Page 6 of Embrace Me

Our conversation continues to meander all over the place in that kind of easy back and forth you have with friends and family.

I rest my hands on my belly as I look at these two women and think about our circle of friends and my husband right there in the center of it.

Yeah, I think, as I sigh happily. It really is all about family.

Chapter Three

Damien crossed the tile floor to the table where the three women sat, then stood behind his wife.

“This is what I like to see,” he said as Nikki turned in her seat and smiled up at him. “Three of my favorite women enjoying lunch together.”

“What on earth are you doing here?” Nikki asked, her pleasure at seeing him coming through in her voice.

He lifted his phone, as if that were answer enough. Apparently it was, because she laughed. “Edward told on me,” she said.

“He said you were tired and going home for the day. I told him I’d pick you up. I spent my morning at the Domino, so I was conveniently located to act as chauffeur for my wife.”

“Well, I can’t say I’m sad to see you,” Evelyn said. “You’re just lucky you came when we were already done with your wife.” She reached over and patted Nikki’s hand. “Or, perhaps, she was done with us.”

“This has been wonderful, but I can definitely use a nap,” Nikki said.

Jamie shook her head. “With all this talk about exhaustion and the other aches and pains that go along with pregnancy, you guys are definitely not talking me into having a kiddo anytime soon.” She aimed a bright smile up at Damien. “Fortunately, between you two and Jackson and Sylvia, I’m swimming in nieces and nephews.”

He laughed. “Which means, of course, that we can call on you to babysit anytime.”

“Absolutely. And so long as I’m not naked and in bed with your best friend, we’ll rush right over.”

Nikki made a show of holding her hands over her stomach. “Careful. He might hear you.”

Jamie waved away the words. “Well, he has to get to know his Aunt Jamie soon, doesn’t he?”

“Can’t argue with that,” Nikki said, reaching out for Damien. He took her hand, wondering what he’d ever done to get so lucky.

“Ladies, I’ve already taken care of the check. Now I’m going to take care of my wife.” He pointed between Evelyn and Jamie’s drinks. “You two go ahead and finish up, but if you don’t mind I’m going to take her now. I think it’s time someone rested.”

“Normally I would get on him for handling me,” Nikki said, pushing her chair back. “But I really am exhausted. And,” she added looking up at Damien with a smile. “I’m very happy with my designated driver.”

He watched as she gave both women a hug, then he brushed a kiss over both their cheeks. For a man whose childhood should be listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as worst ever, he’d ended up winning the Friends and Family Lottery.

He kept a hand at Nikki’s lower back, not only because he enjoyed feeling the way she moved against him, but also because he wanted to be close in case she slipped. His normally graceful wife was definitely lacking in grace these days.

She smiled up at him. “Waddling,” she said, then rolled her eyes.

“Yes. But you do it with such pizzazz.”

As he’d hoped, she giggled. “So home?” She looked up and down the street then frowned, obviously not seeing his car. “Why didn’t you have the valet leave it here if you knew we were coming straight out?”

“To be honest, I lied. I’m happy to take you home if you’re too tired, but I thought it might be nice to take a walk on the beach.” He was carrying a soft-sided leather briefcase, and he tapped it now. “I brought your Leica,” he said. “I’d like to get a shot of you by the water.”

She looked between him and the beach. The restaurant was a short walk from the Pier, and they could easily cross the parking lot, then walk through the sand to the water. But walking on the loose sand wasn’t easy, and if she was already tired…

For a moment her face was almost unreadable, which was unusual, as Damien had developed the knack of reading Nikki’s expressions over the years. Then he saw the answer in her eyes. The bright joy that spread to her mouth, ending in a stunning, brilliant smile. “That sounds wonderful,” she said, squeezing his hand. “Thank you for thinking of it.”

“It’s for both of us,” he said, but he was touched by her words. Nikki had been an amateur photographer for years, taking her camera on every trip and even taking lessons from their friend Wyatt Royce, a highly sought-after professional photographer.

But she’d never taken any pictures of herself during her pregnancy with Anne, though they did have some studio shots of him, Lara, and a very pregnant Nikki. They’d taken tons of pictures in China when they got Lara, but the only candid pictures of her pregnancy with Anne were the snaps he’d taken using the camera on his phone.

This time, he wanted to be more deliberate.