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  I can see the relief rush across his face, and then he presses his cheek to my belly, looking up at me. “I was so scared, Rose. I thought I was going to lose you both. Are you sure you’re really okay?”

  I nod, tears in the corners of my eyes to see him so upset, but also my heart swelling knowing that he’s so concerned about us. “Really. We’re okay, and you’re here now. Speaking of, how’d you get here so fast?”

  He smiles, but it’s wavering. “I was out with Sam, miles out in the forest when his wife called on the radio. Sam’s son arranged for me to grab a chopper to Portland, where I grabbed the first flight back here, landed, and got here as fast as I could.”

  I smile, cupping his scratchy cheek. Not his normal look, but there’s a part of me that likes it. “Sounds like you’ve had a busy day. I’ve just been lying here, taking naps.”

  I’m trying to lighten the mood, but Nic isn’t having it. “I’m truly so sorry I wasn’t here, and I promise I won’t ever leave you again.”

  “Nic,” I reassure him, stroking his messy hair and pulling out a pine needle, of all things, “you’re not gonna be by my side every second of every day. These things happen, but we’re going to get through this together.”

  Somewhere deep inside me, the damn that’s been holding it all back bursts and I cry. Nic climbs up in the bed with me, probably against the hospital rules but who gives a fuck, and we lie face to face, the roundness of my belly surrounded by our protectiveness and love.

  Nic wipes my tears, kissing my forehead and reassuring me. Eventually, the fear subsides and I feel the calm resolve that we’re going to be okay.

  Our first unexpected hiccup as parents, and our people came to our aid, supporting us, and Nic and I are stronger than ever, knowing we’re in this together.

  Chapter 24

  Nicolas

  Three weeks. Three weeks of daily hospital visits that Trey coordinated to make sure Rose was never alone for more than an hour at a time.

  Three weeks of entertaining Rose with cards, puzzles, books, and talking about everything under the sun and then some. Three weeks of Rose and I spending time side by side in her hospital bed, or me sitting in the chair next to it, each with a laptop as we work. I’ve spent time checking in with my team as they continue business as usual. Doing a business Skype meeting in a hospital room is only unusual the first time. After that, everyone’s been cool. I finally had that talk with Wes and we’ve worked out a way for me to manage our sales force from Great Falls on a permanent basis so I can be here as much as possible. I’ll still have to take some quick trips, but he understands and agreed that as long as ADRENALIN’s goals are met, he doesn’t care if I’m working from headquarters or in my PJs at home. That was a huge weight off our shoulders as I feel confident I can be successful here, and Rose knows I’m staying by her side. I got word out to Sam and Susan that we’re okay. The next time he goes into town, he’s supposed to give me a call.

  For her part, Rose has been doing the accounting duties and window shopping for future orders for the shop. She calls Devon every afternoon for an update and Devon seems to be handling the whole thing like a pro. She’s done so well that Rose has already given her a promotion to assistant manager, although technically, she has no employees to manage, but she got a well-deserved raise with the title.

  Surprisingly, the whole thing has gone exceptionally well, considering how scared we all were at first. Rose hasn’t had any more contractions or bleeding, and it’s just become our new normal, a type of waiting game where we try to function while never leaving bed.

  That sounds like some kinky version of heaven, but it’s definitely not. Rose’s body aches half the time, my back feels like shit until I’m halfway through my workouts, and quite frankly, trying to get things done with the background noise of a hospital blows.

  Thankfully, our little crew is helping out too. Today, Ana is going to sit with Rose after she finishes her shift while I go handle some top-secret business outside the hospital.

  Ana comes in, looking tired but still with a smile on her face. “Hey, guys, guess what I just saw?”

  “Treat a man who somehow accidentally ended up getting a full can of beer shoved up his ass?” I joke, knowing that after being on her feet for twelve hours, she’s gotta be exhausted. “Or was it a remote control?”

  “Very funny,” Ana says, sticking out her tongue as she lays out food, breakfast for Rose, dinner for herself. “Actually, it was a Bluetooth earbud up the nose. Guess there are drawbacks to those wireless systems.”

  I laugh, giving Rose a kiss and Ana a hug before leaving. While Ana is on Rose duty, Brad and I have plans to sneak out for a little surprise. I’d begged his help in choosing a ring for Rose, considering my first choice of the jeweler in Portland is a no-go.

  I feel confident that I know what she’ll like, but when her best friend is a fashionista with an eye for detail and the finer things, I’m not going to discount his expertise.

  I pull up to Brad’s place, giving a honk to let him know I’ve arrived. His door sweeps open and I see him give Trey a blazing kiss and cock grab as he steps out. Not a bad way to say goodbye, I guess. Maybe I should have him tell Rose that for after Amelia is born.

  Trey smacks Brad’s ass, a sassy grin on his face, and then he waves at me as Brad climbs in.

  “So . . . new truck?”

  “Well, new to me,” I admit. “I had a long-term rental for a while and then was just using Rose’s when I drove her back and forth to work. Seemed like I needed something a little more mine, if you know what I mean. Seemed like a good buy.”

  Brad runs his hands along the console. “Well, it’s cute. Big, black, rugged truck seems to fit you, not one of those fancy jacked-up ones that never goes off the asphalt, but a real work truck that’ll git ‘er dun.” He laughs uproariously at his attempt at impersonating a country boy, and I grin back, hitting the gas as we roar into town.

  “I appreciate your help with this, man. And more importantly, your keeping this a secret. I know that’s not really in your nature.”

  Brad smirks at me, leaning back in his seat. “Definitely not, so you owe me big time. What are you thinking on the ring?”

  I think back to my original plan, discarding it almost immediately as I think of Rose. “I want something different. I mean, like Rose different, unique without being way the fuck out there. Definitely not just a chunk of shiny rock on a band. Delicate, maybe, like lace made out of metal. Definitely a diamond, but maybe more than one or rows of them? I’m just saying . . . shit, I’ve got no idea, but I’ll know it when I see it.”

  Brad nods, his finger tapping his lips while he thinks. “Well, I do think I have it on good authority exactly what she wants, if you’re interested.”

  I look at him skeptically, glad we’re at a red light so I don’t have to worry about traffic. “How do you know ‘exactly’ what she wants?”

  Brad leans over, whispering. “I happen to know her Pinterest password is FuckMeNic so I can show you her entire wedding board.”

  He sits back, obviously pleased with himself. I’m left in shock, and when the light turns green it’s only the guy behind me blasting his horn that tells me I need to go. “So many things wrong here . . . you hacked her Pinterest, her password is . . . I don’t even wanna go there with you, and she has a wedding board? I don’t even know what that is.”

  Brad waves a hand, like everything I said is totally obvious and totally unimportant. “And that is why I am here.”

  We pull into the parking lot of the best jewelry store in town and Brad clicks on his phone for a moment, quickly pulling up what is, in fact, Rose’s Pinterest board titled ‘One and Done’. He scrolls through the pictures, and I can’t help but picture our wedding like this . . . the dresses, the flowers, the gazebos covered in flowers and greenery, a tiered white cake, and then I see it.

  The ring in my head is on Rose’s board. “Stop, that’s it! That’s the ring.”

  B
rad stops scrolling and looks where I’m pointing. “Well done. That’s definitely her style, and she obviously loves it. There’s hope for you yet, my Padawan. Let’s go in the store and see what they have that’s similar.”

  We walk inside and the salesman is instantly on alert, knowing a ring-buying man when he sees one. Probably an aura I’m giving off, or maybe just the purposeful way I stride in. Men don’t go jewelry shopping like this except for one reason. “How can I help you today, sir?”

  “I need an engagement ring,” I reply, earning a hiss from Brad. He gives me a look, and I shrug. Fuck it, it’s just money, and an engagement ring is not the time to be looking for a bargain.

  “Of course,” the salesman says, probably trying not to rub his hands together in glee. “Do you know what style, size, and price point you’d like to shop today?”

  I gesture to Brad, who pulls out his phone, showing the ring picture to the salesman. “I want something like this. Or this ring, if you have it.”

  He tips his glasses down his nose to get a clearer view and whistles lowly. “Ahh, a beautiful selection indeed. I saw that at a gem show, and I do wish there were a market for such a design in town. I have a few things that are similar . . . solitaires with halo settings and filigree, perhaps even a few with diamond bands as well. Let’s see what we can do.”

  He brings us over to a case, sliding a tray out to show me a few options. But none of them are exactly what I’m looking for. I shake my head, not satisfied. “I’m sorry. I understand this might be a specialty piece, but this is a special woman.”

  The salesman nods, sliding the rings back into the display case. “Well, I do have one other, very similar to the picture, but it’s rather pricey. I hesitate to show it because if you fall in love with it, it is difficult to be happy with lesser. ‘Tis the first rule of weddings—don’t look at things that are out of budget.”

  He tilts his head at me, silently asking if I want to see the ring. What a stupid question. I do. I definitely do. “Without a doubt. Let’s see it.”

  The salesman dips his chin once, and I swear I see the dollar signs flash in his eyes for a second. Motherfucker is probably counting his monthly bonus as he waddles over to the safe. After all, I’m a pro at this. I know a sales tactic when I see it, and while it’s not my favorite, he just played me like a fiddle. I don’t care. If it’s the ring for Rose, it’s going to be her ring, no matter the price.

  Brad raises one eyebrow at me, silently asking if I’m sure. I shrug back, leaning in to whisper to him. “VP of Sales with no real responsibilities has helped me become a little . . . flush, if you will. I know babies are expensive, but I’ve been smart with my money, and this is a one-time thing. I want it to be all Rose has dreamed of. I’ll do anything for Rose and Amelia.”

  He smiles, rubbing his hands together like a little kid about to get a cupcake. “You know, you’re supposed to get a gift for the maid of honor too.”

  “Yeah, well,” I joke, “I’ll find out what Ana, Devon, or McKayla likes, whomever Rose chooses.”

  As the salesman returns, Brad smirks and I know he’s going to get me back for that one. “Bring on the ice, my good man. He’s buying!”

  The salesman is unflappable and sets the box down on the countertop, opening it with a good amount of theatrics to create a sense of mystery and value without taking too damn long. The black velvet parts and I see the ring. Rose’s ring, without a doubt. I pick it up, turning it this way and that, watching the light reflect off the large center stone and the glittering surrounding ones. The shining platinum swirls along the band do look just like filigree lace, giving the ring a feminine vintage feel.

  It’s precious, perfect, just like she is.

  “I’ll take it.”

  Brad lets out a whoop of celebration, patting me on the back so hard I damn near drop the ring back to the velvet, but I hang on tight. Laughing, I turn and taunt him a little. “Watch it, man. You’re getting a little stronger than you realize.”

  He blushes a little, flexing his bicep as he pats the impressive swell. “Yeah, Trey keeps me right, making me work out and eat well. I’d say he keeps me on the straight and narrow, but there ain’t a thing straight or narrow about either of us.”

  I chuckle, then turn to the salesman. “Got anything to celebrate a little girl’s birth? Like a necklace or something?”

  “I believe I might have just what you’re looking for.”

  Chapter 25

  Rose

  The night is just like all the rest over the last few weeks, tossing and turning. Well, more like squirming and wiggling with the weight of my belly in an attempt to find a comfortable position in a not-that-soft hospital bed surrounded by my nest of pillows.

  I glance outside, but all I can tell is that the moon’s down, the arc sodium lights from the parking lot eliminating any trace of the stars from my vantage point. Nic is sprawled out on the pull-out chair next to me, where he’s been every night for weeks, unwilling to leave my side lest something happen overnight and I need him. It can’t be comfortable, and I know that Ana’s pleaded with him to at least let her ‘reassign’ a bed or gurney to my room, but he refuses. God knows how he’s able to keep his body working at all, but Trey told me he sees Nic at the gym on a regular basis so he’s keeping it up somehow.

  My bladder’s giving me fits, but I don’t think I need to pee just yet. Instead, I pick up my phone off the nightstand, blinking at the bright light showing me that it’s four in the morning, hours before the nurses change shifts and come in to wake me for a vitals check.

  I know what my problem is, really. I’m restless, physically and mentally ready to get this show on the road since I’m technically full-term now. Dr. Stevens told us yesterday that while he’d like the baby to bake a little longer, I’m officially thirty-six weeks so if I go into labor, they’ll run with it.

  The latest sonogram shows that the small separation hasn’t changed. Woohoo for bedrest. Still, I hate being able to do nothing but waddle up and down a hallway for no more than twenty minutes a day and go to the toilet. But as long as everything goes well during labor, I shouldn’t need a C-section, although Dr. Stevens warned me to never rule it out.

  Trying to be quiet so I don’t wake Nic up, I rearrange myself, rolling to my back and propping the bed up higher to get some pressure off my achy lower back. Even in the bed, my belly weighs my body down, the days of a cute basketball effect long gone. As soon as I’m out of here and have Amelia safe in my arms, I’m getting to work with Trey. He can help me lose the bits of Jell-O I’m rocking now, because while a little extra badonkadonk is one thing, postpartum Jell-O isn’t. I moan, the ache in my back intensifying. Maybe he knows a chiropractor who can help get my sore back in working condition too. This bed is so awful and not doing my poor body any favors.

  Halfway through my roll, a contraction shoots like a bolt of lightning across my belly, taking my breath away and obliterating all thoughts of my jiggly ass. It’s not a slow-rolling squeeze like the few I’ve had before, gradually tightening. This is instantly tight and painful.

  As it subsides, I whisper to Nic, trying to wake him gently so he doesn’t freak out. “Nic . . . Nic, wake up.”

  He jolts despite my gentleness, instantly on his feet and by my side. “What? What’s wrong?”

  God, I love this man. A whisper, and he’s here for me. “I just had a contraction. A pretty good one. I’m gonna call the nurse, see if she thinks we should time them or something.”

  Nic smiles in the dim light, leaning down and kissing my forehead. “Relax. I’ll get her.”

  In a flash, he’s out the door, jogging, I bet, down the hallway to the duty nurse’s station to get someone’s attention. They’re back quickly, the nurse full of smiles and energy considering the hour. “Having some good ones?”

  She flits around a bit, checking my vitals, which are all fine, and as another contraction comes on, she lays a light hand on my belly, feeling the hard tightness. “W
e’ll watch you for a little while, and if you get into a regular pattern, it might be baby day. But it’s still too early to tell for sure. I’ll call Dr. Stevens to let him know the update, and I’ll make sure the on-call docs are ready if you do decide to pop quickly.”

  She gives Nic a piece of paper and a pen with instructions to write down the times when I have contractions and to call her immediately if we need anything. I sort of find it silly. I mean, who’s going to go ‘hey, I’m having a contraction! Is it eight fifty-seven or eight fifty-eight now?’ but I guess I’ve got enough on my mind. The nurse hurries back out, and I look at Nic, whose hands are shaking.

  “Oh, my God, it might be today!” I say excitedly, and deep in my heart, there’s a well bubbling and I feel like it’s going to burst with love and joy at any second. Nic smiles back at me, but there’s a flash of uncertainty in his eyes. “Nic, you okay, honey?”

  He nods, taking my hand and patting it absently, but still, I can see that his mind’s running a thousand miles a minute, everywhere but here. “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. I’m just . . .”

  He takes a big breath, his eyes rolling up to the ceiling, and my heart stutters. Is he bailing on me? I’d been ready to be a single mother, but that was a long time ago, and we’ve been resolute in our relationship and our parenting for months. We’re in love and supposed to be a happy family now, together. But he definitely looks like he’s looking for a way out right now as his eyes keep darting to the door. My voice wavers, and I know this is the last thing I should be asking, but I can’t help it. “Nic? Talk to me.”

  He drops his chin down to meet my eyes, a blankness on his face, and my worry becomes absolute terror. “Rose, I’m . . . terrified. I’m freaking out here. I don’t . . . what are we gonna . . .” He’s rambling, and he stands to run his fingers through his hair.