Daddy in Disguise (Crescent Cove 7)

Dani rushed over to the female paramedic. “Here.” She stacked towels next to her.

“Thank you very much. You’re such a good girl.”

Dani flushed, her freckles glowing. “Sure. No big deal.” She rushed back over to me.

The door banged open and August came flying in with the bag. “I’m here.”

Ivy’s other hand popped up. “Auggie. Oh, God. Rory isn’t here. I mean, he’s here on the phone, but—” Her sobs started up again. “God, it hurts.”

August Beck, her older brother, leaned over the back of my couch, frustration etched in his face. “Is this the best place to do this? Can’t we get her to the hospital?” He glanced at Kinleigh helplessly, then at the paramedic.

He was a hulking, dark-haired guy who looked like he was just about to lose his lunch at the things going on at the end of the couch. He moved up to his sister and pushed away stray bits of hair from her braids. “You always like to make a splash, Ive.”

“At least I didn’t have her in the truck.” She arched as another contraction slammed into her.

“Can’t you give her something?” August gripped the back of the couch.

The paramedic shook her head. “Sorry. She’s way too far along and we don’t have those kinds of medications in the ambulance.”

“Okay, Ivy. I’m going to need you to push when the next contraction comes around, okay?”

She shook her head. “No, I can’t. I can’t have her now. I need Rory.”

“Nope, you are going to do this with all of us. Great energy in this room, right? Strong women all around and even males who haven’t passed out yet.”

Ivy collapsed back against the arm of the couch. “That is a miracle.” She let August’s hand go to grab her phone. “Rory?”

“I’m here.”

She laughed weakly. “I don’t want to do this without you.”

“I’m right here. You’ll never be alone, I promise you. Thank God for technology. My mum is even on her way over. She can’t wait to meet her grandchild.”

“Oh, is she?” Her eyes went wide and suddenly, she tensed again. “Here we go.”

“I need you to push now.”

“Now?”

“Now!” The paramedic’s voice was stern and calm. It seemed to snap something to attention in Ivy. She immediately grabbed August and Kinleigh’s hands and bore down.

Holy shit. I couldn’t move. Dani ran over to me and hugged me around the middle, burying her face in my side at the rash of grunts that came out of the usually sweet Ivy.

It seemed like it took forever, but then everything became hushed as Ivy slumped back.

“Okay. That was awesome. You’re doing amazing. This little girl? It’s a girl, right?”

“That’s what we overheard at the doctor’s.” Ivy’s voice was weak.

“Well, this little girl is going to come out in no time. I just need you to hang in there with me, okay?”

Ivy nodded.

August seemed at a loss and he kept trying to reach over the couch.

“Just rip off the back if that’s what you want to do.” I absently stroked Dani’s hair.

August looked up. “Really?”