Chapter Sixteen
“You’ve gained weight and that’s good, but after telling me about what happened earlier in the week, I want to see you. How about on Tuesday?”
Redford saw the worried look on Carmen’s features. She must have felt his gaze because she looked at him with a forced smile before turning back to the doctor’s face on her laptop screen. “Yes. What time do you want to see me?”
“I’d like to review your lab reports first. That means I’ll need you to go to the lab before I see you here. They are in the same building as my office. I will make the appointment there for around eleven and will see you around one.”
“Alright.”
“And don’t eat anything that morning,” the doctor instructed.
Redford and Carmen sat side by side on the loveseat. When the virtual doctor visit ended, he tightened his arms around her. He could feel her tension. What stood out more than anything was the doctor saying she was concerned about the number of times Carmen had thrown up recently. Honestly, so was he, although he tried hard not to show it.
Things hadn’t gone well for Carmen that morning. He had awakened to the sound of her feet rushing to the bathroom. By the time he had slipped into his pajama bottoms and rushed up the stairs, she’d been in her usual spot on the floor over the commode.
There she had stayed, longer than she had ever before. He had been so concerned at one point that he’d thought about calling 9-1-1. When she’d finally finished, he had picked her up in his arms to help her over to the vanity, certain she was too weak to walk. He had wiped her face with a cool cloth before handing her a toothbrush and cup of mouthwash.
He had then carried her over to the love seat and eased down to sit with her in his lap. Once cuddled in his arms, she had drifted off to sleep. After a while, so had he. The sound of the phone ringing had awakened them. It had been Leslie checking to see how she was doing. Following Carmen’s request, he hadn’t mentioned anything to Leslie about her severe episode of morning sickness earlier.
“How do you feel now?” he asked.
“Okay, after such a rough morning. It’s not even noon yet.”
He nodded. “Hungry?”
She smiled. “Yes, a little.”
As far as he was concerned, that was a good sign. The doctor had reiterated she should eat light meals but more of them. “What do you have a taste for?”
Her smiled widened a little and she said, “I might pay greatly for it later, but I have a taste for ice cream.”
“What flavor?”
“My favorite is vanilla.”
He chuckled. “So is mine.”
Several minutes passed in silence while he cradled her in his arms, then he said, “Everything is going to be okay, Carmen. I know I have a lot of nerve saying such a thing when I’m not the one throwing up their guts every day, but I believe it.”
She pulled slightly away to look at him. “She didn’t deserve you, you know.”
He lifted a brow. “Who?”
“Candy.”
He wondered what had made her say that. As if she read his thoughts, she said, “You’re such a nice guy.”
“Thanks.” He then asked, “You still want ice cream?”
“Sure,” she said, snuggling back into his body. “But right now, I just want you to hold me, Redford. Whenever you do, I don’t feel afraid about the baby. You help me believe it will be alright. That I will be alright.”
“You both will. I’m going to make sure of it, Carmen.”
“I believe you.”
He doubted she knew how much her words meant. He’d never been a sound sleeper so even the littlest movement in her bedroom would get his attention. He knew whenever she got up to use the bathroom or was restless. Those nights when he knew she was getting a good night’s sleep were the ones when his own mind would be calm. That’s when he would lie in bed and remember his one night with her. Even now he could still say, without a doubt, it was the best lovemaking of his life, and he was still in awe as to what they had shared. The memories made his body simmer inside. Like what was happening now.
Without thinking about what he was doing, merely acting on instinct, he took her face in his hands to study it. Even while under the weather, she was beautiful. “I want a daughter who looks just like you, Carmen.”
He could tell by the look in her eyes that his words had surprised her. Redford searched her eyes. Obviously, what he’d said had meant something to her, and he was glad. He couldn’t lose track of the fact that she’d been through a lot, not only today but other days as well. Just for their baby.
“Thank you.”
He was about to tell her she didn’t have to thank him when something welled up inside of him. It was a longing he’d been fighting since seeing her again. A longing he’d convinced himself he had power to deny. However, he didn’t want to deny it now. He wanted to act on it.
Unable to control his emotions any longer, he lowered his mouth to hers.
The moment Carmen felt the taste of Redford’s tongue, memories consumed her and broke down every defense she had against him. Not only was she moaning, but she was returning his kiss with a greed that astounded her. The way he devoured her mouth bordered on scandalous, and she was right there with him.
Carmen recalled how, after their night together, she would have endless dreams about him. She still did, and in those dreams, he would always kiss her this way. With a greed and hunger that set every cell in her body on fire. Finally, he released her mouth and they both drew in a deep breath as he rested his forehead against hers.
He murmured against her lips. “I should not have done that, Carmen.”
She didn’t hesitate in responding. “I’m glad you did, Redford.”
He seemed surprised by her response. “Why?”
She knew what he was asking. There was no reason not to be honest. “Because I enjoyed it, and after feeling lousy over the past weeks it was nice to engage in something I enjoy.”
“And you enjoy kissing me?”
“Just as much as you enjoy kissing me.” There was no point in him denying he enjoyed the kiss they’d just shared. She could tell he had.
He smiled at her. “You’re right, Carmen, I enjoy kissing you. Probably, too much.”
“I guess everyone has a weakness, Redford.”
There was no doubt in her mind he would furiously deny he had a weakness of any kind, especially one pertaining to a woman. However, instead of denying it, he swiftly changed the subject. “Are you ready to see the doctor next week?”
His question forced her to think about what the visit meant. “Yes and no. Yes, because I’m hoping she will tell me that everything with the baby is fine. And no, because the vain side of me wishes I was more presentable.”
His brow lifted as if taken aback by what she’d said. “More presentable how?”
She couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Look at me, Redford.”
For a minute she wished she hadn’t asked him to do that. The heat of his gaze seemed to touch every inch of her body. He then met her eyes. “I don’t see anything that makes you not presentable.”
Carmen figured she should take his words as a compliment but couldn’t. Holding her hands in front of her, she said, “Although my nails are passable, my toes are a different matter. I missed my last two pedicure appointments.”
“Oh, I see.”
She figured he did see since she remembered having mentioned the issue before. He probably figured she was vain. Now it was her turn to change the subject. “Tell me about the resort you’re thinking about building in Skagway.” He had mentioned something about it yesterday, saying the city had finally decided to sell him all the land he needed.
“Now that the land deal is finalized, it will be full steam ahead.”
They discussed the resort plans for a long while. Then, it wasn’t long before she began feeling sleepy. Obviously, Redford had detected it. He stood with her in his arms, walked over to the bed and placed her in it. “Will you be alright for a while? I need to run out.”
She felt herself nodding and then he leaned in and placed a kiss across her lips. “Be good while I’m gone.”
Before sleep took over her mind, Carmen mumbled, “I will be good. But our baby might misbehave.”
She dozed off with pleasant memories of Redford’s kiss floating through her mind.