The Billionaire’s Sweet Surprise(3)
Emma stared down at her huge belly and started to sob. “I’m so ugly. I don’t know why Vince even finds me attractive. My boobs are so big I can’t even find a bra that fits right and my hips have ballooned to the point that I could probably push out an elephant.” She sniffed back a hiccup, as the worst embarrassment ever popped from her mouth with an aggrieved groan. “And I have…hemorrhoids!”
“Yeouch,” Lana grimaced. “That’s rough.”
“I know! How sexy is that?”
“Not very. Unless you’re into that sort of thing. Wait, is that a thing? God, I hope not.”
“It’s not a thing for me. No one told me that it would be this way. I thought it would be all glow-y skin and maternal happiness. Instead, it’s been swollen ankles, gas, hemorrhoids, and break-outs. I’m a hormonal mess!”
“Yeah you are,” Lana agreed, shocking a hurt gasp from Emma. “What? Did you want me to lie or tell the truth?”
“I don’t know,” Emma admitted, adding, “Well, maybe you could soften the truth a little?”
“Okay, all those things being true the best part and the part I would cling to if I were you, is that it’s all temporary. The baby is going to be here soon and then you’re going to forget all about those things that were making you miserable. At least that’s what they say. I don’t know for sure because, obviously, I don’t have any kids — and after watching you go through all this, I’m not sure I want to, so thank you for that — but the point is, stop stressing over the little stuff.”
“Have you ever had hemorrhoids?” Emma asked with a glower. When Lana shook her head, she said, “Then you can’t say it’s included in the ‘little stuff’ column. My butt will never be the same.”
“I didn’t need to know that about you.”
Lana’s chagrined laugh coaxed a smile from Emma. “You’re probably right,” she admitted sheepishly and Lana wrapped her in a hug. Emma sighed. “I’m sorry for being neurotic. Baby brain and all that. Forgive me for dragging you to that pole dancing class?”
“You’re forgiven. On an upnote, I have the image of you trying to gyrate on a pole while nine months pregnant. That’s an image that I will never forget.”
Emma laughed. “You’re welcome.”
Lana released her and said with a frown. “I wish you and Vince had decided to find out the sex of the baby. I’ve been going crazy trying to find cute neutral gender outfits. How am I supposed to win the Coolest Auntie award if I can’t deck the kid out in the best clothes?”
“I know. I kinda wished we’d found out but it’s too late now. I didn’t realize the suspense would be so hard to take. But Vince really wants to be surprised so I let him have that one.”
“Well, four more weeks and we’ll know,” Lana said, sighing. “I guess it’s gender neutral for now.”
Emma nodded then rubbed her sore behind. “Next time I get a crazy idea in my head, please try to stop me.”
“Yeah right. Like that’s going to happen,” Lana quipped. “Let’s go. If we don’t get you home before Vince, you’re going to have fun explaining this outing. I’m surprised he doesn’t have a GPS tracker for you.”
“He does.” Emma laughed, lifting her phone. “But I turned it off without his knowing. I love him to death but he does go a little overboard now and then.”
“Stalker material.”
Emma pushed at Lana with mock outrage. “Watch it, sister. That’s my husband and I adore him. Besides…that one-track mind obsession is pretty hot in the bedroom.”
Lana clapped her hands over her ears. “Stop before I gag.”
Emma just giggled. At least she could still laugh at a few things. Maybe with a little distance, she could even laugh at her pole-dancing fiasco.
Maybe.
Bookmark: 5
-5-
Vince didn’t want to upset Emma, particularly when she seemed down already, but he had to tell Emma the bad news about Malvagio.
Best to get it over with.
He climbed onto the bed and joined his wife where she was reading.
“Sweetheart, have I told you how much I love you?” he started out, smoothing his hand across her belly.
She graced him with a short smile but continued reading. He hesitated. Maybe he ought to wait and tell her.
The news wasn’t likely to improve her mood. He knew of a sure-fire way to perk her up. He began to pluck at her nightgown with the intent of seeking out her sweet pussy but she pushed him away with a small shake of her head.
Okay, what gives? His greedy little wife never refused a little oral loving.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m trying to read,” she answered but there was a sadness to her voice that immediately worried him.
“Are you sure? You seem like something is bothering you.”
“I’m fine.”
Uh oh. In his experience when a woman uttered those words, things were anything but fine. “Emma, look at me. Is everything okay? Is it the baby?” A flutter of fear followed his anxious question but her annoyed expression told him it wasn’t the baby. “All right then, what is it?”
She put her book down with annoyance. “I’m trying to read and you keep interrupting me.”
Vince accepted her huffy answer and rolled away, still bothered but she was definitely being a prickly pear.
Had he done something wrong?
He racked his brain for anything that he might’ve inadvertently done to upset his woman.
Did she already know about Malvagio? How? He cast a confused look her way but she was oblivious to his concern. “That must be some pretty good book,” he noted with forced cheer. “I don’t think you’ve ever pushed me away like that. I must be losing my touch.”
“I don’t have the energy to deal with any male ego right now,” she said without an ounce of sympathy. “I really just want to finish this chapter and then go to bed.”
Should he push the issue? Or just let it lie? Maybe he ought to tell her his news since her mood wasn’t likely to get any better. Well, that was chicken shit.
Yeah, well, he had to call it as he saw it. “Are you hungry? Need anything? Chocolate? Strawberries? The blood of your enemies?”
At that she cracked a reluctant smile and she put down her book for a minute. “I’m sorry. I’m in a terrible mood.”
No argument there. “What can I do to help?”
“Nothing.”
“Impossible. There has to be something I can do to help you get through whatever you’re feeling.”
She shook her head, growing frustrated. “Vince! Maybe it’s not about you. Maybe it’s about me and I want you to just stop pestering me about it.”
“Okay, calm down, tiger. I just want to help.”
“I don’t want your help. I want…” she stopped, seaming her lips together before uttering a small growl and returning to her book. “Just leave me alone for a little while. I’ll be fine.”
There was that word again. Fine.
He was out of his element. He needed reinforcements. “I hear you loud and clear. Enjoy your book, sweetheart,” he said, risking a quick peck on her forehead. “I’m just going to go downstairs for a bit. Ring me if you need anything.”
All he got in response was a subtle head nod. That’d better be the world’s most amazing book or else his pretty, preggo wife was totally lying.
Because she didn’t seem fine at all.
Bookmark: 6
-6-
Vince bounded down the stairs and found Nolan in the study, which was perfect because Vince might’ve pulled him out of bed for this.
He poured a brandy and downed it, needing something to calm him. “I’ve got a situation and I’m trying not to overreact but I might’ve already done that so I need you to talk me down from the ledge.”
Nolan looked up and leaned back. “What are you talking about? Is this about Malvagio? You need to relax. Everything is going to be fine.”
“Don’t use that word,” he growled. “Nothing is fine and I don’t know why people insist on using it.”
“Are you drunk?”
“No but I wish I was.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Something is wrong with Emma.”
That got his attention. “The baby?”
“No. Baby is fine. But Emma pushed me away when I tried to go down on her.”
“She’s pregnant. I’m told pregnancy does all sorts of weird things to a woman. I missed out on Shannon’s pregnancy and I haven’t been able to talk her into having another just yet but you remember how bizarre Penny acted when she was pregnant with Robert.”
He did. Penny, their beloved sister—in-law/former lover was almost unrecognizable as the sweet accommodating accountant they’d first met.