"Pity you didn't listen." Whenever he was angry, his voice turned frightfully formal. Rising, he went to the hearth to poke at the embers, sending sparks flying.
"I wouldn't be in this predicament."
Slamming down the poker, he marched to the window, his broad shoulders stiff.
"Is that what this is? A predicament?"
She sighed wearily. "I don't want to argue."
"That's too damn bad--" He whirled just in time to see her shakily putting the cup down.
"Leanne." He was by her side in a second. "God, I'm sorry."
"I just want to lie down."
A quick glance at the tray showed that she had finished most of everything. Scooping her up, he carried her to bed. Holding her in one arm, he turned down the quilt and placed her gently against the pillows.
"Just close the door when you leave-- What are you doing?" He was pulling the sweater over his head.
"What does it look like?" Sitting on the side of the bed, he took off his boots and climbed in.
"Look--"
"Shut the hell up." Sliding an arm under her, he eased her towards him until she was laying on his chest. "Just shut up." He murmured as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Don't you dare talk to me like that." She whispered shakily. Curling her fingers into the stark white of his t-shirt, she let go and had her meltdown.
His mouth grim and expression bleak, he held her while she sobbed into his shirt. Saying nothing, he rubbed his hands up and down her back soothingly and waited until she was finished.
"Better?"
She sniffed. "Damn hormones."
"As long as it did the job." Tilting his chin down, he examined her tear stained cheeks. Using the pad of his thumb, he wiped the moisture away.
"Get some sleep." He advised.
Instead of arguing, she nodded and snuggled against him.
"I still haven't decided." She murmured drowsily.
"I know. Turn it off baby."
She was half asleep but still managed to feel the thrill at the endearment and his tender tone of voice.
"Three babies is a lot."
"Hmm. We'll hire nannies."
"I don't want strangers taking care of my children." Her eyes drifted close and he wondered if she realized that she had made up her mind and was already accepting her condition.
"We'll discuss this at a later date."
When she did not answer, he saw that she was fast asleep and snoring slightly.
He stared up at the ceiling, his fingers still stroking her back up and down in what he considered to be a soothing rhythm.
It hit him just then. He was about to be a father, of not one or two babies, but three! He was the youngest of his siblings and had hit the damn jackpot. That's what his family was going to think of it as, a jackpot. His parents adored children and was going to get a charge out of having three babies to spoil.
