“Oh, come on.” She just kept herself from snorting.
“I’m serious. What if you start having pains or fall while going to the bathroom? Anything could happen and I might not hear you if you call out. I need you where I can see you, hear you, reach out and touch you.”
His intensity was back. Stronger, more stark. Yeah, he was serious. But could she do as he asked, sleep beside him every night for the next month, and probably more? Close enough to see, to hear, to touch.
What was the alternative? A sterile room with an antiseptic smell, and rough, ugly, blue blankets? And inevitable, eternal boredom? Sure, family and friends would call and visit, but there were so many hours in the day, and too many during the night. Usually a positive person, Savannah felt lonely just thinking about it.
Inside her a tiny movement stirred. She caught her breath and went completely still.
“What is it?” Concerned, Rick returned to her bedside and reached for her hand. “Are you in pain? Is it the baby?”
The flutter came again and she grinned through the tears blooming in her eyes. Pushing aside the blanket, she moved his hand to her belly, covered only by her thin nightshirt. “It is the baby, but it’s all good. He’s moving.” She pressed her hand over Rick’s right where the tiny sensation stirred. “Do you feel him?”
He shook his head, and she saw that overwhelmed by emotion, words had failed him.
“I do. He’s moving. He’s going to be okay,” she said and believed it. For the first time since the accident, she felt encouraged, the small movement of her child the medicine she needed to look forward again.
Rick sank into the chair and laid his head in her lap. She wished she could see his face but he was turned away from her. Threading her fingers through his chocolate-brown hair, she gave him a moment. When she felt her nightshirt grow slightly damp, she swallowed the lump in her throat and made a decision.
“Do you promise not to harass me about getting married?”
“I won’t ask more than once a day.”
She shook her head. Stubborn man.
“Okay. I’ll come live with you.”
Savannah moved in on Saturday. Rick saw it as a triumph. Now if only she looked happy about it.
With great satisfaction he got her settled in his bed and then propped his hands on his hips and surveyed her.
A small frown puckering between her russet eyebrows, she looked around the room.
He followed her gaze, seeing his space through her eyes. His style ran to traditional comfort. A king-size black leather sleigh bed with a burnished nutmeg finish dominated the room with accompanying nightstands and bureau. Light flooded in through ceiling-to-floor multipaneled windows, reflecting off the beige suede comforter and showcasing the brown-and-beige medallion rug. Lush green plants added color and a sense of luxury.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“It’s lovely.” Nice words but they held no feeling.
She was depressed, and it wasn’t because she’d officially started her bed rest. At least not entirely. Today was Claudia’s graduation and Savannah was missing it.
He knew how much she’d been looking forward to this day, how proud she was of her sister. For that reason he had a surprise for her.
“Let me show you what I’ve got set up for you.” He went to the closet and pulled out a hospital table, one of those that swung over the bed. On it sat her laptop computer. “Your link with the world.”
“Rick.” She fingered the laptop and forced a smile for him. “You’re too good to me.”
Wanting a real smile, he angled the computer toward him, hit a couple of keys to bring up the live stream from San Diego State, and then turned the screen back to her.
“What’s this?” She blinked and focused on the video feed. She pulled the laptop closer. “Is that State?”
Turning gleaming eyes up to him, she demanded, “Claudia’s graduation?”
“I know how much you wanted to go. But you’re doing everything you can to take care of our baby, so I got the IT department to show me how to set up the live feed and Daniel agreed to video it. I wanted to surprise you.”
“You have.” There was the genuine smile he sought.
Beaming, she patted the bed beside her. “Come watch with me.”
Nodding, he walked around the bed, climbed in next to her and leaned back against the black leather head-board to watch the ceremony.
“Once you see her get her diploma, you have to rest, because your family is coming back here after the ceremony.”
“Really?” She turned hopeful eyes toward him.
“They’re coming here?”
“Straight from the graduation. Including your dad. Are you going to be okay with that? I don’t want you getting upset.”
“I was glad he came to the hospital. Too much of an emotional mess to show it, but I was really glad he came. And Daniel said Dad’s been dropping by his place quite a bit recently, getting to know his granddaughter.”
Tears welled in her eyes, but her smile never dimmed. It felt good to have her here, to know she and the baby were in his care. He was glad to give her this after all she’d been through.
“You can personally give Claudia her gift.”
“Thanks to you.” She snuggled closer to him. “This is the best surprise ever.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
SAVANNAH TIED OFF THE large black bow on the silver gift-wrapped package, pleased that it looked striking yet masculine. A week ago Jesse had mentioned today was Rick and Rett’s birthday. Knowing Rick wouldn’t go along with any fuss, Savannah had planned a surprise for him.
He’d given her several beautiful surprises so she owed him.
She grinned. It felt good to be in control of something again, nothing elaborate as she was still mostly stuck in bed and had to rely on others to do the work for her. But she had a plan and she was putting it into action.
With the package wrapped and the smell of baking chocolate cake drifting from the kitchen, she made a call to Rick’s favorite Italian restaurant and ordered a meal of lasagna, salad and bread.
At three-thirty she showered and washed her hair, scrunching in mousse and leaving it to air-dry in long, loose curls while the housekeeper went through the closet to find her something besides sweatpants to wear.
“This is nice.” Sybille showed her a black knit halter dress. Braided material criss-crossed the bodice before tying behind the neck and the hem fell all the way to the floor.
“Oh my. That must be one of the pieces Jesse picked up for me.” Rick had insisted Savannah have some new comfortable clothes to celebrate the move to moderate bed rest. She’d protested because it turned out not to be that big a difference, which meant there was little motivation to get dressed in anything beyond sweats and pajamas.
But if this was a sample of what she now owned, she might need to make an effort. And now she thought of it, Rick might enjoy seeing her in something more appealing than sweats.
“Thanks, Sybille. It’s perfect.”
“It’ll look stunning with your pale skin and vivid hair.” Sybille laid the dress on the end of the bed.
“You don’t think it’ll wash me out?”
“Not if you put a pop of color on your lips.”
Savannah pawed through her cosmetic case and chose a tube of lipstick. She rolled it up for Sybille to see the deep bronze color.
The German woman shook her head. “Scarlet, to bring out the red in your hair.”
Frowning down at the contents of her case, Savannah chewed her bottom lip. “I don’t think I have anything like that.”
“I do.” Lushly round and eternally blonde, though easily in her fifties, Sybille hurried out and came back a few minutes later with her purse in hand. But she held back. “Would you allow me to redo your makeup?”
Savannah hesitated for just a moment and then nodded. What the heck? Sybille obviously knew makeup secrets. She always looked great even though she came to cook, clean an
d to keep Savannah company. She suspected the woman had a bit of the cougar in her.
With a glint in her eyes that made Savannah nervous, the older woman placed the mirror out of Savannah’s reach and then suggested she change first. A few minutes later Sybille sat beside her on the bed and reached into the cosmetic bag.
“The cake is iced and ready,” Sybille said as she wielded a shadow brush over Savannah’s eyelids. “Do you want me to set up a table in here?”
“No. I was thinking the living room. Can you organize two place settings on the coffee table? The food should arrive just after he gets home, and everything will be ready.”
“He’s going to be very surprised.”
“Happily, I hope.”
“Open.” Sybille held up the lipstick, then applied it when Savannah complied. “Ah, yes. When he sees you, he will be happy.”
Taking the proffered mirror, Savannah sighed at her reflection. The colors were subtle, her creamy skin softly highlighted with a warm blusher and the pop of scarlet on her lips was actually more of a lush dark cherry.
“Sybille, you’ve made me beautiful.”
“The beauty was already there. I just brought it to the surface.”
“Thank you. For everything.”
“It is my pleasure. Now, what more can I do?”
“That’s it. Once the table is set, I just need five o’clock to roll around for Rick to get home.”
But instead of greeting Rick at five, she got a phone call that he’d be an hour late as Rett wanted to go for a beer. He didn’t mention it was their birthday but she understood, so she assured him she’d be fine for another hour.
She wasn’t so fine an hour and a half later when the door opened and it was Sybille returning with the message Rick had been detained even further.
Savannah tried to fight the resulting depression. After all he hadn’t known she’d planned a surprise. But the scene was too familiar, the disappointment too sharp for her to be gracious.
Why wasn’t she important enough to come first once in a while?
He hadn’t even called her himself, but had rung the housekeeper to come babysit. Could the message be any clearer?
“I’m so sorry, Savannah.” Sybille sat on the couch and gave her a hug. “I know how important this was to you.”
“I’m fine.” Savannah pasted on a smile. No reason to bring Sybille down with her. “Good idea, bad timing. Can you freeze the lasagna? I’m not really very hungry.”
“I was going to tell him—”
“No,” Savannah said, a little too loudly. How mortifying would that be? “Let him enjoy his dinner with his brothers. We’ll have our cake tomorrow.”
“Okay. Except you have to eat. Let me heat some of this up for you.”
The thought made her ill. “I don’t think I can.”
“Some soup then, or a salad. What would you like?”
“Whatever’s easy. I’m going to go change.”
“Oh, not yet. You look so pretty. Let me enjoy my handiwork a little longer.” At her reluctant nod, Sybille smiled. “Lovely. Now I’ll go make our dinner.”
Laughter broke out as Ford, Rick’s youngest brother and a navy SEAL, ribbed Rett over his fashion sense.
“You’re just jealous because I don’t have to wear a uniform,” Rett shot back.
Rick looked at the faces of his brothers grouped around the table. They’d all come out to surprise him and Rett. And it was fun. But all he’d really wanted for his birthday was a quiet night at home with Savannah.
He’d gotten used to having her around. For all he hadn’t planned to marry, he’d learned a bit about what he’d chosen to give up: the companionship, the laughter, the support and concern for his happiness. She made it all so easy.
And that’s what he wanted tonight.
“Sorry, guys.” He stood up. “Thanks for coming out. I love you all, but I’m going to go home.”
“What?” Rett demanded. “I thought you were staying for dinner?”
“I was, but Savannah is at home alone. She’s stuck there every day. It doesn’t feel right to be out having a good time without her.”
“But you already made arrangements to stay.”
Rick shrugged. “Then it’ll be a surprise when I show up.”
“A surprise? Cool.” Ford knocked knuckles with Cole. “Let’s go. We can call our ladies and have them meet us at your place.”
“No.” Rick threw a credit card on the table. “Stay and enjoy dinner. My treat. I’ll see you all at Sunday dinner.” With a sense of deep satisfaction, he turned and headed home.
A short drive later he opened the door to find Savannah, sexy in wild curls and a hot black number, sitting on the couch. On the table were place settings for two and a huge chocolate cake.
“Oh man. On sh—” Rick bit off the curse. He watched her duck her head, but not before he saw the sheen of her tears.
His heart sank. “I’m so sorry.”
Obviously she’d meant to surprise him. And he’d ruined it by staying out with the boys. He cringed inside, remembering how she’d told him she’d stopped believing in surprises because it hurt too much when they didn’t come off as planned.
“I thought you were having dinner with your brothers,” she said to the hands in her lap.
“I couldn’t stay.” He lifted her chin to look into her flooded green eyes. “I wanted to spend my birthday with you.”
“Really?” she whispered.
“Yes. And I’m glad I did. You look amazing.” He leaned in to nibble her ear. “Good enough to eat.”
That earned him a small smile. “There’s lasagna from San Fillipio’s.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here for your surprise.”
Her gaze was back on her hands. “You called a ba-a-bysitter for me.”
He flinched at the catch in her voice and the pain it revealed.
“That was thoughtless of me,” he admitted. “I just didn’t want you to be alone. And then I realized what I really wanted was to come home to you.”
She leaned her head on his shoulder, and he felt her relax against him. “I’m glad.”
Relieved at her acceptance, he stole a quick kiss.
“I hope there’s plenty of cake, because I have a feeling the surprises aren’t over yet. I tried to dissuade my brothers from following me home when I left early, but my guess is they’ll be here shortly,” he said wryly.
She cupped his cheek. “They love you and want to spend time with you. How could I object to that?”
A particularly rambunctious kick woke Savannah from a sound sleep. She smiled in the dark, pleased by Derrick Charles’s hearty kick. Or Adam Joseph’s, depending on who won the name game. She and Rick were still negotiating. Charles was to honor Rick’s grandfather, as was Joseph. But she’d liked Derrick as soon as she heard it was Rick’s full name.
Who knew? And Rett’s full name was Everett. He was so not an Everett, which showed how important a name was.
She rubbed her bulge, pleased by the baby’s vigorous activity, evidence of his continued growth.
Rick rolled over, his warmth blanketing her back as he cradled her to him, his hand coming to rest on her belly next to hers. He’d been on the phone with England when she went to sleep. They were having trouble with the installation of the new vault. She’d missed him. In the past couple of months she’d come to relish the nights when she got to languish in his arms.
“Adam is active tonight,” he murmured.
“You mean Derrick is active tonight.”
She felt him smile against her hair.
“The doctor is pleased with his progress. He’s well within the growth rate for this point in your term.”
“Yes, I was excited by his optimism today.”
Rick kissed her behind the ear. “You’re not disappointed to continue the bed rest? I know you were hoping for a little freedom.”
“Some, but the baby’s growth is more important. If Dr. Wilcox believes it�
��ll make a difference, I’m not going to argue.”
“Has it been that bad?” The total lack of emotion in his voice spoke volumes.
Needing to see him, Savannah slowly rolled over to face him and he gently helped her get resituated by arranging the pillows that helped support her.
“Not at night, not when I’m with you,” she assured him and he relaxed. She traced the dark shadow of his jaw, visible because of the light he insisted on leaving on in the bathroom.
“But the days are so long. Jesse has been a lifesaver. She drafted me to help with Gram’s party. She brings Troy and sometimes Allie and comes over almost every day with something for me to take care of or just to talk over the status of everything. I know that she could handle it all alone, but still the work and the company have helped to keep me sane.”
“What about your online classes? I thought those were keeping you occupied?”
She loved her classes, loved the sense of accomplishment they gave her. Pursuing a degree in education gave her a whole new sense of self-worth. She couldn’t learn fast enough.
“They do. And I shouldn’t complain because I have such great support from my family and from your family. I’m not lonely, just antsy. And I should stop whining.”
“You’re allowed.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm. “Better to vent than to let the feelings fester. I can take it and the stress wouldn’t be good for you or Adam.”
“How can you be so good to me when I look like a beached whale?”
“You couldn’t be anything but beautiful if you tried.”
She smiled. “Ahh, and they say Rett is supposed to be the charming twin.”
“It’s not charm when it’s true.”
“Oh, Rick, you leave me breathless.” Literally. The lack of flattery only made the rare compliments more poignant.
“Does that mean you’re ready to marry me?”
Yes. The word almost sprang off her tongue. Every time he asked it got harder to say no.
He took such exquisite care of her. Every night he arrived home by five-thirty and promptly came in to see how her day had gone and to share the events in his before hitting the kitchen to heat up whatever meal Sybille had made for them.
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