Page 65 of While We Waited

“You want a pool, I’ll get you a pool.”

My mouth drops open. “I was joking. You can’t snap your fingers and suddenly you have a pool.”

“You’d be surprised what I can do with my fingers.”

Tingles erupt in my belly and travel to my core where my panties dampen. I wouldn’t be surprised. I know exactly what he can do with those fingers. Give me pleasure I’ve never felt before.

I lift my hand to fan my face but drop it before he notices. Hudson Clark doesn’t want me. He wants this baby I’m carrying.

“Is the surprise a massage? I could do with a massage. My back is sore all the time.”

He frowns. “You didn’t tell me your back is sore. You didn’t tell the doctor either.”

“I told Dr. Katz at my last appointment. She said it’s normal during pregnancy.”

“I’ll have the masseuse come over this afternoon to give you a massage.”

I’m disappointed he doesn’t want to give me a massage, but I don’t take it personally. It’s just more proof he doesn’t want me. He wants the baby.

“What’s this surprise if it’s not a massage?”

“I have to show you.” He exits the truck and I wait for him to come around to my side.

“Do you want me to carry you? How sore is your back?”

“I can walk.” I don’t want to, though. I want him to carry me everywhere.

He ignores my words and lifts me into his arms to carry me to the front door. The door clicks open but he doesn’t set me down. He walks down the hallway to the spare bedroom. He sets me on my feet before reaching for the door.

“This is your surprise.”

He pushes the door open and I step inside. I expect there to be a gift on the bed, but there’s no bed. In fact, all of the furniture from the spare bedroom is gone because this room is now a nursery.

There’s a crib in one corner next to a changing table. In the other corner is a rocking chair. And, smack dab in the middle of the room, there’s an oversized stuffed seal. It reminds me of Sammy. The walls are covered in wallpaper with scenes from the sea in it, including mermaids and treasure chests.

“It’s perfect.”

He wraps his arms around me from behind and kisses my hair. “You like it?”

“I love it. The baby will love spending time here when they’re with you.”

He scowls.

“What? What’s wrong?”

He urges me toward the rocking chair. “Sit. We need to talk.”

Oh great. It’s time for ‘the talk’. Does he want me to leave now? Does he want full custody? I clasp my chest. No. He can’t have full custody. This baby is mine.

“Hey. Hey.” He kneels before me and pulls my hands away from my chest. “What’s wrong?”

“You can’t have this baby. I won’t give Sprog to you.”

His brow wrinkles. “What are you talking about?”

I yank my hand from his and motion to the room. “You made this room for the baby. So you can have the baby here all the time. So you can steal the baby from me.”

“I do want baby Sprog here all the time.”

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