Page 47 of Claimed By the Boss

“You’re right.” Nolan raises his voice. “Caleb, take us to the townhouse. The doctor can meet us there while I tell Leo everything.”

“You sure about that?” Caleb glances back at me before returning his focus to the road. “There’s no putting the secrets back in the box once it’s open.”

Nolan tips my chin up. “You’re going to stay with me forever, right?”

“But I’m not preg?—”

His finger on my lips stops the words. “Do you want to leave me?”

Tears sting my eyes, and I shake my head.

His expression softens. “So, you’ll stay with me forever?”

“Yes,” I whisper. “I’m yours.”

He pulls me close. “Then it’s time for you to know everything.”

19

Dr. Wallace shines a small flashlight into my eyes. “Do you feel dizzy or nauseous?”

“No, just a headache.” I try not to flinch away from the bright light. “My face hurts.”

“You’re going to have some colorful bruising.” He gives me a sympathetic look. “Apply a cold compress for fifteen to twenty minutes today and tomorrow. It will help keep down the swelling.”

While waiting for my turn with the doctor, I had glanced in the bathroom mirror. The left side of my face appeared red and swollen, with a budding purple bruise on my cheekbone and broken blood vessels in the white of my eye, making the blue stand out vividly.

But at least I didn’t need stitches like Jade did.

“Your pupils dilate normally, so I don’t think you have a concussion.” Dr. Wallace tucks the flashlight into his pocket and straightens. “Keep the wrist wounds clean and dry. Wrap them in gauze, and if they become hot or seep pus, call me, and I’ll return.”

“Thank you. We will.” I glance down at the white bandages around my wrist. They throb in rhythm to the bruises on my face, making me want to lie down.

Dr. Wallace packs up his equipment. “I must say, aside from the new wounds, you’re looking much healthier than the last time I saw you.”

The observation brings a smile to my face. “Nolan’s been feeding me three meals a day with healthy snacks.”

“That’s good.” His expression turns serious. “I need to ask if anything else happened. Did you get hit in your abdomen? It could endanger the health of your baby, if there is one.”

“All the blows were to my face, but it doesn’t matter, anyway.” Which may be a small blessing. Tony came so close to drugging me. Had I been pregnant, being forced into Heat would have caused a miscarriage. “I took a bunch of at-home tests this morning, and there’s no baby.”

“Those tests aren’t reliable until four weeks after the end of your last Heat. That’s why we had planned to do a blood test; it can detect pregnancy as early as ten days post-conception.” Dr. Wallace’s expression softens, and he places a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Would you like me to take a sample today and give you a more definitive answer?”

My heart stutters before beating faster.

Is there still a chance I’m carrying Nolan’s child? I realize I want this more than anything, but it also terrifies me. My parents were horrible role models, and I worry if I won’t be any better. But Nolan’s family is large and close-knit. With their support, our baby will be loved and cared for.

“Yes, please.” I push up my sleeve. “I want to know for sure.”

“Excellent.” Dr. Wallace prepares the necessary equipment, and as he takes my blood, he explains how it will work.

The blood draw barely stings, and smiley faces cover the band-aid he uses to hold down the cotton swab.

I watch him stow the filled vials. “Can we keep this between us for now? I don’t want to get Nolan’s hopes up again unless we’re certain.”

Dr. Wallace studies me for a moment, then nods solemnly. “Of course, Leo. Your privacy is important to me. I won’t mention it to Nolan until we have the results.”

Relief floods through me. “Thank you.”

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