Bring Me Back

Ben grins. “It’s because I’m hilarious, right?”

I pat his chest. “You wish. Your jokes suck.”

He puts a hand over his heart. “You wound me, babe.”

“Actually—” I twirl past him “—I think they keep hoping one day you’ll show up with some hot doctor friends.”

Ben laughs loudly and his eyes sparkle. “Is that so?”

“It’s a hunch.” I shrug. “I made you something to eat.” I point to a plate, give him a kiss, and say, “Get some rest.”

He nods and stifles a yawn.

I start for the door and turn back to him. “You look good in those scrubs.” I wink and then cup my hands like I’m squeezing his ass.

He throws his head back and laughs. “I love you, Blaire.”

“Love you,” I say. “Oh, and Ben?” I linger in the doorway, suddenly feeling nervous. He looks up from the plate of food he’s uncovering. “Yes.”

“Yes?” His brows furrow in confusion. Before I can elaborate his eyes widen with clarity. “Yes, yes? You want to have a baby?”

I nod.

He rushes to me, and before I can blink, I’m in his arms and he’s spinning me around. His lips latch onto mine and he kisses me like I’m the ocean and he’s the moon. His lips taste of orange juice and the promise of great things to come.

He sets me down and holds my face between his hands. “Yeah? We’re doing this?” He grins so big that both his dimples pop out in his cheeks. He suddenly doesn’t look so tired. Just happy. So happy.

I nod and smile. “Yeah, we are.” He kisses me again. “I thought about what you said,” I continue, “and you’re right. It usually takes a while to get pregnant, and our wedding is so soon—”

He cuts me off with yet another kiss. “I love you,” he whispers, his eyes glimmering. “Let’s start right now.” He sweeps my legs out from under me.

“Ben.” I laugh and push at his chest. “I have to go and you need to go to bed.”

“Oh, right.” He sets me down. “Later.” He waggles his brows.

I pick up my fallen purse and lift it to my shoulder. “I’ll see you later.”

Ben kisses my cheek and disappears into the kitchen.

I hop into my Honda Civic and drive over to the coffee shop. I’m late, but not by much. Despite that, I’m still the last to arrive.

“Blaire, you’re always late,” Casey calls when I breeze into the shop. Bless her, she’s already ordered my coffee and sandwich.

“I’m sorry, Ben came home as I was leaving and we were talking.”

“Aw, did you tell him to come?” she asks as I take a seat.

I hold the coffee mug between my fingers. “He just got off of a twenty-four-hour shift, he needed to sleep.”

“Oh, right.” She shakes her head. “Blond moment.” She waves off the words like they’re nothing. I find it funny since Casey is one of the smartest people I know and on the fast track to becoming one of our state’s most powerful defense attorneys. “Anyway, how were the holidays, ladies?” She lifts her mug of coffee to her lips and takes a dainty sip.

“My brother and his girlfriend were totally doing it in the bathroom before dinner.” Hannah wrinkles her nose. “It was gross.”

Chloe snorts and sweeps her glossy dark hair over one shoulder. “If I was dating your brother I’d want to sex him up all the time.”

“Ew.” Hannah cringes. “He’s my brother. I don’t need to hear this.”

“Your hot brother,” Chloe and Casey say simultaneously.