My Expectation (My Escort Series Book 3) (10 page)

D
amon and I hadn’t yet told anyone about our recent discovery of twins. We first wanted to break the news to everyone that we were getting married, pregnant, and then a few months before the birth, tell everyone that we were expecting not one, but two. In a way we liked the idea of keeping it a secret to ourselves.

              When Megan and I got home, Damon wasn’t there. Megan and I were both seemingly exhausted. She went to the spare room to hop on the laptop and talk with her boys. I walked towards the staircase with the intention to cave on my bed. I walked past the large office Damon and I shared. His usually tidy desk had paper and magazines piled around it. Curiosity got the better of me and I walked to his end of the room. This library always took my breath away. I loved the wooden furniture and the fireplace with lounges which made it cozier.

              Wedding magazines and destinations had been written down. There was an expenditure list and already he had a rough idea of what flowers and cake design he wanted. Beside the cake design were a few contact numbers which were renowned chefs and bakers in the area. He had looked into catering companies, something I hadn’t even thought of.

              The list extended further stretching over every finer detail. I was embarrassed by the things I hadn’t considered and of what he so easily grasped. What surprised me even more was my future husband was aligning with my tastes beautifully. I didn’t even know what I wanted until I saw what he had written and exemplified and could picture it as he did.

              He had even drafted an alcohol list and a few suggested meal plans. I smiled and took a seat in his leather chair. My, my, my; my fiancé had been busy. I continued to work through them selecting my preferred choices out of the selected few. Beside his now closed laptop was a photo of him and me at one of the fundraisers we participated in together. I smiled happily as I hummed through the selections. My stomach grew hungry as I flicked through some of the cake designs. Eventually my eyelids grew heavy and I rested on the desk for a few minutes for a short rest.

*

I woke up in the bedroom wrapped up in my blankets. I slowly came to consciousness and realized I was moved. I looked at my side clock and noted two hours have gone past and there was only an hour before we were due for dinner at Michelle and Phillip’s home.

              Damon walked in with a few loosened buttons, white pants and his hair messy. He smiled as he walked out cockily from the bathroom. “You would make a terrible spy if you pass out on the job at hand,” he teased as he crawled over the bed and kissed me.

              “You moved me?” I murmured and rubbed my eye tiredly.

              “Well I couldn’t possibly leave my fiancé with wedding articles plastered to her face from drool could I?” He laughed. I lightly shoved him returning his smile. I wiped my mouth just in case I had drooled. He laughed even harder. “How did the dress shopping go today?” He asked trying to act suave but he was beaming far too excitedly to pull it off. He sat beside me with his back firmed against the leather backboard of the bed.

              “A woman never tells,” I teased. He smiled charmingly but I could tell that him not knowing something was out of his comfort zone and usual control. I laughed at him and jumped out of bed. “If you will excuse me, this drooling woman has to go scrub up before you announce to your family that they are stuck with me for life,” I teased. He smiled back sweeping his eyes over me favorably.

              “They will be stoked, about all of it,” He smiled earnestly. “Do you know my father and Michelle were rousing on me months ago for not already proposing? And hearing about our expectation of joy, Clover you couldn’t have made my family any happier.” He stood up and walked over to me placing his hands around my stomach and curving on to my waist. “I couldn’t be happier,” he reiterated leaning down and kissing my stomach. He lifted his head to mine and pressed another kiss to my lips.

              Damon knew how to fill me with joy and whatever small doubt I might’ve had, he could so quickly cast it away. I was very conscious of the time he had recently taken away from work of which I was appreciative. I knew he would have to soon go back to the long days and weekend work. But, right now I enjoyed having him by my side and supporting me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. “I better start getting ready before I start trying to achieve other things from you,” I growled lovingly and wanting to be utterly consumed by him. I nipped at his bottom lip slightly with a promiscuous smile. I had to admit, now knowing that I was pregnant made so much sense to me as to why my hormones were raging and I wanted Damon- constantly and unnaturally so. From what I have heard from other mothers and women, it was normal.

Megan was watching television in her PJs with a large bowl of popcorn when we left. She had made herself at home before we knew it. Not that I minded, it was nice to have her around so much. It felt like we were once again living together.

              We drove up the long white pebbled driveway of Michelle and Phillip’s home. We rounded the water fountain and parked in front of the path which led to their front door. I saw the irony in tonight because it was only half a year ago that Damon and I had arrived in the same style when Michelle and Phillip told us of her pregnancy. Now it was reversed. I wondered how nervous Michelle must have been when she had to announce the same. I was nervous now. I knew they would be happy, but butterflies continued to swarm my stomach and pounding chest.

              Damon walked around to my side and opened the door for me. When I got out he rested his hand on my waist comfortably as we walked up to the front door. My heart pounded as we walked up. Before we even reached the door, Michelle opened it with a smile and Rosalie in her arms in a bundle of pink. Phillip was standing proudly behind her. They were both wearing sweaters despite the warmer season. I smiled, they looked like one of ‘those’ families now. So much had changed since the very first time I met them in the Bahama’s.

              “Quick, quick,” Michelle said flagging us in. “You can’t make Dad wait forever you know. I swear I can hear his stomach growling even from here,” she said with a smile. I looked at Rosalie with admiration and instantly Michelle offered her to me. She was awake but content. A small little smile tugged at Rosalie’s lip when I collected her from Michelle and pulled her close to my chest. “That means she has gas; do you know they don’t actually smile at this age?”

              Damon looked up at her as if shocked. I shook my head with a smile at his alertness. I definitely needed to buy him some books. Their home was always beautiful. The room on our right was open as it always was with its lounges and memories of drunk board game nights we’ve had. On my left the wooden doors were closed. The room which could fit many for a dinner or event was closed off. I imagined that we were probably the first to be invited for dinner since the birth of Rosalie.

              She had beautiful blue eyes through thick eyelashes and a few wisps of hair which sat perfectly. I continued admiring her as she let little smiles out. I don’t care what Michelle said, it was cute as hell and it looked like she was smiling at me.

              We walked into the smaller dining room where we often dined. Mr. Brogardt was already waiting. He greeted us friendly and stood to shake Damon’s hand.

              “How have you been son?” He asked. They both began to talk about the business and then Michelle swept in with her own ideas and judgement. They were discussing the ideas Damon had on expanding the magazine. Phillip and I gave one another a similar smile, this often happened. Phillip began dishing out the food as the others continued in heated discussion.

              Phillip started light conversation with me, most of it was about Rosalie, he had taken six weeks off work and was enjoying the break. Although I could tell he already missed it. Michelle was a hard worker and so was Phillip. This was completely different to what they were used to, or even what Damon and I are used to, but it looked like they had already settled in.

              Michelle continued to talk to the others as she grabbed Rosalie from me. She continued to focus on Rosalie with smiles as she partook in the conversation. It was a beautiful roast meal with vegetable and gravy. I felt like I was drooling almost as soon as I saw Phillip bring out the trays and set them in the middle of the table.

              Michelle walked over to my side and offered me a glass of bubbly as she spoke with her father. I declined with a smile and continued to listen to their conversation about the market. There was silence for a long moment and I looked around uncertain of why everyone was staring at Michelle. I too looked at her. She stared at me for a moment with a shocked excited expression. Phillip collected Rosalie from her as if anticipating the outburst that would come.

              “You’re pregnant?!” She said. Damon and Mr. Brogardt ended their conversation and looked between Michelle and me. “Are you?” she asked. I looked at Damon, my expression conveyed I hadn’t yet told her and I wasn’t yet sure if now was the right time. Her eyes instantly diverted to my finger. I was surprised she hadn’t seen it sooner; I actually hadn’t thought about taking it off since Damon proposed to me. She swiped my hand and stared at it admiringly.

              “This is Mom’s ring. . .” she began. That moment of sentiment vanished as she boomed with excitement again. “Does this mean. . .” she looked at Damon with anticipation. She reminded me so much of Damon’s secret childish side that I’d recently discovered. They were definitely related. “You’re going to be my sister and I am going to be an auntie?”

              Phillip spoke before either Damon or I could. “Michelle, breathe, they haven’t even said anything.” She looked between us and Phillip and straightened out her sweater. I smiled as she tried to contain her impatience.

              “Clover and I are getting married,” Damon began. Michelle made a theatrical clapping noise with her hand.

              “And I’m pregnant,” I said placing my hand on my stomach out of habit now. Michelle began clapping and smiled cheerfully.

              “It’s about time,” she said hugging me. I hadn’t noticed Mr. Brogardt who had walked around the table and gave me a warm hug. I was always so nervous and cautious around him, but no longer held such reservations.

              “Congratulations Clover and welcome to the family, officially,” he said. He shook Damon’s hand with a gleam in his eye. “I am so proud and so would your mother. She’d be happy to know you gifted Clover with her own ring. Well done son, you couldn’t have found a more wonderful woman.”

              “Look at that,” Phillip said as he hugged me still with Rosalie in his arms. “We are a trend setter Michelle.” Michelle slapped him on the back lightly with a coy smile. “I am glad that Rosalie will have a little cousin her own age to play with.”

              Damon rubbed my arms lightly and tenderly. He shook Phillips hand in congratulations and Michelle hugged us both with kisses. Her voice was a pitch higher in excitement. I couldn’t help but reflect the same as she did.

              “This is so exciting, when is the wedding and how far along are you?” she asked.

              “Actually, I needed to talk to you about that,” Damon said. “I found a nice venue which is somewhat difficult to book, but if I pull the right strings I might be able to book it. The only thing is, that is in three weeks time.” I looked at him with boggling eyes. Three weeks?

              “Is that where your mother and I got married?” Mr. Brogardt asked as he drifted back in memories.

              “It is, but only if you want to. I can show it to you all tonight. We haven’t really spoken about a theme or anything, and I want to make sure you are happy with everything,” Damon said sincerely.

              “Don’t let Mr. Control over here take all the fun in planning your wedding,” Michelle teased.

              Phillip coughed lightly. “Excuse me, but who organized most of our wedding?” he said. She crawled under his arm comfortably with a smile.

              “Well that’s just because you were better with the final detail,” she said with amusement. I wondered what their wedding was like and how much time had gone into the planning. I then realized it didn’t matter how much planning we put into it or when it was, I wanted to marry Damon. If this particular place was special to him then I was grateful that he wanted to take me there.