She gave him her patented skeptical arched-brow, but he ignored her, as usual.
"You look like the beautiful mother of my child. It's enough to make me want to tear out of this parking lot and find the nearest hotel room."
She smiled as she reached up and laid her fingers against Gideon's unshaven cheek. Suddenly she felt euphoric with marital bliss. “I only want to make you proud. This is a big part of your life, Gideon."
"True, but have a little faith.” He winked, and said, “I swear everyone in that room will love you, including Marie."
Lori's lips quirked up sideways. She was still unconvinced, but she did feel slightly less insecure. “Thank you, Gideon."
His smile was outrageous as he opened the car door on their new, and much more sensible, four-door sedan. The instant she'd announced she was pregnant Gideon had started baby proofing everything. Which included buying a safer car. Now they only took the Jag on slow Sunday drives. Since she was at the end of her first trimester, it sat collecting dust in their garage most of the time. It just wasn't worth trying to get in and out of it at this stage.
"Come on, we'd better get a move on. The sooner we get in there, the sooner I can get you back to the hotel."
"Don't even start, Gideon."
He laughed, slammed the car door, and jogged over to her side. He helped her out, ever mindful of her pregnancy. Lori batted his hands away and admonished, “Stop that, they'll think I'm some silly fragile thing who has to be coddled."
"You are fragile, and I love coddling you,” he whispered then placed a quick peck on the
top of her head. She wanted to scoff, but she was too busy swooning at his attentiveness. Then, as she preceded him up to the large building where Gideon's agent had booked his latest showing, she could have sworn she felt him watching her. His next words confirmed it.
"I swear your hair's grown another foot since you found out about the baby."
"Prenatal vitamins. They work wonders."
As she approached the double doors, she felt his lips against her ear and his breath coming in pants. “That's not the only thing that's grown, baby."
Immediately she felt her breasts tingle, as if his voice had so much power over her body. Just as she was about to tell him to behave, the door was flung open, and a woman stood on the other side, grinning from ear to ear.
"Gideon, for heaven's sake let the girl breathe."
Lori immediately recognized Marie Gleason from all the photos she'd received in emails. She was in her sixties but could easily pass for much younger. With her petite, toned figure and straight, proud shoulders and vibrant blue eyes, Lori felt herself forgetting she'd had numerous conversations with the woman. She was the only other woman in Gideon's life, and Lori desperately wanted to impress her.
It didn't take Marie a second to pull Lori into a tight hug. When she finally let her up for air, she exclaimed, “Lori, I've been absolutely dying to meet you in person. Even though I feel I already know you since we've talked so much on the phone.” She directed her watery eyes to Gideon and then back at her, saying, “Ever since Gideon told me he'd found the one, I knew you'd be special.” She looked her up and down, and her eyes grew mistier. “I'm so sorry I couldn't come for the wedding."
Lori found her voice when Marie's last words sank in. “Oh, nonsense. I'm just glad your ankle is better."
It had given them both a terrible scare when Marie had fallen off her bicycle and broken her ankle. As a result, she'd been wheelchair bound for weeks afterwards, then on crutches for several more weeks. Marie had been crushed when she couldn't attend their very impromptu wedding.
Lori had wanted the whole white dress and huge guest list type wedding when she'd imagined herself marrying Rick. This time around she only wanted Gideon. They'd kept it a simple affair with just their closest friends and family. Lori's mom and sister, Gregory, and a handful of Gideon's art pals had attended. Gideon had won over her mother in a heartbeat.
As they walked into the huge room which displayed Gideon's sculptures, one face leaped out at her. Rick. What on earth was he doing at an art showing?
As if sensing her, his head swung around, and their gazes locked. Lori felt Gideon stiffen and pull her in close. She looked up at him and smiled. “He's old news, Gideon. We don't have to worry about him."
A muscle in Gideon's jaw twitched. “I should kill him for the way he treated you."
"No. He's not worth the trouble."
"He's right,” another voice interjected. When she swung her head around, Rick was standing in front of her, eyes full of remorse.
"What did you say?"
"Your husband is right. I was a jerk, Lori, and I'm sorry."
She couldn't believe her ears. Rick had never apologized. Only accused. “Why so humble all of a sudden, Rick?"
"I'm curious about that myself,” Gideon ground out.