“Of your father,” Indie interrupted. “He’s there because ofGordon. And that’s on him, no one else.”
“I know you’re right. It still hurts.”
Indie’s eyes flickered between his. “I’d like to come with you today to visit your mom. Is that okay?”
“Of course. I don’t want you out of my sight.”
“Good. I don’t want you out of my sight either. Someone needs to protect you too, you know.”
A smile played at his lips. “Are you going to protect me, Cricket?”
“With my life.”
Fuck, he loved her.
But then the smile slipped from her lips. “What are you going to do when your mom gets better?”
That was something else he needed to think about. “I love her. I love her so damn much, and I want her to be okay. But I don’t know how to have her in my life when she won’t treat you the way you deserve to be treated. I’m not giving you up. You’re my wife. You’llalwaysbe my priority.”
She cupped his cheek. “Maybe you just tell her that. Put your boundaries in place and let her choose what she wants to do with them.”
“You make it sound so simple.”
“I’m pretty smart.”
“I’ve never met anyone smarter or kinder than you, Indie Reed.” He tugged her closer and kissed her cheek, then her jaw.
“Mm. You forgot pretty.”
“You’re not pretty. You’re fucking gorgeous.” He nuzzled her neck.
She chuckled. “Colt, I—”
Suddenly she stopped and gasped, before putting a hand to her belly.
His head shot up and his arms tightened around her. “What’s wrong?”
“I think…” She stopped, hand still on her stomach. Then she ran out of the room.
What the hell? He followed her into the bathroom to see her drop and throw up in the toilet.
He cursed and dropped behind her, pulling back her hair and rubbing her back. Was she sick? Had she caught a virus or eaten something bad?
When she finally sat back, he studied her pale skin. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I kind of woke up feeling a bit nauseous but forgot about it when I saw you. Then…I don’t know, it just hit me full force.”
“We should see a doctor.”
She shook her head. “No. I’ll eat something and see if that makes me feel better.”
“Indie—”
“Colt, I’m okay. Really.”
He didn’t like it. And if the nausea remained, he would be pushing for a visit to the doctor.
Indie remainedclose to Colt as they walked through the hospital waiting room, her hand in his.
