Gabe watched with pleasure as Isabelle walked the beach, her hand on her stomach. He grinned, fully aware she had no idea she was pregnant. She’d been so busy getting ready for the opening of Eden Elite, first in New York and then here, she didn’t remember to eat meals unless he reminded her, let alone take her pill. He hadn’t realized until it was probably too late to do anything about it, and he really hadn’t wanted to.
Lately, there were times she was queasy, which she blamed on nerves. Adding in the subtle differences in her body, he knew better. Her br**sts were more sensitive, her stomach a tiny bit rounder. She cried when she was happy and also when she was sad. More than usual. It wasn’t like he knew the signs, but he did remember his cousin Ian mentioning the changes in his own wife in the early stages of her pregnancy. Ian and Riley now had a baby girl, who Gabe felt fairly certain would turn her father’s hair prematurely gray. The uptight bastard deserved it, Gabe thought, laughing.
But thanks to them, he knew Isabelle most probably was carrying their child. When this club opening was over, he intended to tie her to their bed and keep her there for the next nine months. Okay, true, she wouldn’t allow it, but he was pretty sure she’d let him use the ties when it counted, he thought.
On the heels of that image, Isabelle trussed up and spread, waiting for him to bury his c**k deep inside her, he strode down to the beach, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder. “Hey, kitten.”
She spun in his arms, aligning their bodies with a sigh. “Happy three-month anniversary,” she said again, having woken him up with those words this morning.
As if he’d forget. He’d hauled her off to Vegas, his brother and sister in tow, and married her three months after they’d gotten engaged. Waiting wasn’t his style or in his vocabulary.
“Happy anniversary.” He nuzzled her neck, enjoying the coconut scent of suntan lotion and Isabelle. “How are you feeling?” He gingerly palmed her stomach.
“So-so. I’ll be glad when this opening’s over. Nerves and all that.”
He bit back a grin. “Everything ready for tonight?” he asked.
She nodded. “Nothing out of place, no stone unturned.”
“Will Lucy notice if you’re a no-show?” He slid his hand down the front of her bikini bottoms, gliding his fingers over her damp lower lips.
She moaned her appreciation. “Yes, and so will I. I worked too hard for this to miss the main event.”
“Knew that,” he muttered. “And I want to be by your side when you collect all the accolades for how the club turned out.” He continued to play with her pu**y, knowing he could give her one good orgasm before she had to shower and get ready for the night. He’d get his treats later on.
“It’s Lucy’s baby,” Isabelle reminded him, still thinking about the club, but she began rocking her hips against his hand.
Another thing Gabe loved about Isabelle, her lack of ego or need to brag. That was fine; he could brag enough for them both. And Lucy planned to share credit.
“It’s good that you know that,” he told her. “Because you’re going to be too busy with our baby to worry about club openings.” He hadn’t planned on telling her, but now seemed as good a time as any. He slid his hand from her bottoms and waited for the reaction.
Her mouth opened then closed again. “What are you talking about?” she finally asked.
“I think you’re pregnant, kitten.”
“I can’t be!”
“No? Queasy? Check. Sore boobs?” He gently rubbed his finger over her nipple, and she squirmed out of reach. “Check. Where are your pills? Or should I ask, when was the last time you took one?”
The ocean waves were the only sound as she thought back. “Oh my God.”
He enclosed his hand protectively around her belly.
“Oh my God,” she said again. “I’m… We’re… Are you…?”
“Ecstatic, baby. You?” Suddenly he was the nervous one. Maybe she loved the job so much that kids weren’t something on her radar now. Maybe she no longer wanted the family she’d thought she did. What if—
“Oh my God!” she exclaimed yet again, and before he knew what was happening, she was in his arms, legs wrapped around him, peppering kisses all over him.
The twisting around his heart eased. Nothing had changed, after all. She was still a woman with an unloved little girl inside her, who wanted nothing more than a family to call her own.
He wanted nothing more than to give it to her, and he hoped that he had.
“Do you think they have home pregnancy tests on this island?” she asked.
“To hear the stories, some pretty amazing things have happened here. I think one phone call can get you anything you need.”
“Rumor has it it’s the Bermuda Triangle nearby that makes the island experience so different for everyone.”
He laughed. “Every time I wonder how the hell we’re so alone and isolated with my entire family supposedly nearby, I think the same thing.”
Isabelle rolled her eyes. “Let’s go make that phone call. I want to know for sure.”
“Doesn’t matter. If you’re not pregnant yet, I’ll just spend all my free time making sure that you are.” Now that he knew what it felt like to hope, to want their child, to know she did as well, on the off chance he was wrong, he was damned determined to make it happen.
He started for the room, Isabelle still in his arms.
“About that little comment you made? The one about me not having time for club openings because of our baby?” She tipped her head back, looking at him.
He nearly tripped. The last thing he needed was her flipping out on him, thinking he wanted to take everything she’d worked for away from her. “I was joking, Iz. You can work if that’s what you want.”
Although he’d love it if she stayed home with the baby. His mom had done that. But he knew how important Isabelle’s independence was to her. It was the one thing she’d fought him for—the only thing. And he wouldn’t risk losing her by putting that at risk.
She bit down on her lower lip, and he slowed to a stop, keeping her close to him. “What if I don’t?” she asked.
“What?”
“Want to work? What if I want to be home for the baby? I mean, I can do some consulting work with Lucy, I guess, to keep my hand in things so I have something for me … but…” She drew a deep breath.