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“Are you okay?” Gabe asked now that they were alone.
“Yeah. Why?”
“You just had a funny look on your face a few minutes ago.” Either she’d revealed too much or he’d been watching her too closely.
“I’m just excited.”
Gabe took her hand. “I know this wasn’t what either of us planned, but I have to admit that bringing a new life into the world is pretty amazing.” He kissed her forehead.
The tenderness of the moment dissolved when there was another knock at the door, but the lingering contentment would last a long time.
Gabe held the door open for the tech, who was pushing a large machine on wheels. “Hi, I’m Sarah. I’ll be doing your ultrasound.” She positioned the machine beside the exam table. “Are you Dad?” she asked Gabe.
“Yes.”
“Then what I’d like you to do is sit in the chair until I get everything all set up. Then you can come and stand beside Mom.” She started getting the cables organized.
A perplexed look came over Gabe’s face. Zoe couldn’t help but grin. Her guess was that Gabe did most of the ordering in his world and to have this woman in control of the situation had to go against the grain. Despite that, he did what the tech requested but watched her with narrowed eyes.
“Let’s get you further up on the table.” The woman helped Zoe scoot back. “Now, please pull up your shirt.”
Zoe did, revealing the roundness of her belly, made more pronounced by lying down. She looked over at Gabe. His attention was fixed on her middle. There was something telling and intense about his focus. Seconds later his gaze rose to meet hers and his eyes softened. What was he thinking?
Soon the tech squirted a glob of gel on Zoe’s belly and had the transducer moving over her skin. The swishing sound of the baby’s heart beating filled the room. “Okay, Dad, you can come and stand beside Mom.”
Gabe didn’t have to be asked twice. When he was beside her, he placed his hand over hers where it rested on the exam table, curling his fingers into her palm. It was as if he had to be touching her. For a man who had asserted he didn’t have time or room in his life for a family, he seemed very interested in her and this baby. Maybe he didn’t know what he really wanted.
The tech continued to watch the screen as she moved the transducer over Zoe. “All right, I understand you want to know what gender this baby is. Let’s see if we can find out.”
Zoe glanced at Gabe. He was watching the screen intently.
Before Zoe could look back the tech said, “I believe with that anatomy it’s a boy.”
Pure joy filled Gabe’s face. He squeezed her hand and breathed softly, “A boy.”
Zoe looked at the screen. There was their baby boy. Would he look like Gabe? She hoped so. Tall, dark-haired with magnetic blue eyes. What child could go wrong with that combination?
A ringing sound had Gabe letting go of her hand and digging into his pocket. He looked at the cell phone and stepped away from her. Just that quickly the special moment evaporated.
“Dr. Marks.” He listened then said, “I’ll be right there.” He ended the connection and considered her, his face grave. “I have to go. I have to be there to supervise.”
His mind was already somewhere else.
“I know.” Zoe did understand. She was glad that at least he’d made it there for their special moment.
He moved around the machine and slipped out the door.
Zoe watched it close between them. It was just one more reminder nothing had changed and she shouldn’t get her hopes up.
* * *
Gabe would have never thought he’d be this absorbed in a baby. Was it because the child was his or because Zoe was carrying it? Or both? There had always been an attraction between him and Zoe, but in the last few weeks it had grown into something more. A feeling he didn’t want to put a name to or analyze, but that was taking control nonetheless.
He’d hated to leave her so abruptly, especially after his almost too late arrival. They had shared one of the most surreal moments of his life. He had been watching his son on the screen. More than that, he’d shared it with Zoe. For heaven’s sake, he was a physician and he’d gone through the OB rotation in medical school, but this time it was his child.
Although it was late in the evening before he headed out of the hospital, he still had a stop to make. Less than an hour later he pulled into the garage beside Zoe’s car. With a smile on his face, he picked up the brown bag in the passenger seat and climbed out of the car. Would Zoe think his purchase was silly or give him an understanding smile? It didn’t matter which, because he’d been unable to help himself.
There was a light burning in the kitchen but no Zoe. With the bag in his hand, he went to her hallway. “Zoe.” There was no answer. He took a few more steps toward her room. “Zoe?”
Seconds later the sound of music playing met his ears. She must not be able to hear him. He went to her bedroom door. “Zoe.” Still nothing. Now he was getting worried. Had she passed out? Fallen in the shower?
He stepped to the bathroom door and jerked to a stop. His throat tightened and his heart pounded. Zoe stood in front of the large mirror over the sink. She had her nightgown pulled up to below her breasts and was looking down while her hands slowly roamed over her expanded middle. A serene smile of wonderment lit her lovely face.
Gabe shifted.
Her head whipped toward him, her eyes wide. She reached for her gown.
“Please, don’t.” His words were soft and beseeching. “You’re so beautiful. Breathtaking.”
Zoe’s hands stilled but she watched him with unmistakable wariness.
Gabe placed the bag on the counter and slowly stepped behind her. Their gazes locked in the mirror. There was a question in her eyes. His arms circled her. She trembled when his palms touched her warm, smooth skin. Would she push him away?
His heart thundered in his ears when her hands covered his, her fingers interlacing with his. She moved them down and around until they cupped the tight globe encasing their baby. Zoe closed her eyes and leaned back against him. Gabe had never seen her look more angelic. Inhaling, he took in the soft, subtle scent of her freshness. He could do nothing more than stare. What he had in his arms was precious.
She once again moved his hands to rest at what had once been the curve of her hips. There was a small push against one of his palms. Gabe hissed. His heart swelled. Emotions too strong to comprehend grew in his chest and spread out to overtake him. This was territory he’d never been to before. “Zoe, thank you.”
* * *
Zoe stood perfectly still. Gabe’s voice was like a tender kiss upon her neck. She opened her eyes, meeting his intense, passionate gaze. He’d said he wouldn’t touch her again unless she asked him to, so it was up to her to make the first move. Turning in his arms, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pushed up on her toes. Her lips lightly touched his. “No. Thank you.”
Gabe’s mouth pressed into hers, igniting that fire that only he could. He pulled her closer. His lips slid over hers, leaving sweet waves of sensation radiating out through her body. She put her fingers to the hair at the nape of his neck, ran them through it. Moments later, Gabe’s gentle touch traveled over her back, grasping and releasing as his arms circled her, lifting her against him. She went willingly.
Where their previous kisses had been frantic, this one was loving and exploring, wondering and appreciating. Zoe moaned and melted further into him. She was sure she wasn’t taking the most rational action, but she could no longer fight her emotions.
Gabe’s mouth left hers to skim along her cheek, leaving small caresses that held more reverence than passion. He kissed her temple then the shell of her ear. “I want you. Just to hold you.”
“I want that too,” she purred against his lips.
Releasing her, Gabe lowered the gown
covering her. He took her hand, leading her out of the bathroom and across the house toward his room. Zoe had resisted going into his space. Had even put off cleaning there. Something about it was just too intimate. Now she was being invited in. Wanted.
Gabe let go of her hand at the door, moving into the dark room alone. Seconds later, a small lamp on a bureau lit the space. Gabe’s furniture was massive. It suited him. The king-size bed was the centerpiece with its dark green spread. On either side were two end tables. At one end of the room was a fireplace with enough space for a sitting area, but there was nothing there.
He returned to her, offering his hand. Zoe took it. She wanted this. Needed the closeness. Gabe led her to the bedside. His blue eyes seemed to glow with emotion. She was unable to identify which one before his lips found hers. His mouth touched hers gently, giving instead of taking. It was as if he was trying to convey his feelings without voicing them.
For the first time Zoe dared to hope that there might be a future for them.
When Gabe pulled away, he gave her another searching look. Going down on one knee, he took the hem of her gown and rolled it up. She sucked in a breath. With her heart in her throat, Zoe watched him lean in and place a kiss where their baby grew. Gabe turned his head, placing his cheek against her. Her hand cradled his head and held him close. Moisture filled her eyes.
He rose, bringing the gown up with him. Seconds later he stripped it off over her head. She shivered, her arms instantly covering her breasts.
“Please don’t hide from me. You’re stunning.” Gabe knelt and slowly slipped her panties to her feet.
Zoe stepped out of them as he pulled the bedspread back. Gabe turned and swept her up against his chest. One of her arms went around his shoulders as she buried her face in his neck, her mouth finding heated skin. He worshipfully placed her between the sheets then stood gazing down at her as if memorizing each curve and dip.
“You’re so beautiful. I just don’t have the words.”
