Conspiracy Game (GhostWalkers, #4)(78)

Jack felt relief sweep through him. Briony was afraid, but she was accepting their offer. He didn’t know what he would have done if she’d tried to run. “You’d better get ready to go, babe,” he said. “It’s a long drive down the mountain and we don’t want to miss the doctor appointment.”

“We can eat dinner in town,” Ken added, flicking his brother a warning glance.

“I’ll cook tonight,” Jack offered as he stood up, tousling Briony’s hair.

“We can eat dinner in town. I got up at four this morning and removed the traps and set alarms. I’ve still got the tile job to do. Don’t give me grief on this.”

“See how he whines.” Jack appealed to Briony.

“I’m being reasonable, Bri,” Ken protested. “You’ve never tasted his cooking,” he added, following Jack’s example and ruffling her hair.

She sat very still, just absorbing the affection in that simple motion. It should have made her feel like a child, but even Jack’s persistent orders had nothing to do with thinking she was a child. “I’d like dinner out,” she ventured.

Jack groaned. “Don’t help him, Briony. It won’t just be dinner. He’ll want to go listen to music. Every time, every single time I’m dumb enough to agree to dinner, we end up at the Last Saloon listening to his country music. He flirts all night and I sit there watching his back.”

“I’m trying to get him to work on his social skills,” Ken explained. “And the music is awesome. You do like country music, don’t you, Briony?”

“Yes.”

“And you do agree Jack needs a little work on his social skills,” Ken prompted.

“He flirts just fine,” Briony said.

“Jack? Flirts?” Ken looked shocked. “If he does, he’s only flirted with you. The ladies sashay up to him, and he gives them that deadpan look, and they scurry away. It’s embarrassing.”

“Really?” She glanced at Jack.

“You’re not taking Briony to the bar,” Jack decreed. “Some drunken idiot cowboy is going to take one look at her and decide he’s going to dance with her, and I’ll have to bury his body out in the forest.”

“Or you could just dance with me yourself and not have to kill anyone,” Briony suggested. “It might be easier.”

“Dance?”

“You do know how to dance, don’t you?”

“You’d distract me,” Jack said.

“From what?”

“I watch Ken’s back. Now I’ve got two of you to look after.”

“How about this,” Briony suggested. “Ken can dance and we’ll both watch out for him. And don’t worry, Ken—if one of the ladies starts groping you on the dance floor, I’ll be all over it in a heartbeat. But then, Ken can watch out for us while we dance. Ken, you could do that, couldn’t you?”

“It’s a deal, as long as you let the ladies grope me.”

Jack threw his hands into the air. “So this is how it’s going to be. You’re going to double team me, aren’t you?”

Ken and Briony exchanged a grin and nodded, unrepentant.





CHAPTER 13





“Briony, look at the monitor,” Dr. Casey instructed. “Jack, do you see what I’m looking at.”

“Two hearts,” Jack said.

Briony went still, the color draining from her face. She reached for Jack’s hand for strength. It wasn’t possible. She’d never considered having one child—let alone two. She was beginning to think she was in the middle of a nightmare and just needed to pinch herself very hard to wake up.

Jack bent close to her, close enough that his lips brushed her ear, but his words were in her head, not spoken aloud. Don’t panic on me, baby. We’ll get through this. His fingers tightened around hers.

Briony swung her head around slowly and stared at the small screen. There was a black cone and a lot of swishing and not much of anything that she could see. “No way. Don’t even joke like that, you two. I almost had a heart attack.”

The doctor pointed and made a small circle first over one spot and then over another. “You’re definitely carrying twins.”

What’s wrong, Jack? I can feel Briony from here. She’s very upset.

Don’t go shooting the doctor. He just told her we were having twins, and she’s not prepared for the news.

She’s very distressed.

I’m aware, Ken. I’ll deal with it.

Jack brushed the hair back from Briony’s face. Small beads of sweat dotted her brow, and her skin was clammy, so pale it was nearly translucent. One hand fluttered to her throat.

“Jack. No.” She shook her head, her gaze desperately clinging to his. “I’ve never held a baby in my life, let alone changed diapers. I don’t know the first thing about babies.” What if they cry and I freak out and throw up everywhere? I can’t be with anyone when they’re upset. A baby can’t control that. I thought with one, I could, you know, take a breather every now and then, but not with two. Jack, I can’t do two.

The doctor held on to his smile, looking cheerful. “I know it’s a bit of a shock, but many women have twins and do just fine. Everything looks good. You should be able to carry without any problems. We’ll want to keep a close eye on you.”