41. Willa
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
WILLA
I survived. Three weeks stuck in bed was absolute torture, but I defeated bedrest and got the all-clear from Dr. Quentin yesterday.
The baby is healthy, the bleeding stopped, and the SCH is gone.
When she told me I was cleared to go back to work, I almost did cartwheels around the exam room.
No dick for another month though. A small price to pay for getting back into the studio.
My phone rings right as I step out of Framed Orchid for lunch, my heart pounding just seeing Dr. Q’s office number on my phone so soon.
Right after my twenty-week appointment yesterday, she sent us to the hospital for my scheduled anatomy scan.
Trevor and I saw our little nugget wiggling around while they took measurements, but hospital protocol requires a review from my doctor before the gender results are released.
They said it would take three to five business days, and they’d call if there were any concerns.
I answer with my pulse beating in my ears. What if something ’ s wrong? “Hello?”
“Hi, Ms. Willis? This is Nurse Amy from Dr. Quentin’s office, calling with your gender results.”
“Yes. Hi.”
“She didn’t want you to have to wait over the weekend. Do you want us to slip it in an envelope for you to pick up, or would you like to know over the phone?”
“Over the phone is good.” I say breathlessly.
“Okay. I’ll count to three. One. Two. Three?—”
The nurse’s words wash over me as she reads the results, and my body seems to float with all the possibilities this little life inside of me could become.
I start my car and whip out of the parking lot, abandoning all thoughts of lunch.
Before I realize where I’m headed, I’m already halfway to the EdTechU offices.
As soon as the phone line went dead, my first instinct was to share the happy news with Trevor—in person.
When I pull into the multi-building campus, a niggle of doubt pesters me.
I have a habit of showing up at his workplace with life-changing news, and he’s still in his provisional period.
Maybe I should wait until he gets home … My phone buzzes in the cupholder.
Trevor
Hey, Gem. About to head into a meeting. How’s your first day back?
Me
Good. I’m actually outside right now. Can I come up?
Trevor
Yep I’m just suffering through a conference call. Stop by the front desk for a guest pass. I’m on the third floor. Directly to your right when you leave the elevator.
With a hand on my belly, I sway my hips while I wait for the receptionist, hoping it will ease the dull ache in my groin from walking across the parking lot.
My nerves are buzzing as I secure my guest pass sticker to my shirt in the elevator.
Will Trevor be as excited about this as I am ?
Should I have waited ? The doors slide open, and my steps propel me forward before my mind is made up. Ready or not, he needs to know.
A dozen offices surrounded by glass walls are the first thing I see when the elevator opens.
I turn down a long corridor as instructed, and I’m about to slide my phone from my crossbody purse when Trevor slips out of the double wooden doors in front of me.
He smiles like he didn’t just see me at home a few hours ago, and I feel silly for second-guessing this decision.
Of course he wants to know about this. He’s been all in since the beginning.
He pulls me into a hug when he reaches me. “This is a nice surprise. What’s up?”
I look at him for a beat, taking in the dimples in his cheeks and the lovable look in his eyes while his smile threatens to burn me up. “The doctor’s office called.”
His face falls. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
“…And the baby?”
“She’s good too.”
He blinks at me, exactly three times. “ She ? It’s a—we’re having a girl?
” The question barely makes it out of his mouth before he’s twirling me around.
How did I get this lucky ? Having this man as the father of my daughter is the best mistake I’ve ever made.
The excitement radiating from him is palpable.
When he sets me down and kisses me, I thank all the stars in the universe for conspiring against me to bring us together. “I’m so fucking happy, Gem.”
“Me too.” He wipes the tears sliding down my face and gives me another quick kiss.
“Hey…” We turn, and a tall, curvy woman flips her curly hair behind her shoulder as she steps around the door. Her eyes sweep over our emotional embrace, and she squares her shoulders. “Trevy, you’re up.”
Trevy ? I stifle a laugh.
Trevor nods and tucks me under his arm. “This is Marla,” he says to me. “Marla, this is Willa.”
Marla gives me a professional smile. “It’s nice to meet you.” She looks back to Trevor. “You ready?”
Trevor turns back to me and nuzzles my nose. “I have to go, but I’ll see you when you get home from the studio tonight.” He gives me another peck, squeezes my hand, and follows Marla back into the conference room.
I underestimated my ability to last through a full day at work.
The guest photographer I hired while on bed rest did an amazing job and was very thorough, but I still have so much administrative paperwork to sort through.
Three weeks away from my business left me with a stack of bills and a reorganized studio.
“You look exhausted, Boss Lady.” Emily settles into her favorite spot by my desk, tugging at her sleeves.
“Yeah.” I yawn. “I think I’m going to call it a night.”
Nodding, she turns back toward her desk.
“Hey, Emily?”
“What do you need? Food? A footrest? I can get any?—”
“Whoa. Chill. I’m fine,” I say with a laugh. “I just wanted to thank you for taking care of everything while I’ve been out. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
She blushes and shrugs, using both hands to tuck her short black hair behind her ears. “Just doing my job, Boss Lady. Let’s lock up so you can get your baby girl home.”
I spilled the beans to everyone in the studio once I got back from lunch. My high from finding out is just now fading. I’m going to be a mom to a baby girl, and I can’t wait to meet her.
When I pull up to my house, my feet are killing me.
The doctor warned me about swelling, and it’s like her word of caution wrote a prescription for my body to retain water.
My belly isn’t huge yet, but I’m already seeing cankles forming.
Add in the round ligament pain, and I’m a hobbling mess.
The walk to my door takes almost all the energy I have left.
Delectable scents waft through the air, dancing right to my nose with the beat of the soft R I can’t stand it sometimes.
” Heat surges everywhere in my body. My ears burn, my cheeks flush, and if I thought I could do it without being obvious, I’d cross my legs to relieve the pulsing between my thighs.
He’s doing a damn good job of changing my mind about those pet names.
Maybe I spoke too soon about the “ no dick ” thing .
“Go put your feet up. I’ll bring everything over.
” He kisses me again, spins me around, and nudges me toward the couch.
After dinner, we’re two episodes into a Deserted Desire marathon when my mind wanders to my baby girl. Our baby girl. I pause the TV.
“Hey!” He turns incredulous eyes on me with a laugh. “Dalton and Kimberly were just about to make an alliance…”
“What do you think she’ll be like?”
“Kimberly’s going to be a complete menace.” He answers so quickly, I don’t realize he’s messing with me until he winks.
“You like this show more than I do at this point.”
He pinches his fingers together. “Maybe a little.” Then he reaches over and puts a hand on my foot. “I think she’ll be smart like you.”
“We’re both smart, Tre.”
“Yeah, but I hope she has your mind. Your passion. I hope she notices all the small things and finds inspiration in the mundane.”
Is that really how he sees me? What he’s describing feels too elegant to be used for me. “Thank you,” I whisper, grabbing my camera charm.
“It’s all true. I’ve never met anyone like you, Gem, and I doubt I ever will.” He squeezes my foot, then extends my leg so it rests in his lap. “Except for our daughter.”
“I hope she’s kind like you. And happy.”
“She will be.” His thumbs knead my sole. “She’ll have us to make sure of it.”
Shit . This foot rub might be better than the glazed pork chops he just fed me, which is saying a lot.
I’m steadily sinking into the cushion with each delectable circle, so relaxed I’m barely able to keep track of the couples on Deserted Desire .
A moan slips out of my mouth as I drop my head to the arm of the couch.
Another firm swipe has me falling into a state of ecstasy.
I’m halfway gone when his fingers still.
I pop my head up, shooting him a glare. “ Nooo , why’d you stop? ”
“Come here.” His husky baritone matches the lust in his eyes, dousing my annoyance.
I don’t even hesitate, scrambling across the couch.
My usual instinct to challenge him is swallowed up by my body’s reaction to his deepened rasp.
Before I can straddle him, he spins me around and pulls me onto his lap, gripping my hips as he grinds into me.
I moan again, pressing my back against his chest. It’s been so long since I’ve felt him like this.
I’m about to throw the medical advice out the window. No dick , my ass .
“Feel that?” he asks. His fingers ghost over my nipple, and I whimper, arching my back to search for more.
“Your moans are making me squirm, sweetheart, and I can’t do anything about it…
” He drops a kiss on my neck. I slide a hand to his head, keeping him there.
His tongue soothes after each nibble, sucking lightly until my hips roll in time with his. I need to touch him .
“I can help you do something about it, Tre,” I pant, sliding my hands down his thighs. If this man only knew what he was doing to me right now, how fast I’m ready to drop to my knees and gobble him up, he wouldn’t be playing with fire.
“You’re aching for me too, aren’t you?” He teases my other nipple with a pinch, his devilish snicker rumbling when I groan his name.
His hands slide to my thighs, cracking them open so quickly I gasp in surprise.
“Tell me.” He knows exactly what he’s doing to me.
I’d have something to say about the teasing if it didn’t feel so damn good.
Biting my lip, I nod against his chest instead. “I need your words, Willa…”
“You’re driving me fucking crazy,” I whine.
“Fuck, I miss these.” His hands caress my inner thighs, then slowly brush against the wetness seeping into my leggings. “This.” Softly, they slide over my belly until his thumbs brush my nipples. “Definitely these.”
I’m squirming all over him, trying to get something, anything , to give me relief. Gripping my hips, he angles just a fraction so I can really feel him, and a string of indulgent obscenities falls from my lips. “ Please .”
“We can’t ,” he whispers, nipping my ear. “Not yet. I just wanted to remind you what you do to me.” He chuckles when I struggle against his hold on my waist. “Now we can suffer together.”