Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
“I want you,” she admits, shocking me. “I realized this week how much I care about you. And even though it’s selfish, I want to be with you. I know your family is going to be upset but—”
“Whoa, why would my family be upset?”
My family has been one hundred percent supportive since they found out about her.
“I overheard Dustin and his wife talking at the barbecue,” she admits, looking at me sheepishly.
Suddenly, it all makes sense. One minute, she was fine, and the next, she was pushing me away.
“He said they would have to find someone to replace you…someone that’s not family, and Valerie said you must be devastated.”
Jesus, fuck. I’m going to kill my brother and his wife. I know without a doubt that they both support my decision but…
“Dustin is a numbers guy,” I tell her. “He’s good at his job. He handles our numbers like the expert he is, but there’s a reason why he doesn’t want to be anything but our CFO. He sucks at communication, and he’s the least eloquent speaker I know.
“And as for Valerie, she’s a workaholic, and I say that in the nicest way possible. It’s why she and my brother don’t have kids. They love their jobs, and for her, the thought of me walking away from the CEO position is unfathomable.” I run my knuckles down her cheek. “But I can tell you, they both support my decision.”
“They probably hate me for taking you away,” she mutters.
“Not even close. Are they upset that I’m leaving? Of course. Honestly, I would be a bit hurt if they didn’t give a shit.” I shrug. “But Valerie is Dustin’s world, so he gets it.”
“He told her that,” she says. “He said he would choose her. But he doesn’t have to.”
A tear slides down her cheek, and I catch it with my thumb.
“That’s because she works for Bradford, and they’ve created a life together without having to make choices like we do.”
“I hate that you have to choose. That I’m making you choose.”
“You’re not making me do anything. You told me this is where your life is and you’re not comfortable moving to Dallas, so I’m choosing to move here to be with you. You’ve been hurt, and you’ve lost your trust in others. But I’m going to prove to you that not all of us will hurt you. And one day, you’re going to trust me…trust us.”
“I want that,” she admits.
“Good.” I lean over and kiss her. “Because I’m going to make sure you have everything you want.”
I hold her for a few minutes, until there’s a knock on the door, followed by the doctor pulling in a cart.
“Sorry about that,” Dr. Michaels says. “We’re a bit short-staffed at the moment.”
She types away on the screen and then says, “Okay, let’s have a look.”
Paige lifts her shirt, and the doctor tucks a blue towel in her waistband, then squirts gel onto her stomach.
We sit in silence, both of us watching the screen, though I have no idea what I’m looking for since I’ve never seen an ultrasound in action before.
Paige squeezes my hand, and I do it back, silently letting her know I’m right here.
The doctor moves the probe around her stomach, spreading the gel all over. She stops every few seconds, clicks and types, and then does it all over again.
Finally, she glances at us with a soft smile, and I sigh in relief because there’s no way a doctor smiles like that if she’s about to give you bad news.
“Everything looks perfect,” she says, making Paige sob in relief. “This is your baby’s heartbeat.” She turns a knob, and the most beautiful whooshing sound hits our ears. “It’s strong. One hundred forty-three beats per minute.”
She moves the probe around some more. “This is the face…the hands…the feet.”
The screen is gray and black, but the baby is outlined perfectly. I can make out the face, the ribs, his or her little heart beating. Until now, I don’t think I fully grasped it…
“We’re having a baby,” I murmur to Paige, who laughs.
“We are.” She giggles.
“That’s in you,” I whisper.
“It is,” she agrees with another watery laugh.
“I’m assuming by the way you’re talking, you don’t know the gender yet,” the doctor says with a grin. “Are we waiting, or would you like to know?”
“You know?” Paige asks, her eyes lighting up.
“I do. Would you like to know?”
“Yes,” Paige says, then glances at me. “You still want to know, right?”
“Sure. Would be nice to be able to refer to it as a he or she.”
“Okay then,” the doctor says. “You see this?” She slides the probe over and points to a blurry area on the screen. “That’s a boy.”
“Really?” Paige gasps. “We’re having a boy?”
“You are,” the doctor says. “I know your appointment is tomorrow. And because of what’s happened, I’d like you to keep it. It can’t hurt to have another ultrasound done, but everything looks good. A woman’s body is meant to protect the baby, and when you fell, your body did just that.”