Page 82 of Breathtaking

“What?” I ask innocently. “I’m eating for two.”

“I fucking love you.” He kisses me again and rises. “The car will be here to pick you up at six-thirty. It’s getting Callen and Caitlin, then heading here. I’ll see you at il leone. Call me if you need anything.”

I grab his face and pull it back down to mine. “I am so proud of you. Tonight is going to be amazing.”

“Ajax,” he calls out, and my new bodyguard, one of the many on the team, rounds the corner.

“Yeah, Madman?”

“Don’t let her out of your sight. Not now. And not tonight.” He kisses me one more time and breaks off another piece of donut. “You hear me?”

“You’re crazy. I’m not even going anywhere until the car shows up tonight,” I tell him and grab the rest of the donut before he can. With each week that’s passed, it’s like his worry has grown, and I’m not sure what I can do to give him peace of mind.

“I’ll see you tonight,principessa.”

* * *

“Lennon...” Caitlin calls out as she and Callen let themselves into the house, and my eyes fly to the clock.

Shit. It’s already six-thirty.

“I’m upstairs. But Callen can’t come up. I’m not dressed,” I holler down and walk into my closet, staring at the gorgeous navy-blue gown I’m supposed to wear for il leone’s opening. Thank you, Everly Wilder. My new best friend. The fact she can somehow make me feel like anything less than a killer whale is amazing at this point in my pregnancy.

“Where are you hiding, Lennon?” Caitlin asks as she walks into my room, and I giggle and push the closet door wide open and stand sideways in all my huge pregnant glory.

“Pretty sure there’s no hiding this.” I run my hand over my stomach, and my beautiful sister-in-law smiles wide. “Listen, even nine million months pregnant, you’re still hot. Now get your dress on and let’s go before my big brother has a stroke, wondering why you’re not there yet.”

I wince as the baby kicks right up into my ribs.

I can’t even take a deep breath anymore.

He’s taking up all the space.

And don’t even get me started on how much I pee...

“Fine. Can you help strap me into this thing?” I grab the gown on the hanger and give it to her while I hold the massive island in the center of my closet for balance.

“Ummm...” She looks at her own floor-length, tight gown and laughs before yelling, “Callen... Come up here, but close your eyes.”

“How the fuck am I supposed to do that?” he yells back.

She scrunches up her nose and mouthssorry. “Carefully, sweetie. We need your help, and I can’t bend down.”

“Caitlin—I’m in a thong and a strapless bra. Your brother is going to kill me, and you and I don’t even want to think about what he’s going to do to poor Callen.”

“I second the poor Callen thing,” the man in question groans from outside the closet. “My eyes are firmly closed, ladies. Now what the hell am I supposed to do?”

“Oh my God. This is ridiculous.” I take the dress from Caitlin’s hands and try to bend over to step into it but can’t. I look at Caitlin and know if she squats down, she’s going to rip her dress. Fuck me. “Callen, open your eyes.”

“Nope. Not a fucking chance, princess.”

“Callen,” Caitlin patronizes her husband. “You won’t be looking at her boobs. I promise. Just squat down and hold the dress for Lennon to step in, then pull it up.”

“Why can’t she put it on over her head?” he asks, but it honestly sounds more like a child whining. It’s actually pretty funny until I look at the time.

“Oh, good grief. I used to change backstage in front of dozens of people. It’s tits and ass and a belly the size of a gigantic beach ball. There’s nothing pretty about it. Just open your eyes and man up, Sinclair,” I put my foot down and wait.

“Damn, you’re kinda mean,” he tells me, shocked as he cracks open one eye but leaves the other closed as he takes the dress from Caitlin—who’s smiling from ear to ear—and squats down.

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