Page 2 of The Norcross Rescue

His frown deepened. “We should cancel.”

She straightened. “Why?”

“Because you’re very pregnant, your center of gravity is off, and you ache.” She was due in three weeks and four days. He eyed her shoes. “You shouldn’t be wearing heels.”

She lifted a leg, and he shot out a hand to keep her steady.

“They’re one inch high, Vander. I’m fine.”

“I know.” He pulled her into his arms and nibbled her lips. “But wouldn’t you prefer to be cuddled up on the couch, watching Die Hard?” It was one of their favorite movies.

She looked conflicted for a minute, then reached up to straighten his bow tie. “We can do that tomorrow. Haldon Capital is one of the biggest financial firms in the city, so I know they’ll throw a hell of a party.” She pressed her palms to his chest. “Plus, I get to enjoy looking at my hot, handsome husband in a tuxedo, even if I’m not my usual svelte self.”

He cupped her cheek. She wasn’t really worried about her looks, was she? She was gorgeous. Pregnancy hadn’t slowed down their sex life, either. In recent months, they’d had to get pretty creative, thanks to her growing belly. He didn’t mind. He was good at thinking outside the box.

“Brynn—”

“In a few weeks’ time, life is going to change.” She let out a gusty sigh. “We aren’t going to have the time or energy for attending any parties.”

Vander personally thought that was a positive.

She fiddled with a button on his white shirt. “So, I think we should go out, drink someone else’s nice champagne, and eat their fancy appetizers.”

“You aren’t drinking champagne, and I sure as hell am not.”

“Fine, you have a bourbon, and I’ll drink something non-alcoholic and wish it was champagne. I’m only going for the food, really.”

He scowled. “I’ll have to schmooze.”

She patted his cheek. “My poor baby. Just think of the millions of dollars in business it will bring in. Then we’ll come home.” She went up on her toes and nipped his ear. “And then we’ll have our own private, little party.”

Now, that was the best idea he’d heard all day.

“Okay, Mrs. Norcross.” He kissed her until her cheeks flushed. “You have a deal.”

The elevator whisked them upward.

Brynn resisted the urge to shift, because even her low heels were already making her feet ache, and her far-too-observant husband would notice. She smoothed a hand over her bump, and felt the baby kick.

She smiled. She couldn’t wait to meet their baby. They’d decided not to find out if they were having a boy or a girl. She could see Vander with both—holding the hand of a toddling, sturdy, little boy, or holding a little Daddy’s-girl princess against his chest. Brynn didn’t care which.

She stroked the fabric of her dress. The dress was nice, even if it was enormous. She swallowed a sigh. She’d thought dressing up and coming to this party would be fun, that she’d feel sexy.

Well, she didn’t.

She was used to being fit and agile. She needed to be for her job as a homicide detective. Now, she felt bulky and clumsy, plus her ankles were puffy. Not to mention her back ached, and she wasn’t sleeping well.

Her gaze moved to her husband, lingering on his face. God, he looked good in a tuxedo. Hot and dangerous. The Italian good looks from his mom, and the tall, fit body from his dad, plus that lethal intensity that was pure Vander, were a hell of a combination. Every day, a part of her still couldn’t believe that this amazing, protective man was hers.

A pang of something hit her. As always, his rugged handsomeness hit her hard, but they were about to go into a party, no doubt filled with well-dressed, beautiful women who didn’t feel like battleships.

Of course, she knew he’d never look at another woman, but right now, her brain wasn’t interested in calm rationality.

“Brynn?”

He was picking up on her discomfort. She slipped her arm through his. “So, tell me about Haldon?”

“Global investment firm. They have a lot of ultra-high-net-worth clients, and manage over a hundred billion in assets.”