“Shall we?” he asked as he held out his hand.
“I’m ready.” Jessie slipped her hand into his, but didn’t move her feet as he turned towards the door.
“Jess?” he questioned as he squeezed her fingers.
“I just…” Jessie took a step into his side, slid up onto her tiptoes, and planted a kiss against his cheek. “Thank you.”
When his brow raised up, she continued. “For not being mad about missing the ultrasound. For wanting to take care of me. For spending time making the only food I’ve been able to think about without immediately getting sick. Sometimes I think I might be dreaming.”
His arm banded around her waist and he held the hot dish away from her as he kissed the crown of her head. “I don’t know, Pretty Girl. If anyone here is living a dream, it’s me. And it’s the best fucking dream I’ve ever had.”
Nine
It had taken all of one hour being back in the apartment and snuggled in bed for Jess to fall asleep, curled into his side. She’d managed a healthy serving of the dressing he’d made and hadn’t mentioned feeling sick once before exhaustion had her drooling and snoring all over him. He fought the urge to chuckle at how utterly adorable and perfect she was. His fingers drifted down to her belly, and he let his fingers brush over the fabric draped there.
She was in his shirt, and shorts, and it was ridiculous how that made him feel proud. Because she was comfortable, and had eaten, and knew he’d be there to take care of everything while she rested. There was no doubt in Hawk’s mind that she needed to be slowing the fuck down and taking better care of herself. He needed to make her see?—
His arm tightened around Jessie as a shrill ring filled the room. What the actual fuck? He knew he’d set his phone to silent to make sure she didn’t wake up before she was ready to. Hell, the TV had been barely above a whisper since her eyelids started flutteringshut.
When he looked over at the night stand for the source of the offending noise, it wasn’t his phone lighting up. It was Jessie’s.
“Who is it?” she whispered as she looked up at him with sleep still dancing around in her eyes.
Hawk grabbed the phone and looked. “Lach.”
She held out her hand, and he could have reached through the phone to strangle her brother.
“Lachlan?”
She rubbed her face on his shoulder and seemed to be settling back in while her brother spoke on the other end of the call. Hawk turned his attention to the man riding a horse across a barely lit, foggy field. What the hell movie had started playing? Last thing he knew they were watching his favorite hockey movie. While he was trying to figure out what was happening on the screen and not listen in to their conversation, Jessie shoved up from Hawk’s chest, the blanket she’d been snuggled under pooling around her hips.
“They’re in the filing cabinet next to my desk. Why? What do you need them for?”
Hawk waited, wondering why she suddenly sounded so on edge.
“No. No, that’s not right. I’ve made sure every month the money is in that account for the bank to take. Those withdrawals happen like clockwork, Lachlan. Someone messed up at the bank. Not us,” she sighed, rubbing her forehead. “Can you just ask Dakota to wait until tomorrow? Why does he need them now? What time is it even?”
That last question was clearly meant for Hawk, who held up his fingers to signthree-thirty.
“Okay. Give me fifteen minutes. I was napping, so I just need a second. I’ll come over and find them.”
Hawk was already shaking his headbefore her hand knocked into his chest. She pulled the phone away from her head, sighing as she started scooting towards the edge of the bed.
“Jess.” Shit. The rumble in the way he said her name probably was a little much, but he was pissed at Lachlan.
“I have to go.”
Fuck. “You need to be resting.” Hawk pushed up and out of the bed, stalking around the fucking frame until he was in front of her. “Please, Jess. It’s important today that you limit your activity. The procedure you had… it’s not without risks.”
“I’m fine. Women have their birth control removed all the time. It’s a routine procedure.”
“A routine procedure that could lead to cramping, bleeding, or even potentially cause a miscarriage.”
Her eyes went wide and Hawk knew right then and there he’d lost the battle.
“I know that. But my brother needs me, Hawk. Ihaveto go.”
He nodded. “Then let me come with you. We were supposed to spend the day together.”
