25. Where’s My Cloak of Invisibility?
Chapter 25
Where’s My Cloak of Invisibility?
Ori
I manage a smile for the nurse, but it’s so fake I feel like my face might crack. Between worrying about the baby and fretting over Ash’s reaction, I’m a bundle of nerves.
She’s drawn about a million vials of blood, only to replace them with a giant IV bag of fluid now filling the veins she just drained.
The joys of modern medicine.
“The doctor and I will be right back to do the sonogram. I’ll send your husband in,” the nurse states before stepping out of the room.
Please don’t let Ash hear you call him that. I’ll never see the man again.
I have to give Ash credit. He’s taking the baby news in stride—although, to be fair, he’s likely still in shock about the entire situation.
Lord knows I was when I learned the news. I warned him we were playing with fire. Turns out, I was right.
“Okay, we have a plan.” Ash says as he walks into the room and grasps my hand. His palm is warm and comforting, even if the rest of him seems like a live wire.
“Who’s we?”
“Dr. Fulton and me. Normally, he'd want to admit you for a few days of observation, but I talked him out of it. Barring any problems, of course. Not that there will be problems. Everything is going to be fine.”
The man is talking a mile a minute, and it would be adorable if I thought the speed of his diction was because of excitement rather than sheer terror.
I motion toward the exam room door. “The nurse said Dr. Fulton will be in to do the ultrasound. I guess you’re getting used to these.”
Does it gut me to utter those words? Damn right it does. But let’s be real. He’s got more than one baby mama, and she’s weeks ahead of me. Everything Ash and I do together with this child, they’ve already done.
Once again, I’m breadfruit. Maybe that’s the tattoo I need—not that I know what the hell breadfruit looks like. Probably as appetizing as it sounds.
Yuck.
Ash shakes his head, his focus snapping to the door as Dr. Fulton and the nurse enter with the ultrasound machine. “I’ve never seen one before.”
“What about with Lucille?”
Another shake of his handsome head. “Nope. Wait. That’s not true. I had one for kidney stones about ten years ago.”
“This is a bit different,” Dr. Fulton jokes as he pulls on a pair of gloves. “Now, this is a transvaginal ultrasound, which sounds scarier than it is, but I promise it won’t hurt a bit.”
“Is it safe?” Ash asks, squeezing my hand, his voice tight with worry.
The nurse nods as she positions herself at the end of the table. “Absolutely. We use it all the time, especially in early pregnancy. Ms. Thorne, can you scoot down a few more inches?”
“Sure.” I grit my teeth and comply, sliding down the table. Nothing like having my lady bits on display for an audience. “You’re positive it won’t hurt?”
Yes, I’m a novice at this. The closest I’ve come to this machine is seeing one in a medical drama, and even then, it was only used as a backdrop while the main characters had sex against it.
No one ever said Hollywood was realistic.
“Not at all. I’m going to estimate the gestation of the baby and let you hear the heartbeat. Just give me one second.”
Terror slices through me, and I hesitate to look at the screen. What if something is wrong? What if I’ve messed this pregnancy up with too much worry and work?
“Hey,” Ash whispers, leaning close to place a kiss on my forehead. “It’s going to be fine.”
“Promise?” A tear slides down my cheek, and Ash sweeps it away with his thumb.
“There’s your baby,” Dr. Fulton says, his voice steady and reassuring. “Right as rain.”
Never have words sounded so sweet. My head turns toward the screen, a smile breaking across my face at the sight of the tiny little alien in my stomach.
“She’s fine?” I ask.
“It’s a little early to tell the sex yet,” Dr. Fulton replies, his tone light. “But your baby looks great.” He flips a switch, and the room fills with a pulsating sound. “Strong heartbeat.”
“See? I told you everything would be fine,” Ash says, shooting me a devastating grin.
“I’m glad when you’re right.”
“I’m always right.” He smirks, leaning back in his chair and giving an exaggerated tap to his temple, as if pointing out his superior intellect.
“On that note, I’m leaving again,” Dr. Fulton interjects with a laugh before printing out a strip of sonogram photos and handing them to us.
“Escaping to safety, huh?” I joke, clutching the photos in my hand.
“Absolutely. I’m no fool.” Dr. Fulton washes his hands, pausing by the door with my chart. “Everything looks great, but Ash informed me you have a tendency to run yourself down.”
Thanks for throwing me under the bus, Ash.
“I’m busy with the store.”
Dr. Fulton nods. “I understand, but your dizziness is concerning. It’s likely due to a combination of hormonal changes, low blood sugar, and dehydration, which are all common in early pregnancy. However, stress and overexertion can make it worse. I want you to take a few days off. Get some rest. Let someone else do the heavy lifting for a change.”
That’s where things get tricky. How can I manage that when I live alone?
Eddie still has a few things at my place, but my brother’s been working crazy hours on a construction project he’s under the gun to finish. I haven’t seen the man in days, although I’m grateful he’s got work after I put the kibosh on restoring the Dean Estate.
So, I’m sans help, unless I hire someone to wait on me—and that is definitely not my style.
“She’s coming home with me,” Ash states matter-of-factly.
“I’m what?” No, that’s not possible. I shake my head, but Ash is undeterred by my objections.
“You’ll stay at the farm so I can take care of you.”
“No,” I hiss, the dread rising into my throat. “I can’t stay with you.”
“If you don’t want to stay there, I can admit you for a few days,” Dr. Fulton says. “But we need you to rest. This is a crucial time, and you’re not doing yourself—or the baby—any favors by pushing too hard.”
Fuck you, Dr. Fulton.
“My choices are the hospital or home with Ash?”
“Yes. We need to get you back to one hundred percent. What’s it going to be?”
Groaning, I scrub my face with my hands. “I’ll go home with Ash.”
“Smart move. The hospital food is terrible. Trust me, I know.” Dr. Fulton smiles as he jots something down in my chart. “Follow up with your OB-GYN in the next week and be sure to eat and hydrate regularly. No heavy lifting, minimal stress, and plenty of rest. Have a good night, you two. Congratulations.”
As Dr. Fulton steps out, I glance at Ash, who is sitting back in his chair with a self-satisfied smirk, arms crossed like he just won a prize.
“Don’t look so smug,” I mutter.
“I’ll be right back.” Ash dashes out the door as his phone rings, leaving me to contemplate my next move.
Since there are no egress windows and I left my cloak of invisibility at my apartment, it looks like I’m headed home with Ash … and Lucille.
Even Hollywood couldn’t invent this level of soap opera drama.
I pull on my clothes and finger-comb my hair into a loose bun. Elegant, I am not, but I’m too tired to bother with my looks.
Ash pops back into the room, a satisfied smile on his handsome face. “Hey, beautiful. Let’s go home.”
“You’re letting me go home? Thank you.”
He wraps his arms around me, dropping a kiss on my mouth. “Correction. My home.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Actually, I hate it.
“Well, I think it’s fabulous, and I’m the one with the vehicle here. Plus, there’s a ton of food at the party. I’ll even let you beat me at darts.”
“I thought I was supposed to stay in bed.” I duck under his arms and make a beeline for the exam table, giving me a few feet of breathing room.
“We can find plenty to do there, too.”
“Nice try.”
Although, some sexy time with my sexy man might be just what the doctor ordered. Just not in the same house as Lucille.
Talk about throwing cold water over a hot fire.
“It might not be safe to do what you want to do, Ash.”
“It is. I checked with the doctor.”
I blink, heat creeping up my neck. “You asked Dr. Fulton if we could have sex?”
Ash shrugs, his smirk turning wicked as he steps toward me. “Damn straight. You’re gorgeous, and I’m horny as hell. Plus, I think you like me, too.”
I roll my eyes, but I can’t stop the grin tugging at my lips. “Your tongue has its merits.”
“What about the rest of me?”
I meet his gaze, feeling the familiar tension that always simmers around Ash flare to life. “Not too shabby.”
“I’ll show you ‘not too shabby’ as soon as we get home.”
“Oh no,” I cut in, narrowing my eyes as I lean back against the exam table. “We are not having sex. That’s how we got into this mess.”
His grin widens as he advances, his steps deliberate and confident. “It’s a beautiful mess.”
“Wonderful. We’re a stunning disaster with glitter bombs instead of orange cones.”
“Ori?”
“What?”
“Less talking. More kissing.”
“Absolutely not. We are friends.”
“We are not friends.” His voice drops to a low rasp, sending a shiver skittering through me as he reaches the table.
“You need to stop,” I whisper, though my voice falters as his hands slide along my ribs, leaving a trail of fire in their wake.
Ash leans in, his lips grazing the sensitive spot just beneath my ear. “Ori, shut up and kiss me,” he murmurs, his breath warm against my skin.
“No.” My fingers grip the edge of the table for stability as his mouth moves to the hollow of my collarbone, planting slow, deliberate kisses. I tip my head back, giving him greater access. “You want me so bad, you better take the lead.”
His eyes flash with amusement as he pulls back slightly, his devilish grin never wavering. “I’ll take more than that,” he murmurs, his hands tightening on my waist, his thumbs brushing lazy circles that make me squirm.
Before I can argue further, he hoists me onto the table and steps between my legs, his body pressing against me, firm and unapologetic. His lips hover just above mine, his unrelenting gaze locked on me.
“I’ll take everything,” he breathes, his voice rough and full of promise. “Hours and hours of worshipping you. That’s part of the fairytale, you know.”
“Not the ones I’ve read,” I whisper, my breath catching as his lips drift tenderly across mine.
“You’ve been reading the wrong ones.”
Then his mouth claims mine, his hand sliding around to cradle my neck. The kiss starts out slow and tantalizing, as if he’s savoring every second. But the moment a low moan slips from my throat, Ash tilts my head back and deepens the kiss, demanding all of me.
I gasp as his hands weave into my hair, loosening the bun I’d hastily thrown together. His fingers thread through the strands, angling my head for better access. His body molds to mine—solid and unyielding, his heat seeping into me, awakening every nerve.
My fingers twist into his shirt, clutching the fabric like a lifeline. My heart races as his lips leave mine to explore my jaw, tracing down to the tender hollow beneath my ear.
“How wet are you right now, beautiful? Maybe I should tear these pants off and have a closer look.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Like hell I wouldn’t.” His voice darkens, sending a shiver straight through me. “I’ll mark every inch of you as mine.”
He rests his hand on my stomach, his expression raw with hunger. “Forever mine.”
I bite my lower lip and pull him closer, the feel of his beard against my skin sending a wave of sparks through me. “Ash,” I breathe the word on a sigh, the wall around my heart crumbling to let him in.
The door bursts open, and the nurse walks in, a surprised smile on her face. “I’m sorry. I thought you two had left.”
“We’re leaving now,” I stammer, my cheeks flaming as I leap off the exam table.
She closes the door, and Ash lets out a grunt, adjusting himself with a wince.
“Problem?” I tease, unable to hide my smirk.
Ash laughs, though it comes out strained, his hand subtly adjusting his erect cock. “That’s putting it mildly. I’ve got one addiction in this world, and I’ve been without it for weeks.”
“And what’s that?”
His gaze locks with mine, his voice dropping to a low rumble. “You.”
Heat flushes through me, my breath catching at the raw honesty in his tone.
“Damn, that was good.”
“True, too,” he replies, his lips curling into his infamous cocky grin.
“Even better.”
“Okay, finish getting dressed, and I’ll meet you outside,” Ash says, stepping back, his hand lingering on the door handle. His grin widens. “Otherwise, I can’t be held responsible for my actions.”
Ash is chatting with Kiki, a friend and local realtor, when I walk out of the exam room.
She smiles as I approach. “Hey, Ori. Hope your head is feeling better.”
My what?
Ash pivots to me, his smile tight. “Kiki was worried about you, but I told her your migraine is better now. You get them from time to time.”
I nod, clutching my bag tightly against my body. “Right. My … head.”
The nurse passes us, pushing the ultrasound machine out of the exam room.
Now, I might have limited medical knowledge, but I’m pretty sure ultrasounds aren’t used to diagnose migraines.
Judging by Kiki’s raised brow at the machine, she’s clued in to that fact, too.
“Well, migraines are the devil,” Kiki says, patting my hand. Her gaze flicks to the machine again before returning to me, her lips quirking. “Didn’t realize they used those for migraines these days.”
It seems Kiki has decided to let it slide and go along with Ash’s story—at least for now.
She walks off, and I whip around to Ash with a sharp glare. “A migraine?”
He drags a hand through his hair, his sheepish expression doing nothing to quell my irritation. “I didn’t know what to tell her. She cornered me and wanted to know if we were okay. I had to make something up on the fly.”
Instead of telling the truth, I guess.
Ash falls into step beside me, his voice dropping. “I love Kiki, but the woman is a terrible gossip. We don’t need everyone in Sparkwood knowing our business.”
“Oh, yes, that’s right. You prefer discretion .” My words drip with sarcasm as the memory of our first night together flashes through my mind. Ash used the same term when his brother walked in on us, and it sits just as well with me now as it did then.
Like a thumbtack in my ass.
“Ori—” Ash grabs my arm, but I pull it free, quickening my pace.
“Let’s go. Although I certainly don’t require care and tending at your house for a migraine. I’ll just head home.”
“Hey.” Ash steps in front of me, cutting off my escape. “It’s early, okay? I’m just being careful.”
“Careful about what? Us?”
“No. About you.” He rests his hand on my stomach, his eyes locking with mine. “About our baby. Random people don’t need to know yet.”
I exhale, my frustration ebbing as his words sink in. Damn it all, but he’s right. “Sorry. My hormones are out of whack.”
“Maybe spending some time together will help,” he says, his voice warm and coaxing.
I can’t help but giggle, shaking my head at his persistence. “I suppose we can give it a shot.”
Ash slips an arm around my shoulder and pulls me close. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
Ash hops into the driver’s seat and leans over to steal a kiss before backing out of the parking spot. “How are you feeling?”
“Better.”
In truth, I feel immense relief. Not only is Ash supportive, but he actually seems excited.
Granted, it’s not a normal family situation, but it could be far worse.
Far, far worse.
Ash rests his arm on the center console, and I wrap my hand around it, resting my head against his biceps. I smile when he presses a kiss to my hair.
“What do you think everyone will say?” I ask.
“About what?”
About your choice of breakfast food, Ash. What the hell do you think I mean?
“The baby?” I lift my head to look at him, but he keeps his eyes on the road.
“We’re not telling anyone yet, remember? It’s still early.”
“Right, but what about Braden … and Lucille? They live at the farm. They have to know why I’m staying with you.”
I bite my lip, desperate to keep my voice steady. I understand not wanting the whole town to know, but Braden is his brother, and Lucille is already tangled up in this mess. Keeping it from them feels … wrong.
Ash tightens his grip on the wheel, his knuckles whitening. “We tell them the same thing we’d tell anyone else—that you’re exhausted, overworked, and need a break for a few days.”
“That’s not the whole truth, though.”
“Ori.” His tone softens, but there’s tension in the way he says my name. “It’s not about lying. It’s about timing. We need to keep this between us for now, except for whoever you’ve already told. And they need to keep quiet, too.”
“But—”
“Ori, please don’t argue with me about this. I’m just trying to protect you.”
The words hit me like a dull thud. Protect me. From what, exactly?
I slump against the seat, the elation I felt just moments ago now gone. That cold, hollow feeling? She’s here to stay.
I turn toward the window, shifting in my seat so Ash won’t see the tears sliding down my cheek.
Wiping them with the palm of my hand, I nod, determined to put on a brave face. “That’s fine.”
“Hey.” Ash’s voice is soft and pleading. “It’s not perfect, but it’s safer this way. Just for now.”
That’s when I realize the truth.
He’s not worried about protecting me . He’s worried about himself.
Of course, he doesn’t want anyone to know.
How would it look? Two baby mamas in six months?
Honestly, I’m shocked Ash hasn’t been in this situation before, considering his reputation.
Stupid woman, thinking he was going to change because you loved him. Because you were different.
I’ve had this exact conversation with countless friends over the years, counseling them on the futility of betting on someone changing.
Newsflash: people only change for two reasons. They want the change for themselves, or they’re left with no other choice.
We all know which category these pregnancies fall into for Ash.
Will he do the right thing? Of course, because despite being a man whore, he’s a stand-up guy. He’s not going to leave a woman he knocked up in the lurch.
Not his style.
And knowing Ash’s prowess and charm with the ladies, even two baby mamas won’t ruin his chances with the women of Sparkwood.
That’s some kind of power.
“Ori, are you okay?” Ash reaches for my hand, but I inch away and flip down the passenger-side mirror to apply lip gloss.
I might be breadfruit, but I’ll be the best damn-looking one this side of the Mississippi.
“Just fucking fabulous.”
The sarcasm drips off my words, but I’m done playing nice.
In fact, I’m done playing at all.