Sacred Hart (27 page)

“Can we name him Ryan?” Maggie’s soft tone filled my veins with nothing but pure pride as I pulled back and let my eyes fall to hers.

“I’ll give you two a few minutes. Meet me in my office.” Dr. Becks nodded her head with a smile at the both of us as she left the room.

“I’d like that,” I said as I pushed a golden wave behind her ear.

“Ryan Tate Hartford.” She smiled.

My heart beat jumped as I heard the name spoken in the most beautiful voice I’d ever heard. Maggie’s cheeks were roses, and her chest moved in marked breaths as she watched me give way to my own tears.

My hands fell to her stomach. “Thank you.”

She smirked and shook her head as her brows furrowed. “For what?”

“For giving me Beth and for taking care of this little guy.” I chuckled as our eyes fell to her belly.

“I hope he looks like you.” The words were filled with excitement.

“I hope he gets your heart.” I raised my gaze to hers and brought my hand to her cheek.

She leaned into the touch. “In eighteen weeks our life is going to change… so much… again. You ready?”

Her blue eyes gleamed with an easy joy.

“I don’t know? Do I have a choice?” I grinned, and she shoved me in the shoulder. I grasped her wrist gently and brought her hand to my chest placing it over my heart. “Maggie… with you… I’m capable of anything.”

The whole house smelled like chocolate, and my mouth watered as I mixed the third batch of brownies. The muscles in my arms were starting to ache, and I was pretty sure my ankles were swollen from being on my feet all day. Ryan was going to lecture me about taking it easy, just like I did to him eighty thousand times a day. It was hard to just let him be. He was healthy, but unfortunately for him, I knew every detailed thing that could go wrong. I exhaled loudly, and the piece of hair that kept falling in my face puffed out of my line of sight as I stirred to the count of fifty. Using the electric mixer made more sense, but I watched Ryan do this a hundred times, and his brownies were freaking delicious. I wanted these to be perfect. Everything had to be just right.

“Hey, Bee, hand me that pan?”

“Got it.” Beth leaned over the breakfast bar and lightly shoved the pan in my direction.

“Thanks, honey.” I lifted my right eyebrow and gave her a smile. “You know, I’m going to need your help once your little brother gets here.”

Beth giggled. “I know. You tell me this all the time, Mom.” She dipped her finger in the chocolate batter as she leaned even further on her stool.

“We’ve got a busy few weeks ahead of us,” I said as I poured the batter into the pan. The spoon scraped on the glass as I tried to manage every last drop.

“I’m excited about the new house.” Beth eased back onto the stool and started to play with her tiny plastic
Avengers
set.

“So am I.”

My stomach flipped just thinking about everything that had to happen in the next three weeks before the baby got here. This house was older, and in a town this small, real estate was a joke. We’d had to sell it before we would qualify for the one place we wanted. Good thing for us, just last week we got an offer and we accepted it. This was the last week we had in this house, and Ryan had been gone all day at the new place refinishing the wood floors with Tate and Collin. It wasn’t much. A three-bedroom fixer-upper built before I was born, but it worked. Ryan was thrilled and I worried. I had to admit, though, the more he did, the better he looked and felt. He wasn’t a piece of fragile glass, and I needed to remember that.

“Do you think Ry will like the
Hulk
?” Beth’s eyes were wide with concern, and I laughed as the last bit of batter fell to the pan.

“I think you’re going to be the best big sister, Bee, and I think he’ll love the
Hulk
.” I placed the bowl down as Beth yawned.

“After I put this last batch in the oven, it’s time for bed.”

She groaned but nodded her head.

I scooped a bit of chocolate with my finger and wiped it on her nose. We were all giggles when I heard the front door shut. I stole a lick from the spoon just as Ryan walked into the kitchen with a grin.

“I saw that.” He chuckled.

I pointed the spoon in my hand in his direction with a smirk and narrowed my eyes. “What are you trying to say?”

Ryan’s eyes dropped to my elephant sized stomach as I placed the spoon down and waddled from behind the counter. He fell to his knees before me, and my lips spread into a huge smile. This was my favorite part.

He placed his hands on either side of my belly and his lips dusted across the fabric of my shirt as he spoke, “Always tell your wife she’s beautiful and that you love her no matter how much chocolate she eats.” The baby responded to his voice with a few light kicks.

“
Ryan,
” I reprimanded him and pressed my lips together in order not to laugh.

The palms of my hands rested on his beard covered cheeks as he raised his eyes to mine. “I’m kidding.” He released me from his stare and kissed my belly just before he stood. He placed his lips on my forehead and brought his mouth to my ear. “I could watch you lick that spoon all damn day,” he whispered, and my cheeks flushed with heat as he pulled away.

His eyes were bright, and the rich laughter that spilled from his lips pooled in my stomach. He was every bit of a man with his calloused hands, grit, and sweat. His hair was disheveled, and his usual soapy scent was mixed with his hard day of work. I wasn’t sure if it was the hormones or just him, but it was sexy.

He assessed the mess in the kitchen. “You’ve been busy.” His smile faltered as he realized how busy. “Maggie.” It was his turn to admonish. “Are you trying to go into labor? I hate that you’ve been on your feet all day.”

“I helped a lot.” Beth’s sing-song voice drew his attention from me.

“I bet you did, Little Bee. How’s my girl?” He turned and scooped Beth up from the stool.

She squealed. “Put me down.”

Ryan put her over his shoulder into a fireman’s hold. “I’ll get this one ready for bed.”

“I’ll finish up in here.” I placed the brownies in the oven and laughed as Beth fell limp in his arms like a rag doll.

By the time I’d finished up in the kitchen, Beth had showered, brushed her teeth, and was sound asleep just as the timer went off for the brownies. I assumed Ryan was in the shower, so, when his hands snaked around my non-existent waist, I almost screamed. The sound caught in my throat as his warm lips trailed along the curve of my neck.

“Shit, you scared me.” I almost dropped the hot pan as I set it on the stove top.

“Is it weird that I like it when you swear?” Ryan asked, and I could feel his smile against the skin of my neck.

“A little,” I said with a shiver. His nose traced an uneven line across my flesh, and the sensation of it sent goose bumps all the way down to my toes. I turned, and Ryan stepped back enough to accommodate my oversized mid-section. “I’m a whale.”

“I love your stomach.” His words were sincere, and as his mouth lowered to mine, my insecurities faded to black. Ryan’s mouth was confident, powerful, and as he kissed me with starving lips, his hands scorched along my back. My teeth nipped at his full bottom lip as he broke our kiss with a growl. “I need to shower.” His eyes were dark, and his breathing was deep. “Come with me?” He cocked his eyebrow, and a shy smile split my lips.

“Okay.”

Ryan’s grin was salacious, and I was sure every inch of my skin was on fire as he led us back to our bathroom. That was the thing about him, though, he made it feel like he was unwrapping me for the first time all over again. Each time we were together, he treated it as if it was the first and maybe the last. For some couples, I assumed it would be impossible to see past the superhero shower curtain. The bathtub toys and the large round pregnant belly would be a distraction but as Ryan towered over me, and the warmth of the shower covered our skin, all I saw was him. His large, sturdy hands were on my waist as he pulled me against his body. He was solid and full of muscle; it made me feel dainty. We’d perfected our private little bubble since he’d left the hospital. Hands seeking and touching, mouths taking, his need to my want, it was our way, and each time I’d melt. I’d drown, and when I surfaced his brown eyes kept me rooted in place. Exactly where I needed to be… with
him.

We’d stayed in the shower longer than we should have, and the clock on the bedside table reminded me I should be sleeping as my fingers outlined the scar on his chest.

“Are you worried?” I asked, and Ryan’s eyes opened.

He shifted his body onto its side to face me, and the bed creaked under his weight. “About what?” His laugh was quiet. “Maggie, we have about twenty different things going on, should I pick one?” He lifted his hand and tickled a line of goose bumps down my arm.

“About your parents?”

His smile faded. “I’m nervous.”

Ryan had been in contact with his parents after I almost had to call them myself. He’d been home from the hospital for about three weeks when he finally gave in. It was a long road, and we both had agreed we wanted to trek it. His life had changed so much since Belle had died, and even now, it kept changing and evolving. It didn’t feel right to leave them in the past anymore. My parents were gone and I wished them back to life every day. I didn’t want Ryan to live in his own regrets anymore, and I wanted our children to know their grandparents. Ryan missed his mom and dad, and the more we talked about having them in our lives, the more I grasped at the hope of having them around. They’d raised this wonderful man, and it hurt me to think they’d miss out on his happiness. After the first few calls, Ryan’s resistance evaporated, and it was the last thing he needed to really claim himself again.

“They’ll be here tomorrow, and I just can’t wrap my head around it.” He closed his eyes as I ran my hand through his hair. “I’ve spent so long pushing them away, and building our relationship again, it’s been… good. I guess I’m just nervous about what seeing them will stir up. My ghosts have been put to rest, and I’m just anxious about how everything will go.” His eyes opened as my fingers trailed down his neck and rested on his shoulder.

“If they come here, stir up the dust, and then leave, you still have me… Beth and Ry. Once it all settles, we’ll still be right by your side.” My smile pulled up on one side.

“You’re right.” He brought his hand to my cheek as he kissed me on the forehead.

“Besides, I made three dozen brownies… hand stirred. It better go well.”

The skin around Ryan’s eyes crinkled as he laughed openly. “Why did you make so many?”

“Just in case one batch didn’t taste right.” I wrinkled my nose, and it only made him laugh harder.

“You should’ve used the mixer.”

“It’s not the same.”

“No, it’s not.” His laugh was an exhale as he pulled the blanket up a little higher. “Get some rest. It’s a long day tomorrow.”

“It’s going to be fine,” I said as I rolled over and turned off the lamp.

“I hope so.” Ryan’s arm wrapped around my stomach, and I snuggled my back against his chest.

My eyelids were heavy as the weight of his arm secured me in place. His breathing was measured, and if I pressed against him a little bit more, I would almost be able to feel his heartbeat.

It was the only way I was able to fall asleep.

Mr. Hartford was a spitting image of his son. His tall, broad shoulders shook as he laughed with Beth. She had this man on the floor with us for about thirty minutes while she explained to him each superpower and talent of her comic book legends. The only difference between Ryan and his father was age. Daniel’s beard was salt and pepper and his hair was white. Ryan’s mother was very petite. She still appeared young with her dark eyes and light hair, but when she watched Ryan in silence, the years painted across her features. She’d missed her son.