Chapter Twenty-One

Rowan

We were in the homestretch. That's what the healer said. Only a few more weeks to go. Life in bed was boring, but Talon tried to keep me entertained with all kinds of things. Movies. Books. Games. Vivian had even come in to teach me how to knit. I'd taken to it with ease and was halfway through with a mint-green blanket for our little one.

Talon was also keeping a secret.

I called him on it, of course, and he told me, he swore, that the secret was something good. Something I would like and would make me happy and to let him have his bit of fun.

Near noon, I heard the doors open and shut several times. Vivian hadn't been up to see me, which was rare.

Something was definitely going on in this house, and I was stuck here, wondering what it was.

As though he heard my thoughts, Talon came in with a wide grin on his face. "How much do you trust me?"

I shook my head. "With my life."

"Then I'm going to help you shower and get dressed. There's something downstairs you need to see."

We showered together. Talon took over the washing since there were several parts of me that I could no longer reach without some high-level contortion.

I got dressed after a bit of a fuss about my clothes.

"Come downstairs. I promise you will love what I've got in store for you."

He scooped me up and carried me down the stairs. I was perfectly capable of walking on my own, but arguing with Talon would be pointless.

When I got to the last step and looked into the living room, there were people all in a circle and they yelled, "Surprise!"

"What is this?" I asked but smiled since this was a great break from the mundane.

"A surprise baby shower for you." Artemis ran over to hug me. A strange side hug but one nonetheless. "Come on. Let's get you off your feet."

Bronson and Jabez, the other partners, were there also. As well as Samuel and several of the other staff I'd gotten to know well at the club.

There were tables with food and gifts piled up. It was a surprise indeed.

"Thank you all for coming," I said. "This is certainly a surprise."

Arty brought the presents to me while Talon sat at my side. Some of the presents were for the baby, most of them, actually.

And some were for after the baby, for Talon and me.

I didn't expect anything less. After all, all the owners, Talon's friends, were active members of the club.

It only made sense.

"Are you hungry?" Talon asked after the gifts were done.

"Yes. But I probably can't eat the party food."

He made a grunting sound. "Actually, everything here is low salt. That personal chef went all out once I told him we were having a surprise shower for you. You've enchanted everyone in this house, mate. They all want to see you well and thriving, you and our child."

"Thank you." Talon brought me a plate and we all ate and exchanged stories.

The other owners had lots of stories. Some of them had opened clubs before. They had sold their shares for various reasons ranging from not liking the more open membership program to the neighborhood environment changing. They all brought experience and knowledge to the table.

I needed this. The laughter. The camaraderie. The stories and more than anything, the cute cake with its yellow trim and decorations, since we had decided not to find out the sex of the baby.

My mate made all of this possible.

"I think I'd better go upstairs now," I whispered to him, not wanting to alarm anyone. I could feel the stretch and pull of my skin around my ankles and shins the longer I sat.

"Rowan?" Talon looked at me with alarm.

"It's okay. But…" I raised the leg of my pants to show him the damage.

"My mate is tired. I'm going to get him upstairs, but everyone continue chatting and eating. Stay as long as you like. I'll be down soon."

Talon walked me upstairs and settled me into bed after changing into something more comfortable, his T-shirt.

"Talon," I said as he plumped up the pillows that raised my feet. "Today was amazing. Thank you for being so caring and kind. You knew just what I needed."

When he left, I finally let out a breath. There was more going on. I'd become keenly aware of my blood pressure, and so I reached for the cuff and let the machine read me.

The numbers weren't good. Not good at all.