Heart Strings
“No! I do. It’s just so fast,” she explained. “We’ve been so fast.”
“Fast but right.” I kissed her forehead. “Now, you rest so I can take you home.” I laid my hand on her stomach. “My family.” I couldn’t help the grin that broke through. “Only one pill—my boys are a determined lot. We’ll have to remember that in the future.”
She returned my smile, although hers was still shaky.
I blanched a little. “I didn’t—uh, last night. God, did I do this? Was I too rough?”
“No. I was fine until I had the fight with my dad. Last night was amazing, Logan.” She paused. “Although we might want to refrain from, ah, the acrobatics for a bit.”
“No acrobatics. Got it. But sex is okay, right?”
“Yes. The doctor recommended some books.”
“I’ll order them right away. I have a feeling I have a lot to learn.” I winked at her, wanting her to relax.
“Me too. The news certainly explained why I’ve been so emotional and tired.”
“One mystery solved.”
“I’d like to know the mystery behind that bruise on your jaw. It wasn’t there this morning when I left.” She lifted one eyebrow in question.
“A story for another time.”
“Did you punch him back?” She guessed correctly.
“Nope. I needed to get to you more than I needed to hit him.”
“Thank you.”
I smiled and kissed her again. She cupped my face in her hands, gently pressed a kiss to the sore spot. “I love you.”
“And I love you. Both of you.”
“Our little blip.”
I shook my head. “Not a blip. That indicates a mistake.” I ran my fingers over her skin. “A nugget. A tiny little nugget.” I met her eyes. “Our nugget.”
“Our nugget will be so loved,” she whispered, a wide smile curling her lips.
“Yes. He or she will never doubt that. Ever,” I promised. My mind was already racing, planning, and organizing what I needed to do. How I could look after Lottie and make sure she was all right. Take care of both of them.
She sat up, suddenly worried. “I quit my job today, Logan. What am I going to do?”
Hearing those words made me even happier than I had been a moment ago. “We’ll figure it out.”
“I have a mortgage and bills. Babies are expensive.” She worried her lip. “Maybe I can convince my dad to forgive me and—”
I pressed a finger to her mouth. “No. We’ll figure it out, Lottie. You aren’t going back there. The stress isn’t good for you—or the baby,” I added, unable to keep from smiling at those words.
I bent and kissed her. “We’ll figure it all out together.”
She visibly relaxed. “I should call the office and tell HR I’m not coming in. I’ll give my dad a few days to cool off then go talk to him. But I think I need to let my mother know I’m okay. She’ll freak because of Josh. Hospitals upset her terribly.”
“I’ll make both calls,” I assured her. I described the girl who stepped aside and pushed the elevator button for me, and Lottie confirmed it was Lorie.
“I’ll call her and your mother. I’ll take care of it. You rest—the sooner we stabilize your blood pressure, the sooner I can take you home.”
Her eyes drifted shut, and I knew she was exhausted. I watched her float into sleep, her hand resting across her stomach in a protective gesture.
I slipped from the room and called Lorie, who told me Lottie’s father was already at the hospital. I hung up, checking my texts and seeing there was one from Brianna saying Lottie’s mother had contacted her, and she had told her Lottie was in the hospital but had assured her mother that Lottie would be fine. She’d obviously told her husband, who was now in the waiting room. I was shocked he hadn’t demanded to be allowed to see Lottie or caused a scene about me being in with her.
I made sure Lottie was still sleeping, then walked to the waiting room. Charles Prescott was easy to spot, pacing the room, on his phone, his voice low and angry-sounding. When he saw me, he ended his call and waited for me to approach him. I inhaled and closed the distance between us, stopping in front of him. His eyes focused on the growing bruise on my jaw. I had a feeling he’d like to give my face a matched set.
“There are witnesses this time if you take a swing.”
He ignored my remark. “Where is Lottie?”
“Resting.”
“Why is she here? I don’t understand what happened.”
I crossed my arms. “Because of the argument you had. She had a massive panic attack. They’re monitoring her blood pressure.”
“I want to see her.”
“Not a chance in hell of that happening.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You have no say in the matter.”
Anger made me stupid and my tongue reckless. “I have every say.” I stepped closer. “You had your chance, Charles. You had her entire life to fuss and care about her. Instead, you ignored her. Treated her as if she were to blame for Josh’s death.”