Page 72 of Not the Bodyguard's Widow
“He’d get dropped into the dungeon, like in the old black-and-white moves.”
“Really?”
Alex laughed. “No, although we designed one to do that when we were teens. This house doesn’t have a basement. We wanted to try it on Abbie’s mansion, but Preston said no.”
“I’m almost disappointed.”
“Come on, let’s go celebrate your birthday.”
26
“What are you doing down here?”Mom said as she entered the family room.
Alex pointed at the monitors. “Watching our unidentified watchers.”
“Andrew can do that. You need to be upstairs with your wife.”
“Mom, we’re not—”
Mom held up a hand. “I’ve watched you throughout dinner. Have you told her yet?”
“Told her what?”
“That you love her.”
“Not when she’s awake.”
Mom crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. “Yourwifeis upstairs pacing the floor. Go to her and tell her the truth. And don’t use some excuse about grayed lines. Love doesn’t care if she’s a client or not.”
Alex’s jaw dropped as he searched for an answer.
“Don’t make me count, Alex. I’m still your mother. I will.”
Still, Alex stood rooted to the spot.
“Ten, nine, eight—”
As if he were still a ten-year-old, Alex’s body responded, fearing what would happen if Mom ever reached one.
The lamp in Kimberly’s room glowed from beneath the door. “Kimberly?”
The door opened, and Kimberly stepped back, letting him in.
“Can’t you sleep?”
“Not with the little one playing hopscotch.” The fatigue in her eyes told of other reasons.
“May I?” Alex’s hand hovered over her belly.
Kimberly nodded.
Alex knelt so his face was level with the baby and placed his hands on either side of Kimberly’s stomach. “Hey, little one. It’s time to go to sleep now. You are keeping Mama up, and she’s had a hard day. It was her birthday, and plans didn’t work out so well.”
Kick.
“He doesn’t want to listen to you either.”
Alex met Kimberly’s eyes. “So it’s a boy?”
