“I appreciate your restraint. And the board of directors and investors will be pleased. Any jitters should be quelled. You’ve all presented a unified front. The wedding next weekend will only solidify that.”
Her every word was perfect. Her dance moves smooth. But now that he held her closer, he could see a distance in her eyes, a distraction.
Something was wrong. And if the past was any indication, getting her to open up wouldn’t be easy. Not that he was the poster boy for baring his emotions.
Except right now he wanted to know what she was thinking more than he could remember wanting...anything.
Just as he lined up the right words, the music ended and with a tight smile, Isabeau stepped back to walk away.
Fading into the crowd.
* * *
Contrary to her carefully chosen outfit and permanent smile, Isabeau felt the cool hands of panic wrench around her heart and she had no recourse for relief. She’d sent Paige with a driver a half hour ago as the party ran long. Luckily, the Steele stable hands that looked after Kota had taken to Paige. Her dog had already worked a full day, and Isabeau thought she was holding her own.
Apparently not.
The Herculean task of keeping it together frayed her nerves. A scene from earlier today played on repeat in her mind, drifting through her mind’s eyes in flashes. The waiting room, the doctor handing her information about what to expect when you are expecting.
The test was positive. They’d even done an ultrasound because of her diabetes, along with a slew of other tests.
She was healthy. And her concerns about anxiety medication had been discussed. She hadn’t taken much since the night she’d slept with Trystan, and the two times she had, the medication was on the approved list.
The doctor had mapped out a health care plan for her to take with her when she left. And didn’t that thought launch a fresh wave of nerves and her first hint of nausea.
Focus. Breathe.
She tried to take comfort in the fact that she knew, deep in her heart, that Trystan was not even remotely like her stalker ex-boyfriend. But she was just so damn scared of ending up like her mother, in a relationship with a man who would walk away from her.
She had to admit the truth to herself. She already loved this baby.
And she was starting to care for the baby’s father.
Isabeau needed a breather from the whole party. How ironic that Trystan was mastering every obstacle, and she was on the edge of losing her cool. Her life had been turned upside down so often since she’d met Trystan, she wasn’t sure yet how to right herself.
In a dimly lit back corner, Isabeau found something that looked like salvation. A secluded spot where Naomi sat on a chaise lounge, putting her feet up. Her dark hair had been styled pin straight, evoking the unearthly beauty of Cleopatra. She looked the part, lying on the chaise in her high waisted Egyptian-style, green satin gown, the hem trailing off the side. The gown was clingy and exotic, and somehow the pregnant woman carried it off beautifully. Even in her second trimester—with twins.
Jeannie was sitting beside Naomi, chatting, keeping her water glass full.
Isabeau backed up a step. “I’m sorry for interrupting.”
Naomi set aside her glass. “Not at all. Jeannie’s been a love to keep me company—lounging here is as much excitement as the doctor will allow me. While I’m glad to be out of my suite, this certainly isn’t the most fascinating part of the party.”
Jeannie patted her hand. “Those are Jack’s grandbabies. It’s a delight to talk to you about plans. And hopefully the doctor will give the okay for you to have a baby shower.”
Naomi scratched her nose. “I can’t believe I need a doctor’s approval to open a few presents. I would offer to send Royce in my place, but as you can see from his ghost act a half hour into the event, crowds are not his thing. Quite frankly, I was surprised he didn’t stay to hover—which attests to how really pegged out he was.”
Isabeau sat at the foot of the chaise, perched on the end. “Trystan doesn’t care for them, either. There’s no shame in that.”
Naomi pointed toward the party. “But Trystan showed up and, judging by what I can see from here, he’s making the best of the night.”
Jeannie followed her gaze, smiling fondly. “I have to say I’m proud of the way my son has come through for us. Due in no small part to you, Isabeau.”
Isabeau smoothed her dress along her knees, the reality sinking in that this woman was the grandmother of her child. “You did a wonderful job bringing him up and giving him the tools to work with. I fully expected to have to teach him about classical music and how to dance. But, well, he surprised me.”
“Thank you, dear,” Jeannie said, pride shining from her smile, and then she reached to clasp Naomi’s hand. “It’ll work out, for you, Naomi. You and Royce are different, but it’s clear you love each other.”
Naomi twisted her engagement ring round and round. “He loves the babies so much, which trust me, warms my heart. He thinks of them as his own even though he’s not the biological father. And he’s already lost one child...”
Jeannie leaned in closer, patting her shoulder. “Honey, are you saying you don’t love him? Because if you are, you can’t stay with him for the children.”
Those words certainly chilled Isabeau to the core.
Naomi smoothed her hands over her pregnant belly. “I don’t know what I’m feeling anymore, and I’m not sure he does, either. Everything moved so fast with us. We barely know each other, and what we do know seems less and less compatible now that, um, now that we’re not relying on sex to smooth over the rough patches.” She glanced up. “Isabeau, I hope I’m not
