Stay With Me(34)

Her chest caught, and her heart fluttered uncomfortably.

“So what’s with the decision to hire a staff?” she asked casually, afraid to read too much into their action.

“It was way past time,” Logan said. “Rhys and I have been too set on doing everything ourselves. It wasn’t fair to you, and it wasn’t fair to Paige, who we also took advantage of. We’ve made it up to her. We’re still making it up to you and will be for a long while.”

He spoke with such seriousness and determination. Against her will, excitement rose, unfurled like a budding flower.

“Are you ready to talk about us?” Rhys asked quietly.

She froze. No, they hadn’t pushed her. In fact they’d been nothing but patient. But the issue had still taken up residence. The gigantic elephant in the room, always watching.

“I need to call and confirm my appointment with the obstetrician for tomorrow,” she said as she hastily rose from her seat. “I’m getting an ultrasound.”

“We know,” Rhys said, his gaze directed on her. “We’ve made arrangements to go. We wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

She held her breath, trying not to hope, yet grabbing on to his promise with sick excitement. On some level she felt like a complete idiot for placing that kind of faith squarely back in their hands when they’d let her down time after time.

Despite the effort they’d put into spending more time with her, she still couldn’t keep the doubt from creeping in. All it would take was one little problem. Some deal going south. An issue with the new staff, and they’d quickly drop her to go fix it.

“We’ll be there,” Logan said calmly. “You’ll be riding with us.”

***

The next morning, Rhys got up and dressed for work, but to Catherine’s shock, Logan stayed in bed, his arm draped possessively over her body.

She was debating whether or not to wake Logan when Rhys returned to the bed and bent over and kissed her.

“I have to run in for a few minutes and sign a few documents for Paige, but I’ll be back in time for your appointment.”

“Rhys, what about Logan?” she whispered.

Rhys smiled. “What about him?”

“Would you two please be quiet,” Logan said in irritation. “It’s damn hard to sleep with you carrying on a conversation in my ear.”

Rhys chuckled, kissed Catherine one more time and headed for the door.

She turned as best she could under Logan’s arm so she could face him. “Are you sick?” she asked. “Are you feeling okay?”

He pried one eye open and stared balefully at her. “I’m fine.”

“Logan, you’ve never slept this late in your life. You never miss work.”

“I do today.” He leaned into her and kissed her. His hand glided up her body until his palm cradled the side of her neck. “And I plan to do a lot more of it. Is that going to be a problem for you, Mrs. Wellesley?”

Her mouth widened in shock, and he took swift advantage. His tongue licked deliciously over her lips and slid inside, warm and slightly rough.

“We’ve got a couple hours before your appointment. Why don’t we sleep a little longer, take a shower together and then I’ll make you breakfast,” he murmured as he stole little kisses.

She burrowed into his arms, forgetting her reserve and that she was valiantly trying to guard herself from further hurt. She laid her cheek against his bare chest and closed her eyes, just enjoying the perfection of one simple moment.

Chapter Seventeen

Her stomach in knots, Catherine sat between Logan and Rhys in the waiting room. They sensed her anxiety, because they touched her frequently—gentle, reassuring caresses meant to alleviate her concerns.There hadn’t been anything to suggest there was a problem with her pregnancy. Her recovery from her surgery had been uncomplicated and swift. But she could still taste the fear, heavy on her tongue, still remember that one terrible moment waking up and knowing without a doubt she’d lost her child.

Her stomach gave a violent twist when her name was announced. Clutching at Logan’s and Rhys’ hands, she made her way toward the door on unsteady feet.

She went through the preliminaries mechanically. Peed in a cup, let the nurse take vitals and answered questions in a monotone. Logan and Rhys both looked at her in concern, but her single-minded focus was on seeing her baby.

She half-feared that when they did the ultrasound, they’d find something horrible. A shudder worked over her shoulders.

Several agonizing minutes—what seemed like hours—later, the doctor came in, pushing a portable ultrasound. He smiled and greeted her then nodded at Logan and Rhys.

“Are you ready to see your baby, Mrs. Wellesley?” the doctor asked.

She nodded, unable to speak for fear she’d throw up.

Logan helped her lie back, and the doctor tucked a sheet in the waistband of her pants and pulled downward to expose the slight swell of her belly. Then he arranged her shirt just below her br**sts.

Rhys stood at the head of the exam table, and she reached upward, finding his hand. Logan watched from her feet, both his hands curled around her ankles as his fingers worked in nervous patterns.

They were as worried as she was.

The doctor worked in silence. He squirted warm gel on her belly then took the probe and worked it in a tight circle, spreading the goo.