Page 48 of Hidden By His Side

It was Monday—a workday. She’d normally be up and in the office early, making sure everything was just so and waiting with a coffee, the way Ramiro liked it, in her hand. Instead, she stretched awake in Ramiro’s arms well after it was time to leave.

“We could have gone in like usual,” she said, nerves churning in her stomach, or maybe that was the return of her morning sickness. She breathed through it.

“I’m right where I want to be,” Ramiro murmured in her ear. He had his husky, sleepy voice, one she so rarely got to hear. She loved it even as she squirmed inside.

All the sweet moments were adding up. Bringing her to his home, having her stuff brought over to make it more hers, the way he’d touched her last night, taking care of her through her morning sickness, and now continuing to hold her and whisper sweet things in her ear—all these things should have soothed her anxiety, but instead, it was doing the opposite.

He gave and gave, but she still felt so empty.

Summer slipped out of his arms, feeling them tighten for a moment before letting her go.

A quick trip to the bathroom, and then she was hurrying toward the kitchen. Coffee. She could do that the same. He loved the way she made his coffee. She’d studied what he liked to get it exactly right.

Ramiro already stood in front of the counter with a cup in his hand.

Summer stared at that cup, hating it.

The single brew machine was chugging along, clear liquid flowing into a mug with the string of a tea bag folded over.

“I had the boys pick up some decaf tea for you,” Ramiro said, making everything worse. He’d planned ahead. He’d been thinking of her while she had been trapped inside her selfish worries yesterday.

Her fingers dug into her sleep shorts. “I can go to my appointment alone.” She cringed at the way her voice sounded—snappish with an undertone of annoyance.

Shewasannoyed. Why did he have to be so perfect all the time?

Ramiro lifted an eyebrow. “You know that’s not happening.”

“You don’t like babies, Ram.” She needed to stop, but the words kept pushing free. “There’s no reason for you to go to my doctor’s appointment. It’s my problem, not yours.”

Ramiro set his cup down while her heart raced in her chest. He took a step toward her, crowding her against the island, his arms caging her in on either side.

The kiss he placed on top of her head made her eyes water. Damn him.

“Where you go, I go, baby girl.”

She shook her head, but her hands wrapped around him, tugging him closer. “You don’t know what you’re doing.” The words were muffled by his chest.

“What am I doing?”

She rubbed against his chest hair with a sigh, liking the way it tickled her cheek. “Making me feel so safe and cared for.”

He let out a soft hum. “I thought that’s what I always do.”

She leaned back, looking up at him. “It is. It’s just, I already love you so much. If—” She broke off, trying to pull away.

Ramiro’s hands kept her right where she was. “If?”

She swallowed again, meeting his eyes. “If you keep treating me this way, I’ll cling and cling. I’ll never let go.”

He leaned down, giving her a swift, hard kiss. “Good,” he said, the word brushing over her lips.

Summer’s throat felt too tight to say anything else.

Ramiro released her and turned her toward the hallway with a small pat on her ass that sent tingles through her body. “Now, go get dressed. The tea will need time to cool.”

Her feet moved. At the hallway, she looked back. He was big and strong and masculine and confident and everything she’d always wanted.

“It’s not good, Ram,” she choked out. “What if I decide to keep the baby?”

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