Page 91 of Possessed By You

“Okay, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“That was a shitty move,” Benjamin mutters, too relieved to be pissed.

“I’m not going to keel over painting a damn wall, all right? Watch and learn.”

I pour the rest of the white paint primer into the tin of the dark blue, using the roller to mix them together. When it’s a pretty light blue, I straighten with a hand on my aching back.

I’m due in a week, and I’m beginning to feel it.

“See? Problem solved.”

“All right, smart ass. Sit down,” Benjamin says, gesturing to the chair.

“I want to paint.”

“Tough.”

I waddle over and stop in front of him, stubbornly meeting his eyes, which are equally stubborn.

“Oh, my love, you’re going to getnowherewith that scowl.”

I stretch up onto my toes, turning so my stomach won’t hit him, and clasp the back of his neck, planting my lips onto his.

“Get a room!” Kevin yells.

Benjamin submits easily to my mouth, his lips shaping into a smile against mine.

When he pulls back, I look down where I’ve placed the roller between us.

“Oh, that’s great. That’s real great,” he says while I continue to mark him with sky blue paint, now getting his arm. “I’m going to have to change now.”

I move back, observing my handiwork. One look at Kevin and I’m convinced my husband has never looked hotter. The white t-shirt, denim pants spotted with paint look is definitely one he should utilize more often. Kevin blows out a breath of desire and averts his eyes to remain faithful to his fiancé. I don’t have to have such restraint.

“This is actually quite a look for you.”

“Oh, you like it, do you?”

“Mmm.”

I head for the wall, and he makes a sound. “Darcy.”

“I’m fine, really. I feel great.”

The chime of the elevator dings from the corridor.

“That will be John and Jasmine,” Benjamin says, wiping his hands on his jeans. As soon as he’s gone to retrieve them, Kevin comes to stand by me.

“Did you see? He went white when you joked with him like that. I can’t wait to see what he’s like when it’s the real thing.”

***

“Darling, I refuse to give you caffeine of any sort, no matter how badly you want it, so I brought you—”

Doris stops in her tracks at the sight of me. I’m standing in the living room, water dripping down my thighs and onto the puddle on the floor.My Best Friend’s Weddinghas just started on TV, but my body has other plans for today.

Today, we make a baby.

Before I start hyperventilating, Doris is on the move, dropping the mugs onto the table with enough force that the hot chocolate splashes onto the surface. For an older woman, she moves nimbly, rushing to the phone to alert Dimitri, who has been on stand-by for days, that he needs to get up here. By the time he’s exiting the elevator, Doris has my hospital bag on her shoulder and is walking me over to him.