Chapter 24
Twenty-Four
“How’s the temperature?” Hawk asked as Jessie rested against him.
“It’s perfect. Just know when the baby’s born, I’m going back to near-boiling bath temps.”
Hawk chuckled. “Noted.”
“I have to tell you something.”
“That sounds ominous. Do you want me to take down your hair and wash it? Or we can wait and I can shower with you tomorrow if you feel up to it?”
“You don’t have to wash my hair.”
His hands lifted out of the water and began to untangle her hair from the holder she’d tossed it all up into at the hospital.
“I know I don’t have to. But I’m happy to. I enjoy taking care of you, and it’s good practice for me. I’ll need to know how to do all this hair care stuff for our daughter. So stop fussing and let me learn. And tell me that ominous thing you’re thinking about.”
“It’s probably nothing.” Her lip was back between her teeth.
“That usually means it’s something…”
“I’ve been thinking about the car at the hospital.”
Hawk encouraged Jessie to lay her head down in the crook of his arm. “You don’t need to worry about that. I talked to Gage after I got off the phone with your brother. He’s going to review every camera he can get access to. We’ll find the person.”
“I think they’ve been following me.”
He froze. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve seen that car before. Outside Lach’s shop. And didn’t you notice it was the same kind of car that nearly ran us off the road?” She closed her eyes. “Today, before Mae and Stone brought me to the hospital, I saw it again.”
It took everything in him to not reach for his phone and text an SOS to the entire team. “Why is this the first I’m hearing of it?”
“I thought I was imagining it. Making it up. I told Lach, but he seemed to think it was just some leftover anxiety from what I went through with Mae. And I think I convinced myself of that too. But I don’t think it’s a coincidence any more.”
Hawk closed his eyes and blew out his breath in a huff. “I’ll figure it out, Jessie. I promise. I’ll keep you safe. Always, Pretty Girl.”
“I know you will.”
Jessie faded off to sleep about ten minutes into the hockey game he’d turned on the TV.
Her adorable little snores were almost in perfect rhythm with the skates zipping up and down the ice.
Their little girl would fall asleep to that sound…
the skates on ice, not her mother’s snores, although she probably would fall asleep to those too…
just like he had as a kid. Hawk’s palm had been resting on Jessie’s belly, up under her shirt, since they sat down, but he moved it, pressing down to see if he could feel where Bee was.
His eyes were glued to the TV when the first little thump landed against his skin.
Hawk froze, willing it to happen again, and too afraid to move, like even letting his breath out would spook her.
But it didn’t. Another little thump landed against his hand, and then he felt something else.
Maybe a roll? Or a stretch? The most beautiful movement, whatever it was.
“Jessie…” he whispered as his eyes filled with tears. Hawk picked Jessie’s feet up off his lap and set them on the cushion where he was sitting as he landed on his knees right next to her hip. “Jess, wake up.”
“What? Did I fall asleep?” she yawned. As soon as her jaw closed, her eyes widened, and Hawk had to stop her from trying to sit up. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
Her palm landed against his cheek, wiping away the tear that fell.
“I think I felt her,” Hawk whispered. “I felt Bee move. It was incredible! I shouldn’t have woken you up, but I wanted to share the moment with you.”
His lips were on her rounded belly, right next to his hand.
“Hi, Bumblebee. It’s Dad. Did I tell your mama earlier that I love her, but I forgot to tell you?
Is that why you decided to finally let me feel your kicks?
Well, I’ll say it so much you’ll be rolling your eyes and standing with your hands on your hips in no time.
I love you, baby girl. You and your mama are the best thing that ever happened to me.
You’re my whole world. Keep growing big and strong.
” He pressed his lips down next to his hand. “I can’t wait to meet you.”
“We love you, too,” Jessie sighed as he laid his head on her hip. Her fingertips ran through his hair. “I know you said earlier that it was your job to make sure I stayed true to living out my own dreams, but I want to make sure I’m also doing that for you.”
“You are. This right here is my ultimate dream, Jessie. Being with you. My baby growing in your belly.”
“But your work—”
“It doesn’t matter. This does. This is everything.”