Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 114068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
“I think we need some more time.” I glance at Duke. “Right?”
He nods. “More time sounds good.”
“Of course,” Dr. Martinez replies. “I’ll put the information we talked about in your MyHealth portal so you’ll have that to reference as y’all make your decision. I know it’s a lot, so please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions.” She stands and looks me in the eye. “Whatever you decide, I fully support you. Trust yourself to make the right call, okay?”
I nod. “I really appreciate that. We’ll be in touch.”
“And you keep doing that dirty work.” She taps Duke on the arm with the manila folder she’s holding.
He smiles. “Yes, ma’am.”
“And he’s polite. Good Lord.” Laura uses her hand to fan herself. “I need to take five, Christina.”
“I think we all do,” Dr. Martinez says as she ducks out of the room. “Karl! Where’s my fan?”
Duke keeps a hand on the small of my back as we leave the office. I don’t miss the way the women in the waiting room check him out.
I feel myself biting back a smile. Having arm candy is kinda fun.
Duke’s vintage Chevy stands out in a parking deck packed with shiny Range Rovers and souped-up BMWs. It’s old but immaculately restored and maintained. There’s not a speck of dirt or dust on the white and cocoa-brown colored paint. My chest does that squeezing thing when I wonder if he ran the truck through the car wash on his way to Dallas.
Did he get her all dolled up for me?
I climb onto the vinyl-covered bench that runs the length of the cab. It smells like Duke inside, and I have to close my eyes and remind myself to keep breathing as a wave of longing rips through me.
Nausea too.
What a mess.
We’re quiet on the ride back to my house. I have no idea what Duke is thinking. I have no idea what I’m thinking.
All I know is that he looks so damn sexy when he’s driving. One hand on the wheel, the other draped casually over the gearshift because of course he drives stick.
I swear, the man is out to give me a legit heart attack.
“I’m not tryin’ to be weird or quiet or whatever,” he says at last over the faint strains of Lainey Wilson playing on the radio. “I just don’t wanna say the wrong thing. Put my damn boot in my mouth. Because I’ll support you in whatever you decide too, Wheeler. I meant what I said about another road trip.” He turns his head. His eyes look so, so blue in the sunlight that slants through the windshield. “I also don’t want to put the burden of making that choice solely on you, because that sure as hell ain’t fair.”
Truth is I don’t know how I feel. Maybe because I’m still in shock? Am I in some kind of state of denial, even though a medical professional just confirmed that I am one hundred percent pregnant?
I think part of it is Duke’s hotness scrambling my brain. I can’t think when he’s around.
At the same time, I don’t want him to leave.
“Duke, I have no idea what I’m thinking.” I press my fingers to my forehead. “First off, these laws are fucking stupid.”
“No shit.”
“And the timing couldn’t be worse, right? You have all that exciting stuff happening at the ranch, and Bellamy Brooks is finally doing well. You and I aren’t dating or anything. Having a baby right now…” I shake my head. “It’s a terrible idea.”
Adjusting his hand on the wheel, Duke is quiet for a beat. He shifts gears. The engine roars.
“Timing’s not great,” he says. “We obviously weren’t planning for this to happen. And I know with everything going on with your parents…”
I scoff. “Right. That shit. Another reason why having this baby wouldn’t be the smartest move.”
Why then does my chest hurt when I think about not having this baby?
I move my hand to my breastbone, pressing my fingers into the phantom soreness there. What the fuck is that about?
Now is not the time to be dumb. Or sentimental. Or soft. Not when my dreams for my career and my life are finally coming true.
“But you know I’ll be there for y’all, right? You and the baby? If you wanna have it?” Duke looks at me again, all earnestness. “Smart move or not, I’ll be the best damn daddy I can be. You sure as hell won’t be raising this kid on your own, Blue. I couldn’t live with myself knowing I have a kid in this world who didn’t feel loved the way I felt loved by my parents.”
My heart spasms. Probably why I feel short of breath. Just—
This man. He’s a good one.
A really, really good one. And I keep running into this feeling that I’m doing something stupid by keeping him at arm’s length.