Page 114 of Passionate Defense

“She gets this way when she’s tired,” he explained. “It’s the pregnancy. The doctor said it happens sometimes because of the hormone levels. She gets mood swings, mostly euphoria like this. Occasionally it’s been tears and irritability, so we’ll count ourselves lucky we have bubbly Beth tonight.” He cast an indulgent look at his still-tittering wife. “You missed your nap today, didn’t you, baby girl?”

“Yes, and it’s way past my bedtime.” Shaking her head, she glanced over at Lanie. “Can you believe I have an eight-thirty bedtime? Otherwise, I act like a nine-year-old at a slumber party and can’t stop laughing. Everything is funny when I’m tired.”

Lanie glanced cuttingly at Steven.

“Hey, don’t look at me,” he protested. “It was self-imposed, although if she hadn’t, I probably would have. I’m half expecting social services to be waiting outside the delivery room to snatch the child from the arms of his drunken mother.”

“They wouldn’t dare,” Beth exclaimed, no longer laughing. “Mama grizzly will kick their collective ass.”

They smiled indulgently at the diminutive, soon-to-be mama, who would surely topple over if she tried to kick a pebble, much less someone’s ass.

Lanie looked at the lights above the door, watching them blink on and off with each passing floor, as Steven placed a gentle kiss on his wife’s lips.

“I’m so glad we’ve gotten to be such close friends. I never thanked you two for the suggestions you gave Ethan.”

“What suggestions?” they asked in unison.

“I believe you, Dr. Anderson, mentioned something about how to role-play away the stress. And you, my best friend and law partner, suggested he wallop my butt. You both stand accused of conspiracy and should throw yourselves on the mercy of the court."

Steven remained silent, unsure of what to say. The ever-irrepressible Beth didn’t have that problem, asking cheekily, “Excuse me. Aren’t you the one on the way to a special night of fun and games with your sexy husband?”

“Uh...yeah.”

“What damages are you claiming? Great sex with multiple orgasms? All I can say is wah-wah-wah, quit rubbing it in. We’re on the sexual sidelines for another four months at least and don’t want to hear it, do we, Steven?”

“No, dear.” To Lanie he said, “You hit a sore spot, sweetie. It’s best”—he had dropped his voice to a stage whisper—“not to mention s-e-x around the scary pregnant lady.”

Lanie nodded in wide-eyed agreement.

They arrived on the fifth floor in the nick of time to Lanie’s way of thinking because Beth was not only scary but moody, going from giddy to grouch in under thirty seconds. When Lanie followed them out, and waved goodnight, assuring them she could find her room on her own, Steven produced a key card.

“We’re staying, too. Our room is just a few doors down the other way. We’ll watch to make sure you get inside though.”

“More of Ethan’s orders?”

“No, Lanie. This one is all mine.” Lanie looked from his stern face that said without words there would be no further discussion to Beth. She might be a scary pregnant lady, but Steven was a scarier dominant.

“Good night,” her friend said at her door, moving in for a hug, which was awkward and bent-over because of her enormous belly. “Sorry, I went a little nutso.”

“No worries. My time will come. When it does, and I’m crazy with pregnancy hormones, I’ll expect you to be very understanding.”

Beth grinned. “I’ve got a big head start. If you want them to be best friends and grown up together, you’ll have to get busy.”

“I’ll tell Ethan to get right on that. Goodnight, you two.”

---