She wasn’t saying anything. He’d been left to get them out of it. “What did you say?”
“That you’re so helpful and attentive because it’s who you are, not because you have particular feelings for me. Other than this odd sexual attraction, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense that we’re just feeling that because I’m having our baby, which heightens our physical awareness and connection, and because we know we can’t have sex. It’s human nature to want what you can’t have.”
She sounded like the lawyer she was. Presented the case in the way it made the most sense.
“Am I wrong?” she asked while her words were still running through his mind.
He shrugged, needing to refute her but finding no clear evidence with which to convince her. Or himself.
She didn’t trust herself to know if she loved him. He’d already known that. But...not trusting his feelings for her?
“I’d marry you tomorrow if you’d have me.”
Tears sprang to her eyes. “You married Elaina, too. I don’t want to lose you, Wood. To lose your friendship. I don’t want things to be awkward between us for Alan’s sake. We’re already starting off odd, with you being my sperm donor, not my lover. I just... I don’t want to lose you.”
She didn’t want to lose him.
Leaning forward, he looked her straight in the eye. “You aren’t going to lose me,” he promised her from the very depths of him. “Not ever.”
* * *
Cassie was at work on Wednesday, the seventh of October, when her water broke. No warning. No cramping, just sitting at her desk at the computer, she suddenly felt the flooding sensation, like she’d wet her pants. She was only thirty-six weeks along. Still had another two to four to go until her due date. She hadn’t even had her first internal exam yet. Alan had been kicking up a storm, though. Had he broken something in there too early?
&nb
sp; Thoughts flew while her system processed, and then, still sitting there, she grabbed her phone. It was like she was frozen to the seat. Afraid to move, to make matters worse. She’d put her doctor’s office on speed dial when she’d first been inseminated, was put through immediately, answered the questions like an automaton and was told to make her way to the hospital. But she was told not to worry. Since she hadn’t even started contractions, it would likely be hours yet before she delivered, but...one way or another, she was going to be having her baby that day.
And then, still mostly numb, she called Wood. Didn’t text him, called.
He picked up on the first ring.
“Cassie? What’s wrong?” At ten in the morning, he was still looking at a full day of work.
“My water broke.” She’d meant to say more. To tell him what the doctor said, but her words just stopped.
“I’m on my way.”
She nodded. That was probably a good plan. “I’m scared, Wood. I know it’s irrational, but I’m scared. It’s too early.”
“You’re eight months along. A little early, but out of the serious danger zone. A lot of healthy babies are delivered at eight months.”
How did he know?
She remembered the reading material they’d been given in birthing class. There’d been something about that in there. He’d obviously read it all, too.
“Are you in your truck yet?” she asked, suddenly aware of what a mess she was. Of the fact that her hospital bag was at home. That she didn’t have a change of clothes with her. And that...oh my God...she couldn’t breathe...
“Cassie? Cassie? Talk to me.” She heard his voice but couldn’t get words out through the mind-boggling pain gripping her lower belly and back. She screamed instead.
And her phone landed on the floor.
* * *
The eight-minute drive from his work site to Cassie’s office was brutal. He had to remain calm. To be strong. And he was shaking so hard he could hardly dial the phone.
With Cassie’s line on hold, he phoned 911, getting an ambulance to the law office. If someone else had called, then there’d be two. He didn’t give a rat’s ass at the moment. He’d foot whatever bill resulted.
And then he flipped back to listening to what was going on in her office. Cassie was moaning, and it didn’t sound good. He heard someone call her name and then heard urgent tones but couldn’t make out words.