Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26681 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26681 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
I get lost in his kiss, just like always. So much so that I’ve almost forgotten about the test and whimper in protest when he lifts his head a few minutes later. “I know, baby. But we’ve got to check the test.”
He twists his body to look over his shoulder at the stick, and his lips instantly spread into a huge grin. “Two lines.”
“I’m pregnant?”
“Fuck yes!” He lifts me up and twirls me around. I feel lightheaded when he sets me back on my feet, and it must show on my face because he picks me up and carries me into the bedroom with a worried expression on his face. “Do you have a doctor you already see?”
“Yeah. If you’ll get me my phone, I can give him a call. If I tell his nurse what’s going on, I’m sure they’ll try to get me in to see him today.”
“Him? Your doctor’s a guy?” I nod. “I’m sorry if you like him, baby, but that’s not fucking happening. Not on my watch. I’ll call my assistant and get you an appointment with the best female baby doc in town, and you can be damn sure it’ll be for this morning.”
I don’t have the energy to argue, not that he gives me the chance. I’d prefer a female doctor. I just hadn’t been able to find one when I moved here.
Less than an hour later, we have an appointment with a top-notch OB-GYN. Before we leave, Theo makes sure that I nibble on some dry toast and drink a mug of herbal tea. Then he bundles me up, and we’re out the door. It isn’t until we’re in his car that I realize it’s the first time I’ve left the house since I got here. “So, two pink lines on a pregnancy test were the key to you taking me somewhere, huh?”
“You can’t blame me for wanting to keep you to myself. I guess now that I know you’ve got my baby in your belly, I don’t mind sharing you with the world.” We head down the driveway toward the gate, and Theo slows the car as we near it. The guard station is on my side of the car, and the guy manning it steps out. He looks through my window and flashes us a smile before reaching back to press the button to open the gate. Instead of moving through them, Theo presses hard on the brakes. When the car is at a full stop, he leans over and claims my mouth in a long, deep kiss. He doesn’t lift his head until I’m panting with need. “‘Share’ was the wrong word. I’m willing to let the rest of the world see that you’re mine now that my claim on you is undeniable.”
Chapter Twelve
Theo
A knock on the exam room door interrupts my pacing, and I go to Shelby’s side as a young man in scrubs enters the room. “What the fuck?” I growl. “Where is Dr. Nevins?”
Oblivious to the fact that he’s about to lose his life, the guy smiles at Shelby and walks toward her. “She’ll be in after I’m done taking your wife’s vitals,” he explains. “I’m her nurse, Perry.” His assumption cools some of my ire. He clearly knows she belongs to me. Still, I’m not happy about him touching my woman. It’s barbaric and dumb, but I can’t help myself. Shelby doesn’t seem to mind, so I don’t try and keep it in check.
“Oh, I’m not his wife—” Shelby starts, but I quickly cut her off.
“We aren’t married yet.” I put a firm emphasis on the word “yet.” Shelby looks at me with surprise and opens her mouth to say something, but she is distracted by the four-carat solitaire ring I pull out of my pocket and slip onto her left ring finger. “But, in the future, I’d prefer a female nurse for my fiancée. No offense.”
Perry shrugs and laughs as he takes off the blood pressure cuff and writes in his notes. “None taken. I wouldn’t want another man touching her if she were mine.” Just the idea that he is picturing Shelby as his sets me off again. A growl rumbles in my chest, and I take a menacing step forward. When Perry clocks my reaction, he clears his throat and scurries from the room. Lucky Shelby doesn’t seem to notice.
“Um…what is this?” Shelby asks in a high-pitched tone as she waves her hand in front of my face.
I raise a brow and answer sardonically, “An engagement ring.”
She takes a deep breath, then her lips purse in annoyance. “Obviously. But where did you get it, and why did you tell him I’m your fiancée?”
I shuffle my feet and can’t fucking believe it when my cheeks heat. “It was in my pocket,” I hedge, trying to avoid telling her that I’ve had the ring since the day after I met her. “And”—I catch her hand and hold it up—“since you’re wearing my ring, you are my fiancée. So, I can refer to you that way.”