Chapter 27
KIMBERLY
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Drake asked Suze.
Baby Michael was fussing in my arms, as though feeling his mom's unease. She was going to meet Lawrence with Declan mediating it, and Drake and I offered to babysit. I was a little nervous for her.
"No, it's fine. Declan will be there. Thank God you put me in touch with him, Kimberly, because he's amazing. He's got so much more bite and knowledge than my previous lawyer."
I smiled. "That’s the perfect way to describe my cousin. I'm glad he’s helpful.”
“I don't want you to see that ass on your own, sis," Drake said.
"But I'm not on my own, brother. Trust me, I'm doing just fine. It's going to give me peace of mind to know you two are here with Michael."
"Don't worry about him. We’ve got it covered,” I assured her.
“I left all the bottles in the dishwasher in addition to those that are already in the drawer."
"You already told us, remember? I've memorized everything. And you have a list on your fridge," I replied. “Don’t worry.”
She smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry. This is doubly unnerving. Meeting Lawrence and leaving my son at home."
"You can call us anytime if you’re feeling uneasy," I said.
She nodded, kissing the baby on his head, then my cheek, and then Drake's. He gave her a tight hug.
Baby Michael wiggled in my arms. I kissed his head the way his mom did before, and that seemed to calm him down instantly.
"Wish me luck," Suze said before leaving the house.
Drake looked out the window as she got into her car and left.
"She's in good hands with Declan, trust me,” I said.
"It's nothing against your cousin. He's a great lawyer, but he doesn't know my sister, how to put her at ease or just be there for her."
"Well, no, that's your task, and you're going to do it brilliantly—as usual—once she's back. But right now what she needs at her side is a kick-ass lawyer. Lawrence won't dare intimidate Declan. But he might try if it were just you and her there with him."
Drake frowned. "I can't be intimidated."
"Maybe. But if someone finds your weak spot, they can use it against you.”
"You sound as if you’re speaking from experience."
I shook my head. "Not mine, Reese's. Her ex knew how much family meant to her, so he basically threatened to drag the family name through the mud."
“I hope he got what he deserved.”
“Oh, he did.”
Michael's breaths softened. "I can't believe it. He’s asleep," I murmured.
Drake smiled at me. "You'd be a good mom."
I tensed, glancing up at him. "Why would you say that?"
"Because I've seen you with him.”
“Twice," I said.
"I know, but that's enough for me. And I've seen how you are with your family. Don't for one second doubt that you'd be a great mom."
His words went directly into my soul, warming me from the inside. "Thanks. I think I should put him in his bassinet. He's grown a bit since the last time I held him, and he's heavier now."
"Yeah, he is. Suze says you don't realize it when you're with him all the time because you get used to the weight."
"Good theory, huh? It has merits." I was always in awe that Tate could pick up Paisley easily even when she'd been eight or nine years old. She'd seemed so heavy to me. I'd tried lifting her once and felt like my entire back might crack open.
I regretfully put him down in the bassinet, realizing it was better for him to be in his bed; I might interrupt his sleep with all my yapping and moving around.
I watched him for a few moments to make sure he didn't wake up. He was sleeping soundly, and a weight of disappointment filled my chest. Secretly, I’d been hoping he would wake up, needing to be carried again. I truly was an oddball.
When I went back to the living room, I found Drake sitting on the couch. He patted the space next to him.
"Giving orders already?" I teased.
"No, I was planning to take care of you a bit, but if you'd rather fight…."
Hurrying to the couch, I sat next to him, grinning. "I'm ready."
"Get comfortable."
I lay down on the couch, using his lap as a pillow, looking up at him straight in his eyes. Without warning, he pressed two fingers to each side of my neck.
"What are you doing?" I asked him. "And don't stop because it feels so damn good."
"You seem tense. I wanted to do something about it."
"You pay a lot of attention to me."
“Always, Kimberly.”
"Do you want kids?" I blurted. I had no idea what got into me. Just being around kids these days put my mothering instincts on overdrive. Actually, the question had been percolating in my mind ever since he'd mentioned earlier that I'd make a good mom.
I half expected him to dart out the door, but he didn't. I mean, it was his sister's house, so that would be a bit awkward. But he was still here and appeared unruffled by my question. I inspected his features. He looked thoughtful, not bothered or scared at the prospect of a family.
"I do. I've always wanted them, but I was never serious enough with anyone to truly consider it.”
“Okay.”
He pressed his fingers farther up my neck.
"Oh, that's good. Carry on," I said.
Those fingers were magic. I could feel the tension lifting from my chest. I also liked what he'd said, so damn much. I knew lots of people didn't want kids, and that was fine. But I wanted them, and I loved that he was on the same page.
God, I loved him.
There was already a picture in my head of our kids. They’d be gorgeous, especially if they inherited his green eyes….
"Kimberly, what happened? You tensed up again."
"Nothing. I was just playing things through in my head."
"What things?"
“Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Yes, I would. Very much so."
I pressed my lips together, fiddling with my thumbs and curling my toes. No, I couldn't tell him what I was thinking.
"Never mind."
"Kimberly!" Drake said my name as a warning. It sounded sexy, almost dangerous.
“You don’t have the right to know every single one of my thoughts yet.”
He narrowed his eyes, moving one of his hands from my shoulder down to my chest and then to my belly. "What do I have to do to earn that right?"
"Let me think." I pursed my lips, then pressed them together. "I don't have an answer. I'm going to take this under consideration and tell you later. How does that sound?"
"I'm going to make sure you come up with the answer for me, Kimberly."
My breath caught. "Okay."
He bent over me, kissing my lips, then speaking against my mouth. "I want to know everything that goes through your head. Especially the things you don't want to tell me because you think they might scare me off."
I shuddered, swallowing hard. "How could you tell?"
"Because you're mine. Because I can read you, and I don't want you to hold anything back. We're strong together, Kimberly, and that strength won't melt away because of something you say."
"Drake," I whispered. A fuzzy feeling filled me up.
A vibrating sound interrupted us. I felt it somewhere on the couch. I straightened, moving my ass to the edge of the couch.
"Here it is," I said, taking his phone from the wedge between the backrest and the cushions. "Suze" was displayed on the screen. He put it to his ear right away.
"Suze, something wrong?”
I couldn’t understand what she said, but she was talking fast. Dread instantly replaced the fuzzy feeling.
Drake nodded. "Okay, yeah. Sure. Michael's sleeping. Yeah, we'll be here." His tone was flat.
I moved so he could get up. He had a frown on his face as he paced the room. He tapped the screen before throwing his phone on the couch where he was just sitting.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Guess who wants to come see the baby?"
"Oh, okay. I mean, I guess that's good, right?” In my book, it was always a good thing when a parent wanted to see a kid, but who knew what his intentions were?
"I don't know. I guess so." By the tone of his voice, Drake didn’t think this was a good thing.
"Did they even talk? It feels like she barely left."
"No. Apparently he wants to see the baby first, to make sure he’s fine."
"What exactly does he think? That your sister is hurting Michael?"
He threw his hands up in exasperation. "I don't know what the hell he wants. But I don't like this."
I went behind him and pressed my palms to the base of his neck.
But he was much taller than me, so I couldn't properly massage his neck the way he'd done for me.
I kneeled on one of the bar stools where he was standing.
Now I was a bit too high, but it was better than before.
I tried to mimic his earlier moves, pressing my thumbs along his neck.
"Come on, breathe in and out. We've got this." I totally didn't feel like we had it at all. I was on pins and needles, unsure how to act around Michael's dad once he was here. "Should I go?"
"No." He took one of my hands, kissing the back of it. "Stay here. You give me strength, Kimberly."
I sucked in a breath. He turned around.
"That's the most romantic thing I've heard you say." The connection we had was unbreakable.
"It's true."
"But wait, don’t distract me. Is there anything I should know? Like how to act or something?"
He wrapped an arm around my waist, lifting me off the bar stool and putting me down before kissing my forehead. I instinctively knew that he needed a hug, so I leaned closer. He wrapped an arm around my waist.
"No. Just be yourself. You're amazing." Then he slid his palm farther down over my ass. I laughed against his chest.
"What?" he asked.
"I thought you needed a hug. Instead, you actually needed to fondle my ass."
"I appreciate both things equally."
"Oh yeah, I bet," I said, laughing when he squeezed one buttock and then the other one.
Just then, I saw movement from the corner of my eye on the baby cam that I'd placed next to the couch.
"I think Michael is waking up." A few seconds later, he cried out. "Yep, that's him.”
“I'll get him," Drake said.
"No. You’re very tense, and I think babies can pick up on it. If it's okay, I'll grab him."
He laughed. "Looking for another excuse to hug him all the time, huh?"
I blushed. "Yes, but what I said is true."
"I know. Thanks, Kimberly, for everything."
I was smiling from ear to ear as I took baby Michael from his bed. My God, I could kiss that cute head of his the whole day—and his face, and his tiny hands and feet.
"Your dad is coming to visit you," I told him, deliberately trying to keep my voice as neutral as possible. I talked a big game, but I was nervous, too, and I didn't want him to pick up on it.
When I carried him to the living room, Drake was at the door. "They're here. I heard the car."
"Okay." My stomach was in knots. Michael was wiggling in my arms, his tiny face scrunched up.
"Everything will be fine," I singsonged in what I hoped was a soothing voice.
I sat on the couch with Michael as the door opened. I wasn't sure what to do. Declan was with them as well, and I instantly felt calmer, knowing another Maxwell was here.
"Suze, Declan, come in. Lawrence." Drake spoke his name through gritted teeth. He’d curled one hand into a fist at his side. Clearly it was costing him all his self-restraint to be civil.
"This is Michael?" Lawrence exclaimed. I assumed he'd come closer and maybe take his son in his arms or something, but the guy seemed indifferent. "He seems tiny. I don't trust myself to touch him."
What the hell kind of an excuse was that? I thought Suze might want to hold him, but then I realized she was shaking.
"You've seen him now. Any reason you didn't want to continue the mediation meeting without doing so?" she asked.
"Just an impulse."
"Michael needs a diaper change,” I exclaimed, realizing I’d forgotten to do that after he woke up. “I’ll take him to his room.”
"I can do it," Suze replied. "Lawrence, maybe you want to do it together?"
"No, I don't know anything about that," he said.
What an ass. "It's fine. I've got this," I told them.
Not waiting to hear anything else, I went straight to the nursery.