The Things I Do for You (The Alexanders 2)

She stomped down the stairs to the main level. When she saw it was empty, she went down another level until she reached the basement. Sam looked up from where he was pouring himself a club soda at the bar.

“Is everything okay?” he asked.

She figured she must have looked just as pissed off as she felt. “Nick hasn’t called, has he? I don’t have any messages, but he’s two hours late.”

Sam shook his head. “No, I haven’t heard the phone ring. It?

?s only eight o’clock. He probably had a meeting run late or something.”

Raina gripped her phone. “You’re right. I’ve gotten spoiled with him coming home so early.”

Sam gave her a pitying look. “I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”

Raina didn’t even bother answering, just ran back upstairs. How desperate did she appear, acting like he was missing just because he was a little late? He was probably stuck with some overbearing client, trying to figure out how to get away.

As she passed the hall mirror, she skidded to a stop and looked at her reflection with distaste. “I can at least try to pretty up a little.”

Maybe it was a good thing that Nick was late. It would be a nice change for him to come home to something other than a tired, cranky wife.

She bathed and shaved her legs, taking time to put on makeup and do her hair. She was in the middle of tying her hair up in a knot on top of her head the way Nick liked it when the bathroom door opened.

“There you are. I was looking for you.” He crossed behind her and pulled her into his arms. “You look beautiful. What’s the occasion?”

She turned around and placed his hand against her lower abdomen. “This is. I think creating life deserves a celebration.” Nick’s mouth fell open and he stood staring until she poked him in the stomach.

“Well, say something.”

He let out a whoop and grabbed her in a bear hug. “Oh, shit!” He put her down gently. “I shouldn’t have done that. I forgot myself for a moment.”

“Nick, I’m not made of glass. I’ve been walking around and doing all the normal things I usually do, including jogging and kickboxing. The doctor said I can.”

“What kind of doctor is that? Kickboxing? We don’t need to be kickboxing.”

Raina crossed her arms. “We aren’t doing anything. I’m just doing my usual exercise routine. But I’ll switch to something gentler now. I already bought some pregnancy workout videos. I want to be careful now that I’m carrying little Nicholas Junior.”

Nick leaned down and framed her face in his hands. “You have made me so happy, you know that?”

Raina closed her eyes. “You have, too. Just by being you.”

“We do need to celebrate. As a matter of fact, why don’t you come by the office tomorrow and I’ll show you around? You could come later in the day and I’ll take you to dinner. It’ll give you a break from my cooking.”

Raina squeezed him around the waist. “Are you fishing for compliments or what? Your cooking is amazing and you know it.”

Nick grinned. “I’ll talk to my assistant about rearranging my client meetings.”

“That sounds nice.”

“I want you to be a part of my world and I want to be there for you, too.” He let out a shaky breath. “You’re really pregnant. We’re going to have a baby?” At her nod, he got down on his knees and lifted her shirt.

“We’re going to have a baby,” he whispered against her stomach.

* * * * *

IT WAS MORE than a week before Nick was able to rearrange his schedule enough to take an extended lunch break. On a humid Monday morning, Raina drove to Nick’s building in one of the few commercial office parks in New Haven. She parked in the open lot designated for visitors and then took the elevator to the fifth floor. It opened into a modern, spacious reception area decorated in shades of cream and blue. The young woman behind the desk had her back to her, furiously pressing the buttons on a copy machine.

“Come on, I just want to send a fax. How do I get it off the scan function? I hate this stupid thing.”

Raina wasn’t sure if she should interrupt. It looked like the young lady was on the verge of declaring war against the machine. Just as she was about to call out, the woman turned and then jumped.