Page 91 of One Night with the Biker

“This is going to be cold,” she advised, shaking the bottle of gel and then coating my skin with it.

The uncomfortable chill lasted a moment, disappearing when Dr. Purdue spread it around with his doppler. He stared at the screen as he continued moving the little device. Reese also focused on whatever was on the monitor so I turned my head and saw absolutely nothing but black, white, and shades of gray.

“There’s your little one right there,” Dr. Purdue said, pointing and continuing to move the doppler. “It’s about four point five centimeters and ten grams.”

I’d repeatedly gone through this moment in my head. The visual confirmation of the baby inside of me. At times, I’d felt indifferent. I already knew I carried a child. How would seeing it make a difference? Other times, I felt alone, overwhelmed, and fearful. Visible verification would make it real and remind me of my plight. I’d remember how stupid I was to trust Nova. Suddenly, none of it mattered. Not the hows, whys, or maybes. Only it and its well-being counted.

“Can you tell the sex?” I asked, staring at the oddly shaped head that seemed to make up half of what the doctor identified as a baby.

“I can take a guess, but it won’t be as accurate as it will be if we wait another couple weeks.”

“What do you want to do, Reese?” I asked shyly. “Do you want Dr. Purdue to take a guess or should we wait?”

He dragged his attention away from the screen, got to his feet and brushed his lips over mine. “Whatever you want, Ainsley,” he said softly. “But I prefer certainties.”

“Okay.” I looked at the doctor. “We’ll wait.”

“Can you do that 3d ultrasound, doc?” Reese asked, as if he hadn’t acted like a raging asshole. “I looked it up when I got a moment last night. I thought she’d have that.”

“She can,” Dr. Purdue responded, allowing bygones to be bygones, “but there isn’t a need.”

“Neither is there the money,” I said, keeping it real.

I know I wasn’t supposed to bring up money, especially in mixed company, but if it wasn’t for Tess bumping up my pay, I would’ve had to wait until my insurance kicked in, which would take another three weeks. Although I still hadn’t returned to work, I was now a full-time employee, and eligible for all benefits.

“I’ll pay for it,” Reese said.

Arthel sniffed. “My sister, Big Poppa, and Glinda are dividing the bill.”

“What?” Reese’s strangled cough drowned out my gasp. No wonder Tess had gotten me in so quickly. Arthel was her sister. “I have money to pay.”

“Billing isn’t our department,” Dr. Purdue said sharply, giving his nurse a warning glare. “You’ll have to talk to them.”

Folding her arms, Arthel gave Reese the stink eye. I wondered what she’d heard about him. It couldn’t have been any worse than his display when he first arrived, which served to underscore his bad behavior.

“I will definitely talk to them,” Reese said. “This is my baby. I’ll do the paying.”

“Are we ready to hear the heartbeat, Ainsley?” Dr. Purdue cut in, his movements stiff and jerky. He obviously didn’t like Reese, either.

“Can you confirm how many weeks she is?” Reese demanded, the feeling of dislike mutual.

It was a typical question, so I shouldn’t have put much stock into it. Given his recent behavior, however, I couldn’t help but feel a way about it.

“She’s eleven weeks and four days. Estimated due date is June 28th.”

Reese nodded, though his expression remained unreadable.

Turning back to the job at hand, Dr. Purdue nodded. Arthel immediately squeezed more gel onto my belly. He slid the doppler around a moment, then turned a dial on the machine.

The heartbeat rose strong and loud in the silence of the room. If I’d repeatedly imagined visual confirmation, hearing the beat of its heart wasunimaginable. I’d never considered how it would feel to have Reese’s watery laughter, tight hug, and quick kiss. I didn’t think about how I’d suddenly feel so attached to him and our baby, and long for us to be a couple and then a family. And I definitely didn’t expect awe and joy to course through me so fiercely that I burst into tears.

Reese leaned in and drew me into his arms. Just then, I didn’t care that he didn’t love me and didn’t want the baby. In the here and now, I felt safe and wanted. I buried my nose in his strong neck, breathing in the faint scent of leather, grateful he’d come to experience this with me.

He whispered sweet nothings and comforting words to me.

“Your baby looks perfectly healthy,” Dr. Purdue said into the silence, punctuated only by my sniffles. Not even the baby’s heartbeat rose up anymore. “Arthel will give you your lab slip for bloodwork, though I don’t expect any abnormalities and I’ll see you back in four weeks. Any questions?”

I swiped at my cheeks. “I don’t have to see you every week? Four weeks is a long time between visits.”

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