Page 109 of Enticing the Fixer

I yawn. I would roll my eyes but talking about sleep is making me tired. “Fine. I’ll get some sleep.” I waggle my eyebrows and grab his hand, tugging him toward me. “After we have sex.”

“Kinsley!” The glint in his eyes leaves nothing in question.I’m not getting any nooky. Damn him.“The doctor said to rest. And that means no sex.”

He directs me to the sofa cushions, removes my shoes, and props my feet onto the other end of the sofa. “I’ll call Valeria and let her know you aren’t coming in today. And then I’ll make you something to eat because pregnant mothers need 1,800 calories daily in the first trimester to sustain a healthy pregnancy.”

“Perfect.” I roll my eyes and snuggle into the cushions. “I managed to get knocked up by a walking encyclopedia.”

“Yes….” He grabs the throw blanket off the back of the recliner. The one I use when I’m working late and tucks it around me. “You did. And you’re lucky. You don’t have to ask a digital device on the counter random questions when you need an answer. I’m your guy.”

“That is handy.” I stretch and yawn again, placing my hand in front of my mouth. “I am tired.” My shoulders drop as sadness weighs down on me. “I can’t believe Carla killed my father. It was hard enough to stomach someone leaving him to die but knowing she hit him on purpose with the intent of killing him is devastating.”

He climbs onto the sofa beside me, snuggles me to his chest, and tucks a strand of hair behind his ear. “I’m so sorry. I wish I could have been there and stopped all of this from happening. I know that’s impossible, but I would do anything to keep you from hurting if I could.”

His voice is low and comforting. My eyes close as his fingers slide through my hair, letting the last several hours ease away and drift to sleep.

Moments later, I jerk awake as visions of Leo holding our baby are interrupted by flashes of a knife stuck at my neck.

Mac lays his head on my hand.Mac?I frown.How did Mac get here?I rub his head. “Hey, there, Boy. Thank you for helping to save me.”

After he tips his head sideways as if he’s listening to me, he flicks his warm tongue over my hand.

“Go lay down, Mac.” Leo pats the dog’s head and pulls me back against his chest, kissing my temple. “We’re here, Baby. Go back to sleep.”

The next time I open my eyes, the living room is dark, with the only light coming from above the stove, casting a glow in the kitchen. It’s warm. Why is it so warm? I stretch and twist my head around. The fireplace is crackling, and Leo’s holding me. There are good things in life.

“You are so sweet. You’d have to do all of this for me. You could have worked. You didn’t have to keep coming back to hold me.”

“I love you. What else was I going to do?” He laces his fingers into my hair, and I fall asleep again. This time I’m dreaming about Leo and our baby.

Chapter Sixty

Hours Later

Leo

Watching her mumble and whimper in her sleep is almost as painful as seeing her with a knife to her throat and passing out. I’m just as impotent. The only thing I can do is hold her and hope she gets the rest she needs to begin healing from the trauma she’s experienced. But not being in control is making my skin crawl.

This time when she stirs, her energy is different. “What time is it?”

“Nine o’clock.”

“What?” Her head jerks upward. The fire has long since died down, so the only light across her face is from the kitchen. She blinks. “The same day?”

“Yes.”

“Thank God.” Her head drops onto me. “I already lost time being kidnapped. I don’t want to lose a day sleeping.”

I stroke her back in a slow circle. “Do you feel better?”

“Do you mean, do I feel less like I’ve had toothpicks shoved into my eyes to keep them open and more like a person who’s been denied sex?” She runs her knee along my thigh, and I groan in frustration.

“You need to eat.”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I do.” She nudges the fabric of my T-shirt upward. When her fingers brush over my flesh, it feels like a fire has been lit inside of me. There’s nothing I’d rather do than take her up on her offer, but she needs to eat. One of us must remain focused.

I stand, grab her hand, and haul her upward. She jerks away and crosses her arms over her chest. “I’m pregnant. Not two years old.”

I cock my head and arch an eyebrow.

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