Page 88 of Loving Whiskey

Breath whooshes from my chest, and I pull her back into my arms again. “Okay, then it wasn’t a waste. You got to hear the heartbeat, you’re okay, and we can take you home now.”

“Mrs. Kensington, you left this in the room,” the nurse calls as she walks toward us with her arms outstretched.

“God, if my head wasn’t screwed on…”Grace says, the color coming back to her cheeks as she takes her bag.

The nurse laughs. “Yes, well, it’s a lot being pregnant. But looks like you have a wonderful man to take care of you when you get home.” She turns to me. “Make sure you don’t let her lift a finger tonight. Feet up on the couch and monitor the bleeding. If it’s any more than spotting, bring her right back.”

Grace tenses below my arms and I nod at the nurse. “I’ll take good care of her. Thank you.”

When she smiles and walks off, I turn to Frank, telling him with my eyes to give us a minute. Then I look down at Grace. “They told you to monitor everything?”

She lets out a tired sigh. “Yes, which I’m perfectly capable of doing. Like I told you, the doctor said everything is fine. I’ll just go home, read a book, and get some rest.”

“And what happens if you start bleeding again?”

“Then I’ll call an ambulance or Tessa.”

“Why didn’t you call Tessa earlier?”

Hanson interrupts, “Tessa’s in Tahoe; why would she call her?”

I shoot Grace a look, then turn back to Hanson and my sister. “Can you guys give us a minute?”

Hanson eyes Grace, and she nods.

“Grace, why are you hiding from me? I thought we had a good night last night.”

She lets out an exasperated breath. “I’m not helpless, Cash. I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing just fine on my own the entire pregnancy.”

I feel the punch to the gut but don’t react. If she needs me to accept the hits, I’ll gladly do it.

“You have. But you don’t have to do that anymore. And it’s not just about you, Angel. You have a baby, and we need to make sure that you and our baby are okay. If you don’t want me to help, I’m sure we could call Hayden.”

Grace looks up at me wearing a cautious, questioning gaze. “You’d be okay if I called Hayden?”

No, I want to shout. But I don’t because that’s not what Grace needs from me. She needs me to be the bigger man, and I will do it because I’ll do anything for her.

“I’m okay with you doing anything that keeps you safe and makes you comfortable. If having Hayden come over and help is what you want, we can call him.”

Grace looks over to Hanson and then back to me again. “Hayden’s traveling.”

I lower my face so that we are forehead to forehead. “Grace, let me be there for you. I want to make sure you’re okay. It practically killed me seeing you in pain, worrying about you and our baby. I…please…just let me help.”

I’m out of sorts, not used to begging and putting my fate in someone else’s hands. But Grace holds all the control.

She runs her head back and forth against my own and then looks up at me. “Fine. If you don’t mind, I would welcome the company.”

My mouth practically splits open in a smile, and I run my hand against her cheek, cradling her face. “Thank you, Angel. I’ll take good care of you, I promise.”

She sighs. “I don’t have a guest bed…”

“Do you want to go to my place?” I watch as she twirls the thoughts around in her mind. I know the space is filled with some pretty bad memories. But I also know one thing that my apartment has that hers doesn’t. “A bath might feel good.”

She bites the side of her cheek and then nods. My entire body relaxes from that simple gesture. Just that acceptance by her, allowing me to take care of her, allowing me to be with her…it’s everything. “Okay, beautiful, let’s get you home.”

She settles against me and allows me to lead us out, and I can’t help but think that once I’ve got her back in my apartment, I’ll never let her go.

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