Page 44 of Samuel

“I meant what I said before Sam, you don’t need to stay,” she protested.

She watched as he stomped over to the counter and grabbed a plate from one of the bags he’d brought with him.

“Eat this.” He shoved the plate at her. “The nurse on the call in line said we need to get your blood sugar up, otherwiseyou will need to go and be seen. And I’m staying until you can stand for more than a second without doing the worst baby deer impression I’ve ever seen.”

“Surely, you mean best, because they are wobbly on their new little legs.”

“Whatever,” he grumbled. “I’m staying until I know you’re okay.”

She lifted the cake with her fingers and took a big bite to spite him. Oh god. Her eyes rolled and a soft moan escaped from between her lips as the zesty lemon cake melted in her mouth. It was, quite possibly, the best thing she had ever tasted.

“Good?” Sam choked out as she stifled a laugh.

“Maybe the best damn thing I’ve ever had in my mouth.” She winked.

Silence filled the apartment as Sam went back into the kitchen to finish cleaning up her mess. She didn’t miss the way his eyes flashed with mischief when she accidentally let another moan slip past her lips. The cake was so moist and the perfect balance of sweet and tart that it was almost as good as an orgasm. Almost.

Jellybean seemed to be enjoying all the sugar, too. The baby was practically doing a line dance in her belly.

“Thank you for calling my doctor.” Evie placed the plate down on the coffee table and sat back against the stiff pillows on the sofa.

“I don’t know how you’re so calm.” He scrubbed his hand over his face and shook his head.

“Cowboy, I’m fi?—”

“I swear to…” He pressed his fingers into the corners of his eyes, and aside from the day she’d first fainted on the side of the road, she couldn’t remember seeing him ever that stressed.

He crouched down in front of her, his eyes filled with so much concern that Evie had to glance back at her emptyplate to avoid thinking about how much his worry affected her.

“Maybe we should think about calling Jake. How can you be so sure she’s okay?”

“Because I can feel her dancing on my bladder right now.”

“Really?” His eyes dropped to where her hand laid over her belly.

She probably shouldn’t ask. It was crossing a line, but goodness, she just wanted a little bit of comfort in that moment. So she caved.

“Yes. She’s really active right now. Probably excited for the lemon cake to start flowing through the umbilical cord.” Evie pressed her lips together before allowing a small, hopeful smile to sneak out. “Would you like to feel?”

“Yes.” His eyes went wide. “I mean, would that be okay?”

Without answering, Evie took Sam’s warm hand and moved her body back on the sofa, tilting her hips out a bit in order to place his hand low on her belly. Her stomach fluttered with how perfectly her rounded bump fit into the palm of his hand.

He stared at the spot where his hand rested on her shirt, waiting.

And waiting.

Evie held her breath, willing the baby to move so she could see the reaction on Sam’s face. Something pulled in her heart, a tiny hope that maybe he would share her awe over the little miracle in her belly.

“Come on little one,” he whispered.

When she was just about to give up, it happened. The faintest little roll.

“Oh wow.” As soon as she’d felt the baby move, Evie knew he’d be able to feel it too.

“I think she likes the sound of your voice,” she chuckled.

“You do?”

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