"He's supposed to stay with me. What if something happens to the baby? What if I have a fall?"
"He knew you had invited me to come over." Her friend eyed her curiously. "You never used to be so clingy and needy."
"I want sex all the time," she admitted. "Brant cannot come inside the bedroom without me trying to jump him. I've ruined three of his expensive shirts and left marks on his skin. I also fart a lot. Please don't laugh," she begged when Juliet started. "It's not funny. I feel fat and unattractive and I pee constantly. I'm almost five months pregnant and I already look like an elephant. I think he's having an affair."
"With whom?"
Indigo shrugged restlessly. "I don't know. We went to dinner the other night, and I almost had words with the server. She was coming onto my husband and behaving as if I were invisible."
"And was your husband responding to the flirting?"
She shrugged. "He claimed he did not even notice her."
"There you go." Juliet leaned forward. "You hit the jackpot. Men like Brant O'Keefe don't grow on trees. I envy you. Hell, most women envy you. He's devoted and attentive. I've seen him around you, and he's pure gold. Be careful you don't mess up a good thing. No, a great thing."
But she couldn't stop. Suddenly she had become a woman who was constantly fearing that her husband was with someone else. After Juliet left, she roamed the apartment restlessly. Her back had started to ache, as well as her ankles, and she was becoming irritable and resentful. She knew he had said he had to go to the club and had even asked if she wanted to accompany him, and she had said no. Sitting for several hours in a moving vehicle made her stomach queasy.
But he could have stayed home, she thought angrily, wandering into the bedroom and stepping out on the balcony. He could have chosen to stay with her.
She was sick to her stomach, and he knew that. Right now, she was alone even though he had told her that if she needed him, she should call, or if anything was wrong, she should call his mother. But she needed him.
"Okay, girl," she said firmly. "This is not you. You've always been strong and independent. You were the one who pushed to get pregnant. And it's time you start acting like the strong black woman you are." Whirling back into the room, she grabbed a light jacket and her keys and headed downstairs. She would go to the store and do inventory or make some calls.
He came to the store. He had called while she was in the middle of doing paperwork.
Instead of arguing that she was at work, he told her he would come to her.
He was earlier than she expected and could not help but be happy that he had decided to cut his trip short. She also owed him an apology for what she was putting him through and was determined to stop. Juliet was right. She had a great thing going, and it was up to her not to ruin it.
He came straight around to her office, looking so achingly handsome that it made her heart dip and slide. His sable-brown hair was ruffled by the breeze, and the white T-shirt looked great against his tan. The faded jeans fit his lean frame perfectly.
His tawny eyes, those wonderful eyes that she loved so much, studied her face.
"Hi."
"Hi." He stood there leaning on the doorjamb. "How are you?"
"I'm good. Just a little tired, that's all. We need to talk."
"Yes, we do."
She bit her lip at his cool tone and figured she deserved it.
"Are you about finished?"
"Yes." She nodded.
"I'll wait for you out in the parking lot. I have a few calls to make."
With that, he turned and left. Sitting back in the chair, she realized dejectedly that he had not even kissed her.
Chapter 16
Dropping his keys into the ceramic bowl on the entrance table, he turned to her. "Have you eaten?"
"I had something at the store. You?"
He nodded. "Would you like some tea?"