Chapter 37
Introducing Iliana
Two Months Later
Hudson
I glare at Nova. “We’re going to the hospital.”
She grits her teeth as she fights another wave of pain. I can’t stand watching her in pain. I need to do something about it. Which is go to the hospital.
“It’s not time yet.”
“You’re in pain. Whenever you’re in pain, it’s time to go to the hospital.”
“No, it’s not, Crabby Crabapple.”
Any man would be crabby after watching the woman they love suffer through pain for several hours.
“You’re having our baby. I don’t want you to give birth to our baby girl in this chalet.”
“Why not? Women give birth at home all the time.”
I blow out a breath before I snap at her. Me yelling will not get us to the hospital any quicker. I kneel in front of her and grasp her hands.
“You’re not being a hypochondriac if you go to the hospital when you’re having contractions.”
“It’s early labor. I don’t need to go to the hospital until my contractions last at least one minute each and occur at least every five minutes for more than two hours.”
This is what I get for buying every single book about pregnancy I could find. Nova memorized everything she could about labor. She’s determined to overcome her hypochondria. Considering Dr. Katz rang up last week to ask if everything is okay since she hadn’t heard from Nova in over a week, she’s winning the battle.
“Sunshine, no one will think you’re a hypochondriac if you go to the hospital now.”
She scowls at me.
“I’m so fucking proud of you. You’ve worked really hard to fight your fear of death. I’m in awe of your strength.”
Tears well in her eyes and she sniffs to stop them from falling but one manages to escape. I wipe it away.
“I’m serious, Sunshine. You’re the strongest person I know.”
“Thank you and I love you, but I’m not going to the hospital until my contractions occur every five minutes for two hours.”
“Can we compromise?”
She giggles. “Listen to you. Captain Cranky is going to compromise.”
“I compromise with you all the time. Didn’t I let you go out with your friends last week despite worrying about how close you are to your due date?”
She rolls her eyes. “You gave me a curfew.”
I shrug. “It was either a curfew or I was going with you.”
“It’s hard to gossip about our men when one of the men is with us.”
“Which is why I compromised. And now it’s time for another compromise.”
She sighs. “There are rules about when a woman should go to the hospital for labor. There isn’t room for compromise.”
“But you’re in pain.”
“And I’m a woman. I can handle it.”
“What do you want? Say the word and you can have it. If you agree to go to the hospital now.”
She smiles and despite the pain obvious to see in her eyes, it lights up her face. “I have everything I want. I have the man I love kneeling in front of me. And we’re having a baby together. What else could I possibly want for in life?”
Damn. She makes a good argument, but I’m not giving up this easily.
“How about a hot tub? We can add it next to the swimming pool. Think about it. We could go out there and relax in the hot water, no matter the weather. In fact, our deck is completely isolated. We could go naked.”
She wags her finger at me. “You’ve been trying to get me to skinny dip since the day you installed the pool.”
I waggle my eyebrows. “And you promised you would skinny dip when you’re not pregnant.”
“And I’ve lost the baby fat.”
“What do you say?” I push. “I can have the hot tub installed tomorrow.”
“You don’t need to buy me things.”
“I enjoy buying you things. It makes me happy.”
“And I enjoy making you happy.”
“Then, accept the hot tub and make me happy by agreeing to go to the hospital.”
“I don’t need a hot tub.”
I frown. “What about if I have a beer tap installed in our bar? We could stock whatever Five Fathoms beer you want.”
“We already have all the Five Fathoms beer I want.”
“What about—”
“Enough!” She holds up her hand. “I don’t want anything material from you. All I want is you.”
“I’m trying to compromise here.”
She frowns.
“What is it? Another contraction? Let me time it.” I grab my phone to start the timer.
“There’s no need.”
“Not a contraction?”
“I mean there’s no need to compromise anymore.” She cringes. “My water broke. It’s a good thing I put a towel down on this chair.”
“I don’t give a fuck about the chair.” I lift her in my arms and begin to carry her to the door.
She bats my shoulders. “Wrong way. I need to change my clothes first.”
“Fuck your clothes. We have a bunch of clean clothes in your go bag.”
“I am not going to the hospital with soaked panties.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Hudson Clark, turn your rearend around and carry me to the bedroom to change my clothes this minute or I won’t give you a blow job until this baby is in college.”
Damn. She’s serious. I whirl around and head toward the bedroom.
Once she’s changed into clean, dry clothes, I carry her to my truck and drive her to the hospital. We arrive and I stop in front of the emergency room. I jump out and run to the passenger door.
“What are you doing? You’re blocking the emergency room door.”
“Nova, you are an emergency,” I say as I pick her up and carry her toward the entrance.
“Promise you’ll move the truck once I’m inside.”
“I promise.” I’d promise her anything right now.
I set her in a wheelchair and push her toward the reception desk. Dr. Katz is waiting for us there.
“It’s about time you got here,” she greets.
Nova’s brow wrinkles. “I only called you five minutes ago.”
Dr. Katz points to me. “The big guy rang me this morning when you had your first contraction.”
Nova twists to glare up at me. “I told you not to bother the doctor.”
The doctor laughs. “Follow me. I’ve got your room ready.”
I walk with the doctor as we head to the maternity ward. I roll Nova into the room and help her get situated on the bed.
She glances around. “There’s only one bed in here.”
“Because Daddy wanted a private room,” Dr. Katz answers.
Nova frowns at me. “I don’t need a private room.”
“Maybe I need a private room.” I kiss her nose. “There’s a couch in here I can sleep on until you and little Sprog can come home.”
“Dang it. How am I supposed to stay mad at you when you do such sweet things?”
I grin. “You’re not supposed to be mad at me when you’re having my baby.”
“On the contrary, I’m pretty certain I get to be mad at you and scream all kinds of obscenities at you when the pain gets to be too much.”
“Which is why you’re having an epidural.”
“Let me have a look.” The doctor sits on the stool between Nova’s legs. “It might be too late for an epidural. Yep,” she says a moment later. “Baby Myers is on her way. No time for an epidural.”
“Baby Clark.”
She clears her throat. “My apologies. Baby Clark.”
Despite Dr. Katz’s announcement about the baby being born soon, it’s another three hours before our baby girl arrives in the world.
When the nurse finally places the baby on Nova’s chest, Nova sighs as she runs her finger down the little, tiny nose. “You’re perfect, Iliana.”
“Iliana?” I ask. “I thought we’d name the baby after your mother.”
“Her middle name will be Stella. Iliana Stella Clark.”
Love for this tiny creature fills me. “I love you, Iliana.”
Tears run down Nova’s face. “I have everything I’ve ever wanted.”
I wipe her tears away and kiss her forehead. “Thank you for giving me the world. I love you, Nova.”
She smiles at me and warmth fills me. “I love you, too, Hudson.”
I never thought giving into the temptation that is Nova Myers would lead me to love and family, but it has. I don’t need football to be happy. This is what true happiness is.
There’s only one thing I have left to do. Convince Nova to marry me.
Thanks for reading! I hope you’re enjoying the Smuggler’s Hideaway series. I love this island! It’s so much fun to write about.