Chapter ??

Finally! Aruba (the beach) – A beach in Aruba

Zoie

7½ months pregnant

B

reathe. That’s what I keep telling myself. I need each and every breath that I am able to pull into my lungs. What stretches out before me has my breathing kicking up a notch and those lungs of mine working overtime. The amazing blue that surrounds me pales in comparison to the blue of his eyes. Eyes that seem to be boring into my soul as I wade in the water. Those aqualine colored eyes get me every time. They match the water I’ve been swimming in for the last half hour.

I watch as his body flexes and moves when he stretches. There are times when I look at him and his tattooed body. I’m in awe of the knowledge that this man belongs to me. He is mine and I am his. A possessive smile creeps over my lips. He’s not officially mine but I’m doing something no other woman can say she’s done. I’m giving him his firstborn children. He doesn’t know this because he wants the sex of the babies to be a surprise. The hell if I was! Anyway, I’m giving him his first son and daughter.

That’s right ladies and germs, momma is giving daddy one of each.

I didn’t expect to have twins the first time out. Maxie is carrying twins as well. She curses the day Deck pumped her full of his seed. Me? I’m excited. I can’t wait! His mother told me Trevor’s little brother was one half of a set of twins. Baby boy Dennis died at three weeks old from having a careless father. She never forgave Trevor’s father. I’m told that’s why they aren’t currently together, amongst other reasons. Trev either doesn’t know or doesn’t want to talk about that time in his life.

Watching him put lotion on that almost fully tatted body of his is instantly arousing. There are those who would consider his body unattractive and destruction of a perfectly beautiful canvas. I see him and see the artwork along with the masterpieces that are spread across his body. A few of them I did myself. I get so hot and bothered just looking at him. He is beauty personified in all of his manliness and I want him to want me the way I want him.

Leaning back, I allow my body to float on the water. The gesture surprises even me as all of my body including these babies drift for a moment as I get lost in thoughts of their father. I need him in my life, mainly in between my legs today because I’ll begin boiling the water around me soon if things keep internally heating the way they are.

My pregnant belly protrudes before me. When I feel movement, my hand automatically goes to the place where I felt it. I smile as rub the place where my ... our babies are nestled.

When I look up again, he’s less than a foot away. Everything locks up inside. I don’t think he knows the affect he has on me. He doesn’t understand how being this close sends me into over drive. I’ve been a horny cow for the last couple weeks. I have my appetite back and the sickness is gone. I finally feel like I’m cute again. His eyes tell me all I need to know.

He’s thinking about his babies. He’s thinking about touching me. I see the moment those thoughts change, shift in another direction. He wants me. It’s there but he refuses to tell me. It’s that fact and the fact that I’m a bigger coward than he is that we aren’t a couple.

Every two or three years—depending on how the shop is doing—Max shuts things down, we clear our books, and we all take a trip. This year was no different. Max and I being pregnant or not, we were going to Aruba. We’d planned this well before our buns were in the oven. These little miracles came into our lives as major surprises. I told everyone, I didn’t care how pregnant I was, even if I have to give birth here, I was making this “all staff” trip.

It’s weird being here without Sam. He was always ready to have a good time. Trevor and I have only been cordial for this last couple of months so I need a sparring partner. Sam left so abruptly, no one had a chance to say goodbye. One day he was here, the next he was gone. He’s missed. Maxie hasn’t said a word about it. I’m just happy things have dialed down so we can all enjoy ourselves. Still, we feel incomplete going anywhere as a group when he isn’t around.

One thing I made Deck and Max promise me was they wouldn’t spring a wedding on us while we were here. I don’t think they listened to my threats. I have a feeling I’ll be in a bridesmaids dress at seven months pregnant. They’re already married but there’s been talk of doing another ceremony while the crew is together on vacation. I will do bodily harm if it happens here. Maxie is only four months pregnant, so she can get away with wearing a fitted gown. I, on the other hand, cannot.