Page 69 of Shark’s Rise

“I like the sound of that, Mr. Shark,” she said dreamily.

“You got yourself a deal.” I kissed her forehead and then added, almost to myself as she drifted off entirely, “Mrs. Shark.”

I had never been more sure about something in my life. I needed to lock this woman down. Marry her. The sooner the better. I just needed to come up with an offer she couldn’t refuse.

Chapter Eleven

Abbigail

“Is that really my cousin?” With hands on either side of my stomach, Vela looked up at me in wonder.

“That’s really him.” I beamed as my baby boy fussed around beneath my ribs. “He’s strong, isn’t he?”

“Does that hurt you? Is he really kicking you right now? With his little legs? Maybe he wants to play soccer like I do!”

“Maybe.” I laughed. “It doesn’t really hurt, though. Sometimes it’s uncomfortable if he gets in the wrong place and does it. Or if I eat something he doesn’t like.”

Vela thought for a moment. But just one. “He tastes the food you eat? My mom said he doesn’t need to eat food while he’s in your belly. I’m so confused!” She put her little hands on either side of her head like it may explode from informational overload.

I laughed again. Vela had as many funny comments as she did questions. “He doesn’t eat the food, exactly. My body reacts to the food, and then he feels that, and that’s what seems to make him unhappy. Is that less confusing?” I looked to Sebastian, who was thumbing through a magazine, to assist with the explanation. He just put his hands up helplessly, like he had no idea what to say either.

Dori to the rescue. “Vela, have you ever eaten too much ice cream? Or something else that makes your belly hurt?”

The little girl nodded vigorously. “One time, I ate twenty-three chocolate chip cookies my mom baked for a work Christmas party. I couldn’t help it! They were so yummy right when they came out of the oven!”

I laughed. Couldn’t be helped. This beautiful little human was so animated with every story she told.

Dori was equally cute when she matched her excitement to the child’s. “I know what you mean!” she exclaimed and clutched her stomach dramatically. “But then you feel really, really bad later on.” She grimaced, and Vela did the same.

“Oh, it was the worst. I had the worst stomachache that night. I thought I would never eat another chocolate chip cookie for the rest of my life!” She playfully fell over to the side and rolled on the floor.

But Dori continued with her lesson. “So, if Abbi did that, the baby would really move around a lot, because Abbi’s belly would already be hurting in the same way. It would make the baby unhappy.”

“Oooohhh. Yeah, that makes sense. Because he has to live in there.” She twisted her face up, thinking of the turmoil in an upset stomach. She came back over to where I was stretched out on the sofa. “Aunt Abbi, I don’t think you should have chocolate chip cookies until my cousin comes out of your belly. I’m really sorry about that.” She patted my hand and then skipped out of the room, calling over her shoulder, “I’m going to play on the computer until my mom gets here.”

“Okay, Star,” Bas called back, chuckling at the scene that had just played out.

“What a character,” I said.

“She’s absolutely precious. Do you need anything? Either of you?” Dori asked.

“All good here,” I said, rubbing my itchy stomach.

“No, thank you, Dori,” Bas answered.

“Have you used the shea butter today?” She motioned to where I was still scratching.

“No, I’ll do it when we go up to bed. I don’t want to get up.” I frowned at the thought of going all the way upstairs.

“Then I’m going to turn in. We have a big day tomorrow with the party planning. What time is Rio getting here?” Dori asked.

“After the lunch deliveries are loaded and she drives up from Inglewood. So hopefully by noon. I’m so excited. I still can’t believe we landed this event. It’s easily the biggest contract in Abstract Catering’s history. I have a million ideas.”

About a month ago, Rio caught wind of one of Hollywood’s most influential power couple’s annual extravaganza almost going belly up because they parted ways with their long-time trusted caterer. We discussed submitting a proposal and threw caution to the wind and went for it. The party was known throughout socialite circles as the “party to be seen at” for the movers and shakers in Los Angeles, and it had the potential to take our business to the next level if we could get our foot in the door.

“Have you been putting them in the Dropbox so Rio can review them? Remember she asked you to do that.”

“Thank you. I knew my pregnant brain was forgetting something! Woman, I don’t know what I would do without you.”