Page 88 of Boss Daddy

I grin, shaking my head as I move back into the fray. I’m almost eight months pregnant with twins and still running this place like a queen. Samuel wasn’t thrilled about me staying on so close to the due date, but I’d insisted.

I need this, need to keep busy while we wait for the big moment.

James catches my eye from his spot near the front doors. He nods at me, his arms crossed, his usual no-nonsense expression firmly in place. It’s a quiet reassurance that he’s got everything under control. I nod back, turning my attention to the bar just as Dani waves me over.

Before I can take a step, something shifts inside me—a sharp, strange sensation that’s both unfamiliar and immediate. Warmth spreads down my legs. I freeze. My hand instinctively goes to my belly as realization slams into me. My water just broke.

James is at my side in an instant, his eyes narrowing as he studies my face. “Your water broke, didn’t it?”

“How the hell did you know?”

He offers a smirk. “Believe it or not, this isn’t the first time I’ve seen a woman go into labor mid-shift.”

“Sounds like you’ve seen it all.”

“You don’t know the half of it. Time to go.”

I nod, my heart racing. “Yeah. Time to go.”

He doesn’t waste a second. Turning to Dani, he jerks his head toward the bar. “You’re in charge. I’ll pull Josh off security and have him back you up.”

Dani’s eyes widen, but she nods quickly. “Got it.”

“Talk about a trial by fire, huh girl?” I ask her.

“You said it!” With that, she rushes into motion.

James pulls out his phone, his fingers flying across the screen. “Samuel’s out on a supply run,” he tells me as he sends a quick text. “I told him to meet us at the hospital.”

I release a shaky breath as James steers me toward the exit.

It’s happening. It’s really happening.

James’s car is parked right out front. He opens the door for me, and I slide in as gracefully as I possibly can with his help.

“You good?” he asks, buckling me in with a precision that borders on military.

“As good as I can be.”

He jumps behind the wheel and we’re off, weaving through the city like it’s a racetrack. The streets of Denver are bathed in the kind of sunset you see in postcards—all purples and oranges melting into red and gold. It would be beautiful if I wasn’t about to give birth in a car.

“Breathe, Erin,” James says, glancing at me as he maneuvers around a cab. “Remember your techniques.”

I roll my eyes but do as he says, focusing on the deep inhales and slow exhales we practiced. “Didn’t know you were an expert in childbirth.” I’m teasing, of course, but impressed at the same time.

“Combat medic training,” he says with a smirk. “Like I said, I’ve seen a few things. Trust me, you’re in good hands.” Before I can respond, his phone buzzes. He picks it up, glances at the screen, and puts it on speaker. “Samuel,” he says.

“Where are you?” Relief washes through me at the sound of his voice.

“We’re at the beach!” I yell. “Where do you think? I’m about to have your babies!” There’s a grin spreading across my face in spite of everything happening.

There’s a pause, then his deep laugh fills the car. “Babies,” he repeats, his voice soft. “I still can’t believe it.”

“Neither can I,” I reply, shaking my head as I breathe through a contraction.

Twins. We’d learned at our first ultrasound that we’re not having one baby, but two.

It’s all still so surreal.

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