Page 69 of Kyle
"Oh, darling, look at this! It's not quite green, but a cross between blue and--"
She looked up and caught his stoic expression.
"Okay, fine. It's our son's room and he's going to be living in it for a long time. It has to be special."
"You do your thing. I'm going to take a swim."
"Without me?"
"Yep. You've been driving the designers crazy for close to a month, I'm not going to fall into the same trap."
"You're supposed to be my supportive husband." She pouted.
"This supportive husband is close to wringing your pretty neck."
Crossing to her, he kissed her hard on the lips.
"Make up your mind darling, or I make it up for you."
Tapping a finger on her nose, he walked out of the room. Patting her belly, she smiled when her son stirred.
"Daddy is being mean, but we forgive him. He has no idea the work it takes to get things right."
She sighed as she stared at the samples again.
"But he has a point. I really need to choose. And soon. You have a month, give or take two weeks to get your fine self out of that cocoon and make your way into the world. We're dying to see you."
Taking a deep breath and feeling the pressure in the small of her back, she picked up the samples again.
*****
She had sneaked out without even telling her assistant that she was coming to do a once over of the property. God, the man was frustrating. This was supposed to be her last day at the office, and she had had to beg and threaten and cajole for him to agree to her staying the entire day.
If it had been left up to him, she would have been on maternity leave when she hit her second trimester. She had to put her foot down. The others were no better. Her grandfather, his, his dad and even hers were ganging up on her.
"You need to rest. Put your feet up. Take a break. You're pregnant."
Nag, nag, nag. As if she was the only pregnant woman in the world. So, they were the ones forcing her to use subterfuge. At least, she had asked Matthew to drop by and take a look at the warehouse with her.
It was not the building that interested her. But the plot of land it sat on. The building would be razed of course, to make room for a playground. The area badly needed one. Stepping out of the vehicle, she wasn't even allowed to drive herself, she thought resentfully.
She had had to filch a key and take one of the cars in the parking garage. Shaking her head, she looked around the area. It was a dump, but not for long. In the near future it was going to be an area where kids would play and hang out.
There was going to be a community center with professionals teaching arts and crafts. Jackson and Jason Colby had agreed to be sponsors. Excitement glimmered in her eyes as she wandered around. Hesitating briefly, she pushed the door of the warehouse open and stepped into the dank and dark interior.
There might be some potential here, she thought as she looked around. The air was foul and fetid, she decided and not good for the baby. Stepping back, she turned around and headed for the door, just as it was pushed open.
"Matthew--"
Her voice stuttered to a stop as the unkempt looking man with the straggly hair stepped inside, his hand raised as he pointed a gun at her. Fear, white hot and crippling had her going still.
"What do you want?"
He smiled, stained teeth flashing.
"She did not tell me you were breeding. I wanted to show you a good time."
Ingrid felt the fear settling like a stone inside her belly. If it was her life alone, she would damn well fight, but she had her unborn son to think about.
