Chapter nine #2
“I know. This isn’t my first rodeo.” Scottie places her purse on an empty chair against the wall, irritation lacing her words.
The nurse doesn’t even react. “The doctor will be in to see you shortly.”
As soon as the door clicks shut, Scottie looks at me. “Do you mind turning around, please?”
“What?”
“I need to take off my underwear and get on the table, and I don’t need you staring at me while I do it.”
I close the distance between us, loving how she has to crane her neck back to meet my gaze. “Scottie, you do realize I’ve seen your pussy and your ass, right? In fact, I know them intimately.”
I swear I see flashes of our night together shine through her eyes before she visibly swallows and takes a step back. “This is different. I’m…I’m in a vulnerable state.”
Lowering my voice, I reply, “Having my face nose deep in your pussy wasn’t vulnerable enough for you?”
Her eyes widen. “Grady…”
But before I say something else, I remind myself that pushing Scottie isn’t going to get me anywhere, even though all I want to do in this moment is bend her over the exam table and remind her of how perfectly her pussy grips my cock, how insane our connection was and still is, and how her coming back to Carrington Cove couldn’t have been a coincidence.
It’s the resolution I came to when we spoke the other night at her house, when I asked her about us, and she blew it off like our night together meant nothing.
Well, I call bullshit. I could read her like a fucking playbook. She was pushing me away because she’s fucking scared. But the thing is—I’m scared too, of a lot of things.
The one thing I do know, though, is that wanting her is not something I should be scared of. In fact, it’s the only piece of our puzzle I’m sure of.
Before that night, I had no romantic interest in women, but that’s because none of them were her.
She’s always been the one that broke the mold for me, something that is so blatantly clear now that we’re back in each other’s lives.
Now, I need to play this right to prove to her that we belong together—not just because we’re having a child together, but because our child could never be a mistake.
I take a step back and hold my hands up in surrender. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ll turn around.”
She watches me cautiously as I slowly face the wall, shoving my hands in my pockets as the sound of her movements filters behind me.
“I can’t believe I’ve already gained seven pounds,” she mumbles as I hear the rustle of her clothes and the crinkle of the paper sheet.
“You look perfect, Scottie.”
She scoffs. “Easy for you to say. You’re the father. You aren’t growing a human being, and your body looks like it was carved from granite.”
I clench my jaw, waiting for her to finish covering herself so I can refute her statement, even though her comment about my body was slightly revealing. But I can’t focus on that right now.
With a peek over my shoulder, I see her smooth the paper over her legs, so I take that as my cue to close the distance between us again.
Peering down at her as she lies back on the exam chair, I make sure she’s looking at me before I speak again.
“You’re right. I’m not growing a human. But you are, and that’s such an incredible fucking thing.
Hell, reading about everything your body goes through while pregnant makes my mind spin.
” I stroke her cheek with my finger, and for a second, I swear she leans into my touch before she catches herself and looks away.
“I can’t imagine what you must be feeling, but just know that no matter how your body changes, it will never change how sexy I find you. ”
Her eyes whip back to mine, widening just as the doctor knocks on the door. “Is everyone decent?” she asks through the door before Scottie answers her with a squeaky reply.
“Yes. Come in.”
A woman who looks about the same age as my mom shuffles through the door, pushing her glasses up her nose before glancing at both of us. “Good afternoon, you two. How are we doing today?”
“Great,” I reply as Scottie says, “A little nauseous.”
The doctor laughs. “Well, that’s to be expected momma-to-be.
” She casts her gaze to me, dropping her eyes down my entire body before looking away and clearing her throat.
Yeah, I get that reaction from women a lot.
“I’m Dr. Rivera, and I’m honored to be caring for you during your pregnancy.
” She smiles at Scottie and then glances down at her chart, flipping the page over.
“Now, it seems you’re about twelve weeks along? ”
“Yes, based on my calculations,” Scottie answers.
Dr. Rivera’s eyes dart to me once more. “And I take it this is Dad?”
“No, I’m her brother,” I deadpan.
The doctor glares at me slightly just as Scottie smacks my arm. “Grady!”
Dr. Rivera chuckles and then sets the chart down on the counter before wheeling over a machine that has a small screen and attached keyboard sitting right underneath it with far too many buttons to make sense.
“It’s okay. I appreciate sarcasm, but for the sake of Scottland and your unborn child, answering questions with honesty will allow me to give her the best care. ”
“Noted. My apologies.”
Dr. Rivera does a few routine examinations, looking under the flimsy paper sheet covering Scottie’s legs, and for a moment, I’m jealous that she’s got a front-row seat to Scottie’s pussy right now.
Fuck, something is really wrong with me.
Once the doctor is finished examining her cervix, Scottie lifts her dress above the sheet to expose her stomach. Dr. Rivera squeezes clear gel onto Scottie’s skin and then takes a handheld device, moving along her abdomen as an image begins to form on the screen.
“Since you’re further along, we should be able to see something on an abdominal ultrasound.
” She rubs the device around, clicking a few buttons until a white, kidney bean shape appears in the middle of the screen, followed by a rhythmic whooshing sound that fills the room and a flicker in the center of the figure.
“Is that…” I start to ask, but the words die on my tongue as the image of my child comes into view.
I move closer to Scottie on the reclining bed, reaching for her hand instinctively as the sound of our child’s heartbeat echoes around us.
“Holy shit.” I swear my heartbeat thrashes faster than the one on the monitor.
I know how this all works but seeing and hearing it just makes this all more fucking real.
There’s a human—a tiny, fragile human growing inside the woman beside me. Suddenly, the world as I know it feels like it’s shifted, with Scottie and this little baby becoming the center of mine.
“Definitely twelve weeks,” Dr. Rivera says, taking snapshots as the image moves on the screen, pulling me back to reality. Our baby puts on a show, kicking and wiggling, making Scottie laugh.
“Already full of energy,” she murmurs, garnering my attention. When my eyes find her face, her eyes are full of moisture. I squeeze her hand, forcing her to look at me.
“That’s our baby, Scottie.”
Her smile is small, but it’s there. “I know.” Our eyes lock, and I’m held captive and speechless, forgetting we aren’t alone until the doctor speaks, breaking the trance.
“Everything looks great, Scottland. Measurements are right on track. Your due date appears to be around September thirteenth.” The sound of a printer fills the room as the doctor extracts a few pictures from the bottom of the machine and hands them to Scottie.
“Here’s a keepsake. You’re doing a fantastic job growing that baby.
Just keep up with your bloodwork, try to get in movement and plenty of water, and rest when you can.
You are older now than during your last pregnancy, and while I wouldn’t classify you as high risk, your body is going to react differently with age, so just be prepared for that. ”
“What about gestational diabetes?” I chime in before Scottie can say anything. “I know the risk increases with age.”
Dr. Rivera’s eyes flick over to mine as she takes her gloves off. “As long as Scottie eats a balanced diet, she should be fine. Routine blood work will let us know if there’s cause for concern.”
Scottie glares at me, but I don’t give a shit. I have a right to ask questions too. “Thank you.”
The doctor grabs the chart and makes a few notes before moving to the door. “You’re welcome. I’ll see you back in about four weeks. Take care, you two.”
She leaves the room and Scottie turns to me once more. “I take it you’ve been reading?”
“I’m on book number two, Scottie,” I reply, holding up two fingers. “I told you, I’m in this.”
She gestures for me to turn around so she can get dressed again, and I oblige, even though I think it’s bullshit. But one obstacle at a time. “I appreciate the concern, Grady, but…”
“But nothing, Scottie. You and this baby are my responsibility now,” I grate out, trying to keep my composure, though my pulse is thundering in my ears. Seeing my baby just now caused something in me to snap.
“Yeah, I’ve heard that before,” she murmurs so softly that I almost miss it.
“What do you mean?” I turn around to face her, but she shakes her head, stepping over to the chair where she left her purse earlier.
“Nothing, Grady. Let’s just go.”
Not wanting to fight with her or increase the tension between us any further, I hold the door open for her and follow her out of the doctor’s office.
I walk her to her car, opening the door for her as she sets her purse inside. “So…” she starts as she spins to face me.
“That was fucking wild, Scottie,” I breathe out, the image of my child imprinted on my brain. I shove my hands in my pockets so I don’t reach out and smash my lips to hers.
God, I just want to fucking kiss her, hold her, and put her in a giant bubble so nothing happens to either of them. If this is how I’m going to feel until this baby is born, I might just have a fucking heart attack before I turn thirty-six.