The loose skin under his chin wobbles before his expression turns serious. “However, I need to caution you. The baby’s head is already engaged, which means you could be close to giving birth. If you don’t want to go into preterm labor, you need to take it easy over the next few weeks. Bed rest is recommended.”
I scoff before shaking my head. “Bed rest? I can’t lie around all day. I have imperative matters to take care of.”
Grayson gives me a stern look that thickens my tongue. “You need to listen to the doctor. Your health and the baby’s health are the most important things right now.”
Even knowing he is right, I roll my eyes before lying through my teeth. “Fine, I’ll take it easy.”
I’m the world’s worst liar, though only Grayson can sniff that out.
“I know it won’t be easy, but it is for the best.” The doctor appears pleased that I am willing to follow his orders. “If you have any concerns or if anything changes, don’t hesitate to come back.”
Nodding, I thank the doctor again. As he leaves the room, Grayson helps me off the examination table and then guides our walk out of the room.
As we make our way past many private suites, I spot a familiar face in the waiting area of the maternity unit. My heart skips a beat, and I grab Grayson’s arm. “Grayson, look.”
He follows my gaze, his wide eyes narrowing when he sees Samuel, the man we took down only days ago, sitting in a chair, looking surprisingly relaxed. “What the hell is he doing here? And how is he already out on bail?”
Anger surges through me. “This can’t be right. A judge wouldn’t have granted him bail.”
Grayson stops my stomps to Samuel by grabbing my arm. “No, Macy. You’re on bed rest.”
“This is important.”
“I understand it’s important, but your health is more significant.”
He’s placing me first, and although I should hate him for it, I don’t. The tide is shifting between us, and I’m seconds from being swept out to sea.
Grayson is already pulling me over to his side of the fence, but he tugs me fully over with a heartfelt pledge. “I will look into his release. I promise.”
Although I’m desiring a fight, I know he’s right. Placing myself in a situation that might induce premature delivery will jeopardize my baby’s health. I also risk breaking the promise I made to myself about Kendall meeting my child when he’s still a baby. So instead of marching up to Samuel and putting him back under arrest, I surrender.
“You better keep me updated on your findings, Grayson, or I’ll...” It takes me around three to four seconds to come up with a threat, and it is weak. “I’ll tell everyone at the bureau that you volunteered your sperm for my surrogacy.”
I’m forced to mull over a decision I made months ago when he replies, “Might not have been a lie if you’d ever worked up the courage to ask.”
I had considered asking him numerous times if he would be a donor. I was freaked out because a stranger’s sperm would be inside me, but my supervisor told me I was being ridiculous. Itwas the same supervisor who booked me for an abortion when I learned the step B plan hadn’t worked.
As we drive back to the apartment, a mix of frustration and relief bombards me. I need to be out there investigating, but I also need to prioritize looking after myself and the baby. It is a debilitating deliberation that breaks and mends my heart.
When we reach the apartment, Grayson guides me inside before making sure I’m comfortable on the couch. “Do you need anything? Water? A snack?” Sparks of the man I’ve had a crush on for years shine through when he murmurs, “A long-range rifle?” He waggles his brows when my eyes light up at his offer before he gives me the next best thing. He hands me Cameron’s file. Her real file. “While you work on that, I’ll find out what’s happening with Samuel’s charges.”
He waits until I approve his offer before he disappears into the kitchen.
Something about Cameron’s case doesn’t make sense. Grayson’s reports are meticulous, and his witness statement sprang tears to my eyes many times. But something is still off. I can’t put my finger on it. Call it intuition or a hunch, but my Spidey senses are tingling out of control more now than they were when I first went over the details of her case.
Since I am worried that I’m deflecting my guilty conscience about the erotic dream I had about Grayson onto Cameron, I push aside my worry and focus on the facts. Grayson believes ababy-making syndicate abducted her, so that’s all I need to give my all to this case.
My head lifts from the forensic report of the burned-out van when I sense I am being watched. Grayson is standing in the doorway of the kitchen, eyeing me cautiously.
Upon noticing that he has gained my attention, he joins me in the living area. I expect it’s about Samuel’s bail, so I’m surprised when he goes in a different direction. “Is there something you want to ask me?”
“No. Why?” My voice should convey disdain at how easily he reads me, but it only expresses awe.
I take a mental note to learn how to school my features better when he exposes that he’s continuously profiling. “Your nose is doing that twitchy, confused spasm it only does when you’re suspicious of something. Since you are knee-deep in Cameron’s file, I assume it has something to do with her case.”
“No. Ah…” I hate lying, especially to this man. “I was just wondering if you’ve heard anything from Agent Markwell yet?”
Grayson knows I’m lying but pretends he doesn’t. “Not yet. I said you’d be the first I’d tell if I heard anything.” He scoffs. “I doubt it will be anytime in the next few days. Markwell is pissed that we gave this collar to local law enforcement officers without including his name on the paperwork.”
