Page 9 of Mountain Man Protector

ME: BRING ICE CREAM

My stomach protested…dang it. I glanced over at the bag from the pharmacy holding my triplicate purchases.

ME: NVM Bring saltines & 7up

MIKA: B there in 10

ZOE: Same. Wait RU sick

ME: Yeah, something but it’s not catching

Thumbs up from both friends. Now, how to break the news? Or at least what I think will be news. Big news. Life changing—I have no idea what to do next—kind of news that I really had never thought I’d be facing. I mean, we used protection. All three times.

Looking around my cute two-bedroom townhouse that I’d bought never thinking I’d have to baby proof—I mean there were stairs. Was it even legal to have non-carpeted stairs when you had a baby? Or when they became a toddler…oh, shit. I’m going to be someone’s mom.

And the dad? Well, he…he’d rocked my world, multiple times and told me he’s good with no strings and we’d barely tested those strings. And now this. Now I have to say, well at least I suspected, but really, I’m late, I’m queasy and I’m never late and I have an iron stomach.

A baby.

I’m going to have a baby with my one-night stand who, if I was honest, was the only man I could ever see myself having…”gulp”…real feelings for. And why all of a sudden are my feelings all over the freaking place? And oh, yeah.

Pounding erupted, followed by Mika and Zoe bursting through my front door. Um, shoot forgot to lock it. Where’s my mind lately? Ridge. Ridge and his hard body-orgasm providing-bedroom eyed-slow hands and unexpected humor, intelligence and kindness that maybe I already had feelings? Lots of feelings.

“Look at her, Zoe. She’s gotta be sick. She looks awful. Poor thing is holding her head in her hands and moaning.” Mika, the most outspoken of my two friends, didn’t pull her punches. And that’s what I loved about her.

“Maybe. But she never gets sick. Hey, babe. Tell us what hurts. Have you checked your temp?” Zoe, who was a born caregiver, couldn’t hide her skepticism while her nursing skills were on full display.

Before either of my besties could sit, I blurted, “I’m pregnant!” Then burst into tears.

“Oh, my god. Please tell me your baby daddy is that hottie from O’Malley’s? The one who is part owner of the Triple R.”

“Does he have a brother? Or a hottie friend. I’m not picky. I want a mountain man.”

“Mika! Can’t you see Addy is upset? And she has a bag with the local pharmacy logo on it clutched in her hands?” Zoe sat next to me and rubbed my back. “I don’t have to guess what’s in here, do I?” She pried the paper bag from my grip and opened it up.

“Three?” Zoe asked. “Sorry, that came out wrong. Here, blow your nose, hon.” She handed me a tissue while I slowed my breathing and got my tears under control.

“How do you know you’re pregnant if you haven’t taken them yet?” Mika stood in front of us, hands on hips. “Maybe you just ate something that was past its expiration date.”

Both Zoe and I just stared at her until her mouth dropped open. “Oh, yeah. Well, you ready to take them now? Just to know for sure?” Mika sat on the other side of me, gave me a hug, then she and Zoe followed me to the half bath off my kitchen.

“We’ll be right outside the door. Come out when you’re done and we’ll each hold a hand as you wait for the results.”

Sniffing, I looked at them through watery eyes and smiled. “Thanks. What would I do without you two?”

“Let’s not find out. Now, go pee.” Mika gave me a gentle push and closed the door behind me. I looked at myself in the mirror and almost started crying again. I looked awful and what’s worse, I felt like throwing up. My breasts hurt, and I knew I didn’t need any of these tests, but I did Mika and Zoe. And I needed to call, no I needed to go back to the mountain and see Ridge.

EIGHT

ADDISON

Three daysand I don’t know how many texts later, I finally sent one back to Ridge. He’d been patient, polite and persistent. And he deserved an explanation. To know how much his life was about to change. All of my education hadn’t prepared me for this. Could anything really?

The drive up Pineville Mountain soothed my frazzled nerves. With my window about halfway down, the crisp air cooled my cheeks and eased my ever present nausea. I’d packed a sleeve of crackers and a handful of peppermint candies. Both had become my lifesavers as I continued to see patients. My first doctor’s appointment was all set, and I planned on calling my dad after I told Ridge. I’d also sit down with Cari in the morning, my mentor and owner of the practice where I worked, and let her know. Getting my ducks in a row had helped lessen my anxiety.

The Triple R Lodge couldn’t be seen from the main road, but they’d finally installed the sign since I’d been here last. I took the turn and followed the packed gravel road for a half mile. Trees lined the entrance and when I rounded the bend, the view opened to reveal the rehabbed hunting lodge. I could have taken the road that led to the owner’s cabins, but I chickened out.

It was then I spotted Ridge on the porch, leaning up against one of the white pine pillars placed on each side of the staircase. He appeared freshly showered, relaxed, and devastatingly handsome. I wished I could say the same. My hormones, beyond keeping me on the edge of wanting to puke every five minutes, have left me tired and weepy and anything but relaxed.

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