Bijou

One Year Later

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“What time is your interview?” I asked, plating the pancakes I had just made.

“Nine.” Redd answered, walking into the kitchen.

Stopping what I was doing, I looked him over, and my stomach filled with butterflies. He had on a deep blue button up, the top button open, exposing his thick neck. A black leather belt wrapped his waist, with khaki pants that hugged his masculine curves.

“What do you think?” he asked, holding out his arms and turning around. “Is this okay?”

“I think you look sexy.” Resting a hand on my stomach, I pushed back against the counter and smirked.

He really did look sexy as sin. But it didn't really matter what he had on, everything about that man made my insides burst and crackle like a bonfire being lit with gasoline.

“I think I look ridiculous.” Leaning in, Redd kissed my belly and whispered into my stomach. “You can't see me, but I look like a banker.”

“Don't listen to him, he's being insane. Daddy looks incredible.”

“I don't know, this isn't me, Bijou.” Tugging at his collar, he slipped a finger in the neckline and pulled it away from his skin.

“So don't wear it, you're the one who wanted to make the impression. I still think you're over-thinking this whole thing. They called you, remember? They're the ones that want your expertise.” Exaggerating the word, I sarcastically made quotation marks in the air and rolled my eyes playfully.

Redd's prior profession had given him an upper hand in the world of protection. And because of that, a large jewelry chain wanted to hire Redd as their head of security. It was the silver lining to a criminal legend.

Walking his fingers over my growing belly, he tugged me into his chest, bringing his nose down to mine. “You think you're funny. Don't you?”

“I do.” Running my fingertips up and down the outside of his arms, he flashed me a big smile.

And that smile, damn if that smile didn't cause my stomach to flutter every single time. It didn't matter how long we had been together, it still felt the same. The touch of his hands sent chills over my skin, the sound of his voice made my body come alive.

Those feelings, they were what held me together, giving me the strength to become the woman I was.

Bijou was still here, but her role was about to change, I was going to be a mother.

Grateful and happy, this life was perfect.

Driving his face into my neck, he pecked and nipped my throat, causing me to sway on my feet. Strong arms thickened around my waist, holding me up, keeping me pinned to his chest. Giggling, I tried to fend off his lip attack, but it was no use.

“You just wait until later, you're going to get it.” His mouth kneaded my skin, drawing out a moan from my lungs.

“You better stop now or else you won't make it to your interview on time.” Pushing his shoulders back, I caught his eyes with mine.

I loved the way he looked at me. I felt important, I felt cherished and loved. I couldn't ever tell him how thankful I was to have him and his sister in my life. There weren't enough words to capture my feelings.

“Maybe I can skip the interview. . .” Flashing a big smile, he bounced his brows. “I think there are more important things here that need to be taken care of.”

Laughing, I wriggled free of his arms. “Don't worry, those things can wait.”

“Ahh!” Vicki screamed from down the hall, causing Redd to jump in his skin and take off.

“What' wrong? Are you alright?” he asked, disappearing into the hall with one giant step.

“Go away!” she screamed, her voice hostile and distressed. “Just leave me alone!”

“Let me in, Vicki.”

“No, Redd! Bijou! Go get Bijou!” Her voice floated into the kitchen, pleading for me to come to her. “Bijou!”

Waddling down the hall, Redd was perched outside the bathroom, his face frantic. “She won't let me in, she's refusing to open up.”

“Vicki, are you alright?” Resting my palm on the door, I pressed an ear to the wood.

“Can you come in here? Only you, not Redd.”

Giving me a wild eye, Redd threw up his arms. “Seriously? Vicki, you can't scream like that and not tell me what's going on.”

“Go. Away. Redd.”

Opening my eyes wide, I flapped my fingers for him to move aside. “I'm coming in, just me, no crazy big brothers.”

Slipping inside, Vicki was sitting on the toilet, her face pale white. “What's going on?” I asked, resting my hands on my hips as I leaned against the door.

I let her talk, her words rambling on, quick and barely audible. But once she got going, it was clear, this was definitely not a situation her brother would be able to handle.

After staying in there with her for a few more minutes, I gave her a hug and went back out into the hall. Redd was bug eyed, his brows high, hands anxiously running up and down his thighs.

Laughing, I started to walk back towards the kitchen. “She's fine, Redd, you can relax.”

“Relax? What was wrong? What was that all about?”

“You don't need to worry about it, I took care of it. And trust me, you'll be glad I did.” Smirking, I winked at him and let out a small chuckle.

“Bijou, tell me what that was all about.” Gripping my arm, he stopped me, forcing me to look at him. “Tell me.”

“It's personal.”

“Personal?” Cocking his head, he frowned.

“Yes, it's personal.”

“She's fourteen years old, nothing's personal. What is it?”

Staring at him under hooded lids, my lips turned paper thin. “You really don't want to know.”

“Yes, I do. She's my sister, I have the right to know.”

“Alright.” Wiping my hands over my belly, I cupped the large bump. “She got her period. There, now you know.”

I watched the blood drain from his face, eyes rolling back into his head. “Oh lord.” Dragging his hands through his hair, he slumped his shoulders. “I can't go now, I should stay here. She might need something.”

“She's fine, Redd, it's not an illness or something.” Laughing, I brought two plates to the table and then grabbed mine. “Come eat before it gets cold.”

Raking open palms down his face, he shook his head. “I don't think I can eat, I feel. . .” Pausing, he lifted his arms and let them fall. “I don't know.”

“Nervous?” Stuffing a chunk of pancake into my mouth, I moaned as the syrup hit my tongue and my pregnancy senses climbed to an all-time high. “Oh, that's good.”

I was six months pregnant, and loving every second of it. After everything, I couldn't say the nightmares had just stopped. It didn't happen that way.

But time helped to ease my fears, therapy helped to guide my emotions and sort them out. I was starting to really feel like what we had gone through had made us stronger. It connected us, it bonded us.

And my father, I forgave him completely. He had gotten himself into a really bad situation, doing what he was forced to do. I didn't blame him for what happened to me, I could never put that burden on him.

My sister and mother couldn't believe it when I walked through the door. Lila cried for months every time she saw me and my mother hugged me like I was a small child again, afraid to let me go.

“I'm not nervous.” Taking his seat, he cut through the pancake and forked it into his mouth. “Definitely not nervous.”

“Okay, you're not nervous, got it.”

Vicki quietly walked into the room, sitting down and guzzling a tall glass of orange juice. Redd watched her from the corner of his eye, chewing slowly.

Don't say anything to her! Keep your mouth shut!

“Hey, congratulations.”

Hanging my head, I sighed. What are you doing, Redd?

I remembered what it was like to be in her position. It's awkward and uncomfortable. You're not sure how to talk about it, and you definitely don't want to discuss it with anyone else.

“Congratulations?” she asked, giving him a funny look. “Are you serious?”

Coughing, Redd choked down his food and shrugged. “I don't know, isn't that what I should say? I mean, you're a woman now, so—”

“Oh god,” Vicki groaned, stuffing her face into her hands. “Please, don't say things like that. Can we just not talk about this?”

“Is it your hormones? Are you feeling angry and ticked off?”

My eyes popped open wide, shear disbelief shadowing my expression. Even I felt embarrassed for her right then.

“Okay,” she said, picking up her fork and looking down at her plate. “I'm not having this conversation. Bijou, can you please make him stop?”

Touching the back of Redd's hand, I leaned in and kissed his cheek. “No more, let the girl eat.”

“What?” His eyes expanded, as thin lines created a stairway up his forehead. “What did I do?”

Patting his hand, I stood up and draped my arms around his neck, leaning in over his shoulder. “Redd, just finish your breakfast and start thinking about tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“Yeah.” Placing small kisses up his neck, I bit his lobe. “You'll deserve a congratulatory massage after you land that job.”

“I'm going to be sick.” Pressing her fingers to her mouth, she blew her cheeks up like small balloons. “I don't know what's worse—this, or talking about my period.” Wiping her lips, she pushed back from the table and rose to her feet. “I've got to get going, the bus will be here in a few minutes.”

“I can drive you, let me grab my keys,” Redd shot out eagerly, starting to stand up from his chair.

Holding out her hand, she stopped him. “No, it's okay. I'll take the bus today, the last thing I want is to be alone with you in a car. But thank you.”

“Alright, be careful.” Vicki opened the door, slinging her backpack over her shoulder and giving him an annoyed smile. “I'm picking you up from school, don't forget.”

“Got it.” Saluting her brother, she stepped outside and closed the door behind her.

“Well, that was awkward.”

“You think?” I asked, picking up Vicki's plate and dumping the remnants in the trash. “Please, from here on out, don't ask her about it, don't talk about it, just don't mention it all.”

Holding up his hands, he rolled his eyes. “Not a problem.”

Slipping the plate into the sink, I twisted over my shoulder. “How much time do we have before you need to leave?”

“Forty minutes.”

“Really?” Biting my lip, I flashed him a flirtatious grin. “That long?”

His fork dropped onto the plate, chair scraping across the floor. “Let's go.” Thick fingers tore at the buttons around his neck with force, yanking the shirt away from his chest.

Smiling, I padded over the carpet and followed him down to our room. “I love you.”

Turning on his heels, Redd walked backwards, reaching out and grabbing my hands. My heart skipped as his fingers lightly stroked my skin and his gaze steadied on mine. Redd was perfect. Everything was perfect.

Love had somehow found me in the darkness, pulling me out of the ashes and breathing new life into my soul.

I loved this man, and I couldn't imagine a world without him.

His hands curled around my belly, hugging the life we had created, as our eyes stayed static on each other. Kissing my lips, his voice flowed out, rich and full. “I love you, Bijou. And I'm going to love you until the day I take my last breath.”

There was no doubt in my mind—

It was all worth it.

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