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“He said my heart was big enough to love two men and he wouldn’t change anything...because it opened to him, welcomed him, and changed the end of his life.” Looking at him over her shoulder, she whispered, “My love for you lived side by side with my love for Bennett and he understood that. I hope you will, too.”
Struggling to swallow past the lump in his throat, Gage nodded. “I will, Rowan. I swear it.” He kissed her, their tears mingling, as he came high and hot inside her.
It was the single most powerful experience of his life.
Until Rowan’s water broke.
Chapter Twenty
They were still and silent for several seconds when Rowan whispered, “Gage…?”
“Sweetheart, you’re in labor.”
“Amazingly, this is the most embarrassed I’ve ever been. That’s saying a lot, Gage. Like, a lot.” She started to cry from a culmination of stress, humiliation, and overwhelming emotion.
He tightened his arms around her. “Breathe. It’s gonna be okay. Let me help.”
“I-I…”
“Rowan. Let me help.”
He kissed her hair and carefully pulled from her body. Keeping her with him, he backed to the edge of the bed. Standing, he lifted her smoothly to her feet. She swayed and he steadied her.
“It’s so g-gross…”
“Nah. It’s just part of life, sweetheart.”
“Well, it’soverwhelming, Gage. The first time I had sex, there was a death. The second, a birth. I told you I was never going to be n-normal!”
He hugged her and murmured at her ear, “Ssh. It’s okay. We’re gonna get cleaned up and I’ll take you to the hospital. In a few hours, your son will be here.” Leaning back, he gave her a big grin that went a long way to soothing her frayed nerves. “Isn’t that amazin’ to think about?”
Smiling slowly, she nodded. “Yeah. It really is.”
He took her hand and walked to the bathroom, getting in the stall with her to wash her hair and body. After quickly washing his own, he wrapped her in a towel. She dressed in fresh clothes while he pulled on the ones he’d worn to her house.
For a moment, she zoned out on the rumpled comforter, her mind a bit confused over the events of the last couple of hours.
“Are you alright, Rowan?” Gage’s voice was low, gentle.
“I think...I will be. IlovedBennett and there willalwaysbe a part of my heart that belongs to him. Just as there wasalwaysa part of my heart that belonged toyouwhile I was with him.” She took a deep breath. “I feel better than I have in a long time.” Meeting his eyes, she said, “Thank you.”
He took her face in his hands. “You’re the strongest person I’ve ever known. In your life, you’ve already dealt with a lot. Startin’ over again and again because of circumstances out of your control.” Shaking his head, he said, “I know how hard you loved Bennett, Rowan. How itfeelsto be loved by you. He chose to leave his life in your arms - feeling that love to his last breath. It would be my choice if I had it.”
Tears slipped down her cheeks and he wiped them away with his thumbs. “I’m glad you had Bennett to show you what you were worth. I was too young to love you right, to treat you how you deserved to be treated. He gave me an example to follow and I’m damn grateful for it.”
He lowered one hand to her belly. “This is Bennett’s son but - if you give me the chance - I’m gonna love him like he was mine, Rowan. He’ll never doubt my love for him. As long as I live, I’ll never let you regret givin’ me another chance to be the man you needed me to be.”
Then he held her close and kissed her deeply, gently...and Rowan could feelhislove for her.
As he broke it, he said, “If we don’t get you to the hospital, I’m gonna pass out from stress.” She smiled as he led her from the bedroom. On the first floor, he tapped on James’ door and yelled, “Wrap it up! Rowan’s in labor.”
There was frantic scrambling inside and when James opened the door shirtless and looking panicked, he asked, “Do I, uh, we have three minutes?” Rowan nodded and chuckled as he slammed the door with a mumbled, “Sorry!”
Mary-Margaret practically slid into the hall. “I’m sorry. What did you say, Gage?” She looked at her watch with a frown. “You must be mistaken. Rowan isn’t due for another thirteen days.”
Gage grinned. “The boy in her belly don’t give a damn about schedules. Her water broke.”
All the color drained from her assistant’s face. “Oh, dear.”
