Chapter 14
Winnie
* * *
“What time does the boat set sail?” I ask my sister as I slide out of my car and head toward the front entrance of All Fit.
“Ten in the morning. Dad says it’s gassed up and ready to go,” Gabby confirms.
Tomorrow is supposed to be an amazingly beautiful August Saturday, and my sister has been bugging me to take our parents’ pontoon boat out on the lake. Our town was built around Fair Lake, and during the summer months, everyone congregates to their boats and rafts for weekend fun. Harrison and I used to take the boat out often, after he’d get off work on Saturday afternoon, but when his dreams of expansion started to take off, our weekend getaways were put on hold, much like our relationship in general.
“I’m just getting to the gym. I’ll talk to Harrison and see what he thinks,” I say as I pull open the glass door. The deep pulse of rock music sweeps through my veins as I use my keycard to open the second interior door.
“I’ll text you a confirmation in just a bit,” I tell my sister, hoping that my husband—er, ex-husband—has a light enough day tomorrow that he can take a few hours off to enjoy the sun and the lake. We’ve only been out on the boat one other time this summer, and if we don’t seize the moment, summer will pass us by.
“Don’t let him say no, Gwen. Use your womanly charms. And your vag. Use that if you have to,” Gabby encourages with a giggle.
I roll my eyes at my phone, even though she can’t see me. “I’ll text you in a bit,” I repeat, waving at the front desk employee and heading back to the hallway where the offices are located.
“You better text me a yes,” my sister grumbles.
“Bye, Gabby,” I say as I enter the office area and hang up my phone.
Gina is sitting behind an old worn desk and gives me a friendly smile when she sees me. “Hey, Gwen!” she greets, standing up and coming around the desk. She’s wearing a tight pencil skirt that hugs her curves like a second skin and a ruffly top that dips dangerously low, revealing plenty of cleavage. It’s one of the things I’ve noticed about Gina, her provocative attire that borders on inappropriate, but Harrison has never said anything.
What guy would?
“Hi, Gina,” I greet, pasting a bright smile on my own face and stepping into her arms. Gina’s a hugger and has been since day one. The first time I stopped by with lunch, she greeted me with a warm smile and open arms. She seems sweet, which is why I’m not sure why Harrison seems hard on her. “Is he busy?”
“Just wrapping up a conference call with the event planning for next week’s grand opening. Chase had a few things he wanted to discuss with the organizers, a few suggestions to make it run smoother,” Gina says with a shrug. “You look fabulous, by the way,” she coos, just before putting her hand on my belly. Not that I have an issue with people touching my stomach, but I wasn’t prepared for the amount of people that would do it without asking first.
“Thanks.” I smile, placing my hands on the bump. At twenty weeks, there’s no missing the small bump protruding from my abdomen. It’s like overnight I went from a small swell to a small ball that moves and kicks. “We find out next week what we’re having,” I add, barely able to contain my excitement. Harrison and I have had the conversation many times. Neither of us care what we’re having; we just pray for him or her to be healthy and have all their little fingers and toes.
“So exciting! Are you leaning one way or the other?” she asks, leaning back and perching on the corner of her desk.
“I’ve been on both sides of the fence, but Harrison says girl.”
“Aww,” she coos. “He’s going to be such a great daddy!” Her excitement seems genuine. I know Harrison has had a little trouble with her, jobwise, but she always seems pretty friendly and happy when I’m around.
“So, while I wait for his call to end, can I ask about his schedule tomorrow?” I take an empty seat across from her desk.
“Sure, let me pull it up, but I’m pretty sure tomorrow is light,” she says, heading back around her desk and typing on her computer. “He has two training appointments early, one at seven and one at eight. I think he was hoping to get some last-minute stuff done before next week’s grand opening in Lakeview.”
“But nothing definite on the schedule,” I say aloud, though mostly to myself. Harrison has been bringing work home with him when it doesn’t require him to remain in the office, especially on Saturdays.
“Nothing definite. Why? Do you have plans?” she asks, her eyes sparkling.
“Well, I’m hoping to enjoy the day on the boat,” I tell her, relaxing in the seat as Peanut kicks my bladder.
“Oh, how fun! I haven’t been on a boat all summer.” She pouts a little face that probably makes most men fall at her feet. Gina is a beautiful girl, that’s for sure. Especially when she’s revealing all her God-given assets in a tight top and skirt.
Before I can stop myself, I’m saying, “Well, if you don’t have any plans tomorrow, you’re welcome to come with us.”
I feel bad not asking Harrison first, but she seems so eager to go and we have more than enough room on my parents’ boat. It seats fourteen comfortably, and since it’s just us and Gabby, we have the space. Plus, she’s a friend of Gabby’s (or was, at least), so I’m sure they’d enjoy catching up.
“I’d love to! What time?”
When I finish giving her the details of tomorrow’s excursion, the door to Harrison’s office opens. I glance that way as Chase strolls out. The moment he sees me, a large wolfish grin plays on his face. “Well, if it isn’t my best friend’s girl and the love child we made behind his back,” Chase croons, knowing full well the reaction his words will evoke.
“I will kill you slowly and feed you to the damn fish,” Harrison growls. His words precede him as he steps through the doorway, just as Chase pulls me up and into a big hug.
“You don’t scare me, Drake. Pregnancy has made you soft,” Chase teases, giving me a wink.
“You’re playing with fire, buddy. Be careful before you get burned,” I remind him with a grin.
He laughs, bending down and placing his hands on my hips. It’s not sexual in any way, but I can see the fire in Harrison’s eyes as he watches his best friend put his hands on me. “Hey, little one. It’s Uncle Chase. You remember who the cool one is, you hear me? Uncle Chase will buy you whatever you want. Aunt Gabby is boring. You remember that,” our friend says to my stomach, making me laugh. His words bring a smile to Harrison’s face, but it isn’t until he lets go of my hips that my ex-husband finally seems to relax.
“This is a nice surprise,” Harrison states, coming over and pulling me into his arms, as if staking a claim.
“I was on my way to get some groceries when Gabby called.”
“Gabby? What did your sister want? Was she asking about me?” Chase teases, his eyes full of mischief and delight.
“Nope, she didn’t ask about you once,” I tell our friend. “But she did ask us to join her on the boat tomorrow,” I add to the man who still has his arms around me.
“Tomorrow?” he asks, almost absently, as if mentally running through his day.
“I’ve already checked your schedule, and you have two sessions in the morning, but nothing else the rest of the day,” Gina confirms.
“But with the Lakeview location grand opening Friday, I’m sure there are a lot of last-minute details to tie up,” Harrison states.
“Most of them are confirmations that I can do Monday,” Gina adds.
“Gabby’s gonna be on the boat? I’m in,” Chase boasts, clapping his hands together and giving me another wolfish grin. I can tell he’s already planning five ways to torture her by noon. He quickly turns to Harrison. “We’re on schedule, man. Everything is ready for next Friday. As Gina said, she’ll make the confirmation calls Monday and we’ll be all set. We’ll be there Monday through Wednesday anyway to make sure the staff are trained. Why not take a day and just relax and enjoy the sun?”
Harrison seems to think it over. Part of me expects him to back out. As he gets close to the opening, I know his mind works overtime to make sure everything is right and ready to go. This opening is no di
fferent than the ones before. Knowing he could really use a few hours to decompress, I decide to take matters into my own hands. I step into his side, pressing my swollen belly into him, and wrap my arms around his body. “I think he’s right. We need a little fun in the sun,” I tell him. He turns his gaze my way, and that’s when I go for the kill. “And besides, I really want to wear the new bikini I just bought,” I whisper, so that no one else can hear me.
His eyes darken with lust. There’s no missing it. Harrison turns me so we’re facing each other and bends down until our lips are a hairbreadth apart. “Okay, let’s go. I think a day on the lake is just what the doctor ordered.”
“Yay! I can’t wait!” Gina cheers, clapping her hands and bouncing on her high heels.
Harrison gives me a look. “I, uh, invited Gina to go with us,” I whisper.