Page 77 of Conail

Chapter 19

She insisted on attending and wore down his resistance. It was the spring gala organized by the group of wives, and it was being held at the brand-new luxury hotel on Federal Street, the one the press had been raving about, one that her husband's company had invested in as well. Of course she had to make an appearance.

She was big as a house, but she wanted to go out one last time before she had to stay home and take care of their son. She had also rejected the idea of hiring a nanny for the first six months.

"If I start feeling overwhelmed, then we look into it. I'm not going to hand over my responsibility as a mother to some stranger. I work from home anyway."

They had been to several functions as a couple, and the media, instead of cooling things down about them and moving to other matters, were still featuring them in several society magazines.

Yasmine had told her mother and sister-in-law with a laugh that it was difficult for them to believe that a man like Conail McLaughlin was with her.

"Nonsense," her mother had responded with a wave of her hand. "The man is fortunate to be with you. And he knows it."

She had already met most of the wives, and they had clicked. She was amazed at how down to earth they all were. She had finally met Jackson Colby and his brother Jason, much to her delight. His wife Jerri and she had hit it off immediately and became friends.

She was still trying to get used to being married to someone like Conail. She had known initially that he was a powerful man of wealth and status and came from 'old money'. But to see him in action whenever she had gone to his office had left her overwhelmed and had her wondering what on earth he was doing with her.

He still had not said the words she was longing to hear, and it wasn't settling well with her. He was attentive and loving, and she knew he wasn't seeing anyone else. He was passionate and intense when he made love to her, and during the night he wouldwrap his arms possessively around her, bringing her close to him. He was at every doctor's visit, no matter how busy he was. He had only gone on one overseas appointment and had checked on her every day until he returned.

She got along with his mother famously. Eleanor would check in every day and had drawn her into becoming involved with several charities she was a part of.

But she was longing to hear the words and resented the fact that he denied her that. She had seen his ex and her husband at a few of the functions, and the first time she came face to face with the exotically beautiful woman, she had felt like an elephant in a circus act. Everything about her screamed exquisite, and she could not see how Conail could not still love her. But he had held her hand during the introductions and offered polite, yet distant conversation. He had also made it brief before leading her away. There was no indication that he was pining over her. But Yasmine continued to have this nagging doubt and fear that he was.

So, she was determined to attend the gala of the season. And for that, she had conferred with Monique on the style of the dress.

"We have some plus-sized pregnancy outfits that are going to take your breath away," Monique had assured her. "Leave it to me."

And she had come through on her promise. The pantsuit or rather romper was made out of a stunning soft and slithery hammered gold wool that molded her belly and flared out at the legs. A sheer jacket, large and flowing, completed the ensemble. Her husband's gift of a diamond necklace was around her throat. Her hair had grown enough for the stylist to scrape the front into several small twists, intertwining little gold beads in between the springy curls.

Her makeup was flawless, and the diamond earrings swung like a pendulum at her lobes. She completely took his breath away, Conail realized dazedly.

Eleanor watched in satisfaction as all eyes turned to them as they made the circle around the dance floor. Plucking two glasses of champagne from the passing waiter, she wandered over to where Michelle was standing, her eyes trained on the couple, and handed her one.

"Oh, Eleanor. I didn't see you there." She accepted the glass after hesitating briefly, eyes straying to the couple.

"Beautiful, aren't they?"

"Yes. He looks happy." There was a wistful note in her voice that could not be ignored.

"He is. She makes him happy."

"I made a mistake."

"Of course you did, darling. But he bounced back from it and is with the right woman." Lifting her glass in a toast, Eleanor drifted off, leaving Michelle staring at the couple for a while.

He kissed her. For the first time in his life, Conail did not care who was watching. She was inside him, around him, and he could not keep his hands off her.

"Have I told you that you're the most beautiful woman in the room?"

"Tell me again," she ordered. One hand was sliding around his neck and playing with the fringes of hair at his nape. "I cannot hear it too much."

"You're beautiful." His lips brushed hers, and he felt the tremors. "And you're mine. I love you." The words sprang from him as if they could not be contained any longer. "I love you." He kissed the edges of her glossy lips. "I love you so much -- it's too much."

"Conail--" Tears gathered in the corner of her eyes and spilled onto her cheeks. "I've waited so long to hear you say it. I love you so much. I--"

His eyes sharpened at the look on her face. "What is it?"

"Nothing. I--" Her fingers dug into the back of his neck as she took a deep breath.

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