“Who’s Alec?”
“Dr. Stone. You know Jaxon’s partner, Dallas?”
I nodded. I knewofhim, sort of.
“His brother.” She frowned. “Can I finish now?Withoutyou derailing me.”
“Sorry, yes.”
“Alec did the ultrasound, and, well, sure enough, there’s a little blip in there,” she said, running her hand over her belly. “But I have to see my OB because it’s not supposed to be possible, which means it probably isn’t and I’m probably going to lose the baby. I didn’t want you to know because I don’t want you to lose another child—”
Jesus, I couldn’t watch her beautiful mouth form words anymore. I had to taste her. I pulled her head down and covered her mouth with mine, cutting off her worries.
She pushed away, breaking the kiss. “Don’t, Lincoln. You’re just making it harder to walk away.”
“Who’s walking away?”
“I’m assuming you are,” she rasped.
“Oh, I’m not goin’ anywhere. Neither are you.”
“What?” she whispered.
“I love you.”
“What?” she whispered again.
“I’ve been angry for a long fuckin’ time and it’s time I pull my head outta my ass and come into the light, don’t you think?” I stroked her cheek, needing to feel the softness of her skin. “I have a second chance. One that is seemingly a miracle for both of us, and I’m gonna take it. Are you with me?”
“What if the baby…?” she didn’t finish the thought and I was grateful for that.
“Nothing’s gonna happen to the baby, honey. But, whatever happens, we’ll face it together.” I smiled. “I can do this if you’re with me.”
“You won’t leave me?”
God, she was cute. Her nose and cheeks were red, but her light blue eyes were bright and all I saw was unconditional love staring back at me. The thought of ever being separated from her again gutted me. “I won’t leave you.”
She gripped my chin. “I’m serious, Lincoln. If you try to walk away, I will end you. No one will find anything. Not a hair, not a fiber…no marrow, no nothing.”
I grinned. “I’m not goin’ anywhere.”
She kissed me, smiling against my lips. “By the way, I was never with Wes.”
My heart raced. “No?”
She shook her head. “He didn’t want to deal with my boot.”
“Pussy.”
She let out a quiet snort. “Well, he certainly missed out on mine, yes.” Snuggling close again, she whispered, “I would have never slept with him.”
“You don’t think so?”
“No. I appreciate a man who’s willing to get creative. Case in point, I fell in love with you the second you propped my stupid leg up on pillows, and then, when you dumped me, it was confirmed.”
I cocked my head. “When I dumped you?”
“Well, it was actually right before it. When I found out Garrett was out, and all I wanted to do was call you because I knew you’d keep me safe.”
