Chapter Six
Lizzie dropped her phone on the bed and set about finding some clothes. In the background, Brute spoke on the phone to her brother.
“Fine. I will find her and bring her with me.”
She grabbed her jeans and a sweater from her bag and put them on. The rustle of clothes behind her let her know Brute was getting dressed, too. Her emotions battered her insides. She hated their night had been interrupted but was also glad. Any more time, more passion…could she have stopped herself? Stopped her feelings?
“You almost ready?” Brute asked.
“Yeah.” She slipped her feet into the hiking boots she’d worn to the hotel, and she was good to go. “Ready when you are.”
“Good. Let’s get going, then.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the door. “Your brother seemed pretty freaked out, and he’s never like that.”
Lizzie had to admit she’d heard a hint of panic in Maddy’s tone, too. They needed to get to the medical center and fast.
“It’s going to be okay.” He helped her up into his SUV. “The medical center has the best shifter doctors this side of the Rockies. Maddy is going to be fine.”
Thirty-two minutes later, they pulled into the parking lot. She couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that had settled over her. Brute helped her out of his truck. He grabbed her hand and held tight. “Whatever is happening, Lizzie, I am right here for you. Okay? I’m not going anywhere.”
With his hand in hers, they headed inside. The medical center wasn’t huge, so finding Garth wasn’t hard. He paced back and forth like an angry bear in the waiting room while Mason sat in one of the chairs next to him.
Garth looked up as they walked in, his focus on Brute not her. “Wow, you got here fast.”
“Yeah,” Brute replied. “Finding Lizzie wasn’t hard, so we made good time.”
“How is she?” Lizzie asked.
The anguished look on his face scared the crap out of her. “I don’t know. They’re running some tests. I’m hoping to hear something soon.”
She moved to give her brother a hug. “She’s going to be fine. What happened anyway?”
“She had some bleeding and cramping.” She wrapped her arms around her brother and held tight. “We called the doc, and he said to come in for safety. So here we are.”
“Do you need anything?”
“Just for my wife and kids to be okay.” She squeezed even tighter at the gravely sound of her brother’s voice like he was holding back tears.
Before Lizzie could say anything else, the door opened behind them and a nurse walked in with Maddy right beside her. Garth pulled away from Lizzie and bolted the two steps to take Maddy in his arms. “How are you?”
“I’m fine,” Maddy replied, looking like she hadn’t slept in a week. “The babies are fine, too. I’m not in labor either, though they suspect it’s not far off now.”
“You had me so worried.” He kissed her forehead and each cheek.
Lizzie moved to sit with Brute, not wanting to intrude on the intimate moment between her brother and Maddy.
“You okay?” Brute leaned in and whispered.
She nodded and leaned her head against his shoulder. She’d never realized how another person’s presence could provide comfort or how badly she needed it.
Garth and Maddy had disappeared somewhere, probably gone to speak with the doctor. So they waited.
Brute held Lizzie’s hand in his, running circles with his thumb over the back of her hand. Having her close settled all the restlessness he’d suffered for so long. She was his future. He didn’t have a single doubt. All he had to do was convince Lizzie.
They’d been waiting for about an hour when Garth and Maddy returned.
“Everything’s fine, and we can go home now,” Maddy said.
“Thank you for coming,” Garth added.
