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“THIS SHIT IS LEGIT,” I said to the ceiling.

“See aren’t you glad we forced you to come to the hospital?” Ryder squeezed her tiny hand around mine. “He’ll get here don’t worry.”

I glanced at the clock. It’d been thirty minutes since the epidural, over an hour since we checked in.

A faint knock at the door drew our attention as my OBGYN walked in.

“How are you feeling?” he asked and gripped the hand, not in Ryder’s.

“Better, that drug shit is amazing.”

He just chuckled and patted my hand before looking at the monitors. “Doesn’t look like you’ve had any recent contractions. Sometimes the epidural can slow down the process at first, but it will pick back up soon. First ones take the longest dear so be patient.”

With that, he scribbled a few of notes on my chart and shuffled out of the room.

I smiled at the ceiling. Baby Grace wanted her daddy here, so she slowed her roll.

“Be patient, little lady, he’s on his way,” I whispered and closed my eyes.

Deep breaths in and deep breaths out.

Stay calm, and Grace will be calm.

Easy.

Until it wasn’t.

“What are you telling me?” I asked my doctor looking between him, Bradley and Ryder. Two hours later and Brenton still wasn’t there and, to top off my stress, Grace was sending mixed signals on the monitor.

“I’m telling you to get your head around an emergency C-section Mrs. Graves. Because there is a good chance, it will happen. Your baby’s heart rate keeps rising, but you’re not far enough along for you to push her out the old-fashioned way. I’ll come to check on you in ten.”

As he walked out the door, he yelled at a nurse walking by to prepare an operating room.

“This can’t be happening.” Tears streamed down my face splashing on to my paper thin gown. “Brenton, where are you?”

“I’m here.”

All eyes shifted from where I was having a mental breakdown in the hospital bed to the fatigues dressed–sexy as hell–man in the doorway.

In two steps he was at my bedside and his lips pressed against my forehead.

“You made it.”

Smiling down he wiped away each tear focusing on me like I was the only person in the room. “I wouldn’t have missed it. Why are you crying? Are you in pain? Fucking doctors I’ll go get them to give you something-”

I gripped his hand before he could storm out. “No, no pain. It’s Grace. I might need an emergency C-section because shes stressed, I’m fucking stressed, and I’m not ripe enough down there to push her out.”

Brushing a few stray hairs from my face, he pressed his lips to mine. “Ryder, Bradley. Leave. I need a moment with my wife.”

Damn, I loved that tone. So strong. So dominant. Even though I was already numb below the waist, just his voice relaxed my muscles and soothed my rising stress.

After the two were gone Brenton dipped his hand beneath the cheap blanket to rub his calloused hand along my belly.

“Our baby,” he whispered.

“Our baby.”

“You’re doing great baby, relax. I’m here, and I won’t let anything bad happen to you or her.” Leaning down he moved the blanket down and my gown up exposing my belly. “And you little lady calm down in there. I’m here now so no more waiting. Daddy is here.”