Shame the Devil (Portland Devils #3) - Rosalind James Page 0,205
with sweat. “Yeah. I’m still in my pads.” He could feel her laugh, and he smiled, too. “Got here just as fast as I could. How are you doing?”
“Oh, you know,” she said, the words coming out in jerks. “Hurting. He’s two weeks … early. How can his head be this big?”
He smiled again, and kissed her again, too, then asked the doctor, “We close?”
“We sure are,” she said. “Another push, Jennifer, and we’ll have a head. I can see hair. He’s ready to come. Another push, and you’ve got him.”
She was tensing again, her belly rigid, and he could feel the contraction building in her with every second. She said, “Good … catch.” And then she pushed. And wailed. And cried.
Nicholas Layne Kristiansen came into the world kicking. Seven pounds, fourteen ounces of baby boy. The doctor laid him on Jennifer’s belly, and her hands came out to cradle him. His eyes opened, and he blinked and curled into her. And Harlan put his hand over both of them and thought, My son. His hand was shaking as much as Jennifer’s, and he was laughing, and he was crying, too. And he didn’t care.
He said, “He’s beautiful, baby. He’s perfect. And I love you. I’m going to do this right, I promise. I’ve got this.”
She smiled, absolutely shakily. Lying back now, all of her cold and shaking and hurting. She opened her gold eyes, moved her hand so it held his, and said, “I know. You’re going to be … such a good father. Your mom would be … so proud. She sees. She knows. And she’s so proud.”
“So is yours,” he said, “because you’re amazing.” Wishing for better words. Wishing he could tell her everything he felt inside.
Never mind. You have your whole life to show her. And you’re going to do it.
The doctor said, “Want to come cut the cord, Dad?”
He did.
Explore More
Global Suites, El Monte Sagrado Resort, Taos
Harlan’s rental house
Harlan and Jennifer’s new house
Jennifer’s edgy necklace
Jennifer’s cuff bracelet
Jennifer’s engagement ring
Links
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Also By Rosalind James
The Portland Devils series
Dakota & Blake’s story: SILVER-TONGUED DEVIL
Beth & Evan’s story: NO KIND OF HERO
Jennifer & Harlan’s story: SHAME THE DEVIL
The New Zealand Ever After series
Karen & Jax’s story: KIWI RULES
Poppy & Matiu’s story: STONE COLD KIWI
Daisy & Gray’s story: KIWI STRONG
The Not Quite a Billionaire series (Hope & Hemi’s story)
FIERCE
FRACTURED
FOUND
The Escape to New Zealand series
Reka & Hemi’s story: JUST FOR YOU
Hannah & Drew’s story: JUST THIS ONCE
Kate & Koti’s story: JUST GOOD FRIENDS
Jenna & Finn’s story: JUST FOR NOW
Emma & Nic’s story: JUST FOR FUN
Ally & Nate’s/Kristen & Liam’s stories: JUST MY LUCK
Josie & Hugh’s story: JUST NOT MINE
Hannah & Drew’s story again/Reunion: JUST ONCE MORE
Faith & Will’s story: JUST IN TIME
Nina & Iain’s story: JUST STOP ME
Chloe & Kevin’s story: JUST SAY YES
Nyree & Marko’s story: JUST SAY (HELL) NO
Zora & Rhys’s story: JUST COME OVER
Victoria & Kane’s/Hayden & Luke’s story: JUST SAY CHRISTMAS
The Sinful, Montana, series
Paige’s & Jace’s story: GUILTY AS SIN
Lily & Rafe’s story: TEMPTING AS SIN
Willow & Brett’s story: SEXY AS SIN
The Paradise, Idaho series (Montlake Romance)
Zoe & Cal’s story: CARRY ME HOME
Kayla & Luke’s story: HOLD ME CLOSE
Rochelle & Travis’s story: TURN ME LOOSE
Hallie & Jim’s story: TAKE ME BACK
The Kincaids series
Mira & Gabe’s story: WELCOME TO PARADISE
Desiree & Alec’s story: NOTHING PERSONAL
Alyssa & Joe’s story: ASKING FOR TROUBLE
Acknowledgments
This book was conceived years ago, when I was finishing ASKING FOR TROUBLE in Yellowstone National Park’s Snow Lodge with my husband, Rick, and our son, James. They made me ski things that were too hard and scared me, but I hasten to add that they were very sweet to me when I cried. (I’m not as tough as Jennifer. I cried.) In the evenings, I was so tired and it was so cold that I couldn’t even make it to dinner, so I stayed in the room and worked instead. The bar really does have great drinks! It’s very cozy, too.
I had a dream one night during that stay about a bear shifter (who was actually a park ranger), a guest, a blizzard, and a power failure. I wanted to write that book for all the years since, but I’ve read exactly two shifter books in my life. I guess this book is my version of a shifter story.
So: Thanks to my wonderful husband, Rick Nolting, for always being ready to have an adventure with me, and always holding my hand when the adventure scares me. And for reading along every night and assuring me that, no, this book does not suck and everybody isn’t going to hate it. And for walking the dog when I had to buckle down and finish this very late and very long book.
Thanks to Barbara Buchanan, district judge extraordinaire, for her extensive help with legal questions, tough cases, and the criminal justice system.
Thanks to my alpha reader, Kathy Harward, for her suggestions and support.
Thank you to my talented assistant, Mary Guidry, for her help all along the way.
And finally, one big giant thank-you to my wonderful readers. I appreciate you.