Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
I reach forward and take Mackenzie’s hand when I see it start to shake.
“I also ordered an internal ultrasound so that we can just make sure that everything is okay. I don’t predict that there will be a problem since you haven’t had any bleeding or cramping. The baby should be okay,” she says.
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. I knew that chances were that the baby was okay, but it’s a relief to hear that from the doctor.
“So the accident didn’t shake him loose?” Mackenzie says.
The doctor laughs. “No, it’s pretty safe in there with all that cushioning. Fetuses are much more resilient than you think.”
“Thank god.” She covers her stomach with her hand, and I place my hand over hers.
“Now just hold tight for a few minutes. The ultrasound tech should be in to take you over to see the baby.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Here is my card. I work here in emergency a few nights a week, but I have a practice downtown with a few other doctors. If you’re looking for prenatal care, give my office a call and they will set you up with an appointment.”
“Awesome.” Mackenzie takes the card, then hands it to me since she doesn’t have a purse.
Tucking it into my wallet, I watch the doctor leave.
Once the door is closed, I turn to Mackenzie. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“What question?” She tips her head to the side.
If I didn’t see the sparkle of amusement in her gaze, I would be offended.
“You are an evil woman,” I growl, forcing her back onto the table.
Her hands slide through my hair.
“That’s payback for asking if it’s your baby,” she says with a smile.
I wrap my hand around the lower part of her jaw and gently tilt her head back. I dip my face close to hers until we are sharing the same breath.
“Let’s try this again. Mackenzie, I’m crazy in love with you.” My thumb rubs across her smooth skin, and my eyes stay locked with hers. I see them fill with tears.
“I love you, too.” Her eyes close, and I swipe away one lone tear that falls from under her lashes before placing my mouth against hers.
“Miss Reed, I’m ready for you. Just follow me,” a woman says as she pokes her head into the room.
Mackenzie wipes the tears off her cheeks with jerky movements. Helping her sit up, I press one more quick kiss to her lips, then help her down off the table. Taking her hand, we head down the hall into another room, where a machine is set up next to a hospital bed.
“Panties off. Put this on. I’ll be back in just a moment.” The woman hands over a paper robe before leaving us alone in the room.
Kicking off her heels, she turns her back to me. “Can you help me out of my dress?”
Stepping up behind her, I undo the button at the top, then start to unzip the dress. It exposes inch after inch of creamy, freckled skin.
“This is not exactly the way I saw myself getting you out of this dress tonight.” I kiss her shoulder, then the exposed skin of her back.
“It’s not the way I thought it would be, either.”
She shivers as I slide the dress off completely. I curse under my breath when I see the lace bra and panties she has on. A dark-blue lace the same color of her dress, sheer enough to show off her beautiful skin.
“I don’t think you need to take off my bra.” She laughs, taking a step away from me and my hands that had started to unhook the clasp of her bra.
“Habit.”
I help her step out of the dress, then help her put on the paper robe. She slips off her panties before she gets onto the bed. Hearing a knock, I call, “Come in!”
The tech steps back in and dims the lights.
“Is this your first child?” she asks, moving to the machine on the opposite side of me and typing on the odd-looking keyboard.
“Yes,” we both say at the same time.
I take Mackenzie’s hand, and we listen to the woman explain exactly what she is going to do, then I watch her place the wand beneath the end of Mackenzie’s gown.
“You are going to feel some pressure, but there shouldn’t be any pain,” the woman says.
Mackenzie’s hand tightens around mine. “All right, relax for me,” she instructs.
It takes a minute, but soon she finds whatever it is she’s looking for—not that I can make anything out in the dark, grainy image on the screen.
“See here?” She points at the screen with the cursor. “That’s your baby.”
Squinting, I make out a head, but it mostly looks like a lima bean and nothing like a baby.
“Let’s see if we can hear the heart.” She flips a switch.