Page 51 of Wine & Whiskey: Everything for You
She lets out a deep breath before sitting back on her heels. “I didn’t know morning sickness comes at night too.”
“Me neither.” He shrugs off his jacket and wraps it around her trembling shoulders. “I’ll be right back.”
He sprints through the bedroom and grabs her yellow comforter and a bottle of water. Yanking open the nightstand drawer, he rummages through various hair bands and barrettes. Too fucking many to understand what they all do, he grabs a handful and jogs back into the bathroom. She opens her eyes, a weak smile crossing her pale face. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to play nurse.”
While she drinks, he replaces the coat with her blanket, covering her shivering body and tucking it under her legs. Gathering her hair together, he bundles the silky strands with a curled-tooth clip before sitting down next to her. “Better?”
“Yes. Thank you.” Her voice cracks as tears roll down her cheeks.
Rubbing his thumbs under her eyes, he ignores the churning in his chest. “Hey. Why are you crying?”
“You’re so wonderful. I know this isn’t how you planned on spending your wedding night.”
“Well, a wise woman once told me, sometimes we have to take the bad with the good. This is a little bit of bad…” He reaches out and brushes against the smooth material covering her stomach. “For something way better than good.”
She covers his fingers with her hand. “This is why I love you so much. You always take good care of me.”
If she saw her hair poking out in all directions from his pitiful styling attempt, she probably wouldn’t be so generous with her praise. “I love you too.”
Her eyes widen before she leans forward and retches again. He fucking hates this. To watch her suffer and not be able to do a fucking thing to stop it. They sit quietly as he rubs her back, the only thing he can think of to offer her comfort.
“You were kind of quiet after the ceremony. Are you okay?” The scratchiness of her voice doesn’t hide her anxiety. She better not think for even a second he’s unhappy. Especially with her. Or about them.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I was thinking about my mother. I wish she could have been here.”
“Me too. I never thought I would get married without my mom or Jason.”
The sorrow in his chest transforms to anger at the mention of her former friend’s name. Just like Carter, he betrayed the person he claimed to care about. At least his cousin showed some remorse at the end. This motherfucker never accepted her decision or her happiness. He pushes out a long sigh, reining in his fury. She doesn’t need his anger on top of her grief.
“There’s also one I’m glad who wasn’t.” He caresses her frowning face. “The hospital called earlier. My father’s body is shutting down, and they’re going to take him off life support. I have to go tomorrow and sign the papers.”
Her fingers curl around his hand at her belly. The feel of her gentle touch more comfort than she’ll ever understand. “I’m sorry. I know this brings up a lot of bad memories.”
He shakes his head. No need for any sympathy. “I’m just glad it’ll finally be over.”
“It may not be that simple.”
“Yes, it is.”
She tilts her head and smiles, forgiving him as always for being a stubborn ass. “Okay. Then, it will be easy for us to take care of everything.”
Nausea rolls through his stomach at the fear he knows is irrational. That bastard can’t hurt her, yet he refuses to take any chances. Not with her. Not with either of them. “Only me. I don’t want you anywhere near him.”
Her fingers slide under his shirt and rub his back, melting the tension straining his muscles. Making his body relax under her touch. “You seem to have forgotten we’re in this together now.”
His wife—stunning, smart, generous, and most of all, mysterious. He’ll never figure out how she always manages to reach him, to pull him out of his own torment and back to her. He only hopes she draws solace from his presence like she provides to him. “I always remember.”
“Now look at us.” She pinches the silky fabric of her gown between her fingers before smiling at him again, a bit of color back in her cheeks. “When Sabrina gave me this, I’m sure she wasn’t expecting it to be worn sitting on the bathroom floor.”
“Probably not. Are you feeling better?”
“Yes, but I need to brush my teeth. Will you please help me with my dress?”
She accepts his hand and stands up slowly before he pulls the fabric over her head. “Let me hang this up, and I’ll be right back.” He slips the tiny straps over an empty hook in the closet and walks back to the bathroom. Fire burns from his groin to his fingers at her standing in front of the sink wearing only a white, strapless bra and lacy thong. “Fucking shit, sweetness. You’re going to have to take back the nice things you said about me earlier with all the dirty thoughts going through my head from you wearing that thing.”
Her fingertips trace the waistband above her bare bottom and down her thigh before she shrugs. “The material was kind of clingy, and I didn’t want to wear panties that—”
