Page 20 of Dirty Grovel

“I did.”

I can see it in her eyes: That doesn’t earn me any points.

“You should have brought her in much sooner,” she scolds. “The girl is exhausted and dehydrated. You are aware that she’s pregnant, yes?”

“I recently became aware of it.”

“Well, then, you should know that putting undue stress on a mother at this stage in her pregnancy is extremely irresponsible.”

“It’s not his fault,” a tired, squeaky voice calls from the bed.

The doctor twists around and regards Sutton with a wry smile. “Is that so?”

Sutton struggles to sit upright. “I got—” Her eyes find mine for a second. “—distracted. And then I got lost. Not the smartest thing to do in a foreign country.”

“He is the father of your baby, yes?” the doctor asks. “Then it is at least partly his fault. He should be much more concerned for your health and safety as it directly relates to your baby’s health and safety.”

I swallow back my ire. “How far along is she?”

She gives me a disparaging glance before turning to Sutton. “Isthis man the father of your baby?”

Sutton’s lips tighten.

The doctor seems to read her silence as an answer. “I can remove him from your room, if you like…?”

Sutton avoids my gaze studiously but she shakes her head. “No, it’s okay. He can stay.”

“Are you sure? Because if you feel at all unsafe around this man, I can involve the police. I’m sure they’d be happy to help.”

But before I can step in and tell her to keep her fucking nose out of other people’s business, Sutton bursts into tears.

“My dear…!” the doctor gasps, starting towards Sutton’s bedside.

“No cops, please!” she cries. “I can’t deal with all that. I don’t want to answer a bazillion questions. I just want to go home.” She covers her face with her hands. “Except I don’t even have a home. Not anymore.”

Swallowing my guilt, I go to the other side of her bed. “I have a place right here in Nassau. I’ll be happy to take you there the moment we get you discharged.”

I turn to the doctor, who’s looking mildly confused now. “May I have a moment of your time out in the hallway?”

The doctor nods curtly and retreats into the hallway.

I stay back long enough to look at Sutton. “I’ll be right back.”

Her eyes narrow. “No need to hurry.”

At least her exhaustion and dehydration haven’t affected her snark. Rolling my eyes, I follow Dr. Attitude into the hallway.

But before I can so much as open my mouth, she’s laying into me.

“The girl needs care,sir. Her blood pressure was high, much too high for a mother in her first trimester. If it persists, she stands a chance of losing the baby.”

I will myself to be calm.

After all, she’s only trying to do the same thing I am: keep Sutton safe.

“I have every intention of giving her a stress-free environment,” I assure the doctor. “But first, I need to do something I’m hoping you can help me with.”

Her eyebrows arch. “And what is that?”

---