Hi guys! I'm so sorry for not updating sooner. As most of you know, I lost my notebook...but now, I found it! Yay! I'm going to make sure that nothing happens to it again so I can update this story regularly. And since I didn't update for a while, I'm going to give you a treat & make this chapter longer! Isn't that great! As for my other story, Project: Babysitting, I'll still be updating it every now & then. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.
Previously on Chapter 8:
"So…you're over her now?"
"No, I'm not over her. I doubt I ever will be. She was the only one for me."
Mimi heard a whimper. But even as the sound jolted her, she realized she wasn't in the kitchen talking to Matt, but in her bed…alone. And at the same time, she realized she had to get up.
One of the joys of pregnancy, she reflected as she pushed aside the covers, was this frequent need to go to the bathroom…and it was a need that disturbed most of her nights.
Chapter Nine
Switching on the bedside lamp, she glanced at the clock radio on the night table. Two o'clock! And she hadn't slept a wink. She padded across the room & after opening the door very quietly, she crept along the corridor to the bathroom. But when she tried to turn the knob, she found it was locked. She would have to go downstairs to the powder room. She was about to turn away when the door opened suddenly.
"Sorry," Matt said. "You need to use it?"
In the bright light from the corridor she could see that his hair was wet. She could also see he was wearing nothing but a navy blue towel wrapped precariously around his hips. His chest was damp & a single drop of water ran down on his left arm.
"Are you in the shower?" she asked & wished she'd taken a moment to put on her robe. Her pink silk nightie was skimpy as a handkerchief & covered about as much.
"Yeah," he said. "I took a cold one."
"A cold one?"
"It's hot tonight. Or didn't you notice? I couldn't sleep so I took a shower to cool off. But seeing you in that sexy next-to-nothing slip," he went on straight-faced, "I may have to take another one!"
"Don't be a smart ass!" she shot back. "Now, if you'll let me past I'll…"
He caught her arm as tried to slide by him. His fingers were cool on her heated skin.
"How come you're up so late?" he asked. "Are you okay? I thought I heard you moving a couple of times before."
She couldn't be sure how much Matt knew about minor inconveniences of pregnancy, but she wasn't about to give him any clues of her condition.
"I'm a night wanderer," she said vaguely, shrugging off his hand. "It's a habit I picked up in New York."
"Ah, New York." He leaned back against the doorjamb. "I've never been to the Big Apple. Since neither of us can sleep, why don't we take a stroll in the moonlight & you can tell me all about life in the big city. We could bring a bottle of wine…"
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why, you don't like wine?"
She enjoyed an occasional glass of Chardonnay wine…but she couldn't tell him that because of her pregnancy, she didn't drink wine. Maybe he knew that expectant should abstain from alcohol, maybe he didn't. But she didn't want him putting two & two together & figure out that she is pregnant.
"Oh, sure, I enjoy wine, but not at this time of night. Actually," she faked a wide yawn, "…I'm feeling a bit sleepy now. I think if I get back to bed, I'll drop off soon. Do you mind…?"
He pushed himself from the doorjamb & waved her forward into the bathroom. "No," he said, "you go ahead. But remember, anytime you fancy a walk in the moonlight & want company…my offer is open."
And that was one offer; she decided as she locked the bathroom door, that she'd be very wise to forget.
Matt made a practice of going in to the office early, & especially on summer mornings, when he enjoyed the quietness of the street & the dewy scents of the early morning air. But on this Monday morning, he barely noticed his surroundings. He was too engrossed in thought of Mimi.
He hadn't been lying when he told her he ought to have a second cold shower after seeing her in that skimpy pink nightie. He had been lying, though, when he told her he had taken the first shower to cool off from the hot summer night. He'd really taken it because he couldn't sleep for thinking about her…torturing himself with memories of how it had been between them, memories of the passion they shared, & memories of her smooth, slim body entwined with his.
But if she was pregnant, her body wouldn't be slim for too much longer. She would put on weight and she would grow heavy & awkward. And she would need help.
If only, he mused as he walked into his office, she were as clingy as Sora had become, & if only Sora were as independent as Mimi. His life would be so much easier.
"Good morning, Mr. Ishida."
"Good morning, Yolei." He threw his receptionist an appreciative smile as he came alongside her desk. Yolei also liked to get a head start on the day. But unlike him, she made a point of always leaving work at four-thirty sharp, & he had no problems with that. She has a family to attend to & her home schedule was hectic.
He knew all about her family life because she lives next door to Sora & the two were close friends.
"Did you have a good weekend?" he asked, looking down at the message slips she handed him.
"We took the kids to the water-slide park. How about you?" her eyes had an expectant glitter. "I talked with Sora when she got home from church yesterday. She was rushing into the house to check the roast, but she was really excited. She said you were coming over for a special lunch?"
The eagerness in her eyes confused him. "Yeah," he said. "She made a lovely meal, best roast beef I've had in a while."
"And…?"
"And…what?"
"Well?" Yolei seemed to be bursting with excitement, but over what? Matt had no clue. Before he could ask, her phone rang.
She picked it up & was all business. After a brief conversation with the person on the other end of the line, she pressed the Hold button & said, "Its Des Nikata. He wants to talk to you about his rezoning application for the Asada property."
"Thanks, Yolei." Matt strode into his office & picked up his phone. Seconds later, he was deeply involved in a discussion with his client and had dismissed his receptionist's puzzling attitude & comments from his mind.
Mimi woke to the sound of loud screaming. She lay wide-eyed, heartbeats racing. Was someone committing murder? But even as she asked herself the question, she realized that what she was hearing was the sound of rock music.
She sat up & shoved back her hair. Glancing at the clock, she grimaced. Okay, so she slept in, but still…Yamato Ishida was the most inconsiderate man she'd ever met. He knew she had a restless night yet he was inflicting this nerve-rasping torture on her.
She got off the bed, put on her robe, & quickly marched out of the room. If playing that wild music was a ploy to get rid of her, he would have to try another tack.
The sound was coming from the empty guest room. She stamped across the lobby & through the doorway…and she stopped short.
A skinny, pony tailed painter wearing a baseball cap & paint-spattered white overalls was standing atop a ladder with his back to her. On the window seat lay the offending ghetto blaster, its stereo beat so loud it was like having rusty nails hammered in her ears.
She crossed the room & turned the stereo off. Then, fisting her hands on her hips, she turned to confront the painter…who had swiveled around; paintbrush poised in one hand, & was staring down at her with startled eyes.
Before Mimi could speak, he said, in a voice that was high with astonishment, "Who are you?" He gaped at Mimi, eyes widening as he scanned her sleep-mussed hair, her short robe, her long bare legs & her bare feet.
Mimi felt hackles rise at the man's blatant show of interest. She drew a deep breath preparing to fly at him…but the air was filled with the smell of paint & noxious fumes, and all of a sudden she felt dizzy. Fighting against a queasy feeling, she pressed a hand to her stomach.
"Please stop what you're doing," she ordered. "There's been a misunderstanding. Mr. Ishida had no right to order any work done here so I'd like you to pack up &…"
The room was spinning. She was going to be sick. She swung away toward the door & by the time she reached the bathroom, she was running. She made it to the toilet just in time & sinking to the floor; she grabbed the edge of the seat & started heaving. But her stomach was empty & nothing came up. She felt sweat bead her brow & her skin turn clammy…
And then she felt firm hands grasp her shoulders. "Hang on," the painter said. "You'll be okay."
Okay? She'd never be okay again. Last time, her morning sickness had passed after the first trimester, but so far this time it showed no signs of letting up. She felt as if she was dying! And she should have been outraged that this stranger had followed her into the privacy of the bathroom…but, she admitted weakly, it did help to have his hands steadying her.
And several long minutes, the attack of nausea passed. She pushed herself up & the man stood back. She stumbled to the sink where she splashed icy water over her face. Then she reached blindly to the rail for a towel…but found one thrust into her hands. She wiped her face dry & then leaning shakily back against the sink, she opened her eyes.
The painter was looking at her, his smile sympathetic. "Feeling better now?" He took the towel from her & hang it over the rack. But Mimi's startled gaze was at the painter's face, taking in for the first time the slate-gray shadow that enhanced the blue eyes & the dark mascara coating the long, feathery lashes.
The painter, she realized, was a woman!
"Yes," she said stiffly. "I'm fine. Thank you for you're help but I'd appreciate it if you'd pack up your gear & leave."
The woman hooked her thumbs into the straps of her overalls. "I can't, I have to get this job through. Unless I hear otherwise…" her tone was amused, "from the owner."
She was irritating as a hangnail & Mimi scowled at her. Should she try & kick this woman out, bodily, from the house? The painter wasn't much bigger than he was…but she looked strong & tough. Besides, it wouldn't be wise to get into a brawl, not when she had the baby to consider.
The woman wasn't about to hang around waiting for a response. Throwing Mimi a friendly smile, she walked away & returned to the guest room. The loud music wailed through the house once more & Mimi pressed her hands to her ears as she hurried back to her room to look for the clothes she'd wear for her confrontation with "the owner"!
"How may I help you?" The receptionist ran an assessing gaze over Mimi's smart navy suit as she approached the desk.
Mimi looked around. To the right she saw a door with a brass plate bearing Matt's name. "I'd like to see Mar. Ishida, please."
"You don't have an appointment…"
"He'll see me. Just tell him Ms. Tachikawa is here."
"I'm afraid I can't do…"
Mimi started walking toward his door.
"Mr. Ishida," the receptionist called after her, "has gone out for lunch."
With a "Tsk!" of annoyance, Mimi turned. "Look," she said, "this can't wait. I need to see him now. Where can I find him? Which restaurant?"
The receptionist hesitated.
"It really is important," Mimi said.
Sighing, the woman sat back. "He went out for coffee & sandwich and he said he was going to eat lunch over in Moorel Park, since it was such a nice day."
"Thank you," Mimi said. "I appreciate your help."
Three minutes later, she was walking through the open gates of the riverside park. She spotted Matt right away. He was sitting sprawled out on a bench, his arms relaxed along the back of the bench, his long legs stretched out & crossed at the ankle, his face up to the sun, & his eyes closed against its brilliant noon-hour glare.
Her heartbeats staggered…but she did not. She marched toward him on the narrow path, her pumps clicking briskly on the sun baked cement. Matt paid no attention to the approaching sound. Only when she came to a stop in front of the bench, within kicking distance, did he lazily open one eye. His eyelids flickered, but it was the only sign she saw of his surprise.
"Why didn't you tell me," she snapped, "that you were having a work person in the house this morning?"
He grinned. "A work person, well, I guess that coming from a big city, you have to make sure you're politically correct. Here in this old town we…"
"I am not…" she bulldozed over top oh him, "here to talk about what is or is not politically correct. I'm here to talk about your painter & her ghetto blaster. I did not appreciate being wakened up to the sound of wild screaming…"
"Ah, yes, rock music." Laughter bubbled in his voice. "You see, our work person has taken a great delight in listening to rock music since she discovered…"
"She can discover herself in single malt whiskey for all I care!" Mimi tried to keep her cool, but he was really being impossible. "And she can drape herself in tartan & eat eggs till it's coming out of her ears...only, not in my house! I told her to leave, but she says she won't quit the job till she gets the order from the 'owner' himself. And I guess…" she stuck her hands on her hips, "the 'owner' would be you!"
He was laughing at her. Not out loud, but she could see the merriness in his eyes. He stood & she took a step back. Even in her heels, she felt tiny beside him…and vulnerable.
"We have to talk," he said. And now his face became serious. "But it's too hot out here. Let's go back to my office. It's air-conditioned."
She tried not to notice how snugly his white t-shirt stretched over his hard-muscled chest; & she tried even harder not to notice how shamefully her body was responding to his sexy scent. Feeling dizzy, she put a hand to her temple & began to sway.
Matt grabbed her arm. "Let's get you inside, out of this heat…& I'll fix you up with a nice cool drink."
Mimi didn't protest. She knew if he took his supporting hand away, she might fall to the ground like a pat of melted butter!
AN: So tell me, what do you think? I want to point out that the woman painter is not someone you should worry about. You'll find out more about her in the next couple of chapters. Anyways, will Matt finally figure out that Mimi is pregnant? Find out what happens in the next chapter.
Don't forget to review! lol
