Page 32 of A Baby for the Texas Cowboy
“I can answer for myself,” she said tightly.
“Then do so.” He sat in the chair, stretching his legs out and crossing them at his ankles, then he drew them back closer to the chair so he didn’t trip anyone. With the doctor coming soon, space would be at a premium.
“Do you often have panic attacks?” Trista asked. “Do you take medicine for them?”
Anders tried to keep his expression neutral. Tinsley was the most outgoing, confident woman he’d met. The idea of her having regular panic attacks was absurd. But he’d witnessed two. Guilt rode him hard. He was pushing too much. He had to back off.
“Not for many years,” Tinsley said reluctantly. “No meds. Not…not anymore.”
Anders felt like she was deliberately avoiding looking at him. Was he invading her privacy being here? But it was his baby too. Tinsley and the baby were his responsibility. How could he do his job without all the information?
“Date of your last period?” Trista asked, booting up the computer and staring at Tinsley intently.
“June 19.”
Trista made notes. “If you going to stay with Dr. Graham for the duration of your pregnancy, you’ll want to have your OB records released to us, including your eight-week appointment.”
“Oh. I haven’t had an appointment for the pregnancy.”
“But the pregnancy is medically confirmed?” Trista asked, looking up from the computer.
Tinsley wiggled out of her motorcycle boots. Each one clunked to the floor. She had sparkly purple toenails.
“Three tests over a week, each time hoping for a different result, but no, each time a thumbs-up.” She peeled off her T-shirt and leaned back on the table on her elbows. She looked sexy in her bikini, and despite the pregnancy, her abs were still cut. He couldn’t help staring—trying to see changes in her body. Her breasts definitely fuller, spilling out of the cups of her bikini top.
Anders felt all the spit in his mouth dry dang near to his gut. “Pregnancy tests.” He tried to stamp down his lustful observations. “They don’t really have a thumbs-up sign?”
“Anders Wolf, you have your brain shook up one too many times on the back of one of those bulls?” Trista demanded, grinning at him like they were back in high school, and he had done something particularly foolish to get a cheerleader’s attention. “Men, am I right?” Trista asked Tinsley, pulling out the blood pressure cuff.
“Absolutely,” Tinsley said and lifted her arms, which lifted her breasts up like a gift. She ran her fingers through her thick, wavy copper-colored hair and took an elastic from the collection on her wrist before twisting it around the mass of her glorious hair. Then she stuck her arm out toward the nurse.
“Blood pressure it is.” She smiled all sugar sweet at him. He adjusted himself in his seat, and she definitely noticed. Her chin tilted in challenge and Anders pondered the effectiveness of a leash.
Trista completed her exam, asked some questions, made some notes and then in a personal note as she was leaving, determined that she would come by the wine bar next week with some friends when it opened.
“Your tasting is on me,” Tinsley said. “And if you join the wine club, your future tastings will be free and there’ll be discounts on wine and other items purchased.”
“Don’t you think you should be taking this more seriously?” he demanded, irritated with how friendly she was with everyone but him—and a million other things. He felt like he was crawling out of his skin. “You’re in your OB’s office trying to drum up customers for the tasting room.”
“It’s my job.” She smirked. “If I irritate you so much, you could wait outside.”
That wasn’t happening, but before he could think of something to say more useful than gritting his teeth, the doctor knocked and opened the door.
“Trista didn’t give you a gown?” she asked, hand on the door handle, then she stepped forward and introduced herself. “Dr. Kristen Graham. I believe congratulations are in order.” She smiled, all confidence, reassurance, straight white teeth and beautiful, heavily lashed blue eyes.
She handed Tinsley a folded hospital gown. Tinsley slipped her arms through the fabric, leaving the back gaping open.
“Looks like you went swimming. The Wolfs have the best swimming holes on their ranch, according to my younger sister and brother. August liked to throw midnight Saturday parties in the summer.” She smiled. “I was a year ahead of Axel, and he was always serious and focused. No parties. Is the swimming hole as nice as I’ve heard?”
Tinsley blushed. “I was in the pool, but, yes, the swimming hole is a little too amazing.”
“That sounds promising. Any idea of the conception date?”
Tinsley made a weird sound.
“Axel’s and August’s double wedding,” Anders said, noting that Tinsley’s blush went down her neck. Too bad she’d put the gown on. “At said swimming hole.”
Tinsley’s mouth dropped open.
