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I wake up from what I thought was the best dream ever, but this is real. I really did sleep in Gray’s strong arms all night long. I open my eyes and blink, ignoring the sunlight peeking in around the heavy curtains, and feel his strong arms holding me tight. The hardness poking against my rear end jumps when I attempt to turn over.

“Good morning, Tigress,” he whispers behind me.

“Good morning.” I glance over my shoulder and smile at him. “But I have to go to the bathroom, then I have to have a little bit to eat before your child wakes up or I’ll be puking my guts up.”

He smiles and kisses my nose. “You go to the bathroom, and I’ll make you something.”

After using the bathroom, I search around looking for an extra toothbrush, but the drawers and cabinets are empty. In desperation, I use Gray’s toothbrush and step back into the bedroom to find that he laid a t-shirt and athletic shorts on the bed for me. I pull on the huge outfit and turn down the waist several times before sitting on the edge of the bed, trying to control the nausea that’s become my best friend in the mornings. Once I’m sure I’m not going to immediately puke, I leave the bedroom to look for him.

I walk through the large, sparsely furnished house, taking in its beauty, and find Gray standing in front of an industrial stainless-steel stove. “Your home is beautiful,” I tell him, and he turns to smile at me.

“Thank you.” He smiles and points at one of the barstools in front of the triangular breakfast bar. “Have a seat and I’ll feed you.”

“Thank you.” I slide into one of the barstools. “And thank you for leaving the clothes on the bed for me.”

“I figured you wouldn’t want to put your dirty scrubs back on.” He is absolutely perfect and thoughtful. When he places a plate heaped with scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast in front of me, I reach for the toast since it’s probably the only thing that will stay down this early.

“Thank you for making all this, but I can’t eat it.” I hate to reject his beautiful breakfast, but his child won’t allow me to indulge right now. “I can barely hold toast down in the mornings,” I tell him.

“We’ll ask the doctor to give you something for it.” He sits next to me. “What time is your appointment?”

“Eleven-thirty.” I nibble on the toast, hoping it stays down.

“We have plenty of time.” He pats my knee and I wonder if we have time for me to jump him. Too bad, the pregnancy hormones that are turning me into a needy mess are also making me sick most of the morning.

We leave a little early for the doctor, so we have time to stop by my apartment for clothes that actually fit me. As we walk up to my door, I think back, trying to remember if I straightened up before I left yesterday. I fumble with the key and then push the door open. “You can have a seat. It won’t take me long to change clothes.” I point at the threadbare futon sitting in my postage-stamp-sized living room.

“Okay. Don’t forget to pack a bag so we don’t have to come back after the appointment,” he calls behind me, and I stop dead in my tracks.

“A bag?” I ask, wondering if he expects me to just up and move in with him.

“I was hoping you’d stay with me until we figure things out.” His charming smile causes all my arguments to evaporate.

“Okay, but we have a lot to talk about,” I insist, needing to maintain some control. Then I rush off to change before we’re late for the doctor.

I walk out of my room and find Gray sitting on my brown futon typing away on his cellphone. “I’m ready.” I drop my hot pink overnight bag down on the faded Formica counter.

“Great.” Gray stands up and slips his phone into his pocket. “I was just catching up on emails.” He smiles and walks over to grab my bag.

“Everything okay?” I ask as he leads me out to his vehicle. I feel bad for not even considering how hard it must’ve been for him to get a day off with no notice.

“Just typical team problems.” He kisses me and I forget all about what we’re discussing. “Nothing for you to worry about.”

When we walk into Dr. Thomas’ office, every female eye in the room turns to stare at Gray, but I ignore them and walk up to the window to check in. “Hi,” I tell the receptionist. “I have an eleven-thirty appointment with Dr. Thomas.”

“I’m so sorry.” She winces and the lines of strain around her eyes tell me she’s had a rough day. “Dr. Thomas had an emergency this morning and has asked for us to reschedule all his appointments.”

“Can someone else see us?” Gray cuts in, and I hip-check him out of the way.

“I’m sorry.” The receptionist takes a deep breath. “The other doctors are only able to fit emergencies into their schedule.”

“That’s fine.” I cut in and give my Neanderthal a glare that says back the heck off. “When do you have another available appointment? I need mornings if possible.” The receptionist relaxes and turns to her computer. “I can get you in next Wednesday at eight o’clock.”

“We’ll take it.”

When we get back to Gray’s massive black SUV, he turns to me. “Do you think it’s wise to wait a whole week to see the doctor?” As he helps me into the vehicle, I lean over to kiss his cheek.

“I’m fine and there’s no reason we can’t wait until next week.” Working in healthcare has taught me that you have to be flexible.

“Are you feeling better?” He changes the subject suddenly, making my head spin.

“I am. Your child sticks to a pretty strict schedule of torturing me. I’m usually queasy until around noon and then feel much better the rest of the day.”

“Good. It’s time for us to have a long talk.”

Gray pulls into his attached garage and parks, then comes around my side of the vehicle to help me out. “I can open the door myself.”

“Not while I’m around, you won’t. You’re mine to take care of so let me do my job.” The independent side of me wants to be irritated at his macho thinking, but the rest of me thinks it sounds like heaven to have someone taking care of me.

Our talk is interrupted by Gray’s phone. He ignores the first three rings then swears under his breath when it rings a fourth time. “This must be an emergency,” he tells me. “Why don’t you lie on the sofa and rest while I take this.”

A nice long nap sounds great to me. I glance at my watch and see I have two hours before I have to get ready for work.

Everything is going perfectly until I unpack my bag and slip on my scrubs. “What are you doing?”

“I’m getting ready for work.” I laugh. “Until the hospital has a full-time twelve-hour shift open up, I’m working three to eleven five days a week.” I thought he already knew I worked almost every day.

“I know we haven’t had a chance to have our talk yet, but I want you to know I’m going to take care of you and the baby. You don’t need to work.” Oh, man. He is so freaking clueless and it’s time for me to educate my Neanderthal.

“I don’t need you to take care of me.” I hold my ground. “And I refuse to be some kept woman waiting at home for my man to take care of everything.”

Gray runs his hand down the back of his neck and paces back and forth across the room several times before turning to me. “I’m new at all this.” He sighs and steps over to grab both of my hands in his. “Have patience with me until I figure things out.”

“I’m sorry I’m being a brat when you’re trying to help me.”

“This is all new to both of us.” He kisses me and I almost forget about my shift. Almost.

“Can I at least drive you to work?”

“Of course.”

“We can make out in the car before you go in.” He sweetens the pot.

“Sounds like a plan.”