"I can't be carrying two babies." She aimed those lethal mahogany brown eyes on the hapless doctor standing at the foot of the table. "Are you sure?"
The woman glanced at Oscar, who gave a helpless shrug. Dr. Jane Greene was a family friend.
"It's right there on the monitor." She pointed to the screen. "Two heartbeats."
"I can't." Kiara shifted her head to send an accusing glare to Oscar. "I just can't."
"Baby, I'm right here. I'll be right here with you..."
"Will you be carrying one of these babies?"
He shifted and stared at her helplessly. "You know if that's possible, I would..."
"Will you share the awful sickness in the pit of my stomach, which has been getting worse by the way. And what about the thick ankles and the damn need to pee all the time? Oh, shall I mention the mood swings?"
"Hormones." He supplied helpfully and wished he had kept his damn mouth shut.
"I'll, ah, leave you to discuss this. I'll be in my office." The doctor retreated hastily, closing the door behind her.
Pulling up a stool on castors, he sat and lifted her hand to his lips. "I love you." His quiet voice with the slight Irish lilt had the desired effect. And the words weakened her.
"Damn you."
Leaning over, he rubbed his lips on hers and felt her breath against his mouth. The reaction was quick and instant. He wasn't sure how it happened, but he had never felt this way about another woman before. He had been badgering her to marry him, to at least live full time with him.
He hated the back and forth and the fact that she only travels with him every now and again. He was in charge of more than two hundred pubs and hotels and inns all over the world and that required traveling to different areas.
He wanted his ring on her finger and her in his bed every damn night.
But figured now was not the time to bombard her with another angry and frustrated argument.
"I'm scared." She whispered, eyes huge. He was the only one she would admit something like that to. She was strong and resilient, had to be considering where she was coming from. Her mother was a thorn in her side and there was nothing he could do about it.
He hated that it takes slices out of her whenever they have a confrontation and lately it had been every week. "You know my history. I'm not like you and your sister. Your parents are great. My mother... I told you all of this from the beginning." She was using anger to cover fear. "I'm a lousy bet. I can't guarantee that I'll be a good mother. And two kids?" Her hand tightened in his. "Oscar..."
"Stop this." His voice was firm. "I will not have you stressing over nonsense. You're not your bloody mother and you know it." His voice softened, winter green eyes bright with emotions. "We can do this." He linked his fingers through hers. "We're a team. I'm here for you always, you know that. I've proven myself to you repeatedly."
"I'm such a mess." She shook her head and tried to get her mother's voice out of her mind. Then her eyes became sabers that pinned him. "If you're not there..."
"Always."
"I'll hunt you down with my big belly and swollen ankles and cut off your prized possession."
"You're my prized possession." He remarked gamely, grinning when she glared at him.
"Don't think I haven't seen that blonde bitch sniffing around."
He shook his head hastily. "She's just a friend."
"Who was a lover."
"A long time ago." He sighed softly as she continued to stare holes into him. "I have eyes only for you."
"And a reputation of being a lady's man."
"Can't help it if they admire the package." He yelped when her fingers bit into his flesh.
"I don't share and now I'm carrying your babies inside me, I'm getting really possessive. Got it?"
