Tied with Me (With Me in Seattle, #6)(64)

Fuck, I love her.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I murmur and kiss the back of her hand.

“Nat’s going to be okay,” she states firmly. “And the baby, too.”

I smile and nod and silently pray that she’s right.

When I pull up to the hospital, I park my car at the curb by the emergency room and lead Nic from the car.

“We can’t leave the car here.”

“Yes, we can. I work with this hospital regularly. They won’t tow me.”

“Okay.” She shrugs.

I glance down at her and grin. Her legs look amazing in those heels.

“I’m looking for Natalie Williams,” I inform the registrar, who meets us in the ambulance bay.

“I don’t think we have a Natalie Williams in the ER, detective.” She says. “Is an ambulance on the way?”

“She’s probably on the floor,” he informs her. “Can you find her?”

“Oh, sure, let me check.” She types on her keyboard and bites her lip then smiles. “There she is. Room 402. Do you know how to get up there?”

“I do. Thanks,” I reply and walk through the ER, through the back hallway to the elevator.

“Geez, you just walk through here like you own the place,” Nic comments with a laugh.

“Asher and I are here on cases quite a bit.” I smile down at her as we wait for the elevator.

“Where is Asher’s wife?” she asks softly.

“She passed away about three years ago.” My gut clenches as I think back to that dark time for my partner. “She was in an accident.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” She blinks quickly, and I can see that she truly means the words. “Poor Casey.”

“It was rough on both of them,” I agree. “They’re doing better now, but it hasn’t been an easy road.”

“Does he have family here?”

The elevator doors open, and we climb aboard.

“No, his family is in New York. He’s been talking about going back home to be near his family, for help with Casey.”

“That would be a tough decision to make.”

The thought of losing my partner is as appealing as the thought of losing my right arm.

We can hear Livie wailing as we leave the elevator and walk toward the waiting room. Jules is holding the fussy toddler, bouncing and crooning to her, but Livie won’t be placated.

The room is full of family all dressed for a formal party, some sitting, some standing, all pretty much quiet.

Will and Meg are talking with Mark, Sam and Leo in one corner. Isaac and Stacy are standing with Caleb and Brynna while Nate and Dominic both try to help Jules quiet Liv.

“Matty!” Jules cries and walks to me immediately, leaning into me, cradling Livie to her. “Oh my God, it was so terrifying!”

“Okay, shush now, bean.” I take Olivia from her, hold her to my chest, and she rests her head on my shoulder, takes a long, shuddering breath and sighs.

“Why wouldn’t she do that for me? She loves me,” Jules sobs.

“She knows you’re worried and upset, Jules. It makes her upset, too. Now take a deep breath and fill me in.”

“We were driving to the vineyard,” she begins. “We were maybe five minutes out of the city, and suddenly Nat said that she had to go potty, and we all know how it can be when you’re pregnant. When you have to pee, you have to pee.” She swallows and wipes her tears from her cheeks.

Nic takes Jules’ hand in hers, and if I wasn’t already in love with her, it would have happened right then.

“We pulled over so she could use the restroom,” Nate says. “And she came out saying she was bleeding. So we turned right around and came straight here. They started some tests in the ER but brought her up to this floor because, regardless of the results, they’ll want to keep her at least one night.”

“Any idea at all what’s going on?” I ask and pat Liv’s back. She’s fallen asleep on me now, making little sucking motions with her heart-shaped lips.

She might be the most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen.

“We’re waiting to hear from Luke,” Dom replies. “He’s in with her.”

“Where is my baby?” my mom calls out as she and Dad come off the elevator.

Jules hugs Mom and kisses her cheek. “She’s being seen by the doctor.”

“Why can’t we get back there? Is it worse than they’re saying?” Samantha demands. “If it’s just a little blood and they’re monitoring, we should be able to take turns sitting and waiting with her.”

“I think it’s a combination of the pain she’s been having over the past few weeks, along with the bleeding,” Meg replies. “If she goes into labor, they won’t want us in there. They’re triaging her.”

“Neil,” my dad says as he shakes Luke’s dad’s hand. “Where’s Lucy?”

“She’s back there with them. The doctor said they could take one person, and Lucy went back first.”

“I want to go back next,” Jules insists.

“Here, will you take Livie?” I ask Nic. “I’m going to go talk to the nurse.”


Her eyes go wide, but she takes the baby from me, settles Liv on her shoulder and sways back and forth, kissing her head.