Chapter 7
CHAPTER 7
“ Y ou are one stupid dumbass,” Melanie said on the way to Billings the next day.
“That’s the general consensus,” Colt agreed from the driver’s seat of his Ford pickup. “Again, I’m so sorry I announced to the town that Milton knocked you up.”
She hunched her shoulders. “It’s not just that. Now the whole town knows I’m having female problems. Jimmy Balbie at the bank asked if I needed to sit down while I waited to make a payment earlier this morning. When I turned around, he actually stepped back like I was going to hit him.”
Colton’s lips twitched. “I’m sorry. Again.”
“Whatever. You know the only reason I’m letting you drive me to my appointment today is because I couldn’t say no to your mother,” Melanie muttered.
“I’m fully aware of that.” Colton eyed the rearview mirror and signaled to exit the interstate.
Loni had quickly stepped in the previous night to sort out the confusion. Then she’d made it clear to everyone in town that Melanie was not pregnant.
Colton cleared his throat. “Did you know there’s a town bet on what day we get together?”
Melanie glanced up. “ We as in you and me—we?”
“Yes,” he said.
“Are you kidding?”
“No, and I almost didn’t bring it up, but I figured you’d want to know. I’m not sure who’s taking bets, but I will find out.” Colton parked the truck at the clinic. “What’s going on today? Exactly?”
Melanie took a deep breath. Might as well tell him the truth. “They harvested eggs from me yesterday, and today I find out if they are strong enough to be frozen for future use.”
“Um, okay.” Colton unfolded his large frame from the truck and crossed to open her door. “This explains the money problems you’re having.”
She nodded. “No health insurance, and these tests cost a fortune. You’re right—I’m dead broke.”
One eyebrow rose. “You could’ve asked for help.”
“This is personal.” She couldn’t believe he was even here with her. “Although it is nice of you to bring me to my appointment.”
He helped her from the truck. “You’re not getting naked or anything today?”
“Nope.” Just his saying the word naked made her want to strip.
“I’d like to speak with the doctor. I have questions.” Colton shut her door and pressed his hand to her lower back in a touch that felt both reassuring and possessive.
The touch zinged right between her legs. What was wrong with her? She had enough problems without getting turned on by Colton Freeze. Well, she’d tell him anything the doctor said, so why not? “Okay.”
“Great. Why do you have prenatal vitamins, anyway?” Colton asked.
Melanie shrugged. “Just in case, I guess. They’re giving them to anybody even considering getting pregnant.”
“I see.” They checked in, and the petite twenty-something receptionist smiled at Colton like they were old friends.
“Back again?” she asked.
He returned the grin. “Can’t stay away.”
“With your wife this time?” The woman appraised Melanie.
“She’s the only woman in the world for me,” Colton returned easily. He ran his hand down Melanie’s arm as they moved to the seating area in a way that sped up Melanie’s heart while asserting a connection.
As if they were a couple—a real couple.
He’d filled Melanie in on Sophie’s adventure the previous day on the way into Billings. How frightened the woman must’ve been.
“I’m glad Sophie is all right,” Melanie whispered, although the waiting room remained currently empty.
“Me too. Though she may kill Jake if he doesn’t stop hovering.”
“Poor Sophie,” Melanie said, keeping her voice level. What she wouldn’t give to have a hovering husband who cared about her health, about her future. She eyed Colton. He’d make a great husband someday.
He caught her glance and reached down to twine their fingers together. “Stop worrying. It’ll be all right.”
His palm enclosed hers in warmth and security, sending electricity up her arm to zing through her chest. She glanced down at his darker skin against her much smaller hand. While she was by no means petite, compared to Colt, she was small. Feminine. Her nipples peaked. Thank goodness she’d worn a bra today.
She had to get herself under control. One little kiss, and now she looked at Colton under a different light. One that included nude, moving parts. Although a part of her was beginning to think…what the heck. Why not make a move and take a chance?
The nurse broke her from her internal musings by calling her name and escorting them back into a doctor’s office with two leather chairs facing a massive teak desk. A plethora of diplomas decorated the walls along with a couple of pictures of the doctor holding a huge rainbow trout.
Dr. Jordan leaned forward, his serious gray eyes matching his beard. “Please have a seat.” He smiled. “I didn’t realize you’d be here, Colton.”
Colt settled Melanie and then sat down. “I’m here for moral support.”
“Good.” The doctor paused to read papers in an open manila file.
Melanie’s pulse quickened, and a rock dropped into her stomach. She shifted uneasily.
Colton took her hand, and the world settled.
The doctor pushed his glasses up on his forehead as he finished reading. “None of the eggs were viable for cryopreservation. I’m sorry, Melanie.”
Cold washed through her. She blinked. Pain lanced along her empty abdomen.
Colton leaned forward while keeping her hand. “Why not?”
The doctor steepled his fingers under his chin. “Tons of reasons. It might be premature ovarian failure, but I won’t know why or how without genetic research.”
“Even then, you probably won’t know, right?” Colt asked.
Melanie’s brain went cloudy. She couldn’t concentrate now.
“I researched fertility,” he said.
“Maybe.” The doctor’s glasses dropped back into place. “We may have harvested too early, however. We can try again, but I’m still concerned about the endometriosis. Even if we successfully harvest eggs, you have a small window where I believe you’ll be able to carry a child.”
“Right now,” Melanie said quietly. The emptiness in her grew to pain.
“More than likely, and you probably have about a five percent chance right now.” The doctor winced. “Although new treatments are coming forth every day for infertility and endometriosis. I wouldn’t lose hope.”
“Thank you.” She had to get out of there before breaking down. Tears choked her throat. She retrieved her hand and stood. “I need to think about options and will be in touch.” As if in a dream, a bad one, she hitched out of the office, down the hallway to the reception area, and right out of the exit. She was tough, and she could handle this.
A sharp wind slapped her in the face.
She made it about halfway down the walkway before stopping.
Colton stopped beside her, and turned her face toward him with one knuckle beneath her chin. “It’s okay, Mel. We’ll figure this out.”
The gentle tone broke her. She burst into tears and barely had a moment to appreciate Colton’s oh shit expression before he gathered her close, tucking her into warmth and safety.
“I know I shouldn’t have hung my hat on cryopreservation, but…” She started crying harder, her face against his strong chest.
He held her easily, gently rubbing her back, his voice reassuring. A strong, masculine calm in the middle of a wild storm. “Let it out.”
So she did. Holding on, allowing him to shield her, she cried for the future she’d never have.
Colton pivoted to put Mel between the brick building and his body when the wind picked up in force. He kept his movements smooth and gentle, tamping down on frustration.
He’d stand between her and any danger, but he couldn’t protect her from this. Helplessness didn’t set well with him. At all. His mind calculated the way to fix things. To get her to stop crying. He had money, and he’d take her to every specialist in the world.
Winding down with a small shudder, she lifted her head.
Tears clung to dark lashes over her pretty brown eyes. Tracks showed on her smooth skin, and suddenly she felt small and delicate in his arms. Vulnerable. Emotion ripped through his heart with the force of an anvil.
He moved without thinking, covering her mouth with his. The kiss was supposed to be calming, to be gentle.
But as she moaned and pressed against him, his mind shut down. He stilled for one tiny second and then gave in. He fisted her hair, tilting back her head, and went deep. Sweeping inside her mouth, taking, claiming.
Need roared through him, and he grabbed the back of her leg, lifting against his hip and pushing her against the brick. Pressing his cock against the heated apex of her legs.
She sighed deep in her throat and rubbed along his length, tilting her hips for better friction. He had to get inside her. Now.
His hand cupped her breast before he remembered where they were. Who they were.
He levered back, his breath panting, his chest heaving.
Shock and desire comingled in her dark eyes. His gaze dropped to her swollen, pink lips, and he groaned. He’d give everything he owned to have those wrapped around his cock. Just once.
She gasped and let her foot drop.
A couple of ladies passed by behind him, twittering.
Red bloomed across Mel’s smooth cheekbones. He stepped back, his brain swirling, his dick trying to punch through his zipper.
She swallowed. “M-my hair.”
His hand remained clamped in her hair. Slowly, he disengaged, trying not to pull. She winced as he untangled himself.
He should be a gentleman and apologize. The words stuck in his throat. While he may be feeling a lot of things, sorry wasn’t one of them. Not even close. But he retreated and gave her some room.
A myriad of expressions crossed her face, and he read each one clearly. He’d always been able to read her, even when she hadn’t wanted him to. Desire, confusion, embarrassment, need…every emotion he felt flickered in her eyes.
He took a deep breath. “I promise I’ll fix this, Mel. Trust me.”