Katie couldn’t help but laugh. “Not a word, huh?” That would be the day, when Jay Carey didn’t express an opinion about something.
“Maybe a couple of words,” he conceded. “But you can still do what you want.” All amusement left his voice as he sat up and cupped her cheek in his hand. “Move in with me, Katie. I love you and I want to live with you. I don’t want this to be my house; I want it to be our home.”
Those last two words made Katie stop trying to find reasons why she couldn’t do it. To live with Jay, to make a home with him was what she wanted, too. She watched as he lifted his hand to fluff the back of his hair that had become flat from lying on the floor and she grinned. He was so vain, and she adored that about him. She adored everything about him and was more than ready to adore him up close and personal all the time. Scooting forward, she laid her head on his shoulder. “I want to live with you, too.” She felt him sigh as he wrapped his arms around her.
“Good,” he whispered into her hair. “And that skinny-dipping thing — that’s still on?”
Katie grinned at the teasing look in his eyes. “Oh, you bet. But only if you skinny-dip with me.”
He looked blank for a moment before he began to smile. “Damn, this is going to be fun.”
Moving had never been on Katie’s list of favorite things to do. Moving while her boyfriend was in the midst of writing, rehearsing and recording a new album didn’t make it better. Add to that the fact that all of her close male friends were in the studio with her boyfriend and it was downright horrible. If she didn’t know she’d end up living with Jay Carey at the end of it all, she’d have thrown up her hands and quit.
Hands on hips, she glared at the half-packed boxes crowding her once-tidy kitchen. Not only did she still have dishes to pack, she had to find some way to transport the food in her refrigerator to Jay’s without it spoiling in the heat. Maureen had appropriated Nicky’s car for the week and they’d made progress on getting most of the boxes from the flat to the house, but the lack of air conditioning in the Prefect made it a distinct possibility that the chicken would be cooked before it reached St. John’s Wood.
Maureen entered the kitchen and made for the box fan sitting in the window. She stuck her face a half-inch from the blades and flapped the front of her blouse. “Please tell me this is the last room we have to finish.”
“Almost.” Katie wrapped a glass in newspaper. “There are a few things still in the bathroom, but we can knock that out in about five minutes.”
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.” Opening the refrigerator, she pulled out the jug of ice water and drank from it without bothering with a glass. “My brother will be round with his truck on Sunday and that’ll take care of the furniture, and Bob’s your uncle!”
“I’m out of newspapers again.” Katie pushed her hair out of her eyes and sighed. “I guess I’m going to have to buy a cooler for the food anyway, so I’ll get some while I’m out.”
“Want me to go?” Maureen sounded unenthusiastic about leaving the fan.
“Nah. We’ll take a break for lunch in a bit and we can go together. Let’s go ahead and pack the stuff that doesn’t have to stay cold.” She held up a bulb of garlic in illustration. “There’s not a lot. Is there a small box left anywhere?”
“Are you planning on a vampire attack?” Jay asked from the doorway.
Katie turned to him with a smile. “No, lasagna.”
“I know where a box is!” Maureen exclaimed. “Hiya, Jay.” She rushed out of the kitchen toward the bedroom.
“What are you doing here?” Katie shut the door on an empty cabinet. “I thought you were going to be in the studio all day.”
“Nicky and I came down to switch cars with you. It’s too fucking hot for you to be running round without air conditioning. Here, catch.” He tossed his car keys to her.
Katie caught them by reflex. “Jay, I can’t drive your car! What if I end up on the wrong side of the road?”
Jay arched a brow. “I expect you’d have a smash-up. Try not to do that, hm?”
“We’re using Jay’s car?” Maureen plunked a box down on the countertop. “I’m not dressed to ride in a Bentley!”
“Are you dressed to be in an automobile accident?” Katie was close to hyperventilating with nerves.
“I suppose so; I’m wearing clean knickers,” Maureen snickered.
Jay laughed and walked around the table to Katie. “Speaking of knickers,” he told her, “don’t get yours in a twist. You’ll be fine.”
“Jay.” Nicky poked his head around the door. “You coming?”
“Nicks!” Maureen abandoned all pretense of packing and threw herself into her husband’s arms.
“In a minute,” Jay replied. He pressed a warm kiss on Katie’s lips. “Try not to get in an accident. The car I don’t care about, but I’m rather attached to you.”
Katie kissed him back. “I’ll do my best. By the way, Nicky’s car is full of boxes.”
“Anything that can’t stay there all day?” He took her hand as they walked into the living room.
“No.” Katie shook her head. “Just kitchen stuff.”
“We’ll bring them in when Nicky drives me home tonight, then.”
His casual use of the word “home” sent a thrill through her. She turned and wrapped her arms around him, unmindful of the heat. “I love you,” she whispered.
“Love you, too.” Jay leaned down to nuzzle her neck.
When his hair fell across her face, she inhaled, expecting that wonderful cocktail of scents that was Jay. A whiff of something different made her draw back in surprise. “Why does your hair smell like jasmine?”
A flush of color darkened his cheeks. “I seem to have used your shampoo by mistake this morning. It’s been bloody inconvenient, too.”
“Inconvenient? Why?”
Jay cast a quick glance at Nicky and Maureen who were talking together near the door and lowered his voice. “Because I’ve been walking around all morning half hard.” He gave her a wry look when she looked confused. “Katie, the smell of your hair drives me mad and I’ve been smelling it all day.” He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He stopped abruptly and dropped his hand. “I’ve had to keep my guitar on so no one would notice. I’ve gotten a few odd looks, but it’s nothing to the reaction I’d get if they knew I was turned on by the smell of my own hair.”
There was no way she could keep from laughing. “My poor baby.” She pressed her hips against his and discovered he wasn’t kidding. “My, my. You do have a problem, don’t you?”
“Thank you for making it worse.” Despite his grumpy tone, he pressed back against her, his problem growing at an alarming rate.
“Want me to help you with that?” she murmured. “Shouldn’t take more than a minute or two.”
“Well … ” He glanced askance at Maureen and Nicky before his gaze fixed on Katie’s mouth.
Grinning, she took his hand and began leading him from the room. “Maureen,” she called. “I need Jay to help me with something for just a minute. Be right back.”
• • •
A huge yawn split Maureen’s face, one she didn’t even try to cover. “What time is it?
Katie glanced at the clock. “Almost midnight.” She giggled. “Look at you; only been married a couple of months and already going to bed early.”
If Maureen had looked any more sheepish she would have
baa’d
. “Actually … ”
Something in her voice caused Katie to abandon her perusal of the boxes stacked in Jay’s game room. “Actually what?” she asked.
A bright blush stained Maureen’s cheeks, making her eyes appear bluer and her hair more platinum. Upon closer inspection, Katie realized it wasn’t the blush that made Maureen seem to glow. It was as if she was lit from within. Sudden understanding dawned and Katie’s mouth fell open.
“Oh, my God,” she whispered. “You’re pregnant.”
Hesitancy battled with happiness as Maureen nodded. “Three months gone.”
“Oh, my God,” Katie repeated. “This is … this is … ” With an excited whoop, she stumbled past boxes and enveloped Maureen in a tight hug. “This is the best fucking news I’ve ever heard!”
Laughing, Maureen returned the hug and the two of them engaged in a bout of giggling, shrieking and jumping up and down. Katie calmed down enough to draw back and inspect Maureen’s face thoroughly.
“Damn, look at you! You’re even more gorgeous than usual.” She held her friend at arm’s length to get a better look. “I should have realized, but I was so caught up in moving.” A laugh shook her shoulders. “Here I thought you were just being lazy when you suggested we pack these boxes so light so we wouldn’t have to … ” She broke off with a sudden gasp. “Are you completely insane?” she bellowed. “You shouldn’t have been picking up boxes and loading them into the car and … Why the hell didn’t you say something?”
“I, um … ” Maureen’s gaze shifted over Katie’s shoulder. “I didn’t know how you’d feel about it.”
“No.” Katie held up a hand. “None of that. Don’t you spend even one minute worrying about me. I’m serious, Maur. I’m so happy for you I can’t even find words to tell you how much.”
With a relieved laugh, Maureen hugged Katie again. “Thank you, Kate! You don’t know how badly I’ve wanted to tell you. I want you to be there every step of the way with me.”
“Count on it.” After a squeeze, Katie drew back and fixed her friend with a stern look. “Now about all this moving boxes and shit.”
“I’ve been careful,” Maureen assured her. “I’ve not lifted anything I shouldn’t and I haven’t overdone. My doctor says I’m perfectly healthy and he even warned me about not getting enough exercise. So don’t worry.”
A fresh burst of happiness and wonder engulfed Katie. “Oh, my God.” She cupped Maureen’s rosy cheek in her hand. “You’re going to have a baby. I’m so bleedin’ happy for you!”
“Did you just say ‘bleedin’?’” Maureen snickered. “Ah, my little Yank friend, there’s hope for you yet.”
Just as Katie was becoming acclimated to living with Jay, he left with Shadowed Knight to tour Europe. Two months after that, the band roared off to the States riding the crest of the success of their second album.
Though Jay’s absence was a near-constant ache, Katie refused to let it get her down. Her fear of being abandoned had all but vanished since Jay did, indeed, come back to her. And when he did he made it crystal clear that he’d missed her and still loved her like mad.
With so much time on their hands, Katie and Maureen devoted all their energies to their clothing line, adding maternity clothes that didn’t look like the usual pregnancy wear.
“Peter Pan collars!” Maureen huffed. “Why is it that pregnant women have to look like schoolgirls in trouble?” She bent over her sketch pad with a determined look and quickly created a flowing tunic top that could be worn before, during and after pregnancy.
Katie rifled through the selection of maternity wear Maureen had brought to the house. “These fabrics are awful, too.” She held up a blouse between her thumb and forefinger as though it were contaminated with a new strain of syphilis. “Look at this. Not just polyester, but plaid polyester.” She dropped it with a shudder. “This shit is just offensive. I can’t believe women put up with it.”
“Well, this pregnant woman isn’t going to.” Maureen held up the sketch. “What about this little number?”
“Ooh, pretty!” Katie examined the drawing. “What’s it made of?”
Maureen shrugged. “I thought maybe gauze. That would drape properly without being too bulky. And here, here and here … ” She made quick, precise marks on the neckline and the ends of the long sleeves. “This will be embroidered in some really far out shiny metallic thread.”
“I’d wear that myself,” Katie declared.
“That’s exactly what I’m going for. Maternity clothes that don’t look like maternity clothes.” Though Maureen looked pleased at Katie’s statement, a line of strain remained between her eyes.
Katie laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Maur, do you feel alright?”
“Yes, why?” But Maureen refused to meet Katie’s eyes.
“It’s just that you look … tired.” Katie tried to catch her gaze. “I’m afraid maybe you’re working too hard, or not sleeping well with Nicky away.”
“Nicky,” Maureen growled. Her grip tightened on the pencil until it snapped in two. “Oh, I’m sure I’m sleeping much better than Nicky Majors.”
“Wow.” Eyeing the broken pencil with trepidation, Katie gave Maureen’s shoulder a tentative pat. “Um, anything you want to talk about?”
“No. Yes. I don’t know!”
At the sight of tears filling Maureen’s eyes, Katie grew alarmed. “Maureen, what is it? Is it the baby? Is there something wrong?”
Maureen brushed away the tears eyes with an abrupt, angry gesture. “No, it’s not the baby, but there is something wrong.” She turned and rummaged in her handbag, emerging with a rolled up magazine in her hand and fire in her eye. “I’ve not said anything because of … well, because of Jay. But have you read this?”
Katie didn’t know which publication it was, but she shook her head. “Nah. I don’t read that shit.” While Jay was on the road, she was careful to avoid music and fan magazines. She knew exactly what he was up to when he wasn’t onstage and her imagination was vivid enough; she didn’t need verification.
Maureen took a deep breath. “Look, duck, I know you don’t believe half the stuff in these articles, but that just means the other half must be true.” She bit her lip and unfurled the magazine. “Do you think they really … I mean, look at this.” She fumbled through the pages. “There’s an interview in here with this little tart who makes it her life’s work to sleep with every band that comes through Los Angeles. And she said … Oh, where is it?”
With a sigh, Katie plucked the magazine from Maureen’s hands. “And do you think she was telling the whole truth? You don’t think she just made up a bunch of shit to sound good so she could get her name in a magazine?” The way Maureen averted her eyes and the wash of color in her cheeks made Katie clutch the book so tight the pages crinkled. “Did she talk about Nicky?” she asked in a low voice.
“In passing.” Maureen’s voice was just above a whisper, but the hesitant tone confirmed what Katie thought.
“But most of it’s about Jay, isn’t it?”
Looking miserable, Maureen nodded. “Yes. Cor, I’m so sorry! I forgot when I brought it out. I was just … Oh, damn!”