Page 50 of Beau

“Chicken soup with lots of veggies.” The woman was clucking her tongue as she stared at Georgie. “I am going to be fattening you up. Poor dear.”

Georgie waited until the housekeeper had deposited the tray onto the cherry wood center table and left the room before commenting.

“Do I look that bad?”

“You look great.” Bending over, he kissed her on the lips. “Sit up and eat.”

“You sound like an army general,” She grumbled, but obeyed him, nonetheless. She was still weak, but thankfully, the worst had passed or at least she hoped it had. She had no wish to go back to the clinic for two weeks. Being away from him had been pure torture.

She had not said anything to him, but she had been perusing the tabloids to see if he was out with her. She had also spent time staring at her reflection in the mirror and was horrified at how she looked. She had lost so much weight in just two weeks, but the doctors and nurses had assured her that she would gain it back in no time.

But she was afraid and insecure for the first time in her marriage. Her husband was gorgeous, and his ex was hanging around, no doubt wanting to give him what Georgie could not do at the moment. She had spent the last few days in the clinic wishing she had thought this through some more.

He might be showering her with attention, but she was stuck at home and frankly too weak to indulge in their usual robust lovemaking.

“Georgie?”

“Hmm?”

“I have some calls to make. Will you be, okay?”

“Of course.” She forced a smile as she looked up at him. “I still think you should go in. You already missed so many days and Mrs. Greene is here.”

“I am staying. Eat up," he ordered.

“Beau?” She stopped him when he reached the doorway.

“Yes, baby?”

Dipping the spoon into the thick broth, she avoided his eyes. “Do I still look beautiful to you?”

“Georgie–”

“I have lost weight, and I have not been to the salon in weeks.” She lifted her eyes to his and he could see they were misty with tears. “I am not myself and very soon, I will be bloated. I just want to know that I am still attractive to you.”

He came forward swiftly and removing the tray, swept her into his arms, rocking her as he would a baby.

“I love you," he murmured in her hair. “It has nothing to do with how you look. We passed that. And you are still the most beautiful woman I have ever known. I cannot help but love you darling, because I was born to do just that. Do you believe me?” He tilted her chin up and gazed deep into her eyes.

She nodded, her heart shuddering. “I couldn’t bear it if you were to be with someone else. It would kill me. Thinking of you doing what you do to me with another woman makes me weak with fear and I couldn’t–”She shook her head. “Hormones," she added weakly, one hand cupping his jaw. “I love you so much.”

“And I adore you.” His green eyes darkened. “I don’t think I have to be repeating myself. I have proven that you are the only woman in my life.”

She nodded and sniffed. “I am fine.”

“Are you?” he asked teasingly.

“Yes. Now go and let me finish my soup before Mrs. Greene comes back and holler at me.”

“I won’t be long," he kissed her deeply and she clung to him, not wanting to let him go. Ending the kiss, he set her back on the sofa and placed the tray in front of her. “I expect to see the bowl wiped clean when I get back.”

She watched him stride from the room and resumed eating.

She had curbed the impulse to suggest he made his phone calls right here in the living room. Spooning up chunks of carrots and potatoes, she chewed automatically.

They had lost Valentine’s Day, and it was their thing. The ball had been a tremendous success as she read in the papers and in the reports, she had received from her friends. She had been part of the planning committee and had been looking forward to attending.

She had missed out on several other charity events as well and had urged her husband to go without her. But it had been a grudging request and if he had gone by himself, she would have had a problem. To his credit, he had been committed to coming by the hospital every single day. And had called to check on her when he was at the office.