“I’m going.”
“Okay, Bickersons, let’s just get on with it. I’ll make the phone call. You both get ready because I’m getting you in there today come hell or high water. DeSoto, get the SUV ready. Romy, you’re in the back, and for extra precaution, you’re gonna duck as we leave the ranch.”
“Oh my god, I am not ducking.”
“You’re gonna duck. Because if someone finds out you’re in the back seat with Zander, there’ll be speculation. We’ll also need to make sure nobody follows us. I’ll handle the routes. Then we’ll reconvene, and you’ll go to the doctor.”
Her shoulders sag. “Fine, I guess you’re right.”
Beau cups his hand around his ear. “I’m sorry, what was that. Can you repeat it for me, Romy?”
She rolls her eyes at him and chuckles. “Despite our disagreement on how we should handle things, I appreciate all your help, Beau. Thanks.” All the former bitterness in Romy’s tone is gone.
He looks at me and blows out a breath before he sets his gaze on her. “You’re welcome, Romy.”
I know he wants to say, Why don’t you get a paternity test while you’re there?
Good thing he’s smart enough not to say it.
Chapter Twenty
Romy
Beau pulled it off. Not that I’m surprised. The man moves people and things around like they’re chess pieces. He’s so good at what he does that I understand why he’s been with Zander for so long.
Somehow, nobody follows us to the doctor’s office. I picked one a couple towns over because I was worried about anybody finding out. I didn’t want to go all the way to Lincoln—Briar had done that—because more people would probably recognize Zander if we were up there.
We snuck in the back door. The nurse seemed slightly annoyed but then went a little fangirlish over Zander once she figured out who the celebrity was. Beau had already called ahead and had everybody sign non-disclosure agreements and confidentiality forms. They probably each had to sign their life away in order for Zander to accompany me.
Now that we’re in the room, reality hits me that I’m going to have to take off my skirt in front of Zander. Although we’re not actually a couple, he’s seen me naked, so does it really matter?
“I can duck out if you want privacy,” he says, clearly seeing me stare at the paper sheet that’s supposed to cover my hoo-ha.
“No, no, it’s fine. Just… can you turn around and face the corner?”
“Like I’m in timeout?” He circles around.
“Now you know what our kid will feel like when we put him or her in timeout,” I say, joking. That’s another thing we will eventually have to talk about. Do we agree on punishment tactics for our child?
I hurriedly strip off my skirt and underwear and hop up on the table. The paper sheet crinkles every time I wiggle.
“Man, this is not a great view right now.”
I glance over my shoulder. Zander is facing the posters showing the stages of pregnancy.
“Snap a picture for Beau. Let him know that I’m going to show a lot earlier than eight months. When does that woman’s stomach finally start to show a little bit of a bump?”
Zander laughs. “I think you might pop any day.”
“I probably have a little bit to wait. They say with your first baby, you don’t show as fast—at least that’s what I’ve heard. You can turn around now.”
He circles, eyes finding me on the bed. “Man, there’re been times I’ve dreamed of you in this position, but this is a little too sterile an environment even for me.”
I decide to play along and keep things light. This is good that we can joke and communicate about what went down between us, right?
“That’s sweet of you to say. But you never really had me in this position, did you?”
“I had you in this position.” He says it with certainty.
