Page 104 of Other Side Of Never
She was not adjusting well, and I didn’t blame her.The swelling in her little feet alone looked uncomfortable, never mind the very pregnant belly on her tiny frame.
Daire called me that morning to ask if I had time to drop in for a visit as he needed to grab a few things to prepare his classroom for the new school year.
As soon as I arrived, he settled Harley in the family room with her feet up then made us both a cup of tea.Eliciting a promise from me that I’d wait here until he got back, he ran out the door.
Normally chill and laid-back, he was sweetly protective of his little wife when necessary.According to Noelle, I didn’t know the half of it.
I chuckled.“You’re beautiful, Harley.”I appraised her tiny, curvy form from my comfy corner of their couch.“Honestly, you’re all earthy and lush.I don’t know how to describe you, but I might be developing a breeding kink.”
Harley’s mug slammed down on the side table as she sputtered and coughed, tea spraying over her lap.
I grinned.“Earthy and lush, sure, but not all that elegant.”
She swiped the drops off her swollen stomach that shook with her laughter.Slowly, her laughter turned to sniffing.“I just feel so ugly and ungainly.”
“Have you told Daire how you feel?”
She rolled her eyes.“He just ties me up and gives me orgasms.”Her brow furrowed.“And one time he did it with a ball gag as punishment for talking badly about myself.”
My eyebrows rose as I leaned toward her.“I mean, as punishments go…”
Grinning at me, she snorted.“I can’t complain.Can I tell you a secret?”
I leaned closer.“I love secrets.”
“The doctor didn’t put me on bed rest.He said, and I quote, we have to keep an eye on your blood pressure or we will have to consider bed rest.’Daire put me on bed rest.”
I laughed.“Why is that a secret?”
She rolled her eyes.“It’s embarrassing.”
I snorted.“For him or for you?”
A knock followed by her front door opening cut off her reply.
I began to rise.“You want me to check—”
She waved away my concern.“It’s just Aaron dropping off some files from my office.”
“Hey, Harley,” Aaron called as he sauntered into the room with a broad smile.
“Hi, big man,” she called back.“Just drop everything on the coffee table then sit down and give me the gossip.”
His smile faded into a polite facsimile as he took in my presence.“Bridget.”
“Hey, Aaron.”I smiled despite the nerves in my tummy.What would it take for him to give his dad a chance.“How are you doing?”
He drew in a deep breath and hitched his hands on his hips, pointedly avoiding my gaze.“Nadine’s got some of her energy back.The baby is healthy and on track.”
“That’s great, but I asked how you are doing.”
He blinked then shook his head.“Me?I’m fine.”
“I’m glad,” I murmured.“If you ever need a listening ear, I’ve got two of them.”
He pressed his lips together and offered me a tight nod.“Thank you but I’m good.”
“You want to sit for a bit?”Harley offered, eyes soft on his face, her head tilted to the side.
