Page 43 of Ghost

“The brother folded as soon as he walked in the waiting area and I asked how you were holding up. He sang like a canary.” Max laughed when Brax punched his arm.

“At least he didn’t tell all of us to not say anything as if we didn’t know like Lance did,” Bailey said and rolled her eyes. “I thought my mom was going to disown me. Yelling she was the last to know.”

When the women had first visited and helped me unpack, Bailey had confirmed Carly’s suspicion and told Carly, Sami, and I that she was pregnant, we’d thought we knew something the guys didn’t. We’d been wrong. It seemed even though Bailey and Lance talked about waiting to tell everyone, Bailey was the only one who had kept it to herself because Lance had already shared it with his dad, and his brothers. Claire, Bailey’s mom, had been upset about that but hadn’t been able to stay that way when she thought about it not changing the fact she was going to be a grandma.

“Hey, if it helps, she ripped Dad up one side and down the other, because he knew and hadn’t said shit,” Flirt said and laughed. “I’m kinda sorry I missed it.”

“Since they’re only keeping you overnight, the guys said they’d check on you at home tomorrow,” Carly said, then sat on the edge of the bed on one side and Bailey sat on the other side. Sami moved and sat in the only chair in the room.

“And Shakes, Sue, and a few of the other women are cooking, so you can rest. Said to tell you they will be by to see you,” Bailey said. “Mom said she would drop off a cheesecake.”

“I can feel my hips growing wider with just the thought of that cheesecake,” I said and felt Brax’s hand run over my hair.

“Baby, while the women are visiting, I’m going to go check on a few things. Be back in about an hour.”

“Okay,” I said, and he and Max left.

“God, he looks and sounds a lot better than when he walked into the ER.”

“Carly,” Sami scolded.

“Well, he does. His face was pale, and he had a stricken expression on his face. When he came back out after getting to see you, his color was back, and he wore a huge smile. It’d been like witnessing Jekyll and Hyde,” Carly said and did a mock shudder.

“Mac said you were at the sheriff’s station. Did the other driver, whatever you said his name was, call in the accident?” I asked.

“Yes, I was picking up the paperwork needed to return to work when the call came in. The car behind you saw the whole thing happen. Gunther, the asshole was going to flee the scene. His plan was changed when Roscoe and Bull pulled up to the scene though. They’d been heading to the club. Roscoe said you came to a couple times in the truck while they were waiting for the ambulance to get there. He was the one who gave the EMTs your name and informed them you were pregnant,” Carly said.

“I remember coming around the curve and he was in my lane. Knee-jerk reaction on yanking the steering wheel,” I said and touched the bandage at my brow.

“Oh yeah. Found out why the dumbass was doing there. About four months ago, Gunther was busted for running a puppy mill. It was a huge operation, he had something like six or seven adult German Shepherds he bred. Authorities went in and took possession of the animals to include two litters, but he must have hidden a pregnant female. He was in your lane because he had tried to toss a garbage bag over the embankment there. Roscoe and Bull found the bag. It had six puppies in it,” Carly said disgustedly.

“Oooh, poor babies.” I never understood how people were capable of mistreating animals.

“I know. Thank God the little things were found. Roscoe said he checked them out and they didn’t seem harmed. They were taken to the local animal shelter to be examined. The sheriff went to Gunther’s place and picked up the female dog. She was half starved. Some of the guys were talking in the waiting area about adopting one. I don’t expect the pups to be homeless long. The momma will take longer to find a home. Hell, if I wasn’t going back to work soon, I’d adopt her,” Carly said sadly.

“I love dogs, but one would have to spend a lot of time alone, and that isn’t fair to it,” Bailey said.

“Ally would love one if there are any left. I’m going to talk with Kane,” Sami said and rubbed her hand over her stomach. “I always wanted a dog growing up, but my mom got sick, then my dad was busy with Haven and trying to raise two kids, so Reed and I never had any pets.”

“Same with me. It was just my mom and me. She worked to support us, so she always said she didn’t need another mouth to feed. But I hate that the momma dog may not find a home. I had to have hit my head really hard for even saying this, but I’m going to tell Brax that I want the momma when she’s cleared to be adopted,” I said, and the others chuckled.

“Well hell, you better ask now while he is still reeling from your accident,” Carly said.

“That’s mean, Carly,” Sami chastised.

“Uh, no it isn’t. I’m just saying, don’t give him time to think about them having two newborns or he may not say yes to taking on a dog, too.”

“Carly’s got a point as much as it pains me to agree,” Bailey said, then laughed at the glare Carly turned on her.

“Well, considering he didn’t want me to work, which looks like he might get his way now—at leastafterthe babies come. I might get my way with the dog, though,” I said and smiled. The women looked at me, then started laughing.

“There you go. And Sami says I’m manipulative,” Carly said.

“I like to call it inventive.” I grinned.

The women stayed until Brax got back. He brought me a change of clothes and personal items with him. Other than a mild headache, I felt fine and would have much rather been sent home even if I understood why they wanted to keep me overnight. However, having Brax to myself and stretched out beside me in the small bed, made the experience tolerable. Not that it was something I’d want to repeat.

Chapter Twenty

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