“As long as you stay away from sushi, it won’t affect the baby.”
“I told him that, but he went off on some crazy cross contamination rant. This is going to be the longest six and a half months of my life if he keeps this up.”
“He loves you, he’s just worried; cut him some slack.” Stella gave her a narrowed glare.
“Like Kyle is just worried about you? I don’t see you cutting him any slack.” Touché, Lindsay raised her hands in a surrendering pose.
“Point taken, so where is he now?”
“At home; I didn’t want to drive to my dad’s or Vicki’s. I was hoping you would let me hang out here for a while.” Lindsay grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch and patted the seat next to her.
“Come on, we will eat ice cream and watch some bad late night TV.” Stella sat down and Lindsay went to get the ice cream and two spoons. She heard her phone ring again, but wasn’t ready to answer just yet.
“It’s been way too long since I watched TV at night; anything good on?” Lindsay took her seat and handed Stella a spoon.
“Not really, but there is usually decent movies on channel thirty-eight.” She turned to thirty-eight and a sappy chick flick was on.
“Ugh, of course it’s some stupid love story.” Lindsay normally loved chick flicks, but not tonight.
“Turn it to Spike, they show action movies.” Sure enough, Die Hard with a Vengeance was on and Stella bounced up and down like she had won the lottery. But as quickly as she started bouncing, Stella stopped and ran to the bathroom; the familiar sound of vomiting coming from the open door.
Lindsay remembered how suddenly morning sickness could creep up. She went to the kitchen and wet down a rag and took it to Stella, who was now leaning back against the bathtub.
“Here ya go.”
“Thanks, I really hope this part goes away soon. I hate throwing up.”
“It will. Hang in there, it will get better.” Lindsay had never made it past the morning sickness phase, but from everything she had read it did go away.
“I’m gonna sit here a little longer, just in case.” A knock on the door made Stella groan. “It’s probably Alex. If he sees me like this, he’ll call the doctor again.”
“Why would he call the doctor, it’s just morning sickness.” Stella gave her the ‘duh’ look.
“I know that and you know that, but Mr. Overprotection doesn’t understand that it’s normal. I’m going to have to switch doctors if he doesn’t calm down soon.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“I’ll shut the door while you see who it is, but if it’s Alex I am not talking to him.” Lindsay peeked through the peephole and confirmed it was Alex. Opening the door, she didn’t even let him start talking.
“Yes, Stella is here. No, she doesn’t want to talk to you right now, and I can’t say I blame her. If half the stuff she said is true, you’ve really gone off the deep end.” Alex’s shoulders were hunched forward and he looked like someone stole his laptop.
“I know I’ve been acting like a lunatic lately, but I feel so helpless. She throws up all the time and gets so tired that she looks like she may pass out at any minute.” Lindsay moved to the side so he could come in.
“It’s all part of pregnancy. If something is really wrong, Stella will know it. Do you really think she would take a chance with the baby’s health or hers?” Alex lean his hip against the counter.
“No” He ran his hands down his face. “So on a scale from one to ten, how pissed is she?” Lindsay grinned at him.
“Let’s just say that if you don’t ease up, you’re going to be missing an important part of yourself.” She didn’t even have to tell him which part. Alex knew Stella well enough that he covered his crotch instantly.
“I love her; I want her and the baby to be safe and healthy.” Lindsay walked over and gave Alex the hug he seemed to need.
“They will be.” The bathroom door opened and Lindsay and Alex turned to see Stella watching them. Alex went towards her, but stopped short. “Hi.”
“Hi”
“I’m sorry I’ve been such a pain in the ass. I promise to stop hovering and freaking out all the time.” Stella glanced at Lindsay and then back to Alex.
“I’m pregnant, not an invalid. I can do things on my own. There may be a time when I do need your help, and I promise I will tell you when that time comes. But until then you have to give me space.”
Alex grabbed her hand kissed the back of it. “Ok. Will you come home now?”
Stella nodded and Alex scooped her up. “Damn it, I can walk on my own.”
“But we will get to the bed faster if I carry you.” Stella zipped an imaginary zipper over her lips and laughed as Alex all but sprinted to the door; waving at Lindsay as they left.
Stella’s laughter faded and Lindsay went to lock the door. It had been an emotional night and she just wanted to get some sleep. The lock had just clicked into place when there was another knock on the door.
“Who the hell is it now?” Lindsay murmured to herself. She looked through the peephole and jumped back.
“I can hear you, Lindsay? Will you please let me in so we can talk?” Kyle was supposed to be working until tomorrow morning. Why is he here?
She wanted to tell him no, but was curious as to why he was there. Opening the door once again, she made a sweeping motion with her arm to invite him in. He came in but stopped right inside the entry.
“What do you want to talk about?”
“I was worried about you.” Not this again.
“I told you that I don’t need…” The rest of her words were swallowed by Kyle when he latched his mouth onto hers. A battle of tongues, teeth and lips ensued, and Lindsay forgot for a minute why she was mad.
When he pulled back, they were both a little dizzy. “When you wouldn’t answer your phone, I started to worry. After what you told me, all sorts of crazy thoughts ran through my mind. I had to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m sorry you worried, but I’m still upset with you.” There was no heat behind her words and he caressed her cheek.
“I know.” Too exhausted to talk anymore, she took Kyle’s hand and tugged him to her bedroom. She picked up a night shirt and put it on with her back to him. He hadn’t started to undress, and Lindsay tried not to laugh.
“I don’t have anything that will fit you, so you can sleep in your boxers” She shook her finger at him. “but no funny business. I’m too tired and sleep is the only thing I want to do right now.”
Kyle stripped so fast, Lindsay thought he was going to fall over when he took his pants off. He dove on the bed, and once he was under the covers held his arms open for Lindsay.
She rolled her eyes, but gladly went to him. She backed up to his front, and Kyle closed his arms around her. “Goodnight.”
Kyle kissed below her ear and whispered. “Goodnight, Red.”
Sleep pulled her under almost immediately.
****
Chapter 16
Kyle had fallen asleep for a few short hours, but since he was on a different sleeping pattern he woke up around four in the morning wide awake.
Lindsay was still curled up on her side, and all he could do was stare at this amazing woman. He was so deeply in love with her and she had no clue. She made a few pained faces, but it was when she started crying out for Mitch to stop that Kyle couldn’t take anymore.
“Lindsay, wake up sweetheart.” He rolled her to her back and shook her until she opened her eyes. She looked from side to side and then fixed her eyes back on him. “I’m here, you’re safe.”
Kyle wasn’t prepared for the flood of emotions he felt when her arms came around his neck and held him in a vice grip. “It’s okay. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She loosened her grip on his neck, but didn’t pull away. Instead she found his lips with hers. It was such a sweet coming together, but when her tongue licked for entrance into his mouth, and Kyle let all of his em
otions come roaring out.
They fell back onto the bed and he got lost in the taste and feel of her. Lindsay pushing down his boxers a few minutes later brought Kyle into the present. “Whoa, Lindsay we need to…” Her mouth covered his once again, effectively cutting off his attempt to slow things down.
Kyle balled his fists in the bedding in an effort to control his body’s reactions to Lindsay writhing beneath him. She started to push his boxers again, and this time he pulled away and sat back on his heels.
“Why did you stop?” Lindsay reached out for him, but he didn’t let her touch him.
“This is not how I want our first time to be. I don’t want it to be because you had a nightmare and are scared. When we make love I want it to be because you are ready.”
“I’m ready right now. I’m so ready all it would take is the tip sliding in for me to come.” Lindsay threw her arms over her eyes and tried to hide. “I can’t believe I just said that.” Kyle gently pulled her arms away from her eyes.
“I’m glad you’re as turned on by me as I am by you, but rushing this could hurt more than it helps.” She had been staring at the ceiling, but now brought her gaze back to him.
“Can you stop being perfect, just for a little bit?” Kyle laughed.
“I’m far from perfect. It’s killing me not to make love to you right now.” Lindsay harrumphed and crossed her arms over her chest.
“So what now?” Kyle readjusted his boxers and moved up the bed. He sat down with his back against the headboard and patted the spot next to him; Lindsay sat up and scooted over.
“Now we talk.”
“I’d rather have sex.” She was pouting and Kyle gave her bottom lip a tug.
“Soon, I promise. Why don’t we start with what your nightmare was about” Lindsay sighed.
“Same thing it always is. I’m back in the house and Mitch is attacking me.”
“It never changes?” She gave him a sad smile.
“It didn’t used to…but lately it has varied.”
“How so?”
“A tall dark haired man saves me.” The reality of that confession sent chills through Kyle, and he pulled her closer.
“I wish I could have.” He bent down and gave her a brief kiss.
“Me too” She leaned her head against his shoulder and blew out a breath. “Now that you know what it was about, can we talk about something else?”
“One more thing” Lindsay’s exasperation was clear, but she told him to go ahead. “Why won’t you let me see you? Last week when I tried to take your shirt off, you stopped me and I wanted to know why.” The arms that had been crossed over her chest were now clutching her stomach.
“No one has seen my scar other than me and the doctor that took my bandages off. I don’t want you to be disgusted by me.” Kyle gripped her chin between his thumb and forefinger and made her face him.
“A scar does not take away from your beauty, it only enhances it. You are a strong resilient woman and I am in awe of you.” She tried to turn away but he wouldn’t let her. A single tear hung from her eyelash, but it had yet to fall.
“I’m not strong; I live with fear every day. That fear still allows him the power to affect my life.”
“But you made the decision to take your life back. You’ve come so far the last couple of months, and I feel incredibly honored that you gave me this chance.” She snuggled into his side and sighed.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
“Ditto” They lay in bed a little while longer until Kyle’s stomach growled. Lindsay sat up and laughed.
“Come on, I’ll feed you.” Kyle got up and put his jeans on, but left his shirt off.
“I haven’t eaten since lunch at the station. I guess I didn’t realize how hungry I was until my stomach let its anger be known.”
“How were you able to leave early?” Lindsay was still in her night shirt and underwear as she walked down the hall towards the kitchen. He almost ran into the back of her when she stopped because he had been watching her ass play peek-a-boo with the bottom of the long shirt.
“Sorry, what did you say?”
“You may have an unhealthy obsession with my ass.” Kyle only shrugged. Lindsay pointed to the bar stool and told him to sit. “Before my ass distracted you, I asked who let you leave early.”
“I called my dad and told him what was going on?” At Lindsay’s raised eyebrow, he shook his head. “No, not in detail, just that I needed to make sure you were okay. Luckily one of the other guys volunteered to stay over.”
Lindsay was flittering from cabinet to cabinet grabbing different things. “That was nice of him. I know you shouldn’t have done it, but I’m glad you came over last night.”
“Me too” Lindsay fixed scrambled eggs, sausage and toast for breakfast, and they made small talk as they ate and discussed the plan for tonight. Kyle left a short time later; one errand and one errand only on his mind.
****
At five forty-five, he arrived back at Lindsay’s place. Kyle hated wearing his Dress Uniform and pulled at the collar again to loosen it around his neck. After a pat to the box in his pocket, he knocked.
Several seconds later, she opened the door and Kyle had to reach his hand out to steady himself. Standing before him was a thing of beauty.
Lindsay was wearing a little black dress that fit her body like a glove. She didn’t have the biggest breasts in the world, but what she did have was displayed tastefully yet so enticing that Kyle wanted to say screw the banquet and undress her here and now.
“Wow, you are stunning.” Pink tinted her cheeks as she reached out and adjusted the front of his jacket.
“You clean up pretty nice yourself. Are you ready to go?” Kyle shook his head and took a step toward her. Lindsay raised her hand and grabbed a small black purse off the hall table.
“Oh no you don’t, I didn’t get all done up just to have you ruin my hair and make-up before we even get there.” He tried again, but she shoved him out the door. Kyle stood on the walkway pouting as she locked up. Lindsay put her arm in his as they walked down the stairs.
“Don’t pout; we have all the time in the world for that later.”
“That dress and those heels are doing very bad things to my body. I’m glad most of the night involves sitting down.” She smacked his chest playfully.
“Your parents will be there, I’m sure you can behave yourself.”
“I’m not making any promises.” When they reached his truck, he helped her inside and shut the door. Every step he took made the small box hit his leg, and Kyle felt like it was burning a hole in his pocket. He still wasn’t sure when he was going to give it to her, but he wanted it on hand just in case.
The drive to the conference room where the event was being held took ten minutes, and Lindsay seemed to get more anxious the closer they got.
“It’s just a fundraiser, don’t get so worked up. You look amazing, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“I’m meeting your parents, that is a big deal.” She really was neurotic sometimes in the sweetest possible way.
“Newsflash, you’ve already met my mom. Remember, at Alex and Stella’s engagement party. Now you’ll get to meet my dad too; they are looking forward to it.” He could feel her palm sweating on the hand he was holding.
“I wasn’t your girlfriend then.” Kyle chuckled.
“If it would have been up to me or my mom, you would have been. My mom adores you and my dad will too.” He pulled into the conference center parking lot and turned off the engine. Lindsay was staring at the center, and then glanced back at him.
“Let’s get this over with.”
“That’s the enthusiasm I was looking for.” He said dryly.
She gave him an adorable scowl and he went around to open her door. Making sure she didn’t twist an ankle in her incredibly high heels, Kyle picked her up around the waist and lowered her to the ground.
“I can get out of the truck myself, you
know?”
“My way was more fun. Those shoes are a danger to your health and mine.” They made her legs look a mile long and he wondered what Lindsay would look like in those and nothing else.
“You’re too freaking tall. I had to make up some of the difference.” He laughed. The heels did very little to make up for their height difference, but he didn’t think she would appreciate him pointing that out,
Taking her arm in his, they made their way to the banquet room. There were round tables strategically placed throughout the room and a ton of people were already milling around. A buffet was set up at the back of the room, and a long table was at the front with a podium in the middle.
“Let’s find our table before we mingle.” Lindsay was taking in everything around her, and Kyle had to tug on her arm to get her moving again.
“It’s so pretty. I wasn’t expecting something so formal and fancy.” Candles were in the middle of all the tables, and place settings were in front of each chair.
“They go all out when big donors are going to be attending.” Kyle spotted his mom waving like a fool and led them through the crowd. “Hey Ma, where’s dad?” Kyle looked around but didn’t see him.
“He’s around here somewhere. The Superintendent snagged him right after we got here and I haven’t seen him since.” He leaned down to kiss his mom on the cheek and stepped back.
“Mom, you remember Lindsay Pierce?” His mom was practically glowing and engulfed Lindsay into a tight hug.
“Of course I do. Lindsay dear, you look lovely this evening.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Brady, so do you.” His mom patted her hair and waved her hand dismissively.
“Your very kind, but I don’t hold a candle to you. And please, call me Sheila.” The three of them took their seats and waited for the festivities to start. Kyle had never seen his mother so excited to talk to someone before.
A strong hand squeezed Kyle’s shoulder a few minutes later, and he turned to see his dad standing behind him wearing his Dress Uniform as well.
“Hey dad” Kyle stood and shook his dad’s hand, and then turned to help Lindsay get up. “This is Lindsay Pierce. Lindsay, this is my dad, Leo.”