Recipe for Temptation - Gina Gordon Page 0,69

What’s happening?”

Fear was plastered all over his face, but that turned to relief when he spotted Veronica on the bed. New tears crested in her eyes when she saw him. He hurried over to her. Planting a soft kiss on her lips, he wiped away her tears and murmured into her ear.

Cole’s heart suddenly hurt. Seeing them together on the verge of this life-changing event made him feel all alone.

He quietly headed for the door.

A hand gripped his shoulder and he turned. Fear darkened his brother’s eyes, and it tore him apart. “Thanks, man. For taking care of her.”

Cole pulled him into a heartfelt hug, offering all of his strength and courage. “It’s going to be okay, bro. I promise.”

He headed out to the waiting room, stopping outside the door to look at his worried family huddled in the semi-circle of green plastic chairs. He didn’t know what he would do if anything happened to a single one of them. They all meant the world to him.

Sterling’s eyes were rimmed red, and in an intimate gesture, Jack swiped away a stray tear from her cheek, then pulled her close. Neil and Carson were both stoic; neither of them expressed their feelings outwardly. But by the way Neil fisted one hand at his side, he knew he had a war waging inside of him. Mark and Cal, Veronica’s brothers, sat together on the far right. Cal banged the back of his head against the wall in a steady rhythm, while Mark hid his face in his hands as he rested his elbows on his knees. He turned his attention to the left, and there was Penn. She sat by herself, aimlessly scrolling through her phone.

His heart pounded inside his chest like a sledgehammer. No matter how much distance he gave himself, his reaction to her was always the same. A visceral need to touch her, claim her for himself.

“Cole!” Sterling spotted him just as he opened the door, and the whole family jumped up and rushed forward.

“Is she okay?” Cal asked.

Cole ran his hand through his hair and told them everything he knew. Afterward, although he hadn’t done much to ease their worry, they all settled down to wait.

But Cole was restless and paced the room. He couldn’t stop the feeling of dread from settling in his stomach. The “what ifs” bombarded his brain. There were too many possible outcomes for him to even keep a level head. This feeling was exactly why he distanced himself. Even with the people he loved most in the world, he just couldn’t bring himself to let them in. He couldn’t risk the utter devastation when the inevitable loss happened.

Another forty minutes passed. It was taking too long. Something was wrong.

“Are you doing all right?” He tensed when he felt Penn’s hand slide up his back to his shoulder and squeeze.

He hadn’t been doing all right. He had been panicked. Restless. Worried. Useless. There was no end to the flurry of emotions that had rushed through his system over the last couple hours. But right now, with Penn’s bright eyes and warm body, the world could blow up around him, and he’d be calm—completely at ease because she was near.

To ease her worry, he turned and smiled, although it wasn’t his brightest.

“Veronica is going to be fine.” She grabbed his hand. “She’s tough, and so is that baby.” He saw it there in her eyes, the worry for not only Veronica and the baby, but for him.

He nodded.

“I know it’s hard for you to see me.” She dipped her head, lowering her gaze to the floor. “It’s hard for me, too.”

Instinctively, he reached out and placed his index finger under her chin, then raised her head to meet his gaze. Penn shouldn’t look down. Not for anyone.

“We’re still friends.” It was impossible for him not to remember how her lips felt against his when she blurted, “I’m here if you need to talk.” Her eyes watered, tears pooling at the sides. “And you have to know that nothing’s changed the way I—”

“She’s beautiful!” Finn burst through the doors of the waiting room. His eyes were shiny with happy tears, his lips curved up in the biggest smile Cole had ever seen. “Just like her mother.”

Cole let out a steady breath, relief and happiness washing over him. They were all right. Both of them.

He turned to Penn who was smiling widely, unable to get her half-admission out of his head.

The way what?

Did she have the same