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I looked across the newly designed clinic lobby to where Oz sat whispering in Zoey’s ear. I knew without being able to hear what he was saying that he was trying to distract her from the upcoming ultrasound and checkup we’d arranged with Doc Sharma. When Oz looked over at me, I shot him a wink. The pink blush that crept up his neck in response made my pulse kick up. His creamy skin was terrible at hiding his true feelings from me, and I loved every bit of it. I also knew that just below the collar of his thick fleece pullover was a dark bruise from where I’d been overzealous in tasting his pulse point that morning in the shower.
“Ahem.”
I turned back to the reception counter where I’d been waiting for Nancy to appear. She stood there beaming and flicking her gaze between Oz and me.
“Morning, sunshine,” I said to her with a smile. “I brought some fresh meat for Becky’s baby bump obsession.”
Nancy chuckled. “She’ll be delighted. Maybe one of these days she’ll consider getting her own instead of creeping on everyone else’s.”
I shrugged. “Honestly, I think she just fell in love with the ultrasound equipment when Doc let her get certified in Denver.”
Ever since Becky had gotten certified to perform OB sonograms, she’d been desperate for more pregnant patients to practice on. The clinic was lucky she was so invested in staying in Haven, otherwise we would have lost her to higher-paying jobs in the city.
Becky’s head popped out of the back hallway with a giant grin on her face. “Did someone say ultrasound?”
After leading Oz and Zoey back to the exam room and introducing Zoey to Becky and the doctor, I ducked out. Obstetrics wasn’t my specialty, whereas the doc and Becky both had tons of experience from their years of general practice in the small town.
I made my way back out front and ran into Wade from the tavern.
“Hey, man. What’s wrong with your hand?” I nodded at the bloody bar rag wrapped around his left fist.
“Hey, Jake. Looks worse than it is. I punctured it on a rusty piece of metal while moving some shit around in my garage and realized I might need a tetanus shot or something. Don’t think it needs stitches. Was hoping the doc had some time this morning.”
“I can help. Come on back,” I said, catching Nancy’s eye on my way past. “Will you grab Wade’s file for me, please, and bring it to exam room three?”
“Sure thing.”
Once I got his wound cleaned up and bandaged, I found Becky in the hallway.
“Oh hey. Can you give Wade a tetanus booster, please?” I asked. “How’d it go with Zoey?” Becky’s forehead wrinkled in concern and my stomach dropped. “Fuck. What did you find in the ultrasound?”
“It wasn’t that. Her blood pressure is up and there’s protein in her urine. Dr. Sharma is a little worried about it. Wants her stay off her feet as much as possible until he can recheck in a few days. He’s telling them now.”
Shit. I knew this was going to freak Oz out. Sure enough, I heard his familiar voice rise in panic. I ducked my head back into Wade’s exam room and told him to hang tight for his injection. Then I made my way to Zoey’s room and knocked before entering.
Zoey was rolling her eyes, Doc Sharma was taking her blood pressure again, and Oz was freaking the fuck out.
“Oz, can I ask you something really quick out in the hallway?”
His face lifted to mine, anguish and worry clear as day across it. “Right now?”
I nodded. “It’ll just take two seconds.”
He leaned down to kiss Zoey’s forehead before making his way toward me. Both Zoey and Doc Sharma flashed me grateful smiles.
Once in the hallway, I pulled Oz into my arms and hugged him as tightly as I could. He melted into me with a soft exhale against my neck.
“Baby, this could just be a fluke, okay?” I murmured against the top of his head. “You need to calm down. If anything, your freaking out is going to ratchet up her blood pressure. Do you understand?”
Another sigh. His body pressed tighter into me, if that was possible. “Shhh, I’m sure she’s going to be okay. I have a BP cuff at home and can monitor her closely. She has both of us to look out for her full-time. It’s going to be fine.”
Oz pulled back and looked up at me, worry still clear on his face. “I wish we’d brought two cars so you could take her home while I go get what we need at the grocery store. I want to make her favorite salad for lunch and she loves this chicken stir-fry thing she makes for us sometimes. I’ve never made it, but if she tells me what to do, I can probably try.”
