A Humble Heart (Hollywood Hearts 1)

Dana crawled out of bed and made her way to her bureau to pull out a bathing suit. “Baby, we have another six months. You can’t call him for everything. Eventually he’ll get a restraining order, change his name, acquire a new identity and run like hell.”

“He said to call if I had any questions,” Edward said seriously, earning a laugh from Dana. “What?”

She shook her head and headed for the bathroom. “Nothing, you’re just so damn cute.”

“Cute?” He sounded offended. “How about studly? I mean, not only did I get you pregnant on the first try but with twins no less. I think that clearly puts me in the stud category.”

Dana looked over her shoulder and ran her eyes up and down his body. “I can think of something else that makes you a stud.”

He licked his lips and looked at her bottom. Then forced himself to focus by shaking his head. “No, I’m off limits until the doctor says so. It’s on the list.” He pointed to the first item on the list. Dana was sure that after nine weeks without sex that was one of the first things he wanted to know about.

She laughed. “Okay, I’m going to change.” He took a step forward, making her groan. “Baby, I can handle getting dressed, jeez.” She walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind her half expecting him to tear the door off and supervise this activity.

After four days stuck in bed and his constant nagging about “The List” she wanted to exact a little revenge. She purposely picked out his favorite swim suit, a baby pink one that just barely covered her. Last time she wore this was the night before he left for England. He tore it off her with his teeth before he made love to her twice in the deep end, and once in the shallow end of the pool. If she was going to suffer then so was he. She wasn’t showing yet and this was the perfect revenge.

She pulled on the black tee shirt that he left in the bathroom for her and walked out. Edward was waiting on the bed, already in his swim trunks. “Ready?”

“Yes,” she said, making her way to the door. She yelped when he suddenly picked her up. “Baby, I can walk.”

“Unnecessary,” he said firmly.

That earned an eye roll. “Sweetheart, what are you going to do when I’m as big as a house? I am carrying twins you know.”

“I’ll start lifting weights.”

“Oh, this is going to be a very long six months,” she muttered.

“Mommy!” Cole yelled. He was swimming with bright orange floaties on his arms. Amy was close by having a water fight with Elizabeth, who was winning.

“You’re coming for a swim?” Amy asked, throwing a questioning look at Edward.

“It’s okay I checked,” he said matter-of-factly.

Dana wiggled until he put her down. She walked over to a lounge chair. After making sure Edward was watching, she pulled his tee shirt off. She saw him grab the back of a chair and heard a groan.

She ignored him as she made her way into the pool as Cole doggie paddled his way to her. “Hey, Mommy!”

“Hey, handsome!” she said, kissing one of his wet cheeks before he swam off.

Edward jumped into the pool and kept as far away from her as possible, but watched her vigilantly. He played with the kids and talked to Amy, but never took his eyes off her for more than a minute.

Cole swam over to her in a panic. “Mommy, I lost my froggie!”

“When did you have it last, baby?” she asked as she put an arm around his tiny waist so he wouldn’t have to work so hard to keep afloat in the deep end.

“Before I dropped him down there.” He pointed down.

“Ah, I see. Okay, go swim to Aunt Amy in the shallow end so I can get it.”

He turned and doggie paddle his way away from her. Edward was talking to Amy so she took the opportunity as a much needed break. Even if it was just to retrieve a big rubber frog. She took a deep breath and dove under the water.

It only took her five seconds to find it. It was in the right corner. She made her way there and grabbed it the same time an arm wound gently around her waist and pulled her up. She broke the surface and was guided toward the corner.

She turned around so her back touched the corner and saw to no surprise that it was Edward. She expected a lecture and a gesture to “The List” what she didn’t expect was to be pulled into his arms and properly kissed.

He broke off the kiss abruptly and pulled her close until his mouth was near her ear. “You have no idea how many days and nights I thought of nothing but you in this,” he said, moving a hand below the surface until it landed on her bikini bottom.

“You missed me?” she asked in his ear.

He growled. “More than you will ever know.”

“I missed you, too,” she said softly, wrapping her arms around his neck. He pushed off the side and pulled her with him towards the shallow end.

“My frog!” Cole screamed with glee.

Edward took the frog from Dana and passed it to Cole who hugged it like it was his best friend. He looked back at Dana. “Baby, until the doctor says okay, do me a favor in stay in the shallow end.”

“Baby, you have to let up a bit. You’re driving me insane!” she said, half kidding.

He looked apologetic. “I know, it’s just after what happened I want to make sure you and the babies are okay.”

“We’re okay. I’m resting, keeping down food, drinking, so everything is okay,” she said, trying to soothe him.

He nodded. “Just take it easy until we talk to the doctor tomorrow. Please.”

She sighed heavily, “Okay.”

He smiled hugely.

She suddenly felt tired and made her way out of the pool. Edward made a move to join her, but she waved him off. He stayed in the pool with his sister and the kids playing. Dana wrapped a towel around her waist and looked at her watch. The mail should be here by now. She made her way through the gate back into the house to the front door.

She wasn’t surprised in the least to see several media vans camped out in front of her house. She ignored them and grabbed her mail. It overflowed from the box. A large stack of mail and a box were placed on the ground. She picked them up and adjusted the weight in her arms, surprised to find that it weighed as much as one of the kids.

Dana brought the large pile of mail back to the pool area and was met with a glare from Edward. He didn’t like her carrying anything. She sighed inwardly and sat on her lounge chair and began going through her mail. Edward made sure her fan mail was no longer forwarded to the house so she didn’t have to worry about that.