Page 22 of Bred

“She’s at my ranch, perfectly healthy.”

Her narrowed eyes told me she believed nothing. I shrugged, surprised at the intensity in such a small package. “You’re welcome to come visit anytime.”

“Anytime?”

I nodded, and she seemed to take a breather, pretty face calming as she gazed back up into her grandfather’s face. “And to be clear, no scotch for you. There’s a reason Grandma left me in charge of them.”

Ehlers grunted, and before he could retort again, Bridget pulled away.

“It was nice to meet you.”

I got no such response, which made Ehlers laugh all the harder. “Don’t take it personal. She’s a tough cookie under the sweet exterior.”

“I can see that.”

Ehlers nodded to me. “I hope you’re right about this, Loren. I could like you, I think.”

My fingers twitched for the phone in my pocket. I was dying to call my pilot, to have him come around to get me right this minute. But I couldn’t ruin this new start.

“Now get out of here. You’re making me nervous standing there. Especially with no scotch.”

Thank fuck. It was time to go home.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

WREN

ItoldmyselfIcould wait.

I was a patient woman.

Or at least I was. Before today, this moment, holding this freaking pregnancy test in my hand like it was a loaded weapon.

Loren’s helicopter had gotten grounded a few hours away, due to high winds, and the weather here was only getting worse. I knew Erik had been in and out a few times, and I was sure he was under orders from Loren to watch out for me. I’d gotten used to his brooding walkabouts in the past two weeks and was glad he was close.

I’d seen plenty of big storms, but this one was shaping up to be a doozy, and I hated facing it alone.

And I so desperately wanted to test. I wasn’t late, but according to everything online, I would be able to know today if Loren and I had been successful. If we were expecting.

It was stupid to be so excited, to be so hopeful. But I wouldn’t stop myself from imagining being able to tell Loren I was pregnant. That the stupid contract hanging above our heads was gone.

Plus, I had to pee really, really freaking bad.

With an awkward dance, I made my way down the hall, relieved to see my hulking brother-in-law sitting at the kitchen bar.

“Wren?” Erik asked as he turned, dark gaze lightening ever so slightly as I approached. I was in one of Loren’s hoodies, and while the length was perfect, it billowed around my frame.

“Hey, any updates?”

Erik’s face changed immediately, and I braced myself for whatever news he might have for me.

“Nothing yet. He was driving from Bismarck. It’ll be a few hours, and this rain is slowing everything down.”

I rubbed my arms, willing some feeling back into them. I wasn’t sure why I was so on edge, but my skin still tingled as I made my way around the kitchen island, where I could pretend that my bladder wasn’t screaming.

“I know. I’m just dying for him to be back.”

Erik chuckled, surprising me, and it looked like it surprised him as well, by the way his eyebrows shot up.