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The technician reaches to tuck the sheet into her underwear, and my patience snaps.
My reaction slips out, and I jolt to stop him. “Dude, seriously?”
He raises his arms in surrender, and Aurora glares at me.
“What? He doesn’t need to be touching you.”
She cocks her head in warning.
“Okay, I’ll be good,” I relent, but fuck, this guy needs to learn some boundaries.
After squirting some clear jelly on her stomach, he continues, moving the wand over her lower abdomen. With brows pinched, she takes several trembling breaths, and worry flutters in my chest.
Then, the sound of the baby’s heartbeat erupts in the room, and she peers over at me with a huge grin and glassy eyes. Her sheer happiness steals the air from my lungs, and I stare at her in awe.
She wholeheartedly loves this baby, and it’s fucking beautiful.
The technician moves the probe over Aurora’s belly, and I’m captivated by a grainy, black-and-white image. My entire body heats. Indescribable emotions take hold of me, and tears sting my eyes. Time stands still while I grasp the significance of what I’m seeing—a baby.
Holy fuck. A baby inside the woman I love.
“Do you know what you’re having?” he asks.
She beams a proud smile. “Yes, a boy.”
My heart stops. I wouldn’t care either way, but an image of a little boy takes shape in my mind. Stick in hand. Skates on his feet. Because, of course, he’ll be a hockey player.
A hockey god.
I grip Aurora’s hand. Eagerness grows with every detail that comes into view. Every movement, every flutter of the baby’s heartbeat, intensifies my desperation to care for them, to provide for them, to protect them.
Something breaks in my brain. I’m truly obsessed.
I want her more than ever—more than anything. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to earn the privilege of being part of their lives.
EIGHTEEN
AURORA
I awakento the sound of waves crashing against the cliffs. The scent of salt fills the air, and the morning sun warms my face. I sit up in bed, mesmerized by the view. Azure waters stretch endlessly, merging with clear skies on the horizon.
The day is going to be lovely, and I’ll savor every minute.
“It’s you and me, baby.” I place my hand on my growing belly. “What do you want to do today? Yoga, massage, swimming, maybe a mani-pedi?”
Our fleeting moment of solitude is interrupted by a quiet knock. I scramble out of bed, grab a white, fluffy robe, and wrap it around me. I peer through the peephole and open the door for the hotel staff.
“Hi! I’m Sam, your concierge. Good morning!” He wears a resort uniform and a bright smile.
Behind him stands a much,muchlarger man not in uniform.
In Sam’s grip is a food cart, and I gaze at the coffee in longing. “I think you have the wrong room.”
His grin never falters. “Nope. This was all ordered by Mr. O’Reilly.”
Of course it was.
I step back, and Sam rolls the cart past me. The other man follows, towering over us both.