Page 37 of Daigo

"She's all right? Are you sure?"

"We've conducted an ultrasound and ruled out placental abruption. The fetuses are developing nicely, but your wife's blood pressure is elevated. We would like to keep her here for a couple of days in order to monitor her health."

Dragging his hands through his already disheveled hair, he paced to the window and simply leaned on it, the coldness of the glass cooling his heated skin. He felt as if ten years of his life had been shaved off.

"I'm not going to lose her."

"No, you're not."

"I need to see her."

"Of course. We've given her something for the high blood pressure and something else to put her to sleep. She needs the rest."

"One other thing." Daigo lifted a hand to stop the woman from leaving the room and wondered how the hell to phrase what he wanted to say. "I... er..." He cleared his throat and wondered if he had ever been more self-conscious in his life. He thought not.

"We, that is, I made love to her tonight. Twice." He lifted his hands helplessly. "I wouldn't want to think that I was the cause of all this."

Dr. Middleton kept a straight face with great difficulty. It amazed her that the usually aloof, stoic, intimidating man was looking abashed and clearly embarrassed. But she had seen the way he looked at his wife and knew that she was his only weakness. She found it incredibly touching.

"That has nothing to do with it. There's no indication or proof that having sexual intercourse can harm the fetus."

"Well..." Daigo heaved out a relieved breath. "Thanks."

"You're most welcome. This way."

She was fast asleep and looked so peaceful. Pulling up a chair, he took her hand and brought it to his lips. He closed his eyes at the feel of her flesh and felt the relief pouring through him like a flood.

"I swear you're going to be the death of me," he whispered. "And if you think you're leaving me, you have another thing coming."

Settling back in the chair, he stretched his legs out and kept her hand in his.

Chapter 10

She woke disoriented, her brain foggy. Blinking the slumber from her eyes, she frowned as she looked around the unfamiliar room. Then the memories came rushing in at the same time she felt the pressure on her hand.

Turning just her head, she saw him, and her heart settled immediately. He was here with her, and she wasn't losing her babies. She recalled the terror of seeing the blood and feeling the cramps.

Her husband was slouched in the chair, his long legs stretched out, and he was holding her hand. Love swept through her like a forest fire. Her throat clogged up, making it hard for her to swallow. How in God's name had she gotten so lucky? What had she ever done to deserve a man like this?

She made a silent vow, right here in the hospital room, hooked up to a machine, that she would never take what he offered her for granted. That as long as she lived, she was going to show him how much she appreciated him.

But right now, her fingers were cramped. Testing how firm the hold was, she tried to wriggle her hand away from his without waking him. The second she moved her fingers, his eyes flew open, and he was instantly alert. Shooting upward, he zeroed in on her face.

"Hey."

"Hi. I didn't want to wake you," she confessed.

"Why not?" He studied her face carefully, relieved to see that she was not in pain or showing any signs of discomfort.

"You looked so peaceful."

He grimaced and stretched out the kinks in his back. "The chair is not made for slumber."

"You should have joined me in bed."

"Hmm." Rising, he came to sit at her hip, fingers linking with hers. "I need a promise from you."

"Anything."