Page 35 of Ruthless Guardian

“Here,” Ruby said, appearing beside her with a medical bag. “The doctor said you’d need this.”

Amy looked inside and saw an assortment of bandages, antiseptics, and other basic medical supplies. That included what she needed to stitch him up.

She got a sense of déjà vu as she gave Owen a shot to numb the area and started sewing him up. It was so much like when she was forced to treat Leo, but this time she cared about the man and wasn’t terrified of being killed. This time, she was more afraid that her heart wouldn’t recover from the heart break this man was sure to put her through. But as she worked, his eyes never left her, and she thought she saw something entirely unexpected there.

Reverence.

She was just finishing up the stitch job when he finally spoke.

“Amy, I…I thought I might die tonight.”

She paused in the process of tying off the last stitch. Mr. Cocky was admitting that he might have died?

“All I could think as I passed out was that I was going to die without ever being honest with you.”

Amy swallowed hard, not sure if this honesty would be a good thing or a bad thing. Finishing with the last stitch, she sat back on her heels and stared at him.

“Then, be honest. Right now.”

16

BROGAN

Seeing Amy was a dream, one he never wanted to wake up from. He meant what he said. He realized as the darkness pulled him under that if he never woke up again, he’d miss his opportunity to tell her how he felt.

She still deserved so much better than him, but he couldn’t let her go. That had been his plan, to do the noble thing for once, but he couldn’t do it. Pushing her away felt like cutting off a limb. He needed her, even if that made him a selfish bastard.

But the way she was looking at him with a hopeful glint in her eyes made him think that maybe she needed him just as much as he needed her. She asked for honesty, so he was going to give it to her.

“I love you, Amy. I tried not to, for your sake, but I can’t help myself. You’re perfect for me, and I don’t think I can let you go.”

She smiled even as tears filled her eyes. She leaned in closer, and he cupped her cheek.

“I never wanted you to let me go.”

Amy kissed him, and he could feel the momentous impact of everything slipping into the right place for him. She was his everything now, and he couldn’t believe he’d almost driven her away. She belonged with him.

When Amy pulled away, she swiped the tears off her cheeks and gave him a smile, but there was something about the look in her eyes that put him on edge. She seemed almost scared.

“I have to tell you something too.” He hand went to her stomach. “I’m pregnant with you baby.”

Brogan forgot how to breathe. Ababy?

“A-are you sure?” He’d never stammered, but this was the perfect time for it.

“Yes.”

The shock he felt kept him from replying for a long moment. He couldn’t believe this. They’d always used protection, but he knew condoms weren’t one hundred percent effective. Still, he never even thought that…

“I’m going to be a father?”

Amy nodded.

The most unfamiliar feeling of pride and satisfaction swept through him. He’d gotten Amy pregnant, planting his seed deep inside, and now she was going to havehisbaby. It was an entirely primal male response, and he pulled her into his arms to kiss her again, letting her know that he was beyond happy in a way that he didn’t have words for.

The kiss was all fire and passion, and he could have gone on devouring her all night, but they weren’t alone and his brothers needed her help. Pulling away from the kiss, he placed his forehead against hers.

“So, you’re happy?” she asked.