by Nalini Singh
The men all wore black suits without ties, though Fox and David had gone for crisp white shirts rather than the black chosen by Noah and Abe. Kit's dress was a sparkly gold sheath, while Thea wore slinky red, Molly a lush midnight blue. All ankle-length, in line with their agreement to glam it up tonight.
She took a photograph with the women, then went to send it to Lola; her closest friend had met Thea, Molly, and Kit several times by now, was beginning to build bonds of her own with them.
"Oh, that's a great shot," Molly said over her shoulder. "Can you copy in Charlie as well?"
Sarah smiled at the thought of the petite blonde who'd recently sent the peanut a tiny All Blacks rugby jersey. "Not a problem."
Lola was in Houston for her dad's birthday party, but she'd told Sarah she'd be watching the events, starting with the red-carpet coverage. Charlotte was also planning to do the same in New Zealand. Both women replied within moments.
Lola: Knock 'em dead, you goddesses.
Charlie: Eep! I'm making the popcorn now. Can't wait to see everyone on-screen! Good luck to the guys from both of us!
"We look freaking amazing!" Kit declared right then, to loud cheers. "And I hope that asshole reporter who implied I had a nose job ends up with the worst case of itchy hay fever to ever torment a nose."
Sarah grinned and joined in the clapping for Kit's curse.
The ensuing moments were joyous noise, words shouted across the limo and spoken over others' heads, but it wasn't harsh. No, it was the sound of happiness, of a group of friends and lovers heading out for what promised to be a great night. Sarah found herself chatting alone with Thea at one stage, when the publicist swapped seats with Molly so she could sit next to Sarah.
Sarah had always been intimidated by Thea, wasn't quite over it even now they were so much closer. Not only was the other woman sleekly beautiful, she had a cutting intelligence and fierce confidence. It was rumored she ate paparazzi for breakfast, then crunched their bones for a midmorning snack.
Sarah could well believe it.
But as with Lola, Thea had an incredibly kind heart under her battle armor and was ferocious in protecting her own.
"Hi." Sarah held up her flute of sparkling water.
Thea clinked it with her champagne flute. "No taste for grape juice? I made sure the limo was stocked with your favorite kind."
"I'm scared I'll spill it, and then there goes this dress." Sarah petted the fabric. "I'd probably burst out crying."
"Remind me to tell you about the time I all but poured coffee on myself fifteen minutes before a meeting while wearing a white sheath dress," Thea said dryly. "I had to send my poor intern on a clothing run to the nearest boutique that knew my size and style. The girl was so terrified she'd make the wrong choice that she talked the boutique owner into giving her ten dresses for me to choose from."
"I can't imagine you spilling coffee on yourself," Sarah admitted. "It's like asking me to believe that you're a mere mortal."
Thea burst out laughing, the gorgeous golden hue of her skin flushed with delight. "Excellent," she said afterward. "That means my campaign to convince people I'm a shark who sleeps with one eye open continues to be a success."
Sarah grinned. "I'm glad you're on my side."
"Always."
Sarah thought of the portfolio Thea had built on Jeremy, digging up things Sarah hadn't even known existed and that could get Jeremy blacklisted within his industry. "It's insurance," Thea had told her. "I want you to have all this so that if he ever threatens you, you can quietly slip one of these pieces of information into your response--and make sure he knows the proof is held elsewhere and will be released if he doesn't back off."
"Thank you." Sarah's words came from the heart. "For everything you've done for me."
Thea nudged her gently with her shoulder. "It's what friends do."
Sarah didn't point out that they hadn't been friends back when the violence happened. Thea, she'd learned, had trouble with overt acknowledgement of her kindness. "How're the wedding plans coming along?" she asked instead, grateful she had so many wonderful women in her life.
Thea's gaze softened, her eyes going to David before she glanced back at Sarah. "I can't wait to be married to him," she said. "I want to put a damn ring on his finger so the entire world knows he's mine."
Sarah smiled. "I'm pretty sure that isn't in question. He's crazy about you, and he doesn't care who knows." Just like Abe made no effort to hide his love for Sarah.
It made her breathless each time he took her hand, or put his on her lower back, or laughingly stole a kiss on the beach. He'd figured out pretty quick that while Sarah was shy about public displays of affection, she liked what he did to her.
In front of her, Thea's expression was open, unshielded, exposing a very private side to this strong, powerful woman. "David's my North Star," she said quietly.
Sarah's eyes stung at the simple, passionate declaration.
Taking a shaky breath, Thea sipped from her champagne before continuing. "My parents and David's parents are as thick as thieves, and they're lining everything up for a big wedding." Her face glowed. "I don't care as long as I get to marry my man."
Sarah could already almost see Thea's tall and svelte body in an elegant wedding dress, her hand on her father's arm as they walked down the aisle. "Have you chosen your gown yet?"
Thea had just parted her lips to answer when the limo came to a halt. Putting down her champagne flute, she said, "We're here," then snapped her fingers. "Foxy, you exit first. Everyone's gaga to see you at your first formal event post-wedding."
"Do you ever take the night off?" Fox asked, picking up Molly's hand to press a kiss to the back of it.
David was the one who answered. "Yes. I have to use rope and hide all her gadgets, and unplug the Wi-Fi modem so she can't use my gadgets, but yes."
Pointing a finger at the drummer while everyone else grinned, Thea said, "You are in trouble."
"I love being in trouble with you."
The sound of the crowd outside poured into the car as the limo driver opened the back passenger-side door. Sarah felt a sudden clutch of nerves in her stomach as she watched Fox step out, then extend a hand to help Molly out. The other woman's movements were sexily graceful. Meanwhile, Sarah was suddenly feeling less Amazonian goddess and more fat pregnant lady.
"Can we go last?" she whispered to Abe when he shifted down the seats to face her on the other side. "So everyone's occupied with the others in case I fall flat on my face?"
"You're too elegant to fall," Abe said. "And even if there was a risk, I'd never let it happen."
Nerves continued to do the samba in her gut.
Lines forming on his forehead, Abe turned to Thea while Noah and Kit were making their exit. "You two go ahead. Sarah and I will be the rear guard."
Thea patted Sarah on the hand. "You'll own this. I happen to know for a fact that an entire busload of Abra fans camped out for an entire day so they'd have primo seats to watch the red-carpet arrivals, and you two are their number one couple to see."
"You're making that up," Sarah said huskily.
Thea crossed her heart. "No lies. Your people are out there."
Oddly, that did make her feel a touch better. It was nice to know there were people waiting beyond who had nothing but happiness in their hearts for Abe and Sarah.
"As for the paps," Thea continued, "remember, they want your photograph, not the other way around." A steely tone "You don't need the publicity to succeed--so in your head, you can tell them to go screw themselves. But don't forget to smile while you're doing that--under no circumstances do I want to see anything but a kickass woman with confidence blazing off her. Got it?"
Nodding, Sarah stared wide-eyed at Abe as David got out, Thea following.
"Yes," Abe said, "she's a little scary, but that's why we love her."
"I heard that," Thea said as she exited, her hand in David's.
Abe reached over to lift Sarah's hand to
his lips, the kiss tender. "I've got you, Sarah. Trust me."
CHAPTER 33
SARAH NODDED JERKILY AND FORCED herself to shift to the other side of the limo after he got out so that she'd be ready when he extended his hand to her. Then he did, and she was moving. One leg, two, lift her body out without hitting her head or tangling her heels in the dress, and wow, she was standing on two feet with Abe's hand locked to hers and she hadn't tripped or fallen or embarrassed herself.
That was when it hit her, the roar of shouts and the storm of lightning flashes from the media camped on either side of the red carpet. Sarah wanted to crawl back into the limo, but then Abe squeezed her hand and Thea's words reverberated in her head. She didn't need this publicity--these people couldn't hurt her with what they chose to write about her or any unflattering pictures they chose to print.
Tonight it was about supporting and celebrating the man she loved.
That was what was important.
Looking up at him with open pride, she said, "I love you in black. Did the four of you decide together to wear suits?" She'd looked up footage from previous awards events out of curiosity, knew that while David was known for his designer suits and Abe for his slick sense of style, Noah and Fox often turned up in jeans and band T-shirts.
Today, however, all four men were wearing flawlessly cut suits, and they looked incredibly hot together as a group. They'd be changing for the performance but would get back into the suits for the rest of the night.
"Yep." Abe kept his hand possessively around hers. "My idea." He held her gaze. "I told them we should do it because it was Fox's first big public thing with Molly after they got hitched. But it was really because this is my first time out with you at a formal deal now that you're not totally pissed at me anymore."
Sarah's stomach flipped. The intensity of his expression... Breathless, she whispered, "You're a wonderful man."
Abe's smile was that heartbreaker one against which her remaining defenses stood no chance. He broke their handclasp, but only so he could place his fingers on her lower back, warm and heavy, and they moved on down the red carpet behind Thea and David. Sarah wasn't actually expecting too much attention from the media--she'd never attracted it, wasn't glamorous enough or famous in her own right.
Molly, she knew, would love to be in her position, but unfortunately the incident with the recording of her and Fox had put her on the media radar. No matter how hard Molly tried to stay out of the spotlight, the other woman attracted a level of attention Sarah simply didn't. Thank God.
"Why are they yelling at us?" she muttered under her breath half a minute later.
Abe moved his hand in a circular gesture on her back. "They want photos," he murmured, then leaned in close and kissed her cheek.
"Abe." That kiss had sent the yelling into overdrive. "Why did you do that?"
"So they know you're special." Sliding his hand around to her hip, he tugged her closer against him. "Stay with me."
Sarah knew he couldn't protect her against the vicious people who lived to tear others down, the ones who'd no doubt call her "fat" and "big boned" when they weren't snidely predicting the end of her and Abe's rekindled relationship, but she was a woman now. Not a naive girl who thought her only value lay in what others thought of her body. "Let's do this."
"First, look to the right and past the media phalanx."
Sarah followed his gaze, saw the raised audience bleachers that had been put up for those lucky enough--and determined enough--to get what had to be a very limited number of seats. Those seats provided a bird's-eye view of the red-carpet arrivals area.
ABRA Forever!
She began to laugh. "That sign is huge!" Lifting her hand, she waved at the group that held the sparkling, glittering sign.
They went insane with excitement, waving back as they jumped up and down. Then, as if they'd planned it, they organized themselves for a selfie with Abe and Sarah in the background.
When Abe grinned and leaned in to kiss her again, she was pretty sure one woman fainted dead away.
Abe's lips brushed her ear. "Your boobs look phenomenal in that dress."
She burst out laughing again, feeling as if she was made of pure delight. "Hey, my face is up here."
Grin wide, Abe led her closer to the paparazzi. And the cameras went wild.
THE BAND'S PERFORMANCE WENT OFF WITH a rockin' boom.
According to Thea, Schoolboy Choir was being talked about all over the world as the highlight performance of the entire event--and there had been a number of very good performances from other artists.
Pumped, everyone was ready to celebrate, and they headed out as a group to one of the big after-parties held in a glitzy bar. Sarah wanted desperately to celebrate with Abe's bandmates and the women, but she hadn't been feeling the greatest toward the end of the show, was now close to throwing up. She knew she had to go home before it got any worse, but she didn't want to ruin the night for Abe.
"Hey." It was a rumbling murmur against her ear, Abe's body a big, warm wall that blocked out the noise of voices raised to be heard over the thumping music. "What's the matter?"
"I think morning sickness has finally decided to hit--at night." She hadn't felt anywhere near this nauseous during her last pregnancy. Panic gnawed at her, twisting and churning in her gut and adding to the nausea. She'd call Dr. Snyder tomorrow, make sure nothing--
"I'll have the driver bring the car around."
"What?" She rubbed at her forehead, her face suddenly unbearably hot. "Abe, no. You should enjoy the night."
Abe locked his arm around her, the fingers of his free hand already working his phone to send a message. "I'm not that guy anymore, Sarah." Pressing a kiss to her temple, he began to move, heading for the exit and always making sure his body took any unintended bumps from the crowd.
Sarah looked up at one point to see David glance across from the other side of the room. Abe must've made some kind of silent sign because the drummer gave a slight nod. A minute later and she and Abe were out of the hot, crowded club and into the clear night air. Sarah sucked it in and immediately felt better, but it was all relative: her queasiness didn't subside.
"I don't know what to do," she admitted as they waited for the limo to pull up, her voice wobbling. "I never really had morning sickness with Aaron. Do you think everything is okay?"
"I'm sure everything is fine," Abe said with a confidence that boosted her own. "And I read up on stuff online. Lots of women say saltine crackers help. I got you a box, put it in the pantry."
Sarah blinked, staying snug against Abe's body. "When?"
"A couple of weeks ago." He cuddled her impossibly tighter when a photographer got too close, the camera flash going off like a strobe light. It made her stomach roil even more, bile rising to her throat.
No. She was not going to throw up here and end up on the front page of a tabloid.
Hiding her face in Abe's chest while trying to make it appear as if she was just tired and snuggling in, she drew in his scent. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and though she could feel his muscles trembling with brutal tension, he didn't strike out at the photographer physically or even vocally. Instead, he kept his attention on her, telling her he could see the limo turning into the street, that it'd be at the curb in front of them in seconds.
Then it was and he was opening the door, getting her inside.
Sarah didn't speak once she was safely inside the limo, just squeezed her eyes shut and breathed. She managed--barely--to hold it together until she was home. At which point she ran to the nearest toilet and threw up.
She was aware of Abe holding back her hair, of him using a wet cloth to wipe her mouth after she was done, but then the nausea rose again. By the time she was finally finished, she felt like she'd been hanging over the toilet for hours. "I want to shower and get into the most comfortable pj's I have."
Abe helped her to her feet, then up to the bedroom after a short detour to the kitchen to get some water dow
n her. When he lifted his hands to undo her dress, she let him, but shook her head after the dress fell to the floor. "Alone, okay?"
"I'm leaving the door open." Abe's expression was dark. "So I can hear if you fall over."
"I'm not feeling weak. In fact, I'm starving." Her stomach rumbled on cue. "I want toast with peanut butter and jelly."
"I can do that." Abe kissed her forehead, then patted her ass in a distinctly possessive way. "Shower."
Feeling far less icky after that pat, which said her lover wasn't put off by what had happened, she took off her underwear and smiled down at her belly before stepping into a nice hot shower. When she finally got out and dried off, it was to discover Abe had dug up her yellow microfleece pajamas with the moon and stars on them.
Feeling hugged even though he wasn't physically present in the room, she pulled on the pj's, ran a comb through her hair, and was done. Especially since the scent of toast was hot and delicious in the air. Ravenous, she ran downstairs and into the kitchen and snatched the toast right out of Abe's hand as he finished putting grape jelly on the peanut butter. Groaning at the first bite, she managed to wriggle onto a counter stool and waved at Abe to keep slathering the other slice with peanut butter.
He grinned and got on it. That was when she noticed he'd taken off his suit jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. She had a seriously hot rock star in her kitchen, making her peanut butter and jelly toast, and even though she'd just thrown up in front of him, he was giving her looks that said he liked what he saw.
A lot.
Sarah's toes curled. As she finished the first piece of toast and reached for the next--after sipping from the glass of milk Abe had poured for her--she decided she was going to let him show her exactly how much he liked the view. Given the night thus far, her body and her hormones were clearly out of whack, but she didn't care with arousal hot and damp between her thighs.
Second piece of toast finished, she drank the rest of the milk.
"More?" Abe asked, having munched on a piece himself while she demolished hers.
"You."
ABE HAD BEEN DRINKING A GLASS OF WATER, almost dropped the glass at Sarah's statement. Putting it down with extreme care, he gripped the counter. "You were just--"