With a sigh, Rafe swiped the brochure. “I sometimes miss being in charge of my own unit. Here, it seems no one listens to me.”
Rafe continued to grumble on the way to the kitchen. Nikki pulled Sid to the farthest corner away from the kitchen and whispered, “I can’t believe you didn’t tell everyone my pla
ns. It’s caused me a massive headache since the frenzy ended.”
“As I said, if not you, then I would’ve raised the child. But I had a feeling Hartley would stick around, so the point is moot.”
“You’re my doctor, not a matchmaker, Sid.”
Raising her eyebrows, Sid pointed to the couch. “Sit down so I can draw some blood.” Nikki tried to reply, but Sid shook her head. “We’re finished with the discussion about the past. Focus on the future, Nikki.” She gestured again to the couch. “Now, sit. Between Evie’s worry about her daughter and Melanie wanting to know everything under the sun for her twins’ one-year check-up, I’m busy and have lots to do. You have five minutes.”
Judging by the steely look in Sid’s gaze, Nikki knew she wouldn’t get anything else out of the doctor that wasn’t related to the medical side of things. With a sigh, Nikki trudged to the couch.
~~~
Rafe leaned against the kitchen counter and read the pamphlet’s title: Symptoms, Dangers, and Phases of a Pregnancy. The title was benign enough, but the cartoon picture of a pregnant woman with a little smiling baby inside her was a bit weird.
Opening up the pamplet, cartoon pictures followed the stages of pregnancy in a woman. When he reached the later weeks, the woman holding her belly flashed into one of Nikki, heavy with their child.
He darted a glance to the living room. It was hard to imagine Nikki any other way but toned and lean. The belly would no doubt throw off her balance and slow her reaction times. Add in the birth and subsequent recovery, and for the first time, he started to understand how much Nikki would give up for their child.
In that instant, Rafe decided to work as hard as possible on the Simon Bourne mission before Nikki became unable to take down the hunter bastard. Given that the dragon hunters had injured and even killed members of her clan, the satisfaction of capturing Bourne might help her move past it all.
Right, then. Rafe would give Nikki that gift if nothing else.
Dr. Sid stood up and looked at him. “I’ll run some blood tests, but Nikki appears healthy for the moment. If you think anything is amiss, call me.” Sid looked to Nikki. “Especially since Nikki could be having a heart attack and would say she was fine.”
Tossing the pamphlet on the counter, he walked to stand behind Nikki. “Will do, Doc.”
Sid nodded. “Then we’ll meet again in a few days. I can answer more questions then.”
Rafe waited until Sid was gone before he cleared his throat. “Come on. Dinner’s ready and I have a surprise for you.”
“If you say it’s your dick, I will kick you,” Nikki muttered.
“I still have my fantasy to play out, remember. You can’t say no to that.”
“Fine.” Nikki stood. “Let’s get this over with. I’m sure it’s going to be the least awkward dinner of the century.”
Anger flashed inside him at her tone. Taking hold of her shoulders, he pulled her close. “I won’t have you trying to put distance between us, Nikola Gray. I know neither one of us expected this to happen, but it has. I’m sorry I hurt you before, and I will make it up to you. But if you never give me a chance, our daughter will grow up with two parents who do nothing but argue.”
“It could be a son. Plus, the DDA might throw you in jail.”
“Nikki.”
“Don’t growl at me, Rafe Hartley. You’re not only male but human. You have no idea what it’s like to be at the mercy of your dragon’s bloody instinct and hormones. My choices were to suffer for months in pain or allow the frenzy to take its course, so excuse me while I whine a little. It’s not even been a day since I found out I’m knocked up. I need time to absorb it all.”
“Take your time with absorbing it, but stop kicking me down in the process.”
“What? Does the human need pretty words to feel better?”
Narrowing his eyes, Rafe leaned down until he was an inch from Nikki’s lips. “It’s more than that. I want to know you, Nikki, but I can’t even try if you keep pushing me away.”
Nikki blinked. “Why now? We’ve had the last six months to get to know each other. Does it take a baby to open up your heart?”
“No. But the staying out of jail part had.” Nikki tried to pull away, but Rafe kept her in place. “Tell me the real reason you’re fighting this so hard. Because I sense there is one.”
Nikki’s pupils flashed to slits and back. He wondered what her bloody dragon was saying now.