Page 98 of Bound By Love

Miranda

THE GLORIOUS SPRING day had turned out to be more perfect than I dreamed. Not a cloud in the sky, only a gentle breeze, and dozens of smiling faces surrounded me.

Today was our baby shower. Next month, our daughter would arrive, and Will and I were deliriously excited to meet Mia Josephine St. James. Will wanted to keep with the tradition my parents started with M names. He was so adorable. I wanted to honor Will’s Gram, so we chose Josephine for Mia’s middle name with Grandfather's blessing.

I rubbed my belly. She was an active little girl at all hours of the day and night. I felt as big as a house, probably looked as big too.

“Your tray of pies, my love.” Will kissed my lips. “Every flavor imaginable, sans coconut. How are you feeling?” He put his hand on my stomach and Mia kicked him.

I glanced down at my swollen ankles and frowned. “Fine.”

He sat beside me, forked a bite of strawberry pie, and fed it to me. “She’ll be here soon enough.”

“I can’t wait,” I mumbled as I chewed. Like seriously. I was extremely uncomfortable and did my best to not complain. It wasn’t always easy.

“Me too.” Something or someone caught his attention, and he was on his feet. “I’ll be right back.” He waved his sister over. “Talk to Simone.” He dashed off toward Axel.

I adored Will. Loved him with every fiber of my being, but he’d been crazy protective after the breach and Jason ordeal. I had a personal bodyguard, Sean. He drove me to and from work and monitored our home’s grounds, which were as tight as Ft. Knox. I definitely felt safe here.

“What’s up with them?” Simone asked, taking the vacant spot beside me.

I shoveled a spoonful of chocolate silk pie into my mouth. “No idea.” I eyed Will. Axel was fisting his hands, never a good sign.

Axel had recently returned after being gone for four months. He’d left the day after the wedding for an important job. Will called bullshit, but that didn’t stop Axel from leaving. I thought it had something to do with Simone. Maybe it had. Curiously, something had made him return to take his old job back at SJI.

“He looks furious.” She was talking about Axel. I noted the bit of concern in her voice. I never got her to admit to having feelings for him. But at times like this, I could tell she liked him more than a little. “I want to know what’s going on,” Simone said, stealing a slice of key lime off my platter. “He hasn’t said two words to me, the big oaf.”

I snorted. Yup, just as I thought. “Missed him, did ya?”

Simone narrowed her pretty brown eyes. “Not at all. You know I’m just a curious creature.”

“Mmhmm.” I nodded, delighting in the lemon meringue dancing on my tongue.

Her phone rang, and when Simone checked it, she growled. “I hate private numbers. They never leave a message.”

“I ignore them.”

“Well, I would if they’d stop calling a million times a day.”

“Have you told York?”

Simone tilted her head, a look sayingseriouslyon her face. “What good would that do? It’s probably a solicitor.” She was probably right.

I turned toward Will again. He was talking to my dad now, and Axel was nowhere in sight.

“I’m so glad they made up.” I smiled at the two most important men in my life. After Will and I returned from our month-long honeymoon in Paris, my parents came to our place for Christmas. Will and my dad had a heart-to-heart while golfing, and they’ve been back to normal ever since.

“Is this not the most beautiful baby shower you’ve planned, like ever?” Lily dropped into the chair across from me, grinning from ear to ear. “It’s perfect for my Mia.”

“Excuse me, favorite auntie, right here, girlfriend.” Simone pointed to herself. “Mia is mine.”

I laughed at their antics. They’d been fighting over my sweet Mia since Will and I announced we were having a baby. Both were determined to be Mia’s favorite.

“Stop, you two, she’s going to love you both. And yes, to answer your question, Lily. This is the most beautiful baby shower I’ve planned.”

“I’m sure having it out on the veranda of your thirty-two-million-dollar estate helps.” She snorted, knowing how much I hated when she mentioned anything to do with money. That girl was still all about finding herself a billionaire boyfriend. I, on the other hand, was more concerned about falling in love. Will being a billionaire happened to be an unforeseen bonus.

Speaking of my husband.

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