Raising Kane (Rough Riders #9)(74)

“No. You tested negative.”


“Shit. Is it swine flu?”


“You tested negative for that too.”


When Dr. Monroe set the clipboard aside and pinched the bridge of her nose, Ginger had her first feeling of alarm. “What’s wrong with me?”


“A couple of questions first. You were on a ten-day cycle of antibiotics after your accident, correct?”


“Yes.”


“And then, according to your patient’s report, you filled a fourteen-day-cycle prescription of antibiotics for a sinus infection four weeks before that?”


“Yes. But it didn’t seem to work, so I refilled it again a couple of weeks ago.”


“First of all, you should’ve set up an appointment instead of getting a refill, an oversight I’ve corrected by canceling your standing prescription at DeWitt’s. I’m curious to know the details of your sinus infection symptoms, and why you didn’t feel the antibiotic worked.”


Ginger frowned. “Besides my head being stuffy? I constantly have a headache. My equilibrium is off and I get motion sick very easily. So I’m nauseous and dog-tired all the time.”


Dr. Monroe crossed her arms over her chest. “Ginger. You’re a smart woman. How could you not read the warning labels on the drug information sheet? I know you got them. I know you scour them if it’s Hayden’s medication. But you don’t do that for yourself?”


Not a good sign, getting her ass chewed by her doctor.


“Here’s the CliffsNotes version of pharmacology. Antibiotics can render birth control pills ineffective, especially the low dosage type you’re currently taking. I would’ve made a point of discussing it with you if I’d known you were sexually active—”


“This hasn’t ever been an issue before because I’ve been a freakin’ monk since I moved here.”


“When did your abstinence status change?”


“After my accident. When Kane stayed with us. It just sort of…happened.”


“So it was a one-time thing?”


Ginger bit her lip, tempted to lie. “No, it wasn’t a one-time thing. God. He’s become like this…addiction. We’re doing it all the freakin’ time. I can’t keep my hands off him and Kane can’t keep his hands off me. I’ve never felt this way about any man.” Ginger inhaled slowly and steadily. “It’s like my hormones have taken control of my life.”


“Your hormones are in control, Ginger, because you’re pregnant.”


Her mouth dropped open and all the air emptied from her lungs. “What?”


“You honestly had no clue?” Dr. Monroe asked gently, but with a hint of skepticism.


She shook her head.


“Your last menstrual cycle ended…just after New Year’s?”



“But these last few months when I’ve gotten to know you? How I feel about you has nothin’ to do with Hayden. Besides the fact he’s such a great kid because he’s got such a great mom.”


Tears flooded her eyes. “Kane—”


“Let me finish. Yesterday, as soon as we finished calving, I stopped by Stacy Lynnwood’s office and resigned as a mentor in the Big Buddies/Little Buddies program. I didn’t give her a specific reason.” His eyes narrowed. “I assume Stacy told you about what’d happened with Brandi?”


“Not in detail, just the general gist.”


“Then you understand why I didn’t want our relationship to be dissected by the organization or anyone else?”


She nodded.


“So I resigned. That wasn’t something I was gonna tell you over the phone. I don’t want to be in your life only as Hayden’s mentor. I want to be in your life as your lover and your partner. I want us to be a family.”


“Kane—”


“Don’t interrupt.” He dropped to his knees and gathered both her hands in his. “I’d hoped to do this differently, but I ain’t gonna wait for the right time because I’m tired of wasting time. Ginger Paulson, I love you like crazy. Will you marry me?”


Oh dear God. The man wanted to marry her before he knew she was pregnant? She swallowed hard.


But the nauseous feeling that’d been building wouldn’t go away. Saliva pooled in her mouth and she swallowed over and over, but it was pointless. She said, “I’m going to be sick.” She clapped her hand over her mouth and stumbled to the bathroom, barely making it before she puked.


After her stomach emptied the last of the Sprite, she flushed the toilet, wobbled to her feet and rinsed her mouth. Feeling dizzy, she rested against the shower door and slid to the floor, eyes closed in absolute mortification.


She heard Kane enter the bathroom. Water ran. A cool washcloth pressed against her forehead. The warmth of Kane’s body and his familiar scent enveloped her as he sat beside her. Without thought, she leaned into him.


Kane said, “So the thought of marryin’ me makes you physically ill?”


Her eyes flew open. “No. God no. Don’t think that. It’s so far from the truth you have no idea.”