"That's a perfect idea."
"I can be smart sometimes."
"I'm pretty sure it's more than just sometimes."
"Thanks for saying that."
"It's true. You're more than just a pretty face."
"You've always seen that, haven't you?"
"Yes."
I kiss her, because how can I not? Just a little kiss to take the edge off. "I've got six weeks left on the play, and then I have to start promoting my movie that's coming out a couple of weeks after that."
"Okay. How many dates a week do you want to do?"
"Seven."
"Jeanne needs time with you."
"I know. I was hoping that we could have a few family dates."
"I'd like that, but I'll never try and take Misha's place."
"I understand what you mean, but there's really no place to take. You may not be Jeanne's biological mother, but I plan to make you her step-mom one day. She'll also have a little brother or sister in a few months, and you'll be that child's mom. We are a family, Dree."
"You need to meet mine. My family, I mean."
"Whenever you want, I'll go with you," I tell her, but have to amend my answer. "Well, as long as the studio doesn't have me committed to something. I can get pretty busy around premiere time."
"I'm busy, too. I don't expect you to just be hanging around the house all the time."
"You're not moving back to San Diego, are you?"
"No. This is my home. I may have to work in my lab more than going out on missions from now on, but I won't leave the Society."
"I wouldn't ask you to. I can move my home base."
"I wouldn't ask you to do that either."
"What's the solution?"
"Maybe you keep your place, and I keep mine. We can spend time at both. I normally get one week off per month."
"I like that idea, but maybe with a different house in San Diego or La Jolla. The one I have now is too big. I don't want to give up living there at least part-time, though."
"You don't have to give up anything for me. Except other women. I don't share."
"Me either."
"Then we're good. Glad we got that out of the way. Now on to the fun stuff. Who's picking the first date?"
"Ladies are always first."
"This is why the women swoon."
"Did you swoon just now?"
"Maybe a little. Can we have a free day today? Maybe just hang out with Jeanne, and then I'll plan something for tomorrow?"
"Sure. If she wants to come home, that is. She was swooning for that bastard, Scott Griffin, and then I let her go home with him while I stayed here. What was I thinking?"
"Scott is not a bastard."
"He is when my baby's swooning over him."
"He's a hot computer nerd, and she's a twelve-year-old computer nerd who's just starting to believe that she's pretty. What do you expect her to do? He's pretty much her dream man."
"He's too old for her," I growl.
"He's not going to make a move on her," she tells me, laughing. "He loves Yasmin more than life. And even if he didn't, he's one of the most honorable men I know. He'd never date a teenager."
"Yeah, I saw that. He was ruffling her hair and shit. Being nice, but not flirty," I admit.
"Let her have her crush, and just be glad it's on him, and not some asshole."
"I guess."
"Don't worry, I'll hold your hand when she goes on her first date."
"She's not dating."
"See, this is where the step-mom earns points. I'll be doling out the sexual favors in exchange for you giving her some dating freedom."
"Playing dirty?"
"Yep, and you're going to love it when I get really dirty with you."
"Don't I know it."
One of the nurses brings breakfast in, and I'm pleasantly surprised that someone remembered what I ordered yesterday, and got it again for me today. Once we're done eating, they disconnect all her monitors, and give her the clothes Stella left for her. I make her get dressed alone, because I don't trust her not to try something I'd like too much, and then I take her home.
Chapter 20
Audrey
Tonight is my first real date with Blake. I'm not counting last night, even though we stole as many kisses as we could while hanging out with Jeanne. I feel the pressure to bring it, and I hope he enjoys what I have planned.
"Stop worrying, Aud," Stella tells me, zipping up my dress.
I called her over to help me pick out something fun, but sexy. I can normally pick my own clothes, but I'm as nervous as a teenager tonight. The strapless black dress with white lines all over, and the skirt that has pieces laying over each other in varying lengths, is perfect for what I have planned. If only I was sure that my choice for a date would be perfect.
"What if he doesn't like it?"
"Then he'll just sit back and watch. Relax, and have fun. You've waited 20 years for this."
"Not helping the stress."
"No stress, pregnant lady," she says, wagging her finger at me. "Just have fun."
I walk her downstairs as the doorbell rings. She opens the door, and turns to give me a wink. I laugh, and then my breath catches in my throat as Blake walks in. He's in grey pants, and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His hair's slicked back, and he's also clean shaven. That's not what the wink was for, though. It was for the suspenders, which I know Stella had a hand in. I hug her tight, and then push her out the door as she laughs.
Blake pulls on my ponytail, and I turn back to him. "I like this."
"I like these," I tell him, pulling on a suspender.
"Stella brought them over."
"I figured. Jeanne's all settled?"
"Yeah. She hit it off with Ethan right away. Caleb was barbequing so she thinks she's in heaven."
"Oh, she will be. Cal knows how to work a grill."
"Don't worry, I'll take you to Heaven later, too. Maybe not with steak, but I have my ways."
"I'll be holding you to that."
"Please do. Now where are we going tonight, because that dress is really doing it for me."
"It's a surprise."
He grumbles, but takes my hand as we head down to my car. I drive, since I know where we're going. When we pull up outside the non-descriptive building, I get a raised eyebrow. I kiss him, and tell him to trust me.
Inside, I'm greeted by several of the people I've met here over the past couple of years. "You remember you're pregnant, right?" Blake asks, motioning to the bar.
"Yes. I'm not drinking. We're dancing."
"Dancing? Aren't there clubs for that?"
"I'm not talking about grinding on a dance floor. We're going to Swing."
"Swing? I thought you didn't share," he says with a smirk. I smack him, and he laughs. "Kidding. I don't know how to Swing dance, in case you were wondering."
"That's why we're here early for the class."
"I'm probably going to suck."
"Do you want to leave?"
He looks at me, and then takes my face in his hands. "Not a chance. I wanted to get to know you, and if you want to dance, we'll dance. I just needed to warn you that I'm a horrible dancer. I'll try my best for you, but it's probably going to be a mess that will go viral on social media."
"Oh. I never thought of that. I keep forgetting you're a movie star. We can go."
"Nope. I love that you forget, and it will probably be good for my image to show me making a fool of myself. Let's do this. Oh, unless it will be bad for you. I know you're supposed to be secret and all."
"I'm somewhat in the spotlight because of my public work with Corrigan & Co., and Reina and I talked about the rest this morning. With me being pregnant with your baby, I can't hide forever, and she has a plan for something else I can do once I'm exposed."
"Okay then, time to make a fool of myself," he says, pulling me to my feet.
Blake wasn't kidding. Even after getting extra attention during the lesson, he still kept tripping over his feet. He told me to just have fun when the dancing began, and he's been nursing a drink while I let loose. It's so fun, and freeing, to just move around the floor. I've mostly been dancing with the guy I tend to partner up with, but when he starts getting a little too familiar, I leave him on the dance floor.
Blake doesn't look happy, and I know he saw the guy try to kiss me. I walk over to him and sit right on his lap, straddling him as he puts his hands on my hips. I kiss him like my life depends on it, and then touch my forehead to his. "Are you ready to go?"
"You've slept with him, haven't you?"
"Just once. One time, and then I sent him home."
"He's been acting like you belong to him."
"You know I don't."
"Does he?"
"If he doesn't, that's his problem."
"He probably posted the video of me from earlier."
"Maybe. I'm sorry I brought you here, and you had a bad time."