Chapter 9
“Dani are you ready?” Luke asked coming into the bedroom to check on her. He saw her frowning over her reflection and slid over to caress her bump. “What’s wrong?”
She sighed resting her head against his shoulder. “Nothing, I just don’t want to share them yet.”
“Dani, you’re almost six months pregnant; it’s going to come out.”
“But it’s been so nice just being us, not having the media butting into it all.”
“Baby, it’s fine. You look absolutely amazing and this,” he said running his hand over the bump that barely showed with the cut of the dress, “this is our babies.”
“I’m not complaining because I can’t wear the tiny little dresses, Luke. I just don’t want everyone thinking they have a right to comment on them they’re ours not the public’s.”
“I know but the longer we hide it the more questions that’ll cause right? You look beautiful and I am the luckiest man alive to have you with me.”
“I know you are,” she teased as she unzipped the dress. She let it fall to the floor and bent down to pick it up, but he stalled her.
“Dani, we’ll be late.”
“I’m wearing something different Luke. Can you get me the purple dress that’s up front in the closet?” she asked letting her hair out of the clips holding it up.
He found it easily and brought it over to her. It was perfect against her skin and hair, but even more perfect against her body he discovered as she turned to him for help zipping it up. It curved around her stomach and though from the front it didn’t seem like it, from the side it was clear that she was pregnant.
“Well?” she asked as he continued to stare. “Is it too much?”
“Perfect,” he assured her. He grabbed her shawl and settled it around her shoulders as they headed to the car. They were some of the last to arrive at the charity event and he kept her side hidden from the reporters outside. They might be announcing it via display but that didn’t mean the reporters needed close-ups of her.
Dani smiled as her shawl draped over her sides hid the bump for the most part and she left it on as they began to circulate around the room. She declined the continuous offer of wine and champagne from the waiters and smiled warmly at Luke as he brought her a glass of cool water.
“Not drinking tonight, Dani?” Doreen inquired spying the contents of her glass.
“No,” she answered.
“That’s at least the fourth event this summer I know of where you haven’t had anything to drink,” Elizabeth said pointedly. “Is there something behind the rehab rumors?”
Dani laughed as Luke tensed. She heard the band start to play a slow song and figured the best way to end the questions about why she wasn’t drinking would be to show them. She set down her glass asking Luke, “Dance with me?”
“Always baby,” he replied setting his own glass down with hers. He watched as she let her shawl fall away revealing the curve of her stomach and the quick intake of breath around them said others had noticed.
Dani took his hand as they headed out to the dance floor, going into his arms with ease until her bump stopped them. Luke let his arm slide around her waist and his hand rested along the curve of her bump as he turned her a bit more so he could hold her closer. She slipped her free hand up over his shoulder and settled into his hold more, resting her head against his chest.
“I think that sufficiently shut them up,” Dani said with a happy smile as he lowered his cheek to rest on the top of her head.
“Absolutely, on the rehab rumors at least,” he stated bringing her face up to meet his. He settled his lips over hers and let the truth speak for itself.
***
“Well, I’d say that shuts down the rumors there’s a split in the air, doesn’t it?” Calvin chuckled to Peter as they watched from the sidelines.
“Talking about my sister-in-law again gentlemen?” Tyler inquired sliding over to them. “Absolutely stunning, isn’t she?”
“Tyler…how’ve you been? No more brawls with your brother?” Peter questioned shaking his hand.
“We sufficiently worked that out, no thanks to the tabloids sprawling it all across the front page.”
“I take it you’ve learned to keep your mouth shut about their personal life a bit better then?” Calvin stated.
“Luke might have whacked his head against the concrete, but I ran into a steel fist. I have no doubt that my brother would put me in a body cast had I revealed their happy news before they wanted it to come out.”