And So I Ran - Complete

Chapter 37

"Did Christian say what he needed Elliot's help with?" Kate asked as she was trying on her umpteenth pair of shoes.

"Hmm? No, I don't think so. I know he's been looking at some property to upgrade the New York office of GEH, so maybe it's that?"

"Meh. Gives us an excuse to go shopping, although we'll never get through all the shops I wanted thanks to our slow start this morning!"

Kate had wanted to be up and at the shops on opening, where I hadn't been as keen. For the first time since I'd discovered I was pregnant, I'd woken up without needing to run to the toilet, so Christian had taken full advantage of the situation by ordering Mrs. Cortez to bring me tea and toast in bed. And then we'd spent an hour worshipping one another.

In the end, the four of us had gone for a light lunch in Hell's Kitchen and then split up – Kate and me heading for 5th Avenue with Sawyer while Ryan accompanied Christian and Elliot. Now sitting in Bergdorf Goodman, I was watching as Kate singlehandedly attempted to fill the cargo hold of the GEH jet with shopping.

"You haven't bought anything," she grumbled, gesturing for an assistant to ring up five pairs of shoes.

"It seems silly to buy a lot when my body will be changing, soon." I wasn't vain, but I wasn't looking forward to putting on weight as the pregnancy progressed.

"There's always jewelry, handbags, shoes, and accessories," Kate counseled wisely.

She steered me toward the elevator, and we stepped out onto the seventh floor.

"If you don't buy anything for yourself, why don't you pick something up for the baby? I bet Mr. Megabucks would love it if you brought home something. Do you know when you're due yet?"

"Don't call him that! And we're not having the dating scan for another week, but I checked online, and it said sometime early March."

"So, you'll need warmer things, then," Kate said walking over to a rack of Gucci Baby. "A boy would look adorable in this!" she said, picking up a woolen Argyle Sweater Vest. She had a point.

"Two hundred and forty dollars for something an infant is going to spew on?" I gasped when I spotted the price tag, quickly looking around to make sure Sawyer was out of earshot. I wasn't sure whether Taylor had told the security staff, yet.

"Better get used to it, Steele. You're going to be inundated with gifts when people find out you're expecting. And no one is going to give baby Grey something cheap."

Ugh. I was already dreading the fuss and the waste. By some miracle, the press hadn't yet learned about Christian and me. But Kate was right; even without that Mia, alone, would probably buy enough to clothe three children. But it didn't mean I couldn't at least look, right?

"Oh, Kate! Look at that!" Hanging on the end of a rack, there was the sweetest little knitted playsuit in a dusky blue. With a striped collar, it had an adorable duck with a pom pom on the front.

"Aww – you have to get that," Kate said, flicking through the rack and choosing the three to six-month size.

I giggled pointing to a girl's outfit by the same designer. A little tweed dress with matching bloomers, I could see me dressing a daughter in that before visiting Grandma Grace. It was precisely her style!

"And you have to get that, too."

I didn't even bother arguing. When a woman is right, she's right! I was relieved to see these outfits were at least a little less expensive than the Gucci. Taking them from Kate, I handed them to an assistant, along with my Amex Black Card. Christian had given it to me this morning, insisting I put any purchases on it. I felt funny using it, but I knew Christian would want to pay for the first things I bought for our baby.