Chapter 26: Baby Bounty

Roxanne didn’t sleep well that night, thinking about the clue, worrying about Tom, fretting about becoming a mother. The next morning she pulled herself out of bed and sat on the couch with a cup of coffee. Once she heard the key in the lock, she jumped up and hurried to the door. Seeing Tom, sleepy and disheveled, she jumped in his arms.
“I’m so sorry. I can’t believe you had to spend the night in jail. I know I should be more careful, but I really think there’s more to it than a stolen permit and…”
Tom cringed a little. She could see his shoulders slump too, showing his weariness. She had wanted to be forthright with him and tell him what she found, but she could see he needed some rest first.
She led him to his bed where he sat down and flung off his shoes. He lay on his side and pulled Roxanne to lie next to him, spooning her body. “I just need to rest. Right here with you and my baby.” He patted her stomach. She clasped her hands in his around her waist.
Roxanne could feel his body relax and knew Tom had fallen asleep. She closed her eyes, too, and drifted off, the comfort of having Tom next to her enabled her to unwind.
Almost two hours later she awoke to find Tom still asleep beside her. The afternoon light brightened the room, and Roxanne tried to inch off the bed without waking him, but when she started to wiggle away, he grabbed her body and held on.
Delicately, he started kissing her neck. Then he worked his way down her back, lifting off her shirt. He pressed his hands on her breasts and gently stroked them with his fingertips. As he brought his mouth back up her body and suckled her earlobes, she could feel his shaft pressed against her.
His touch felt comforting after their scare the day before. Going to jail for someone must certainly be a sign of love, she thought.
She pulled down her pants as he removed his own. Still spooning her, he entered her between her legs, his body conforming to hers as they pressed together. His gentle pulses excited her as he stimulated her nipples.
They moved in unison, producing a sensual pleasure that made Roxanne feel protected and secure. He finished then moved his fingers down between her legs, finding her sweet spot to bring her to climax. Afterward, Tom pulled out but stayed wrapped around Roxanne like a vine on a brick wall.
“All I could think about all night was you and our baby,” Tom said in her ear. “I couldn’t let them arrest you.”
She turned on her other side to face him. “I don’t know what to say.”
Tom laughed. “Well, that’s a first.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “We should go shopping. Get some baby things.” Roxanne looked at him, surprised. His gentle, delicate nature in private proved much different than his awkward, formal attitude in public. She wanted to keep him all to herself, but shopping for charming baby items also appealed to her.
“Wait, you don’t want to get to work or something?”
He caressed her hand. “I want to spend time with you.”
“Good.” She kissed him sweetly on the lips. She knew it wasn’t the time to tell him about the clue and shatter their sweet moment.
They dressed and prepared to leave.
“I do have an ulterior motive,” Tom said, walking to the garage in his dark jeans, polo and jacket.
“What’s that?” Roxanne braced for the answer. If his weekend attire was any indication, he’d want to stop by his office or visit another possible development site.
“I think we should plan a baby shower. We can invite Ruby and your father.”
“Don’t people have these things when they’re bigger?” She made a round figure with her hands in front of her belly.
“But we don’t have much time, not if we want to secure Ruby’s property.” Roxanne knew he’d bring the conversation back to business at some point. She was a little annoyed, but wanted to help.
“How about a gender reveal party instead?”
“But we don’t…,”He looked as her as they climbed in the car with Tom’s bodyguard, Blake.
“I know. Who cares, if it comes out a boy, then oops! The doctors got it wrong.”
Tom rolled his eyes. “More lies, we can’t have more lies.” He thought for a moment. “We’ll have to figure something out - and quick.”
Roxanne stayed quiet. She wasn’t sure what kind of fancy parties Tom was used to. In her world, when a woman got knocked up, everyone found out once the woman ordered a soda instead of a beer at the bar. Or a dad-to- be would buy a round of drinks for his friends. She didn’t know how to impress someone like Ruby.
Tom drove them to a baby boutique in the suburbs, the body guard accompanying them.
Roxanne smiled at the baby booties, picked them up and cooed. She stroked a soft blue blanket and squeezed a plush teddy bear. Her grin stayed plastered on her face as she examined the items, all so itty-bitty and cute.
“We’ll need one of these,” said Tom, picking up a diaper pail. Roxanne frowned.
She cocked her head. “Of course you would pick out the practical item.”
“How about this?” Roxanne held up a cute hat that looked like a pumpkin.
“Seems unnecessary.” Tom looked at it as if he was studying an algebraic equation he couldn’t quite figure out. He knitted his brows and paused his movements, looking at the hat.
“But it’s adorable,” Roxanne said. Then she looked at the price tag. $50. She put it down. “Not that adorable.” She needed to rethink her priorities. She was usually quite frugal, but seeing the darling little baby items made her want all of them.
“Tom, look at this.” She picked up a onesie that featured blue cat eyes embroidered on it and held it up to her chest.
He nodded his approval, but Roxanne put it down after noticing its $20 price tag.
Instead, Roxanne picked up a package of swaddling blankets and crib sheets with a jungle theme. She handed them to Tom.
“That’s it?” He asked. Roxanne shrugged. “But I thought you liked all those cute items. The bear, the hat, the blanket,” he pointed out the items around the room. “I can pay the tab,” Tom said, picking up a completely unnecessary baby wipes warmer in the shape of a dolphin. Roxanne shook her head no.
She huffed. “I can’t let you do everything, Tom.”
He rested his hand on her shoulder. “We’re doing it together. Without you, there would be no baby.”
“Without me, you wouldn’t have spent the night in jail.” She shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
“Without you, I’d have no chance getting the opportunity to develop Ruby’s land.”
The additional mention of Ruby made Roxanne bristle. It reminded her of the deal that brought them together instead of the bona fide relationship they were forming. Fitting into Tom’s world wasn’t easy for Roxanne, and she thought about their dinner with the heiress and her love of chardonnay.
“Hey, I think I have a great idea for a party.”
“What’s that?” Tom asked.
“We host a pregnancy reveal party at your first building project.”
Tom looked doubtful.
“No, hear me out. We rent out the coffee shop, put a couple more tables outside.” Roxanne moved her arms, trying to get Tom to envision the scene.
“We’ll serve Ruby’s favorite wine, of course. And we make it known it was your first big project – your baby. We can invite the residents, who all love you, by the way. And my dad won’t feel so uncomfortable in a place like that. Then we announce our pregnancy.” She smiled wide at him. “What a great way to show Ruby you can create a family because you’ve already created a community.”
Tom stood still in his characteristic fashion and thought about Roxanne’s proposal. “Are you sure you want to go back there after what happened?”
“Bring Blake,” she nodded toward the body guard standing at the door.
“You’re right. I guess it could work.” He started to nod his head.
She knew she still hadn’t told him about what she saw at the police station, but she figured she had time. Playing happy couple didn’t seem like an act anymore. Instead, they were actually enjoying each other in more ways than one.
“Plus, you’ve never seen me really party,” she held the edges of his coat in her hands and bit her lip as she looked up at him. She wanted to make the party a success, show Tom she could be helpful instead of the person who needed rescuing.
She wondered if her best-laid plans would fail her once again.