Page 109 of More Than Words

“I think you know why,” he murmured, walking around to stand behind me and using his fingers to unfasten the small button on my blouse that rested at the base of my neck. “I love seeing you like this.”

Cupping my belly, I arched my back and let out a heavy breath. “I’m huge. And we still have twelve weeks left. I’m going to need my own area code by the time she’s born. Don’t even get me started on the swollen ankles. Wearing heels makes me want to cry.”

“Is, babe, stop,” he chuckled, wrapping his arms around me to palm my stomach. “This is not an I love you to appease you right now. This is an I love you, period, full stop. These curves are just a bonus.”

“You don’t have to flatter me. I know this isn’t what you’re attracted to. It’s fine. Just…”

“Look at me,” he growled, cutting me off and pulling me back into his chest. His strong hand cupped my jaw and turned my head so I could look back at him. “That’s better. Stop thinking that gaining a few pounds or your hips spreading—because you’re carrying my fucking baby—are things I’m not 100 percent here for. You are still sexy as fuck.”

Adrian grasped my hand and pressed it to the front of his suit pants. “You still make me hard when I think about being with you. It’s you. It’s not a number on a scale in a doctor’s office. I’m attracted to you. I want you.”

“But what happens if I never find me again once she’s here? What if the me you fell in love with is gone?” That’s what I was afraid of most. There were no guarantees he’d stick around for me after she was born. I knew he’d never step away from his daughter, but I wasn’t owed anything. Even a ring didn’t mean security, not that he’d ever brought up marriage again after New York.

“She’s not. She’s right here with me. I’m going to keep loving her as long as she lets me. And I’m going to do everything in my power to show her I find her to be the sexiest, smartest, most sensual woman I know. I’m still in awe of the fact that she lets me be near her every day.”

Unbidden tears rose to my eyes, and I nodded. “Okay.”

“Damn straight it’s okay. Now step forward so I can get this blouse off and that dress wrapped around these curves. I’ve got a sexy girlfriend to show off.”

Raising my arms above my head, he pulled the material up, carefully freeing my hair before he threw it toward my desk. His large hands flattened on either side of my belly, and he tucked his face into my neck while his thumbs rubbed softly against my skin.

She stirred and the familiar butterflies floated in my belly as our little girl wiggled, making her presence known. It was crazy that she was already over a pound. That might have been one bonus of being considered a geriatric pregnancy—I had 3D ultrasounds scheduled every four weeks.

“There she is,” Adrian murmured against my neck, his hand tracing across my skin to follow her movements.

“We’re going to be late if I don’t get dressed,” I whispered, hating that I was breaking the sweet moment with his daughter, but we needed to get moving. I knew I’d need to pee at least once before we drove across downtown to the restaurant.

Kissing my neck, he stepped away, grabbing my dress and helping me wrap it around my back before he fastened the ties at my waist. This dress showed a bit more cleavage than I was comfortable with right now, but his eyes had lit up when I tried it on at the maternity boutique two blocks away from the office a few days ago.

After I’d put my coat on—that I couldn’t button anymore—he grabbed my shoulders, bending down slightly to look into my eyes. “You are going to go in there tonight and show how much of a boss babe you are. Don’t let being tired or self-conscious diminish your shine. You deserve everything you have earned and never doubt it.”

As I followed Adrian out my office door, I silently sent thanks to whatever cosmic forces aligned to make sure we ended up together. I never expected it, and definitely not with him, but Adrian just very well may be the love of my life.

“Can I get you a water, babe?” Adrian asked, placing his hand in the center of my back. Shaking my head, I smiled when he leaned in and kissed my cheek before he retreated.

Things had gotten crazy once we arrived at the restaurant, the cocktails portion of the party already in full swing. Sloane had almost immediately dragged me off to introduce me to people, and Adrian had kept busy talking to other editors he knew across the room.

That didn’t mean he wasn’t watching me like a hawk, periodically stepping in behind me and handing me a glass of water before he disappeared again. He hadn’t once tried to insert himself into conversations he hadn’t been invited to, and I hadn’t realized how empowering that would feel. He was letting me spend the night doing the thing I loved most—talking about books and publishing—without trying to steal the attention for himself.

“Adrian seems to be keeping a pretty close eye on you tonight,” one of the publishing execs at a rival publisher mused as Adrian walked away.

Sloane cut in before I could respond. “Mr. O’Neill has an excellent track record of being very attentive to things he’s passionate about.”

“Maybe that’s why he turned down my job offer six months ago,” he casually commented, and my eyebrows drew together. Adrian had never said a word about it. I wasn’t sure if that was because he didn’t trust me, or because he’d never considered leaving Vivid. “Now I can see maybe there was something else keeping him in his current position. It really is too bad when people let personal relationships cloud their professional decisions.”

Sloane growled, not loud enough to be heard, but I knew she was holding back from laying into this jackass. Maybe Adrian hadn’t considered the offer because this guy was an even bigger dick than people around the office thought Adrian was. “On that interesting note, I believe they’re flagging everyone down to get dinner started. It was as lovely as it usually is to talk to you, Chip.”

The man smiled, lifting his drink in my direction before he walked away. Sloane gripped my elbow, halting my movements as she leaned over. “Adrian turned it down because the offer was shit and he has much more responsibility and freedom at Vivid. Don’t start thinking he stalled his career for personal reasons. I knew about the offer and matched the salary they were offering him.”

Nodding, I sighed, relieved that he hadn’t passed something up to stay close to me.

“Seriously, put it out of your head. It’s in the past, and I’m sure he had other things on his mind at the time. Which he should have, considering...” she trailed off, gesturing at my stomach.

“What are we whispering about over here?” Adrian asked as he stepped up behind me, placing a hand on my hip.

“Just how Chip tried to poach you and insinuated that you stayed at Vivid to stay near the colleague you knocked up.” My eyes widened as she blurted it out, but Adrian started laughing, his chest shaking against my back. Then I realized he hadn’t hidden it from me because he was trying to keep it a secret—it just wasn’t something he’d ever considered seriously.

“God, he’s such a fuckin’ ass. Maybe I didn’t consider his offer because my boss would have been an egomaniacal sexist jerkoff. Although I appreciated the pay bump. Maybe I should try to get poached more often.”

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