“You have the ocean in California. But there’s something about the earthiness of lakes that I like.”
“I see what you mean.” She held out her hand to link it with his. “Finn, do you think we’ll be raising this child together or separately?”
“I told you, honey, I want to do it together.”
“I don’t see how that’s possible with my career.”
“Do you want raise him or her with me?”
A face softened beneath the straw hat. “Of course.”
“Then we’ll find a way.”
* * *
Elise worked on some sound editing the following day and was tired when Finn picked her up to take her to his place. They walked inside; he’d placed candles all over the main room. He led her to the bathroom where he’d lighted more candles. “Sit on that chair over there. I’m going to run you a bath.”
He poured in some bubble bath and the smell of jasmine filled the air as water rose in the tub. “It’s not too hot. You have to be careful not to take hot baths during pregnancy.”
“I guess I should read some books about dos and don’ts. Since I didn’t ever believe this could happen to me, I never paid any attention to it.”
“Hmm.” He crossed to the counter, picked something up and handed it to her.What to Expect in Pregnancy. “I thought you could peruse it at your leisure. Then after the baby’s born I got the companion book,The First Twelve Months of a Child.”
As the water rose, she leafed through the pages. Finn left the room then came back with a bottle and two champagne glasses. “Finn, I can’t drink.”
“It’s sparkling juice. Not too sweet and not too tart. I’ll have a glass too while you bathe. Or I can leave if you want solitude.”
“No, I’ll read some of this out loud.”
“I’d love that, sweetheart.”
He watched her disrobe. It was sexy. And she was glad she could still feel sexy. Holding onto the grab bars, she climbed into the tub. The heat of the water relaxed her. The swirling of the jets felt wonderful. Boy, she was happy right now!
* * *
Juggling his packages, Finn let himself into her condo. He planned to wait for the rest of the deliveries as he prepared dinner. First he grated the cheese. As it melted, he took out the shrimp he’d prepared at home, along with tabasco sauce and a can of crushed tomatoes. Soon, Shimp Cheese bubbled in the pan, its spicy scent filling his head. He put on rice to boil and cut the ends off of plump green beans and set them in the microwave.
The doorbell rang. He opened it to a delivery. “You can put them all on the counter.” When they did, he tipped the three men who’d brought in the flowers and began to arrange the roses, pink carnations, daisies and even tall bouquets of sunflowers. He placed them in the living room and bedroom.
Then he fished in his pocket for the small jewelry box which held the platinum gold bracelet with a single charm on it—a cutout of a baby. It was an extravagant gift but the sentimentality of it would charm her.
He smiled, thinking of how good life was.
* * *
But then all hell broke loose.
* * *
Elise arrived at the collective the next day, to find several cop cars in the parking lot. Finn was approaching two police officers. She scrambled out of the driver’s seat and caught up with him just as he reached the cops.
“Hello, Mr. McKenna, Ms. Preston.” Captain Marshall was the officer who had come to Fiona’s house to question Finn after he was attacked. “I’m afraid we found a body in your parking lot this morning.”
A body? Elise slapped her hand over her mouth.
Finn raked a hand through his hair and flushed. “That’s horrific. Who is it?”
“Cary Jacobs, your security guard.”
