“I see,” Bill said slowly, clearly not seeing a thing.
“I’m pregnant,” Jamie announced.
Bill grinned, then turned to Rich. “But you offered me Seahawks play-off tickets to take her to dinner, and that wasn’t more than two months ago.”
“You paid him to take me to dinner?” Jamie muttered under her breath.
“What can I say?” Rich teased. “I was young and foolish.”
“This is all rather sudden, isn’t it?” Bill continued, choosing to ignore the whispered conversation between Rich and Jamie.
“Not really,” Rich answered. “We’ve had a fourteen-year courtship.”
“Fourteen years!” Bill looked astonished. “It seems congratulations are in order. I’m very pleased for you both.”
“Thank you,” Jamie returned graciously.
Bill left the office then, and Jamie whirled around to face Rich. “You told him we’re married!” she cried.
“You mean we’re not?”
“Rich, we can’t tell your coworkers and not our families.”
Rich hadn’t given the matter much thought. It had happened spontaneously. But if a husband had just learned he was about to become a father, he should be able to tell someone, and in this case Bill was that someone.
“Since you told Bill,” Jamie said, pacing his office, “then I should be able to tell someone, too. Agreed?”
“Agreed.” Personally Rich could see no harm in letting the news out. Especially when revealing the truth might actually help him achieve his goal.
Jamie reached for his phone, hesitated momentarily, then sighed deeply and punched out a phone number. Rich had no idea who she was calling. It didn’t matter.
While she was waiting for whomever she’d phoned to answer, Rich moved behind her and slipped his arms around her waist. He closed his eyes and reveled in the emotion he experienced as he held her tight. He wondered how long this euphoric feeling would last. All day? A week? A month? Deep down, he began to doubt it would ever entirely leave him.
So this was love. This feeling of warmth and fullness. The sensual alertness. This knowledge that the woman you loved more than life itself was giving birth to your child.
Rich rubbed his cheek against the side of her neck. She smelled of wildflowers and spring.
“Mom, it’s Jamie.”
Rich tensed. She’d asked to tell one person and she’d decided to tell her mother. Rich didn’t know Doris Warren well, but what he did remember of her wasn’t reassuring. She loved to gossip. Except she didn’t call it that, as he recalled. Doris networked.
“Jamie,” Rich whispered in her ear. “You’re sure you want to do this?”
“Mom, I’m calling because I’ve got some fabulous news.”
“Jamie?” Rich was in a panic.
“I’m pregnant.”
He couldn’t hear Doris’s response, but he knew from the loud, squeaking sound that came from the receiver that Jamie’s mother was more than a little surprised.
“The father?” Jamie repeated. She twisted around and grinned sheepishly up at Rich. “That’s not important. What is important is that after all these years, you’re finally going to be a grandmother.”
“Go ahead and tell her,” Rich whispered. Good news, especially news this wonderful, was meant to be shared. Now that Jamie was pregnant—and now that the situation between them had changed—Rich certainly didn’t plan to maintain the confidentiality of their marriage. He couldn’t see the point. He was too proud to keep Jamie’s pregnancy a secret.
“Yes, Mother,” Jamie returned, nodding absently. “Of course, I will. No…no, not yet.”
Listening to only one half of the conversation put him at a distinct disadvantage, but Rich didn’t mind. He was far more interested in spreading kisses along the side of Jamie’s neck.
“Of course I’m sure. One of those home pregnancy tests…. Yes, Mother. Listen, I have to go now, I’m already late for work. Yes, I’ll call later. Yes, I promise.”
Rich’s teeth caught hold of Jamie’s earlobe. Her response was immediate; she went weak in his arms. Rich had never felt more powerful in his life.
“Rich,” she chastised softly.
“Why didn’t you tell her we’re married?”
“I couldn’t… Rich!” She swatted him playfully, but he couldn’t make himself stop nibbling her neck.
“Why couldn’t you tell her?”
“I … I thought I’d break it to her gently. A little at a time.”
“So you started by telling her you’re pregnant?” He found her reasoning a bit irrational, which wasn’t typical for Jamie.
“If I told my mother we were married, she’d say something to your parents. We both know she would. Mom’s like that.”
“Yeah.” But somehow the prospect wasn’t as intimidating as it had been when Jason had broached the subject earlier.
“It’ll cause problems.”
“No, it won’t,” Rich said. He reached for her hand and raised it to his lips, kissing her knuckles. “Because I won’t let it.”
Jamie glanced regretfully at her watch. “Let’s discuss it later. I’m late.” She seemed as reluctant to leave as Rich was to let her go.
“Meet me for dinner tonight?” Rich intended to make reservations at the best restaurant in town.
“What time?” Jamie asked.
He tried to judge when he’d be finished, but he had no way of telling. “I won’t know until later.”