“Are you ready to talk about it?” Hawk asked as she looked out the window. His hands hadn’t stopped touching her since he ended the phone call with Mae.
It all happened so fast. One minute she was screaming into her phone for help, and then Hayes was hauling her up into his arms. Colt grabbed her and pulled her outside, sitting with her until the paramedics showed up. It could have been ten seconds or ten hours. Time felt like it was slipping away through sludge.
Her brothers were right there with Lach. Hayes running the team to try and lift the vehicle off his leg. Colt guarding the scene. She saw the tears in her oldest brother’s eyes, and she barely stayed standing. Jessie had no experience with emergencies. That was all her brothers’. Even on the ranch, when something bad happened growing up, her brothers would swoop in and take care of everything.
And then Hawk was there. Holding her up when she felt like the world was crashing down all around her.
It took more willpower than she’d ever admit to turn andlook at him. Because even as they drove down the highway just ten minutes outside of Dallas, her mind wasn’t really in the truck. It was back in the shop. Back when the feeling of rough hands wrapped around her arms, pushing her back against the wall.
“Jess?” His voice was gentle as his hand moved from her thigh up to her belly. The man was a furnace, the heat of his touch sinking deep beneath her skin.
“Not yet,” she whispered. God, the way her stomach was churning. Jessie hadn’t felt that nauseous in weeks. In fact, she’d even lowered the settings on her bracelet recently, thinking it was winding down with the end of her pregnancy. Whether it was the motion of the car jostling her around, or the emotion of everything slamming into her all at once, she knew she needed to crank up the settings and say a prayer, because her stomach was about to turn inside out.
Hawk’s eyes left the road for one second and she felt them land right on her as she tapped the intensity up on her anti-nausea band.
“You’re feeling sick?” he asked, his voice dripping with concern. Jessie clamped her mouth shut, her eyes closing as she leaned her head back against the seat. The only answer she could get out was a moan. “Shit. I still have some bags in the glove compartment. There should be alcohol wipes in there too.”
She wanted to move, to be helpful in some way. But her stomach was screaming at her. Hawk’s hand left her leg and she heard the compartment in front of her seat drop open, rustling noises filling the air while he cursed under his breath.
“Here, Pretty Girl. Just breathe through your nose and try to relax. Everything’s gonna be just fine.”
She took the bag and the small packet from him, her mouth filling with saliva as she ripped open the alcohol pad. Bringing it to her nose, she inhaled, beyond thankful that theincredible man by her side had researched every possible remedy for nausea back in her first trimester.
She heard the top of a soda can get popped open, Mae’s hand holding out a ginger ale from the back seat to her.
“That’s a cool trick with the alcohol pad. I’ll have to remember that,” Mae’s voice filled the silent space of the truck’s cab.
“It smells so gross, I’m not sure how it works, but it does.” Jessie tried to laugh, but the most pathetic groan filled the air.
“Would it help to recline your seat back?” Stone asked. “I’ve got plenty of room back here.”
“I’m okay.” Her hand reached over to Hawk’s arm as she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “Can you turn up the airflow just a bit?”
Hawk didn’t reply, but she instantly felt a rush of cool air on her face. Jessie pulled her hand back, but Hawk’s fingers wrapped around her and she felt him bring her hand up, before he pressed a kiss against her skin.
“Is that helping?” Hawk asked.
“Yes. I just think…” She swallowed as Bee kicked against her rib. “I’m just going to keep my eyes closed until we get there.”
“Adrenaline crash,” Stone muttered, and she was sure he wasn’t talking to her. God, there was something so comforting about Hawk not only getting her to the hospital so she could be with her family, but making sure Stone was there, in case something happened along the way.
Hawk’s hand was pressing firmly into Jessie’s back as they walked out of the maternity wing after a few hours of being monitored. Aside from some contractions and an episode of vomiting when they first arrived, Jessie andthe baby were okay. The nurses had asked if she wanted a wheelchair. He’d practically begged her, but of course, his stubborn girlfriend had declined.
“Please let me take you home,” he begged as the automatic doors closed behind them. “One of your brothers will update us.”
“No.” She shook her head. “Can you imagine if my parents got bad news?” She cleared her throat and he knew she was taking a second to push back tears. “I have to be here for them.”
“The second we hear how he’s doing, promise me you’ll let me take you home. Because I have to look after my family, too. And that doctor just told you we need to make sure you are taking it easy.”
“Sitting in a hospital chair isn’t exactly running a marathon?—”
“Jess!” Dolly stood from a chair in a small waiting area.
“Mom?”
She walked to Jessie and gave her a big hug. “Oh, thank goodness, Jessica! Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, I promise.”
