Arrested By Love (28 page)

"Because we won't know why I've been so sick."

"Exactly. My primary concern is for you. Yes, I want you to do things that would be best for the baby, but not at the expense of your own health or comfort. You come first in my heart, and you always will. That's not to say I won't get angry and paddle your butt if you do things you shouldn't, but I never want you to think that I value any child you carry over you. Because that just isn't true. And lastly, I do not think you are a terrible mother. You made some bad choices, but you didn't make them knowingly.

"Now, if you decided to drink or take sleeping pills knowing you were pregnant, you would have absolutely no doubt as to my displeasure with you. But even then, I wouldn't accuse you of being a terrible mother, only a misguided one. I think you're going to be a wonderful mother, and I will be there to ensure you have all the support you need to be successful." He brushed away the tears from her eyes with his thumb. "So, I don't want to hear any more of this silliness. All right?"

Tiffany nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Good girl. All better now?"

She hesitated for a second, then nodded again.

"Hmm." His eyes narrowed. "Why am I still sensing hesitation from you?" His expression turning into a stern frown, he lifted her up in his arms.

Grabbing his neck, Tiffany suspected he was going to get firm with her now. And she didn't want that. "What are you going to do?"

"Well, my lovely," he said, walking her back into the bedroom. "I have a feeling you need to be reminded just how much I love and desire you. So, I think I'm going to need to make you scream again."

Her eyebrows went up as he kicked their door closed. "Are we talking pleasure or pain, here?"

Bending his head, he gave her a passionate kiss. "Let's see if you can figure that out for yourself. Shall we?"

Kyle and Jim showed up at the Clerk of Courts at 1:45 p.m.. After explaining why they were there, Kyle began filling out some of the required paperwork.

At 1:55 p.m., Kelly walked in.

Kyle turned and looked at her. "Isn't Tiffany with you?"

Kelly smiled and nodded. "We just wanted to make sure both of you were here before she made her entrance."

Kyle nodded, held up his finger for just a moment as he finished filling in the form and paid the fee. All that was needed now was Tiffany's and their witnesses' signatures. He gave a nod to Kelly, who opened the door about a foot and whispered.

Then Kelly opened the door wide, and Tiffany walked in. She wore a knee length cream silk cocktail dress that was covered with a type of brocade embroidery of various wild flowers. Her gorgeous red hair was pulled back into a French twist and she wore a matching cream hat with a small veil. She'd also purchased a small bouquet that brought out the colors of her dress. Though she was still very thin, there was a lovely blush to her cheeks and her green eyes sparkled with happiness.

Kyle smiled at her. "You look absolutely ravishing, sweetheart." Her blush deepened charmingly.

Jim took his place at the right of Kyle, Tiffany stood on his left and Kelly remained on Tiffany's left. Kyle held Tiffany's hand and repeated the words that would legally bind them as man and wife, then Tiffany did the same. He next slipped both rings onto her finger with the ring guards adjusted to help keep them from falling off, then he kissed her. She pressed up against him and held his shoulders. The kiss was sweetly intimate without being too overly passionate for a public display. Afterwards Tiffany, Jim and Kelly signed the document of marriage.

The clerk smiled and both Tiffany and Kelly grew a little weepy, then laughed at each other as the clerk handed them each a tissue.

Chapter Eighteen

"Meet you two back at our place?" Kyle asked.

"If you're sure you want us, bud. I gotta tell you that kiss got my juices flowin'."

Kyle laughed. "We're sure. Thanks guys for being here with us today."

"Our pleasure," Jim answered, putting his arm around Kelly's waist.

Kyle did the same with Tiffany and escorted her out to his car, while Jim and Kelly got into Jim's car, which Kelly had driven.

Kyle could hear Jim murmur, "Pleased to see you didn't get in an accident today, darlin'. I guess there's hope for you yet."

Kelly smacked Jim's shoulder in response, but slipped quickly into the car when his eyebrow arched up.

"I'll do it," Jim said reaching in to fasten Kelly's seat belt. "Don't want you to ruin that lovely new manicure you got."

Kyle helped Tiffany into his car and fastened her seat belt as well, sneaking in another kiss as he did so.

Then getting into the driver's seat, he gazed at his wife. "How are you doing, Mrs. Sinclair?"

She smiled. "It's going to take me a little while to get used to my new name. Tiffany Sinclair. I always did like the sound of that."

Chuckling he started the car. "Are you very tired after your shopping excursion and marriage ceremony?'

"I'm a little tired, but it's a good tired. I feel totally content. I just wish my parents could have taken part, but I don't think mother would have approved of a non-church wedding ceremony, so it's probably best they weren't there. But we can still get married in a church next June, right?"

"Whatever you want, sweetie, is fine with me."

Back at Kyle's apartment, Tiffany had sparkling grape juice while the rest of them had champagne as they toasted each other and the day's events. Tiffany and Kelly had some amusing stories about the different dresses Tiffany tried on, as well as the shoes. But it wasn't until Kelly let it slip that Tiffany got so dizzy at one point she had to sit down or pass out, that Tiffany gave Kyle a panicked look.

"It was the dress," Tiffany insisted. "It was so tight I had trouble breathing."

He shook his head, and Tiffany knew he wasn't buying it. She would be in trouble tonight. Well she still had one pass left, if he would accept it.

When Tiffany and Kyle cut the cake together, Kyle leaned over to whisper in her ear. "You look enchanting sweetheart, but I really doubt that dress is going to be worth the spanking you're getting tonight." She took the first piece of cake and smooshed it into his mouth so that he had icing all over his lips, then she kissed him.

"So, that's what they mean when they say 'you can have your cake and eat it too,'" Jim said wryly.

Tiffany laughed, but looked at Kyle with widened eyes when he came at her with a very large piece of cake. However, his threat was idle, since he fed it to her carefully.

As the evening progressed, Tiffany slipped off her new shoes and walked around in her stockings. Kelly did the same, though she probably only did it so Tiffany wouldn't be the only one traipsing around in bare feet.

Eventually, Kelly ended up sitting on Jim's lap, and Tiffany ended up on Kyle's. Comfortable and content she almost fell asleep when Jim said, "Well, looks like we may have outstayed our welcome, darlin'. We'd best be getting' home."

"I'm sorry," Tiffany said in apology.

"No need for apologies, red. You've had a day and a half today, though I must say you looked awful pretty."

Blushing, Tiffany merely said, "Thank you."

Both she and Kyle got up to see the other couple to the door. Tiffany reached over and kissed Kelly on the cheek. "Thanks for everything today."

Kelly whispered back, "Um, sorry about the dizzy slip. I didn't realize Kyle would react that way."

"It's okay," Tiffany whispered back. "If he'd found out later it had happened, and I hadn't told him, I would have been in worse trouble, I'm sure."

"Yeah, but it's your wedding night. I'm sure he'll make allowances."

"We'll see," Tiffany answered, then waved as Jim escorted Kelly away with a firm hand at her waist.

She and Kyle waited until the other couple got on the elevator, then went back inside their apartment.

"You're right," Tiffany said without preamble.

"Of course I am. But, out of curiosity, what was it I was right about this time?"

"They are very much in love. I could tell by the way Jim stole little kisses throughout the evening from Kelly, and snuck in more than one caress of her backside."

Kyle laughed. "Yeah. He's got it bad." Then he turned and pointed at Tiffany, "And you, young lady, had better be out of that gorgeous dress and lying on our bed with your bottom bared in five minutes. You've got two shots as well as a spanking coming to you."

"Pass?" she asked plaintively.

Kyle considered it. "We'll see. Though it may take one from this morning and two from tonight for you to get a full pass on that one."

She winced. "It really was the dress. Once I got out of it, I was fine."

He shook his head and pointed toward the bedroom. "Change. Now."

"Yes, sir," she said walking in to change her clothes. She loved her dress and it was something she could wear again, so she thought it was eminently practical as well."

"Looks like we got a phone message," Kyle called out to her. I'll listen to it and let you know if it's anything you need to follow up on."

"Okay," Tiffany called back, wriggling out of her slip and pantyhose.

Kyle came back into the bedroom, looking grim.

"What is it?"

"Dr. Sloan's office. I think you should hear this yourself."

A shiver traveled down Kelly's spine. "All right. Let me just put my robe on."

He nodded, but waited for her. When she stood beside him at the phone, he replayed the message. "Kyle, Tiffany, this is Dr. Sloan. Just wanted to personally let you know that you're definitely going to be parents in about six months, late January or Early February I'd say, from your recollections. We can do a sonogram at the next visit and calculate from that as well. Congratulations, guys. Tiffany, I'm sure it's a relief to know that all your symptoms have a very natural source. Call me if you have any questions, otherwise I'll see you in a month. Bye."

Kyle turned to look at Tiffany with a secret smile on his face. Tiffany shook her head. "I think I need to sit down for a moment."

Kyle's expression immediately became concerned as he helped her to a seat. "How are you feeling? You need anything?"

"No. It's just.... I really thought it was a virus or the flu despite what you guys thought."

"But you're happy, right?"

"A little overwhelmed. I'm sorry, but I think I'm going to cry now."

Kyle just picked her up and put Tiffany on his lap. "I may join you, sweetie. This is a good thing, though. I know you wanted to wait to have kids, but I'll do everything I can to help you. You won't be doing this alone." Then he kissed her, and Tiffany sobbed against his shoulder.

He gently rocked her back and forth. She just couldn't believe it. She was going to have Kyle's baby in six months. Six months. It seemed almost impossible.

"Shh. It's all right, Tiff. I'll take good care of you, I promise."

"Do you want to know the sex?" she asked, trying to be practical.

"If you do. I'm fine with waiting and being surprised, but if you want to plan a bit more, I have no problem with knowing beforehand."

"I'll have to think about it. We'll need to move, won't we?"

"Yes, eventually. We'll want at least one other bedroom. Maybe even two, but we don't have to do anything right away. What's most important is that we get you back to full strength. Everything else is incidental to that. Tell me what you're thinking, Tiff, and be honest."

"It's so much earlier than I wanted, Kyle, and I'm a little scared."

"I know, sweetie." He pressed a kiss to her temple. "But he or she is really just an early wedding gift for us."

"I'm going to be a terrible mother," she said pressing her face to his chest again.

"No. You won't. Despite how you're feeling right now, I think you're going to be a wonderful mother." He lightly rubbed her back as he rocked her.

Drawing back a bit, she lifted her face to his. "Kiss me."

"With pleasure." And he gave her a kiss that was filled with all the emotion he was feeling. When he drew back, he said, "I'd like to make love to you tonight. Think you're up for it?"

Smiling she nodded. She still hadn't quite wrapped her mind about the fact she was carrying his child right now. Which meant her brain was coming up with some inappropriate wisecracks that she doubted Kyle would appreciate. So, she would have to guard what she said until she'd more fully accepted her situation.

Kyle carried her back to the bedroom, and placed her gently on the bed. "Let's do the shots first, okay?"

Tiffany nodded and continued getting undressed while Kyle went into the kitchen. She thought new mothers were all supposed to be ecstatic, so why did she feel like her life had suddenly gone into slow motion. She should be happy, instead she felt shell shocked. She knew Kyle would be totally supportive of her, and probably a little dictatorial as well. In many ways he was her rock and anchor. He stabilized her when she felt shaky. She was his wife now, and that seemed a little unreal, too.

Staring down at her wedding band and engagement ring, she twirled them on her finger. A baby. She had no idea how to take care of an infant, and she'd heard horror stories of sleepless nights and colic and--

"Why don't you just lie down, sweetie, and I'll give you another backrub. All right?"

Nodding, she lay down on the bed. She wanted to kick her feet in protest. To say someone had played an unfair trick on her. To whine and cry, but Kyle wouldn't understand. He'd think she was being selfish and childish again, and he'd be right. She would be. But right now that was what she wanted to do. Then she felt his strong fingers slowly working her tense muscles. She loved him, but was that enough? What if she never felt differently? What if she never came to love this child as he would--with wholehearted, unconditional love?

"You're very tense, Tiff. Talk to me, sweetie." He was being kind and generous, but she knew she couldn't tell him what she was thinking. There was no way he could understand it.

When she just shook her head, he said, "It's all right to have doubts, but don't think you can't share them with me. Believe me, I understand. I may give you a spanking if I feel you need one to get your emotions out, but I won't be upset or angry with you. I realize this is a lot to take in right now, and that your hormones are playing havoc with your thoughts and emotions, but those things do change. You may think now that a child is the last thing you want, then feel guilty for even thinking that. Trust me, sweetie. That's normal. It doesn't mean you're lacking in maternal instincts, it just means this is a huge step and you're understandably scared. But, Tiff, I will be there every step of the way with you."