Irresistible Nights by Kaylee Monroe

Chapter Fifteen

Marcie

“I’m so embarrassed.”

Kresley squeezed my hand and smiled gently. “Don’t be embarrassed. We’re just making sure everything’s okay.”

I rolled my eyes, even though I appreciated my friend’s concern. “I went down like a sack of bricks in front of customers. People love to gossip. Do you know how fast that’ll end up on Yelp?”

Kresley stifled a giggle. “’It’s probably already up, but maybe they’ll come back. For the show, you know.”

The thin pillow in its rough, institutional-grade case rustled underneath me as I resettled in the uncomfortable hospital bed. “It doesn’t make any sense. I ate breakfast.”

She glanced at her watch. “Well, it’s two in the afternoon and I don’t remember seeing you eat lunch. Unless you huddled behind the counter and snuck some food without leaving any evidence behind, which I don’t think you did.”

I winced. “Yeah, point taken. I haven’t been eating a lot lately.”

She stroked a thumb across my knuckles as she considered her words. “I don’t like to make comments about weight for anybody, but you’ve dropped a few pounds lately. You’re under a lot of stress with the Keisha Blackwell deal and your idiot dad and everything. Maybe you should take a few days off.”

“And do what?” I said peevishly. “Sit around and think about the store and my dad?”

“That’s just it,” Kresley pointed out. “Besides the time you spend with Denton, when have you done anything for yourself? Gone to…yoga class, or spent all day in your jammies or something. You said so yourself, the presentation for Keisha is done and sent. What if you took off for a few days, binged watched some raunchy shows on Netflix, drank a gallon of wine and didn’t think about us at all while you were gone? You know that Frankie and I can handle the store.”

I was so wiped out, it didn’t sound too bad, honestly. “I’ll think about it.”

“I hope you do.” Kresley settled back in her chair, a satisfied smile on her face. She was always so sweet and diplomatic—I almost never argued with her because she was so good at getting her point across.

A quick knock sounded on the door and a middle-aged woman stuck her head inside. “Ms. Davenport?”

“Hi. Yeah. That’s me.” I shifted in the bed and struggled to extend a hand.

“I’m Dr. Strand.” She took a few steps and shook my hand gingerly, then looked over at Kresley. “Do you mind stepping out while I talk to your friend?”

“It’s okay,” I said, flexing my fingers around Kresley’s, her hand solid and comforting in mind. “She can stay.”

“Not a problem.” Dr. Strand reached behind her for the rolling stool and sat down. Every movement was brisk and efficient, and I felt a little more relaxed knowing that she was in charge. “So you fainted at work. Can you walk me through what happened?”

“I was really busy all morning and didn’t eat lunch because my stomach was a little bit…off,” I explained. “I was working with a customer and got lightheaded, so I started walking to my office to sit and—”

“Hit the floor,” Kresley interrupted. “Our friend caught her and we woke her back up and dumped some juice into her, then I drove her here.”

“Yep.” I nodded in agreement. “That’s about it.”

Dr. Strand glanced down at the tablet she held in her hand. “Well, we checked your blood sugar and iron, and it looks like you were having some hypoglycemia and you’re a little bit anemic. When you’re pregnant, the hypoglycemia especially can sneak up on you fast, so it’s important to eat regularly.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. “I’m sorry—did you say pregnant?”

Her eyes on me felt kind and understanding. “Yes, your urine sample showed that you’re pregnant. Is that good news?”

“I…I don’t know,” I said faintly. “I’ve never thought about being pregnant before.”

Kresley laid a gentle hand on my shoulder and rubbed reassuringly. “It’s okay,” she said quietly. “Everything’s going to be fine.”

Dr. Strand scooted a little bit closer. “Do you need any additional support at home? There are some resources available to you as a pregnant woman and I would be happy to get a social worker in here.”

My head dropped back on the pillow as my thoughts spun out of control. “Yeah, I think I’m okay. I just—how? I’ve been on birth control pills forever.”

Dr. Strand shrugged. “Birth control pills are usually pretty much foolproof if they’re used as directed, but people aren’t perfect. Maybe you missed a pill or were a few hours late taking one, and an egg slipped past the security. It happens.”

I reached down and touched my lower belly.

Pregnant.

With Denton’s baby.

My belly was flat—concave, really—after my recent weight loss, but if everything went according to schedule, I would be a mother in about eight months.

“I’ve never thought about having a baby.” I looked over at Kresley, whose eyes were still wide with surprise. “Guess you’re going to be an aunt.”

A smile broke on her beautiful face. “I guess so.”

Denton, I thought. “Is Denton on his way?”

Kresley nodded. “Frankie called him—”

Before she could finish her answer, the door banged open and there he was. Relief whooshed through me as he rushed over to the bed and bent down to drop a kiss on my forehead.

“Baby,” he breathed, worry etching his handsome features. “Are you okay?”

Under my spread fingers, I felt my belly tense up with nervousness because I had no idea how Denton would feel about this unexpected, and life changing news. “I am. Yeah. Just hypoglycemia and some other stuff.”

Dr. Strand stood up and motioned for Kresley. “Let’s give you two some privacy. I’ll get your discharge papers for you and the nurse will be back in a few minutes to get you on your way.”

I hardly noticed as the two of them retreated, shutting the door quietly behind them. Denton carefully sat on the bed next to me and wrapped me in his big, warm arms. A tear trickled out of the corner of my eye as I drank in his size, his presence, his warmth and his love.

“I love you so much,” I breathed.

He kissed my cheek and sat up to wipe the tear away. “I love you, too. Tell me what’s wrong.”

I took a deep breath. “I’m pregnant,” I said, getting right to the point. “You’re going to be a daddy.”

Denton stilled and looked down at my belly, where my hand still rested. Once his initial shock wore off, he placed a large, gentle hand over mine, his big fingers dwarfing my slender digits.

“A baby,” he breathed, seemingly in awe. “I never thought I would be a dad.”

More tears spilled out of my eyes. “Are you upset about it?”

“No.” He leaned down and softly pressed his mouth to mine. “I’m…surprised, for sure, but I’m happy. You’re going to be a wonderful mother.” His voice wobbled with emotion. “Beautiful and funny and loving.”

I smiled back. “And you’re going to be such an old dad,” I teased.

He threw his head back and laughed. “Clearly, not too old to make this one.”

I released his hand and held my arms out, beckoning him closer. “C’mere, old man.”

Denton stretched his long body out next to mine on the uncomfortable emergency room bed and pulled me into his arms. We lay sandwiched together, whispering soft, loving words to each other and to the tiny spark of life in my belly until the nurse came in with my paperwork.

And when it was time to go, he led me to the car and took me to our shared home.