Page 71 of Cautious

“When I said duty, I meant teaching him pickup lines and how to throw a ball,” Kellen teases gently.

“You’re going to teach my daughter pickup lines?” I raise my brow.

He glares at me. “Daughter?” He turns to walk away, leaving me shocked. Wow, is he really that upset that I might have a girl?

“Kellen?” I question.

He turns to face me, his hand on the doorknob. “If you’re having a daughter, I need to go and buy a new gun. Maybe two,” he tells me straight-faced before leaving the room, muttering about buying a grenade or two as well.

I turn wide eyes to Blake, who roars with laughter.

“Told ya.”

He’s still laughing when the perky nurse comes back with the ultrasound machine and a pretty red-haired doctor in tow. Knowing the drill, I push the blanket down to expose my belly and lift the hospital gown out of the way. Blake watches my movements, asking the doctor questions, but my eyes stay fixed on the screen as I hold my breath.

“Okay, Miss Ward, this will be cold,” the doctor tells me as she squirts the gel before moving the wand over my still-flat stomach.

Blake holds my hand in his, his grip getting tighter the longer it takes to find anything. After a few moments of silence, I feel the tears start to slip down my cheeks as I try to processeverything I’ve gained and lost in one day when thethump, thump, thumpsound of a fluttering heartbeat fills the room.

I swipe my cheeks and throw a beaming smile to Blake, who has tears of his own on his face.

“There he is,” the doctor tells us, making Blake look at her with a smile.

“It’s a boy?”

She smiles back but shakes her head. “It’s just a figure of speech. It’s too early to see the sex just yet. What I can tell you is that everything looks good. Your baby is doing exactly as we expect during this stage of gestation, and I see nothing concerning to worry about.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, still choked with emotion.

Blake takes the paper towel she offers him and wipes the goop from my belly as I take a moment to compose myself.

“It’s my pleasure. Now, I’m happy to sign your discharge papers, but if you experience any pain or spotting, come straight back. Sit tight, and you’ll be out of here before you know it.” She gives my arm a squeeze before leaving with the nurse, giving Blake and me a few minutes of peace to absorb the news.

“Thank you.” He coughs to clear his throat before starting again. “Thank you for giving me everything I never knew I wanted.”

“Silly man, it’s you who needs thanks. I had nothing when I moved here, and you gave me the world.”

He kisses me softly on the lips, tasting the salt of my tears before whispering, “I’ll give you the moon and stars, too, if you let me.”

A knock on the door breaks our moment as Arlo, Felix, and Banner poke their heads around the doorway. “Is it safe to come in?”

Blake shouts no, and I shout yes. Naturally, they ignore him and make their way inside and over to me, each offering me a hug.

“You manage to find out any news on Marcus?” Blake asks Arlo.

“He’s out of surgery and in the ICU. He was shot, as you know, a through and through, but it clipped his liver and spleen on the way out. They stopped the bleeding, removed his spleen, and said he should make a full recovery. He lost a lot of blood though, so they will be keeping him in for a while to monitor him and to watch for infection.”

“Jesus, that man has nine lives, thank fuck,” Blake tells the room at large, the relief evident in his voice.

“He’s been hurt before?” I ask, wondering if these guys would consider letting me wrap them with bubble wrap.

“It’s not my story to tell, sweets. But in another life, Marcus was a cop, and he experienced the shitty side of it,” Arlo answers, surprising me.

I don’t push for any more information, knowing Marcus will tell me himself if he wants me to know.

“What about June?” I ask Felix and Banner.

“She’s napping. Apparently, there are not enough—and I quote—‘hot doctors’ for her to look at, so sleeping is the best option,” Banner says sardonically, making me laugh.

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