Page 73 of Love Me Ever After
Slowly, we stepped into the room.
“Surprise,” he murmured into my ear.
I blinked, staring at the room which until just now had been full of boxes and un-built nursery furniture. In front of me was a beautiful wooden crib, a changing table, an animal mobile hanging from the ceiling and a rocking chair. The room had been decorated in a pale yellow, with white wood accents and it felt fresh and relaxing at the same time.
“When... I mean… How?” My head swivelled from Mason to the crib.
Mason gave me a lopsided smile. “When you sleep these days, nothing will wake you. Fraser and I worked on it through the night.”
“Is that why you wouldn’t let me come in here today?”
He nodded. “Couldn’t risk you seeing the work in progress rather than the finished product. Do you like it?”
I wrapped my arms around him, my eyes filling with tears, something that happened at least twice a day. “I love it! She’s going to love it too. God, I’m such a mess. I’ll cry at anything.” I’d cry at contestants winning quiz shows, cute animals on social media, you name it, there would be tears.
Capturing my lips in a tender kiss, Mason pulled me as close to him as he could. Pregnancy had made me ridiculously horny too and if he didn’t stop, I knew where this would end up. With guests arriving for the housewarming in less than two hours, I had to put a stop to things before they got out of hand.
Reluctantly, I pushed him away. “Much as I’d like a lie down, we can’t. There’s too much to do.”
He let out a strangled moan. “You can’t leave me like this.”
My gaze went to his crotch, his erection pushing against the fly of his jeans. I bit my bottom lip as I went to leave the room. “Whoops, sorry.”
“You’ll pay for that later.” He slapped my arse. “Although I know it won’t be too much of a hardship, because you’re so hot for me right now.”
I wished he was wrong, but it was taking all of my willpower not to turn around and drop to my knees in front of him. If it weren’t for the fact it was a total pain to haul my seven-months-pregnant self up afterwards, I would have done it.
Instead, I tried to focus on getting ready for the housewarming party later that day. Practically everyone we knew was going to be there: Fraser was coming on his own for obvious reasons, Georgie and Alex, Sara and Noel, Luke and Tasha, Mum and Theo, Sonya, Amber and Curtis and some of the girls from Blossom. Even Mason’s parents, Clive and Suzanne, and Whit were making appearances, even though it would be via video call.
Mason had been offered the job in New York, even after he’d told me he’d messed it up. But he’d turned it down. For me and the baby. He’d told me he was always going to decline it anyway, because he saw his future here with me, not in the States. For a while, he carried on working with Janine, commuting up to Bristol most days. Then Fraser alerted him to an opportunity on one of the projects he’d been working on with Robert Lane. Two meetings in London and one at the Ealynn Marina Hotel later, he’d been promoted to a prestigious position within their high-profile clients team. This meant working from home and travel to clients. It was a much better working situation for both of us—no more miscommunication due to time zones.
By six o’clock, the house was thronged with people, eating, drinking and chatting. I’d never hosted a house party like this before and played the gracious hostess, flitting from group to group offering drinks and canapés.
“I can’t believe you’re going to be leaving me soon,” bemoaned Sonya. I stopped by to top up her glass while she chatted to Mum and Theo. “What am I going to do without you?”
I laughed. “You’ll be the one putting up with Barbara Smyth-Hall’s last minute accommodation changes.”
Sonya clutched her chest in mock dismay. “I know we’ve not always had the best relationship, but I do value you, Ems. Everything you’ve done for me, and the hotel, has been amazing. I really couldn’t have asked for a more committed colleague.” She leaned over and kissed my cheek.
Her kind words were all it took for the waterworks to start again.
Mum smiled, handing me a tissue. “I was exactly the same when I had you. Must be genetic.”
“That’s good to know.” I dabbed at my cheeks. “Thanks, Sonya, it means a lot.”
She nodded. “I am serious though. We are training up your maternity cover replacement, but I’m already getting nervous about her.”
Leanne, one of the receptionists, had applied to cover me while I took mat leave. She already had a decent knowledge of the hotel, plus an ambition to learn more about Marketing and PR. In the end, we decided her familiarity with the hotel was more important. Sonya had already agreed to support her in gaining some of marketing qualifications that would help her on her way.
“Leanne will be fine.” I quickly glanced about checking Mason wasn’t within earshot. “And you can always call me if you need to.”
“I heard that.” Mason sidled up behind me, placing his hands on my hips. “You will do nothing of the sort.”
“I think we can survive for a few months.” Sonya smiled.
“Can I steal you away for a few minutes?” asked Mason.
I glanced over my shoulder. “Sure. What’s up?”
