Page 54 of Last Resort

“I needed some time to think, Chance. Give me a break.”

He could feel frustration bubbling up inside him. “You promised you’d come straight home and let me know you were okay. When I got your text, I assumed that’s what it meant.”

She flinched. “I had something to do first.”

“Which was?”

Maci’s hands clenched at her sides. “Nothing that concerns you.”

“Everything about you concerns me.”

“Well, it shouldn’t! I’m a grown woman, Chance. I can take care of myself for a few hours.”

Chance deflated. He was messing up...again. Letting fear drive him. If he wasn’t careful, he knew he’d drive them apart.

He took a deep breath and tried again. “I know you can take care of yourself. I was worried. I came home and you weren’t here and I couldn’t get ahold of you. We have an active stalker who’s targeting San Antonio Security, so now is a bad time to go AWOL without anyone knowing where. That’s true for all of us.”

Maci’s eyes closed and she sighed. Chance watched the defensiveness in her posture slowly disappear. For a long moment they stood there in silence, then she came over and slid her arms around him.

The knot in his chest finally loosened as he clutched her tight. She was okay. She wasn’t hurt and she hadn’t left him.

When she spoke it was hushed. Apologetic. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t even thinking about all that. I thought I would make it home before you. I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

He stroked her hair, brushing it off her face so he could see it better where it rested on his chest. “I’m sorry that I snapped at you. Are you okay? You look pretty stressed. Is it office stuff? The window?”

He couldn’t blame her if she didn’t feel safe there anymore.

“No. I can’t stand the thought of you guys getting hurt, but that isn’t it. I was at my place with my mother.”

He wanted to ask why being with her mom made her look so defeated and bone weary. But he wanted her to tell him because she wanted to tell him, not because he was prying. “Can I do anything for you?”

“This is good. I think I needed it.”

He wrapped her up tighter, nuzzling his cheek against her hair. “So did I.”

“It’s almost time to get ready for the doctor’s appointment,” she murmured. “They’re going to tell us the gender. Are you nervous?”

“No, not nervous. Are you hoping for a boy or a girl?”

“Maybe a handsome little boy like his father.”

He grinned. “I think I’d like to have a little hellion of a daughter. She’d be the spitting image of her mama.”

Maci stiffened against him for a moment, then relaxed. “Two Maci Fords in the world is probably one too many.”

Chance wasn’t sure what that meant, so he let it go. It sounded like a cliché, but boy or girl didn’t matter to him. He just wanted both mother and child healthy.

MACIANDCHANCEsat in silence a few hours later in the ob-gyn’s waiting room. She was feeling more nervous every minute.

When her name was finally called, Chance stuck by her side. He helped her into the gown and moved one of the chairs right next to the exam table. Although she didn’t like to be fussed over, Maci couldn’t help but admit it was nice to not be alone.

A nurse came in and did some medical basics, then the ultrasound tech entered, all smiles. For some reason that made Maci even more nervous.

“Have you seen the baby yet?” the tech asked. Both Maci and Chance shook their heads and she smiled. “You’re in for a treat.”

With a squirt of cool gel and a wiggle of the ultrasound wand, a whooshing sound filled Maci’s ears.

“That hummingbird-like sound is the heartbeat,” the tech explained.

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