23. Twenty-Three
23
TWENTY-THREE
“S it,” Rex ordered before I could leave my suite. He was focused on a catalog—he’d been obsessed with shopping for the past two weeks—and he didn’t bother sparing me a glance.
“Um … last time I checked, this is my suite,” I countered. “If you want to boss somebody around, you have your own suite.”
“That’s nowhere near as much fun as bossing you around in your suite,” he replied, not missing a beat. “Now … sit.”
I narrowed my eyes. “See, when you tell me what to do, I want to argue just to argue. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you’re not the boss of me.”
Rex finally glanced up. The way he grinned told me that he was enjoying my fiery response. “If I beg, will you sit down?”
I snorted. “You’re not going to beg.”
“I might if I thought it would get me what I want.”
“And what’s that?”
His eyes sharpened, something akin to lust flashing hot before simple adoration took over. “I would like you to rest your feet before a long day with your family in the boardroom,” was his simple reply.
I glared at him. “You know I can take care of myself, right?”
“I do know that.” His head bob was perfunctory. “I also know that I want to take care of you. Why can’t we take care of each other? Just because you can take care of yourself—and I would never deny that—it doesn’t mean you always have to take care of yourself. Perhaps what I want is to spoil you.”
I was intrigued despite myself. “What does that look like?”
He chuckled at my suspicious response. “Sit. Please,” he hastily added when I glared.
On a huff, I sat next to him. His smile was winning. “This had better be good. It takes me two tries to stand now and I hate wasting the effort.”
“You’re so dramatic.” He nipped in and pressed a kiss to my cheek, lingering when he was close to the corner of my mouth. Then he sighed before pulling back.
We still hadn’t done anything more than cuddle and kiss. We both wanted to—that was obvious whenever we spent more than a few minutes in close proximity—but he was respecting my boundaries and I … well, I didn’t quite know what I was doing. Keeping a bit of distance between us seemed like the smart move until I had a better understanding what our future would hold.
“What were we talking about again?” I asked when I realized my mind was wandering.
“How handsome I am,” he replied, not missing a beat.
I snorted. “What were we really talking about?”
He made a face. “I like how you pretend we couldn’t possibly be talking about what a good-looking guy I am. I mean … that’s a legitimate conversation.”
“And I’m sure that’s a conversation you have with your mirror on a daily basis,” I agreed. “Personally, I can’t spend more than five seconds on that conversation.”
“Ah.” Interest gleamed in his eyes as he bobbed his head. “That proves you do think about it, though.”
I rolled my eyes. “I have to be up in the boardroom in exactly ten minutes. My father has called a meeting, which means he’s up to something. As much as I would prefer playing flirty games with you, that’s not possible today.” I grabbed his cheek and gave it a good jiggle for emphasis. “Now, what do you want?”
He cupped my hand, grinned, and then slid his arm around my waist and tugged me closer. “I’ll help you stand,” he whispered, his lips brushing against my cheek and giving me a little thrill. “As for what I want to discuss, it’s this.” He pointed toward the catalog in front of him, only it wasn’t a catalog. It was a listing of all the suites in the hotel.
“What’s this?” He had my genuine attention now.
“Well, I was thinking.” He squirmed a bit but didn’t pull away from me. “This room right here is exactly like mine. It’s open, and in your section of the hotel.” If I wasn’t very much mistaken, his cheeks were starting to fill with color. “I thought maybe you could broach the subject of me moving to this room when you’re having your meeting today.”
I was caught off guard. “You want to move to a different room?”
“I want to move closer to you.”
“Because you can’t bear to be away from me?” I was going for a cheeky response but it fell flat. “You’ve been sleeping here even though we’re not doing … you know … for the past two weeks anyway.”
“I love it that you say ‘you know’ instead of sex, but whatever.” He shook his head. “I know it’s too soon for us to move in together.”
It was definitely too soon for that. “We don’t know if we’re compatible yet,” I hedged. Hurting his feelings was the last thing I wanted, but I had to be careful here. We couldn’t just roll into a relationship with no thought. We were having a baby. We had to be smart about this.
“That’s not actually my concern.” He shook his head. “I know we’re compatible. You’re skittish, though, and I don’t want to push you. The thing is, they’re hiring a new casino floor manager. She’ll be getting a room just like mine. The only other open one is this one.” He pointed on the map.
“Which just so happens to be three doors down from me,” I surmised.
“Yes. Now, we can’t live together yet. I get that. I’m not an idiot.”
I rolled my eyes. “Sometimes you’re an idiot.”
That only made him grin wider. “When Rexanne makes her debut on the world, she’s going to need a lot of care. Why build two nurseries when I can just move into this room? I’ll be close when you need me. We can even use parts of my room as storage.”
It was a practical suggestion. I was still mildly leery. “Aren’t you worried we’ll get annoyed with one another if we don’t have any buffer space?”
“No, but you’re obviously worried about that.” He hesitated, then sighed. “Never mind. It was a bad idea.”
“Wait.” I reached out to stop him from closing the room map. “I’m just trying to understand.”
“I want to be close, and I don’t know that I think moving the baby between nurseries is the way to go,” he replied. “She’ll be calmer in a space she knows belongs to her. You’re going to need time to nap, though. Why not, when it’s my shift, have me in your space and you can go to mine to take a nap? It will be like having more space, we’ll just have a few doors separating it.”
It wasn’t the worst idea I’d ever heard. “But what if…?” I trailed off. He was sick of me asking what we were going to do if this … thing … between us didn’t work out. I was kind of sick of bringing it up. The more time I spent with him, the more comfortable things were. “I guess I’m just afraid,” I admitted. “I’m sorry. I just … I’m so afraid I’m going to ruin this”
“You’re not going to ruin this. We’re going to be okay.”
“How can you be so sure?”
He shrugged. “I’m an optimist. That’s my thing.”
“Does that make me a pessimist?”
“It makes you you. I happen to like you just how you are.”
That was enough to nudge a sigh out of me. “I actually think it’s a good idea. Let me bring it up at the meeting today.”
The relief washing over him was palpable. “Only do it if you’re totally comfortable.”
“I am,” I promised. “I think this is a great idea, because it’s definitely too soon to move in together.” I was firm on that. “I’ll bring it up and see what they say. Then we’ll go from there.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.”
WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH MY FAMILY— my father included—had turned into a snark fest. My father wasn’t getting the reactions he wanted, so he was going passive aggressive. That only served to make my mother go more passive aggressive. It had turned into a thing. Some days I found it amusing. Other days I just wanted to strangle them all.
“How are you feeling?” Zach asked as he pulled a chair out for me to sit, his eyes roaming me from head to toe. “I swear you’re twice as big as you were last time I saw you.”
“Thanks,” I said dryly. “I appreciate your concern for my well-being.” Okay, apparently, I could go passive aggressive with the best of them too.
“Sorry.” Zach looked chagrined. “I didn’t mean to insult you.”
“It’s fine.” I waved him off. “I’m a whale. It’s not as if I don’t see it.”
“You should be careful,” my father volunteered out of nowhere. “At your age, you won’t bounce right back after pregnancy. Claire did but she’s ten years younger than you.”
I narrowed my eyes. “That’s not quite the dig you think it is,” I snapped. “It reflects poorly on you, not me.”
Dad was blasé. “I’m just saying, at your age?—”
Mom cut him off by slapping her hand on the table. “Can you not poke her, Ryder? She’s creating human life. She doesn’t need your crap on top of that.”
Dad snorted. “Creating human life. Give me a break. Women were designed for this stuff. It’s not a big deal.”
“Yes, I can’t wait until you get a kidney stone and have to pass it through your penis,” Pearl said dryly. “Talk to us about being designed for it then.”
Dad rolled his eyes. “Should we get on to business? I have something I would like to present to you.”
I was instantly suspicious. “You’re like tenth down the list of shareholders,” I reminded him. “Why would you possibly think we’re going to okay anything you suggest?”
“Because I have the best interests of this casino fueling me and you guys are powered by revenge.”
He was definitely up to something. To irritate him—and give myself a little thrill—I took control before he could. “I have something I want to check on with you guys too.”
“You do?” Surprise was evident on Mom’s features as she turned her attention to me. “You’re not sick, are you? I had high blood pressure when I was pregnant with Zach. If you’re feeling ill, we can take you to the doctor.”
“It’s not that,” I assured her. “I was just at an appointment yesterday, and my blood pressure is fine. This is about Rex.”
Mom clapped her hands, catching me off guard. “You’re getting married. I knew it!” She sent Pearl a haughty look. “It’s a short timetable, but we can manage it,” she assured me. “What were you thinking? Something mid-level here at the casino?”
I frowned. “Um … we’re not getting married. We’ve only been dating for two weeks.”
“That’s not really true, though,” Zach hedged. “I know you guys have only been ‘officially’ dating for two weeks, but what you were doing before was like dating.”
“How?” I challenged.
“Um … you were getting to know one another, making plans for the future, and going on daily ice cream dates. How is that not dating?”
“We weren’t going on daily ice cream dates.” That was ridiculous.
“Oh, so him conveniently waiting by the door of the ice cream shop at three o’clock every single day for weeks and then going in to eat with you wasn’t a date?”
“I … huh.” I had never really looked at it that way. “I just thought it was a coincidence he was there at the same time every day.”
“Even on his days off?” Zach gave me a “come on, Ruby” look. “And here I thought you were my smart sister.”
“Hey!” Opal and Pearl said in unison.
Zach realized his mistake too late to take it back. “Sorry,” he said quickly. “That came out wrong.”
“How was it supposed to come out?” Pearl challenged.
“Yeah, I’m not answering that.” Zach shook his head. “What did you want to talk to us about if you’re not getting married?”
The suggestion that I had been dating Rex this whole time had thrown me. I managed to pull myself back on track, but it took effort. “You guys have a new casino manager coming in,” I started.
“Kathy Clemson,” Mom confirmed. “She comes highly recommended.”
“I didn’t recommend her,” Dad muttered under his breath.
“She’s very good at what she does and too old for Dad to hit on,” Opal said. “She’s in her forties, which means she’s twenty years too old for Dad to allow his libido to get him in trouble.”
Dad rolled his eyes. “I’m in a committed relationship with Claire.”
“Yes, that’s why you were down sniffing around the casino floor girls three days ago,” Zach agreed dryly.
“I was just making conversation,” Dad protested.
“When have you ever been good at making conversation?” Mom asked. “Just … stop being you.”
Dad turned into a sullen teenager. “Maybe you should stop being you. We would still be married if you weren’t you.”
“Ryder, the adults are talking,” Mom said in her most condescending voice. “If you feel you can contribute, then by all means, we want to hear from you. Otherwise, shut up.” Her expression was soft when she turned back to me. “Do you have a problem with the new casino manager?”
“I know nothing about her,” I replied. “I don’t really care about that stuff. Especially now.” I absently rubbed my stomach. “It’s just … Rex and I were talking. Apparently, the room she’ll be getting as part of her job package is right by my room.” Now that I was broaching the subject, I felt uncomfortable. They were all going to make fun of me. I just knew it.
“You don’t want her by you?” Mom’s forehead creased. “I don’t think she’s the type to be loud, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“It’s not. I just…” I broke off and rubbed my forehead, suddenly tired.
“Just spit it out, Ruby,” Pearl ordered. “You’re going to give birth to the first grandchild in less than two months. That makes you Mom’s favorite right now. She’s going to give you whatever you want.”
“Yes, I’ve been thinking of the baby calling me Mimi,” Mom said out of nowhere. “You know, instead of Grandma … or Nana … or anything else that might make me seem older than I am.”
“You’re the freaking Crypt-Keeper already,” Dad interjected. “How much older can you seem?”
Mom shot him the bird. “Keep it up, and I’ll figure out a way to strip the few remaining shares you have left. Push me and see how it goes.”
Dad made a harrumphing noise. The way he glared at Mom made me uneasy. I kept it together, though.
“Rex had a suggestion—and I actually agree with him—but you guys need to sign off on it.” I licked my lips. “He thought he could move into the room that’s earmarked for Kathy. Then she could have his current room after a quick clean and spruce.”
“Ah.” Amusement flooded Mom’s features. “So you’re saying that Rex would be the one who is close to you and not Kathy.”
“Why don’t you guys just move in with one another now?” Pearl challenged. “I mean … that’s where this is clearly going.”
I balked. “We’ve been dating for two weeks. We’re not ready to move in together.”
Pearl made an exaggerated face. “Oh, give me a break. You and Rex are bonded for life just like these two.” She motioned toward Zach and Olivia, who were making moon eyes at one another. “It’s obvious.”
“We’re still figuring things out.” I wouldn’t allow them to push me too far before I was ready. “If Rex has the room close to mine, we only have to do one nursery. If I need a nap when he’s watching the baby, I can sleep in his suite. It’s really the best of both worlds.”
“If that’s what you want, I don’t have a problem with it,” Mom said. “I agree with the others that it doesn’t make a lot of sense for you guys not to move in with each other and get it over with, but if this is the step you’re comfortable with, I’m fine with it.”
I blinked, then cocked my head. “Just like that? You’re not going to try to manipulate me into inviting him to move in?”
Mom snorted. “You’re the only child I have who can’t be manipulated.”
“Hey!” Pearl and Opal said again.
“Oh, shush.” Mom shook her head. “I want you to do what you’re comfortable with. I happen to believe you and Rex will be living with one another sooner rather than later, but if you want to pretend a little bit longer because it makes you comfortable, I’m not going to argue with you.”
I didn’t like that everybody seemed to think happily ever after with Rex was a done deal, but it was also comforting in a weird way. “Thank you. Rex will be happy.”
“Oh, Rex has his eye on the prize,” Zach said. “He knows exactly what he’s doing.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Just that he knows exactly how to deal with you.” Zach shrugged. “He’s figured you out and his goals are clearly outlined. He’s going to play it your way to make sure he gets it, though.”
I couldn’t tell if that was a good or bad thing. “So, we’re fine if he moves this week?”
“He has to move in the next two days,” Mom countered. “Kathy moves in Monday. We have to get Rex’s room cleaned before that can happen, and it won’t just be a normal clean.”
“We’ll get him moved,” Zach promised. “I can help. It won’t take more than a day.”
“Good.” Mom smiled. “I’m glad things are going so well for the two of you. I still have hope for a wedding before the baby.”
I didn’t want to be the naysayer, but I needed to nip that hope in the bud. “There’s no way we’ll be married before the baby. I need to make sure that we’re compatible before that’s even a consideration.”
Mom snorted. “Okay. Whatever you want.” Her eyes moved to Dad. “Are you going to sit there and sulk?”
“I have a presentation,” Dad complained. “I was supposed to go first.”
“Well, believe it or not, Ryder, you’re not the center of our world. You can wait your turn.”
“And when will that be?”
“Eventually.” She smirked at me. “If that’s all from you, Ruby, we’ll move on.”
I hadn’t expected it to be this easy. They were all going out of their way to appease me. It made me wonder about my expectations. Maybe I was the one overthinking everything and life didn’t have to be as difficult as I imagined.
How humbling was that?