Page 40 of Daigo

He knew he was going to have a fight on his hands. His wife was as stubborn as hell and accustomed to getting her own way. It didn't matter that she never had to work. The money didn't mean a damn thing to her. It was her independence. And he respected that, he mused.

She had come from nothing and had fought her way to being self-employed. She had found her niche and fought to keep it. Her store was doing very well. She had a knack, a talent for reaching people. And she was a hell of a salesperson. He admired her tenacity, her vivacity, her beauty, and her positive outlook on life.

Some people would have caved and ended up feeling sorry for themselves. Not her. She had used her misfortune to her advantage: the loss of her parents, the bouncing around from home to home, and then being homeless. He was proud of her. Shaking his head, he plucked the cigar from his mouth and stared at the glowing end. No wonder he loved her so much. How could he not? he thought wryly. And what the hell was he doing out here, simmering in the cold, when he could be lying in bed and holding her?

Pitching the cigar away, he turned on his heel and headed back to the clinic.

*****

"Hi." She eyed him warily, looking for signs that he was no longer upset.

"Hi." His eyes went to the screen. "What're we watching?"

She let out a silent breath as he toed off his shoes and came to join her on the bed.

"Friends." Sighing softly, she nestled against him when he wrapped his arm around her.

"Again?"

"Hmm. You said I should relax. Hungry?"

"Yeah." Shifting slightly, he tilted her chin up. "I adore you."

Tears sprang to her eyes.

"Don't!"

"I cannot help it." Turning her face away, she burrowed against his chest.

"I don't want you stressing yourself-"

"This is certainly not stress." She sniffed. Lifting her head, she touched his face lovingly. "I'm the luckiest woman alive."

"I quite agree with you." He kissed her tearstained cheeks slowly, absorbing her tears. "How about lobster? Or chicken parmesan?"

"Hmm. Is the door locked?"

He narrowed his eyes at her. "We're not doing that," he told her firmly.

"Just thought we could neck."

"Nope." He kissed her roughly before putting her away. "I'm going to order food."

"Coward!" she called after him with a laugh.

"Just preserving my sanity," he countered dryly. "Watch your comedy and settle down."

Settling back on the pillows, she did just that.

*****

"You cannot expect me to stay away from the store for three days. Daigo, I have a business to run." Plopping her fisted hands on her hips, she glared at him. It had been two days since she had been back from the clinic, and she felt a lot better.

The storm had passed, and the sun had come out with its brilliance to melt the snow. He had insisted on her staying in bed, with Mrs. Bailey bringing her meals. And he had watched over her like a hawk. He had gone into the office in the mornings and stayed just long enough to attend meetings. He had started bringing home work so he could conduct his business from his home office and keep an eye on her.

She was going stark raving mad, just being in the bed.

"Three days is enough time to sort things out at the store." He glanced over at her as he removed the documents from his briefcase. He had arrived home to find her rooting through the closet, looking for clothes to wear. The two days at the clinic had done her a world of good. She was going on four months, and it was very obvious she was pregnant. It always gave him a jolt to see the evidence that she was carrying his babies inside her. It also humbled him.