Page 72 of Hidden By His Side

Her mind felt numb as she flipped past the movies, landing on an older TV show she and Ramiro had watched together years ago. Her mind wasn’t up for something new, so a rerun appealed to her, but she hesitated. Would that bother him? Would he be bored?

“I remember that show,” Ramiro said from beside her. He crouched down near the couch, his vanilla and citrus spicedscent stronger than it had been before. “Good choice.” Then he picked her up, sprawling on the couch himself, with her on top.

He hadn’t bothered putting a shirt on, and his chest hair tickled her cheek as she rested on him, his arms secure around her. When she shivered a little, he grabbed the throw off the back of the couch, tossing it over them before his arm snuck under, settling over her back again.

“Let’s binge it,” he murmured, and she pressed play.

He was so warm and sturdy beneath her, and she relaxed too much to focus on the show. Her mind quieted. She wasn’t really thinking about anything. Ramiro filled her awareness. His small snorts when he found something amusing, the huff of his breath when a character’s decision annoyed him, and the rumble in his chest under her ear when he shared his thoughts with her, all of it was precious.

It was the best day ever. She couldn’t even regret the tiredness that took over her body, dragging her into a half-asleep state.

Ramiro kissed her forehead. “I love you, baby girl,” he murmured.

There was no reason for her eyes to feel so warm, like she wanted to cry. She closed them so she wouldn’t give in to the need. Her throat was too tight to give him the words, but she thought them, over and over, as she drifted off to sleep, safe in his arms.

Chapter 24

The morning sickness was back the next day, but it let her sleep until close to dawn. Summer scrambled over Ramiro and lurched toward his bathroom, not bothering with the light as she lunged for the toilet.

Ramiro settled in behind her, holding her hair as he murmured words she couldn’t hear over her heaving, but his tone sounded soothing.

It was over quickly, and she was already starting to feel better before he wiped the cool washcloth over her face. He pulled her back into his lap so she wasn’t on the bathroom floor, urging her body to rest against his.

Guilt weaved inside her as she opened her eyes to the murky darkness of the bathroom. “I keep waking you up,” she mumbled, closing her eyes again. “If I slept in the guest room, that wouldn’t happen.” He’d carried her to his room last night, and she hadn’t fought it.

“You sleep with me, Summer. That’s how I want it.”

Summer doubted he was telling the truth, but she nodded in the dark. Her fingers smoothed the hair on the arm he’d wrapped around her. “If it ever gets to be too much, let me know,” she offered.

She loved the way he kissed her hair, nuzzling into her. “After yesterday, I was hoping the morning sickness was easing.”

Summer’s hands closed around his arm. “I’m sorry, I—”

“Not for me. I hate seeing you not feeling good.”

“It’s been a little better this weekend,” she admitted. “It seemed like I was nauseous all the time last week.”

Ramiro’s hold on her tightened. “All the time? Why didn’t you say anything?”

Her fingers curled into his arm. She’d said the wrong thing again. “No, it was fine. I wasn’t trying to complain.”

“It might be a normal symptom, but it’s not fine. Were you just nauseous, or were you actually throwing up?” When she didn’t answer, he let out a sigh. “I can’t believe I missed that. Please tell me next time.” He nuzzled her hair again. “You feel better when I’m here like this, don’t you?”

“Yes,” Summer whispered.

“Don’t hide these things from me. I want to take care of you, and you like when I do. Let me do it.” His arms slid around her even more securely. “And if the nausea gets worse again, we can call the doctor, see about getting that medicine.”

She nodded, her head rubbing under his chin.

“Now, let’s see about feeding that baby inside you a banana, the way she likes.” His muscles bunched, and then he was lifting her.

“I need to brush my teeth first,” she mumbled as she wound an arm around his shoulders.

He set her on her feet in the guest bathroom, and she turned on the light before moving to the sink. Summer paused with the water running over her toothbrush. Instead of going on to the kitchen, Ramiro remained in the bathroom doorway. His eyes locked on hers in the mirror.

“Take your stuff to the other bathroom when you’re done,” he said. “I want your toothbrush next to mine.”

Warmth flooded through her as she imagined it. She nodded, watching him smile at her before he moved out of the doorway.

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