Stay With Me(32)

Logan hurried around to the other side and slid into the backseat. He leaned forward as Catherine ducked into the car and eased down with a groan.

Logan reached over, lifted her and moved her closer to him. After making sure she was comfortable, Rhys climbed in next to her.

“Okay?” Rhys asked as he regarded her shallow breathing.

She nodded, and Logan curled his arm around her shoulders, tugging her gently into his chest. He was shaking from head to toe.

“God, baby, I was so scared.”

The words came out choked, and Rhys had to look away as he was reminded of just how afraid he’d been as well. He reached for her hand, wanting to touch her even as Logan held her.

She was quiet. Too damn quiet, and it scared him. The light had gone out of her eyes. He’d been prepared for anger. Fear. Hurt. But what he wasn’t prepared for was her indifference.

They drove home, Catherine limp against Logan, her eyes closed. Rhys kept his hand curled around hers. He suspected she kept her eyes closed to keep him and Logan from seeing too deeply within. Which meant that despite her façade, she wasn’t as indifferent as she appeared.

He’d take hope where he could get it. He wouldn’t let her and their child go without a fight.

They pulled up to the building, and she stirred, opening her eyes as the car stopped.

“Just stay where you are,” Logan murmured. “I’ll carry you so you won’t have to move.”

She tensed for a moment as if expecting his actions to cause her pain, but he moved slowly, inching her out of the car with extreme care.

Stuart held the door open and was uncharacteristically silent as Rhys passed through followed by Logan carrying Catherine.

On the way up, Rhys stared at Catherine as she leaned her head against Logan’s shoulder. It was killing him, this silence. He wanted her to yell at him, to hit him, do something other than shut him out. But she couldn’t afford that kind of emotional outburst, and he wouldn’t drive her to it.

The elevator doors opened, and Rhys started out ahead of Logan. Unable to resist, he stopped and lowered his head, pressing his lips to her hair.

He inhaled her sweet scent, wanting to hold it, and her, close to him. Never let her go.

She turned slightly, her gaze meeting his. For that moment, her barriers fell, and he saw raw, aching emotion entrenched in her eyes.

“Cat,” he whispered. “I love you.”

She closed her eyes again and turned away into Logan’s neck. Rhys’ shoulders slumped, and he walked into the apartment. Logan carried Catherine inside.

“Not to bed,” she murmured when Logan headed toward the bedroom.

“Baby, you should be resting,” Logan protested in a gruff voice.

“Please, I want to sit up for a while. And eat. I’m hungry.”

“Couch okay? I don’t think a chair would be very comfortable.”

Rhys busied himself making her something to eat while Logan fussed over her on the couch. A few minutes later, he carried a tray and set on the couch beside her before settling down next to it.

They watched her eat, and only when she was finished did Rhys ask what was uppermost on his mind.

“Why didn’t you tell us you were pregnant?” he asked.

Her hand fluttered down to her abdomen. He wanted to put his hand there too, but he didn’t want to hurt her or bump her incisions.

She stared down at her hand, refusing to look at either him or Logan. “I had planned to tell you the night of our anniversary,” she said quietly.

Rhys’ chest caved in just a little more, and Logan cursed under his breath.

“Later…later I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, what I wanted. I knew if I told you in Jamaica that it would change everything, and I wanted that time with you and Logan. I wanted things like they used to be.”

“And what about now?” Logan asked. “Do you want to be with us now? Do you want to stay with us?”

Her eyes became troubled. She licked her lips, and fatigue swamped her face. “I-I don’t know. I can’t answer that now. Right now I hurt too much.”

Rhys knew she didn’t refer to physical pain, and it knotted his gut.

“What I want is for you to rest and get better,” Rhys said. “Logan and I aren’t going anywhere. We have a lot to make up to you, and words aren’t going to convey that. It’ll take time, and fortunately for us, you aren’t in any shape right now to go anywhere. We’re taking total advantage of that.”

A half-smile fluttered across her lips. Then she glanced between him and Logan, concern crowding her features.

“Are you happy? About the baby?”

Logan went soft about the same time Rhys felt himself unfold. They both reached for her. Logan’s hand slid up her arm as Rhys’ tucked around her neck.

“I couldn’t be happier,” Logan said. “I was so damn worried when you were in the hospital. I still am. I want this baby, Catherine. As much as I want you.”

She turned her head to Rhys, and he slid his hand around to cup her cheek.

“I’d love a girl,” he said with a smile. “Who looks just like her mother. Logan and I can spoil her rotten. Of course I’m happy, love. But I’m happier that you’re okay and that you’re home with us where you belong.”

She looked away, and Rhys had to hold back his sigh. He exchanged worried glances with Logan. The two of them had expected a battle, an argument, and then they’d planned to throw down the challenge. They’d show her, prove to her, that they were through putting her last.