The B-Team (Benson Security)

Chapter 26

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Rachel was not happy. Things were not going to plan. The suite she’d booked to have her baby in wasn’t available because she’d turned up at the hospital two weeks early. The room they’d given her was lovely, more like a hotel room than a hospital room, but it wasn’t a suite. And it definitely wasn’t the suite she’d viewed before booking it.

She glared at the obstetrician, who stood in the doorway while two nurses cowered behind her. “You need to give me something to stop these contractions,” she demanded. “This pregnancy has to get back on schedule.”

“That’s not how this works,” the doctor said in that snippy tone the help sometimes got when they had degrees to back up their job. “There’s no drug that can miraculously refill your gestational sac with amniotic fluid. Your water broke. This baby is coming, and the sooner you accept that, the smoother this process will be.”

“I am not having this baby tonight.” Rachel waved a hand to indicate her surroundings. “I’m in the wrong room. I don’t have any clothes with me. And I’m not in labor.”

“Rachel”—the doctor took a step toward her—“you’re having contractions, and your water has broken. That’s the definition of labor. Now, please be sensible and get up on the bed so I can see how far along you are.”

“No.” She put her hands on her hips. “I demand to speak to your manager. This isn’t how you run a business. When a customer books a certain package, they expect to get what they paid for. On top of that, I know you can stop these contractions and make this baby comfortable until its actual due date. You do it all the time when a baby threatens to arrive too early. So, please stop pretending you have no idea what I’m talking about and do your job.”

A crippling pain started in her lower back and made its way around to the front of her body. Rachel fought it with everything she had as she let out a wild, agonized scream. For a second, she didn’t know where she was or who was there. Even worse, she didn’t care. When the pain passed, she found herself doubled over the bed while Harvard rubbed her back and made cooing sounds in her ear.

“Get off me,” she snapped. “You’re a traitor, and I’ll deal with you once I’ve sorted out the doctor.”

He took a step back as Rachel straightened. She tossed her hair over her shoulder, aware that it wasn’t as immaculately styled as it should have been, and glanced down at herself, noting the creases in her red blouse and black pants. Thankfully, the fabric didn’t show any wet patches—unlike Harvard’s jeans. It had to be said that she took some delight in seeing the large wet stain on the front of his pants. He deserved to look like he’d wet himself. If it weren’t for him, she’d be at home, safe in bed.

The worst thing though—the most humiliating aspect of her current situation—was that she was barefoot. Rachel instinctively knew that the medical staff wouldn’t treat her with such blatant disrespect if she had her shoes.

“Mrs. Carter.” The doctor took another step closer.

Was the woman trying to herd her somewhere? Or trap her? Didn’t she see that Rachel was taller and stronger than her? What was going on here?

“It’s Ford-Talbot,” she corrected. “And as soon as I’m back home and settled, I plan on taking care of the Mrs. aspect too.” She narrowed her eyes at Harvard. “This marriage is over.”

Her traitorous husband spoke to the doctor. “Is there anything we can do here?”

The doctor considered that for a second before shaking her head. “We can’t force your wife to allow me to examine her.”

“I wasn’t suggesting force.” Harvard ran a hand over his shaved head.

“We could give her a sedative,” the doctor mused.

“You want to drug me?” Rachel gaped at them. “You want to drug me and make me have this baby tonight? Do you even hear how barbaric that is? You make a person to take drugs against their will. What sort of hospital is this? Do you treat the royals this way?” She caught the eye of one of the nurses. “Call security. I want this doctor removed from my room.”

The nurse looked panicked but didn’t rush off to do Rachel’s bidding.

“For the love of Prada,” Rachel shouted. “Have I become invisible? If you people don’t start doing what I pay you to do, I’m going to sue this hospital and run it into the ground.”

“Maybe you should try talking to her again,” the doctor who should not have been there said.

“Talk to me about what?” Rachel demanded. “If you’d just listen and do as you’re told, there wouldn’t be an issue. I need you to fix the baby, stop the pain, and send me home. This isn’t rocket science. It’s basic time management. This baby isn’t supposed to be here for another two weeks, and if you would just get with the program, we could still make that happen.”

The doctor and Harvard shared a look before he walked up to stand in front of Rachel. She was so furious with him that she could barely look at him.

“Princess,” he said softly. “Please listen to me. You know I’d never do anything to harm you. Just talk with me for a few minutes, okay?”

Rachel started to shake her head, but when she glanced up, she noticed tears on his cheeks. Shock at the sight made her reach up to touch them. Her fingertips came away wet.

“You’re crying.” It came out sounding like an accusation when, really, she felt only confusion and alarm at the sight.

“I’m so damn worried about you I can barely breathe,” he said, stepping closer.

“As I keep telling you, I’m fine. I have this all planned out. I just nee—” Another wave of pain made her collapse against Harvard. His strong arms held her tight, keeping her safe and steady while she screamed.

“Rach, please,” he whispered against her ear once the pain had passed. “Please listen to me; I’m begging you. This baby”—he placed a hand on her belly—“ our baby has your stubborn streak, and it’s decided it’s coming now. You’re hurting yourself by refusing to face reality, and I’m worried you’ll hurt our baby too. Please, Princess, let the doctor examine you. Listen to what she says and let her help you. I can’t stand this anymore. I can’t bear seeing you hurt like this. I love you so damn much, and I’m sorry this isn’t going the way you planned. I’m sorry you’re scared. I know how much you like to be in control, Princess, and if I could make this go the way you wanted, I’d do it in a heartbeat. But I can’t. You need to help me here. Please, help me.”

She stared at him, tears making their way down her own cheeks now. “It’s too much,” she whispered. “I’m not ready.”

“I know.” He wiped her cheeks with his fingertips. “But I’m here, with you, and we can do this together. You’re smart, so smart, and you know deep inside there’s nothing you can do to stop this from happening tonight. You’re the bravest woman I know; be brave about this too. You aren’t alone. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

“I don’t have my shoes,” she confessed, feeling exposed.

“No, Princess. This is something you have to do without your armor.”

Tightness gathered in the small of her back, signaling another wave of pain was on its way. This time, she gripped Harvard’s arms and held on tight, yelling into his chest through the worst of it.

When it passed, she sagged against him, exhausted. “It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.”

“No.” He kissed her head.

Rachel stared into his beautiful, dark eyes. “You have to stop crying,” she said. “They’ll think you’re soft.”

He barked out a laugh.

“We do this together?” he asked, holding her eyes captive with his.

“Fine,” she relented, and there was some relief in doing so. “But I’m not happy about any of this.”

“Your objections have been noted,” he said with a warm, loving smile.

Rachel straightened her shoulders as best she could and turned to face the doctor. “You may examine me.”

The medical staff were visibly relieved.

As Harvard helped Rachel onto the bed, she grabbed his hand and held on tight. “Don’t let go,” she ordered.

“I won’t.” It was a promise.

Rachel settled back onto the raised pillows and turned to one of the nurses. “If I’m going to be here for the night, there are some things I’ll need. Could you please make a list and get them for me?”

The nurse glanced at the doctor, who nodded once, tersely, clearly afraid that any objection would mean losing Rachel’s cooperation. At the sight of the interaction, something inside Rachel settled. It was going to be okay. She was still Rachel Ford-Talbot. And she was still scary as hell.