Page 96 of Where the Wattles Bloom

Lachlan had no doubt. Maybe he didn’t know her as well as her colleagues, but he’d known from their first meeting on the roadside, in the midst of a medical emergency, that she was all those things.

‘I have to go back.’

The appeal in her gaze and the plea in her voice begged him to understand. And Lachlan did understand. If he’d been through something similar he’d probably feel like he had a lot to prove too. It made perfect sense.

But it didn’t bode well for him.

‘Yeah,’ he said with a nod. ‘I get that.’

Except what he wanted to say was, What about me? And, What happens with the baby? He was aware that time was marching on and there were decisions to be made but, god help him, he wanted the answers now.

It wasn’t the time for that discussion, though. She’d bared her soul about a deeply personal experience—he couldn’t make it about him right now.

They would have to soon. But not tonight.

Rolling onto her back, she blew out a breath. ‘Bet that was more than you bargained for, huh?’

Lachlan laughed as he also rolled onto his back. ‘I’m glad you told me.’

Her head lolled to the side and their gazes met. ‘I’m glad I told you, too.’

Lachlan’s heart gave a funny little shudder in his chest and he smiled. She smiled back and he forgot about all the questions accumulating in his brain—it was time to lighten the mood.

‘So …’ He quirked an eyebrow. ‘What are we going to do about the orgasm situation?’

She laughed. ‘Right now? Nothing. I think that boat has sailed.’

Lachlan was pretty damn sure it wouldn’t take much for either of them to get the boat rocking again but, given the heaviness of what she’d just shared, he figured it would be kinda crass to suggest it. ‘The medication you’re on … it really does that?’

‘Yeah.’ She nodded. ‘It’s a known side effect.’

‘Man … that sucks.’

‘Right? I mean, an orgasm or two would certainly have made the situation easier to deal with.’ She grinned and he liked that she could see the funny side. ‘But, alas …’ She sighed. ‘They’ve been frustratingly absent.’

‘You can’t even …?’

Her head rolled from side to side as she shook it. ‘Nope. DIY is the closest I get to actually getting there, but because it’s become such a thing, I’m always too tense, which only makes it worse.’

Lachlan smiled at her evident frustration. ‘Doesn’t sound very conducive to a good outcome.’

‘Nope.’ She blew out a breath. ‘It wouldn’t matter so much usually. It’s not like I have this insane sex drive or anything. But I’ve been so damn turned on the past few weeks.’

‘Ah.’ Lachlan nodded sagely. ‘You’ve entered the horny phase of pregnancy. Perfectly natural.’

The look she shot him was comical. ‘You’ve been reading up?’

Lachlan shrugged. ‘I may have googled some stuff. And borrowed some books from the library.’

‘You did, huh?’

She seemed surprised, but Lachlan wanted her to know that he was as committed to this arrival as she was. ‘Of course. Don’t know much about pregnant humans but I do like to be prepared. I want to know what to expect and when.’

She laughed. ‘You know they have apps for that, right?’

‘Of course they do.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘What can I say? I’m old school.’

Contemplating him for a few moments, a smile still curving her gorgeous mouth, she nodded. ‘I’ve noticed.’