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It’s time I start looking to buy her something nice. Something fucking worthy of my woman and child. Maybe that’ll make her happy.
Not ready to share those thoughts, I ensure the door’s locked when I pull it shut. “Where do you want to eat? Walter’s?”
I turn to her, coming up short when I see Chastity strolling down the sidewalk, clinging to the arm of a tall, balding man who looks like he’s on his way to church, wearing a suit jacket, khakis, and loafers.
“Wow.” Lacy slides her hand from mine, smoothing down a strand of hair, caught by the wind. “Someone’s moved on mighty fast. Told you there was no need to talk to her.”
“Found herself another sucker.” I laugh. “Good for her.”
Lacy eyes me with something akin to awed skepticism. “That doesn’t bother you at all?”
“Why would it?” My hand finds its way back to hers, and I tow her closer, hoping like hell she sees the truth in my stare. “She’s nothing to me. Never was.”
“But—”
“No, Lace, just listen. That dance you saw me share with her at my brother’s wedding? That was the most intimate she and I ever got.”
“Oh.” Her mouth hangs open as though shocked by my admission.
“You’re the only woman I want.”
“Okay.” She shifts away, dropping my gaze and looking back to the street, where Chastity and her new man have already passed by. “So, dinner… I was thinking we should go back to my place. I think I’d like to stay in.”
A pang of discomfort tries to worm its way into my gut, but I don’t allow it. She’s here. She’s with me. And I’m not letting her fucking go.
“Whatever you want, Lace… Whatever you want.”
14
LACY
With nothing but a flimsy paper medical gown on, I shiver and clumsily climb onto the table. Ridge helps to guide me into a lying position while I try to ignore the excruciating pinch to my ready-to-burst bladder.
Why must I drink a gallon of water before an ultrasound? I’m so full that I fear I’ll float away or better yet, pee right here in the exam room.
“What’s wrong?” He hovers like a mother hen and squeezes the hand he’s already holding too tight.
“Nothing,” I grumble. It’s a refrain that’s become all too familiar since Otis and Arlene decided to pop back into my life.
For the last three weeks it’s been nonstop texts and calls. All of them from my mother—Otis hasn’t had the balls—and all of them some form of failed manipulation to try and get me to leave town.
I still don’t know what they’re up to, or what the heck to do about it, but I don’t have the bandwidth to deal with it right now.
Now is all about my baby. Our baby—Ridge’s and mine. And my aching damn bladder.
“Don’t lie to me, Lace.” His free hand tenderly brushes along the curve of my jaw. “You’re clenching your teeth. Talk to me. Are you in pain?”
I try to hold back another kind of shiver as my insides melt at how attentive and caring Ridge has been since we got here. Instead, I end up wincing as the motion causes the prickling pressure in my bladder to intensify.
“I have to pee really badly.”
Just then the technician enters the room, her neutral expression softening at my admission as she settles in front of the equipment.
“Hi, I’m Brenda and I’ll be doing your sonogram. Sorry about the bladder, but we need a full one for what we’re going to do today. Let’s get started, and the sooner we’re done, the sooner you can go to the bathroom.”
“And what is it you’re going to do?” Ridge’s authoritative tone causes the woman to stiffen slightly and stop preparing for the ultrasound.
“Well, Mr. Kincaide.” She blushes and flutters her eyelashes and I sigh, not in the least bit surprised that Ridge has this effect on her. Damn, the man knocked me up on the first go. “This is your baby’s twenty week anatomy scan. I’m going to take some measurements of Ms. Hallman’s abdomen and get a good look at the fetus.”
