d even taken Kyle to baseball practice today. Nick hadn’t said anything, probably because of Kyle’s presence, but he’d been upset that she’d stayed home. She’d wanted to go and sit with Nick on the bleachers in the sun while Kyle practiced. She’d wanted that more than anything but she wouldn’t have been able to do it. She couldn’t handle the openness of the field and even the small crowd of parents and players made her nauseous. She would’ve had to stay in the car. Nick wasn’t stupid. He’d see there was something seriously wrong with her and she couldn’t let that happen. Not yet. Not until she was better. She didn’t have to wait until she was cured…only better. Good enough that he wouldn’t run away from her screaming.
“And Sweetie seems to have settled in.” Annie glanced at her. “Hopefully, he’s just what Tank needs.”
She stiffened a moment. Was that a jab at her? That Nick was what she needed?
Annie flushed. “Nick was pretty drunk when he got the dogs so don’t be mad at him.”
“I’m not.” But she might be, depending on what he’d said.
“It’s not a big deal. I mean…I…Patrick and I like to experiment too.”
“What are you talking about?”
“That Nick got the dog so that you and he didn’t have to always have quiet sex.”
“I’m going to kill him.” She covered her face with her hands.
Annie laughed. “No, it’s sweet. I mean, he must really care for you to go to the trouble and the fact that he adopted all those dogs.” She sighed. “Now, that’s the kind of guy who’s a keeper.” She grinned. “You should’ve seen Patrick with Sophie—the puppy. You’d think the dog was made of glass the way he’d handled her and cuddled her.” She took a sip of her wine and fanned her face. “I mean, my uterus was clenching. He’s going to make such a good daddy.”
“Are you?” Her eyes dropped to Annie’s stomach.
“No. Oh, my God, no. Not yet.” Annie looked back at Patrick who must’ve felt her gaze because he turned and smiled at her. It was sweet and loving with the hint of heat, making Sarah melt at the thought of having that with Nick.
“But, hopefully someday not too far in the future. I want to give my business a few years of focus and then, yeah, we’ll try and get pregnant.”
“I’m glad for you. You’ll both make wonderful parents.”
“How about you and Nick?” Annie looked at him. “He’s great with Kyle and the whole dog thing.” She waved her hands. “If he cares this much for Tank and Sweetie, he’ll care even more for his kid.”
“Yeah. I think you’re right.” And she wasn’t just saying that. Nick would make a great dad. It didn’t matter what he’d said that night during the Interview. He’d be a terrific father and she needed to tell him that.
