Page 69 of While We Waited

“What’s in here?” She doesn’t wait for an answer before opening the door and entering. She squeals. “It’s a pool!”

“I closed the pool for the night.”

“There’s no one else coming?”

I motion to the table set up next to the pool in one of the cabanas. “Except for the wait staff.”

She hurries to the table and sinks into one of the lounge chairs. She groans as she settles in. “You’re going to have to haul me out of this chair after dinner.”

“I’ll haul you anywhere you want to go.”

And I do mean anywhere. Anything Nova wants, she gets. I plan to spoil her rotten. I’m going to get her addicted to me. She won’t want to ever leave me. Not that I’m ever going to let her. She leaves me, I’m chasing her down.

I sit across from her and motion to the waitress waiting by the entrance to the pool. She arrives with a bottle of champagne.

Nova holds up her hand. “None for me.” She points to her belly.

“Good thing it’s non-alcoholic.”

She makes a face. “Non-alcoholic champagne?”

I pour her a glass. “Just try it.”

She lifts her glass and sniffs the liquid before drinking a small sip. “Hmm. Not bad.”

“Are you hungry?”

“Starving. I had a sandwich for lunch but it fell apart and well....”

She motions to the front of her dress and I know exactly what happened.

“Let me feed you.”

Thirty minutes later, Nova falls back in her chair with a moan. “I’m so full. I ate too much. I don’t think I can move. Maybe you will have to carry me back to your chalet after all.”

Our chalet, I think but don’t correct her. She was wary enough to go on a date with me. She’ll freak out if she knows I don’t intend for her to return to her house ever again.

“It’s too bad you can’t move.” I motion to the pool. “I had plans for us.”

She springs to her feet, whips off her dress, and rushes to the pool but screeches to a halt before she reaches the water. “Oops. I forgot I have shoes on.”

I kneel in front of her. “I’ve got you.”

She places her hands on my shoulders as I unwind the silk straps from her calves until she can toe off her shoe. I massage her foot before switching to the other foot to remove her remaining shoe.

“I think I want someone to remove my shoes from now on.”

I glance up at her. “I’m at your service.”

She laughs and her stomach jiggles. She squeaks before grabbing her stomach. “No making fun of how fat I am.”

I was excited when I noticed her belly had popped a few days ago. But I didn’t mention it since I don’t know what the protocol is. I’m glad I didn’t as she appears insecure.

I push to my feet and place my hands on her belly. “You’re not fat. You’re pregnant. You’re growing our baby in there. I can’t wait to meet him or her.”

She places her hands over mine. “Me too.”

“I hope Sprog is a girl.”

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