my belly.
“What the fuck was that?” he asked, backing away.
“I’m pretty sure she’s pregnant,” Sam said sarcastically.
“I know she’s pregnant, asshole. I felt somethin’.”
My heart leapt. “You did?”
Eyes wide, he nodded. “Was it…did she?”
“She?” I asked.
He shrugged. “I have a feeling we’re having a girl.”
“God help you if you are,” Sam muttered.
The baby shifted again, and on instinct, my hand shot out to grip his. “Wait. Here.”
I pressed his palm to my belly, and we waited, and waited, and waited. Then as though the baby knew we were about to give up, a kick. Tristan’s gaze locked with mine, absolute delight in his blue irises. “That is the most amazing thing. That’s our kid?”
I nodded. “And there’s going to be a lot more movement over the next few weeks.”
God, the smile on his face had me weak in the knees. He stared at me in wonder. “Does it feel weird?”
Sam gave me a slight nod of acknowledgment before leaving the two of us alone.
“It did at first. But now that she’s stronger, it kind of tickles.”
Both of his hands cradled my bump now, holding the place our child grew with a reverent gentleness that melted my heart. “When can we find out what we’re havin’? Do you need to see a doctor or something? I didn’t even think of that when you agreed to stay.”
“I made an appointment with Doctor McKallister last week, as soon as I decided to take you up on your offer. I was going to ask you if you wanted to come, actually. He’s going to do the twenty-week anatomy scan. We’ll get a really good look at the baby.”
“Yeah? You want me there?”
“Of course. I don’t really want to do this alone. Not if I don’t have to.”
His eyes flashed with tenderness. “You acted like you did when you first came here.”
“I was prepared to have you reject us. I’ve never had a man prove he could be there for me like you have already. It’s been me and Erin pretty much on our own since birth.”
He cupped my chin and turned my face up toward his. “Not anymore. Whether or not you and I are a pair, you’re part of this family. You, this baby, your sister too. We take care of each other, and we’re gonna take care of you.”
I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him tight and pressing my cheek against his broad chest. The scent of him cloaked me in the safety of a warm blanket on a cold night. Just a touch of spice mixed with the leather and grit of him. It was quickly becoming my favorite combination. Though smelling it on any other man wouldn’t have the same effect. It was pure Tristan.
“So, when’s this appointment?” he asked as his fingers trailed the length of my back.
“Friday. Nine-thirty.”
“Consider me there, darlin’.”
I already knew he was a charmer, but at the rate I was falling, I almost wished I had a parachute to slow my descent. He could catch me, but if he didn’t, my heart wouldn’t survive.
14
Tristan
My heart thumped hard against my chest as we waited in the doctor’s office. A few women from town looked at the two of us, whispering under their breath. Yeah, so everyone had been right, and Tristan Ryker knocked some girl up. Except Hazel wasn’t some girl. She was mine. She still hadn’t admitted it yet, but there was no denying the connection we shared.
Hazel linked our fingers and gave my hand a squeeze before placing her other hand on my bouncing knee. “Hey, it’s okay. This’ll be a breeze.”
Worry shot through me. “Do you know how many things could be wrong? The heart could be underdeveloped, she could be missing organs or limbs. She could have a congenital birth defect and need surgery while she’s still inside you.”
Her eyes widened. “What have you been up to, cowboy?”
Embarrassment rushed through me. “I may have Googled.”
Shaking her head, she chuckled. “Rule one. Never Google unsupervised. I can tell you from experience, those are all rare things. Yes, sometimes it does happen, but we can’t control that. All we can do is hope. Worrying about something we don’t have any say over isn’t going to help us.”
“How are you so calm?”
She shrugged. “Nurse. I’ve had a lot of practice.”
Something in me eased. She was going to be a great mom. She was strong and smart, fierce and protective. This kid was going to grow up with a warrior by her side.
“Hazel?” A woman