Page 97 of Cop Daddy Next Door

“EMT. Best one in our unit.”

I nodded and put my focus back on my sister. “Hey, we did the classes and everything for this. We’re prepared, Tabby cat.”

“Just like nothing?” Tab’s eyes wheeled as she stared at her bent knees. “I’m in my wedding dress!”

“Hey, you were only going to wear it that one time.”

Tab laughed. “That’s true.” She slammed back against Brady. “Oh, shit.”

Brady pressed his cheek to her temple, frustration wrinkling his brow, but he didn’t stop holding on. And I guessed that was better than anything else in this world.

He stood up, again and again.

Actions were always more important than words.

Fear flashed on my sister’s face as another contraction hit.

“Hey. I know we wanted that little duck as your focal point, but it’s gotta be me.”

Tab nodded and stared at me as we breathed slowly through the tail end of the pain. It exploded up my spine, but I gritted my teeth into something akin to a feral smile.

I’d take it for her.

I’d take it all for my sister if I had to.

But when it came to my own birthing experience, I was taking every drug I could possibly get and then some.

The tall, buxom blond who had tended to Maverick that night at the Qwik Pump knelt beside me. “You guys are doing great.”

Ugh.Did it have to be her?

The woman’s gaze locked with mine, and there was nothing but kindness in her cat-like green eyes. “She’s young and healthy—” She shot a look at Tabitha. “Right, Mom?”

Tab’s eyes suddenly flowed over with tears. “I’m going to be a mom.”

Burke nodded. “You sure are.” Tab’s gaze bounced around to the people behind us, but the EMT squeezed her knee. “Nope. Just worry about what’s going on here.” She glanced over at Austin who popped to his feet and started asking people to back up.

I’d totally forgotten everyone around us, but instantly, I felt better when they all dispersed.

Between contractions, my sister shouted for people to take food and desserts home.

A nervous bubble of laughter cracked the tension locking my spine as Mav reached over to clutch my free hand. We made a trio around my sister with Burke at the bottom.

I didn’t want to think about what she was looking at or that she’d ripped all my sister’s underthings. So much for the pretty lingerie we’d picked out.

I turned to whisper to Mav. “Do not let anyone ruin my panties, you hear me?”

He narrowed his eyes. “I’m assuming except me?”

“If it’s La Perla, goes for you too, bucko.”

Adam came up to us, his face perfectly blank. Had he overheard us? If he had, that should momentarily distract him from my sister’s hoohah.

Yeah, now he’s thinking of yours, genius.

He cleared his throat. “The ambulance is on its way, but it will be about ten minutes.”

“Pretty sure we’ll have another passenger by then,” Burke said ruefully. She gave my sister a nod. “We get to start pushing now, mama.”

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