Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
Even as she said the words, she wished them back. She didn’t want to be alone.
You’ll be fine.
“We’ll take shifts,” Slade said suddenly. “Two here. Two at home. Spencer, you go home with Rock. I’ll stay with Quaid.”
Slade was the one who needed sleep the most. But even though both Spencer and Rock grumbled, eventually they kissed her lightly before leaving. She sighed, wishing she could have more from them.
But she guessed that would have to wait.
60
“Slade, the doctor didn’t say that I couldn’t walk at all,” she said quietly as he lifted her out of the car and started carrying her to the elevator.
“She said full bed rest,” he replied. “That means you don’t walk anywhere.”
“What about when I need to use the bathroom?” she asked in exasperation.
Slade was worrying her. Even more than the others and they had all become a wee bit nutty.
But Slade looked like he hadn’t slept since she’d ended up in hospital. He was now sporting facial hair, his clothes were rumpled and there were huge dark bags under his eyes.
And she wouldn’t be surprised if he’d lost weight.
Yeah, he was worrying her.
And then there was the weird relationship with Quaid. Things felt . . . off. Like they were two strangers who wanted to be together but neither of them knew how to lessen the space between them. She was wearing the gift he’d brought her. Turned out that inside the pink, sparkly bag he’d been carrying was a gorgeous, soft jumper with small pink pompoms on it. She absolutely loved it.
“Then one of us will carry you. There will be one of us with you at all times.”
“Slade, you don’t need to do that. That’s why you hired a nurse, remember?” Thankfully, her blood pressured had lowered and the doctor had consented to letting her come home.
“Beth isn’t going to carry you to the bathroom.”
“I should think not. Poor woman would likely put her back out,” she joked.
Slade shot her a fierce glare. “Are you calling yourself fat?”
Holy. Moly.
He was being so sensitive.
“Slade, I know I’m not fat. But I’m over six months pregnant. I’m heavy. And Beth is a woman. That’s all. Not saying a woman couldn’t carry me. But she probably couldn’t.”
Urgh.
Why was she rambling?
“You are not heavy. I hear you say that again and you’re in trouble.”
Right. What sort of trouble would that be? He’d likely just put it in her naughty girl notebook.
Which was going to conveniently end up in the recycling bin at some stage.
“If you’re thinking about getting rid of your notebook, think again,” he told her as they stepped out of the elevator. “I’ve also got everything on my laptop.”
“You don’t.”
“I do.”
Rats. The man had an evil mind.
“Do you really think I’d get rid of the notebook?” she huffed.
“Yes, brat. I do.”
The door to the penthouse opened as they grew close and Spencer stood there. “Welcome home!”
She jumped slightly.
“Be quieter,” Slade snapped. “You can’t upset her.”
Surprise filled her at his grouchy reply. That seemed a bit of a harsh reaction.
“Sorry, shit. I wasn’t thinking. Sorry, Princess,” Spencer said quietly.
“I’m fine,” she reassured Spencer. “I’m not made of glass. I won’t break.”
Both men stared down at her in disbelief.
“Really,” she insisted.
“Actually, that’s exactly how we intend to treat you,” Quaid said. “How we always should. Because you’re the most precious thing in the world to us.”
She’d noticed that Quaid was trying to show more of how he felt. Or at least, tell her. But it was clear that it was difficult for him.
Indie wished they’d all just relax a bit.
Be themselves.
God, it was good to be back in the penthouse. It enveloped her in a warm hug as the scent of Spencer’s cooking hit her and she heard the soft sound of music playing.
“Hello, good, you’re here. Let’s get you into bed, shall we?” Beth stepped out of her room and smiled at her.
Right.
Yay.
Slade carried her into her bedroom. She hadn’t bothered getting dressed to come home from the hospital. He’d just wrapped her up in a warm blanket.
He unwrapped her and drew the covers up, fussing with them while Beth took her blood pressure.
“Blood pressure is looking pretty good. Let’s get you all comfortable for a nap, yeah?” Beth said.
“I don’t need a nap.”
Yeah, right.
“Well, why don’t you just lie there and pretend,” Beth said.
Pretend? That sounded silly.
“Do you need something, Boo?” Slade asked. “Are your feet cold? Something to eat? Drink?”
She stared up into his worried face. Hmm. She didn’t need a nap but he did. “Would you lie with me?”
It was the only way she could think to get him to relax. And hopefully sleep.
Because she was concerned if he didn’t sleep soon that he was going to collapse. She was pretty sure that he hadn’t slept in the hospital and she wasn’t sure that he’d been sleeping at home, either.