Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

F ifteen stunned minutes later, she found herself in the Jeep headed toward Mineral Lake. “I’ll have to schedule a doctor’s appointment.” She had been talking to herself for several moments but didn’t think it mattered much at that point. Statistically, the pregnancy was just unreal, but it happened. She couldn’t believe it. Rain slashed the car while thunder rumbled overhead, but neither pierced her calm. “A good doctor. One with experience. Lots of it.”

The windshield wipers made a comforting swishing sound against the glass. “I wonder if it’s a girl or a boy.”

The car crawled through the deluge as she crossed into Maverick County and then finally the town of Mineral Lake, an odd sense of relief filling her.

“You’ll be a member of a tribe, baby, and,” she mused idly, “I think that means extra scholarships for college. Among other things.” She turned onto her street and parked by the B&B. “Look. There’s Daddy waiting on the porch. Wow. Daddy’s pissed.” She felt drunk. Why should she feel intoxicated? She only drank lemonade at dinner.

Jake opened her door before she could. One strong hand around her arm helped her to the protected porch. “Where in the hell have you been?”

Sophie stared up into his furious face, her eyes blinking as if in a dream. “The city.”

“You drove from town in that?” He gestured toward the driving rain.

“Yes.”

He put both hands on her arms, obviously fighting the urge to shake her. “Why?”

“I’m pregnant, Jake.” Then she pitched forward and darkness overtook her.

Jake dodged forward and caught Sophie before she hit the hard wood porch. Pregnant. The woman said she was pregnant. The odds were so against it, he truly hadn’t thought she’d be with child. Condoms broke all the time. Jesus. She was really pregnant?

He cradled her easily, fumbled for the doorknob, and moved them both inside. She felt too small—too fragile in his arms.

A baby. Another baby.

He shook his head. Pleasure flushed through him along with unease. As he looked down at her pale face, something in his chest tightened. He wanted this baby. He wanted this woman.

Setting her down on the sofa, he reached for his phone to call the doctor. She shouldn’t have fainted like that, should she? His gut clenched hard. Everything had to be okay. Sophie was just surprised by the pregnancy. And tired. He needed to make sure she got more rest.

The nurse answered, and he made his request. Thank goodness for small towns and good friends. The doctor would arrive soon.

Jake dropped to his knees and smoothed Sophie’s hair off her forehead. They should get married.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. His one marriage had begun the same way and ended in disaster. What mattered was Sophie, this baby, and Leila. He’d do what was best for all of them.

What was best?

“Sophie, wake up,” he murmured.

She didn’t move, and fear caught him by the throat. He took another deep breath. Sometimes faints took a while to awaken from. She was fine. She had to be fine.

They’d have the doctor examine her, and then they’d come up with a plan. He was born to strategize, and this was no different than a trial. Okay. Considering it was his entire life, it was a little different. But he could make it work.

They’d come up with a plan, and it’d be a good one. Deep down at his core, he knew he’d never let her go. Now all he had to do was convince her.

Sophie awoke sometime later laid out on Mrs. Shiller’s flowered couch with a cold cloth pressed against her eyes. She flopped a hand on the cloth and tugged it across her face to drop on the floor. Her eyes met Jake’s as he knelt by the couch.

“Feeling better?” His voice was soft—his eyes hot.

She pushed to a seated position and dropped her head into her hands. Then she struggled to reach her feet. “Yes.”

“No, wait a minute.” One gentle hand pressed down on her shoulder. “Give it a minute. You were out for some time.”

She shrugged off his hand and the pleasure of seeing him again in the flesh. “I’m fine.” As much as she hated to admit it, she had missed his solid presence, his reassuring strength.

“We’ll see.” Lights cascaded through the window, and a car pulled through the puddles. The splash of the tires echoed even through the storm. Jake ran a rough hand through his thick hair. “Doc Mooncaller just arrived.”

Sophie brushed wet curls off her face. “You called the doctor?”

“Of course I called the doctor,” Jake growled. “You just passed out.”

“I’m fine. Tell him to go away.” Panic spiraled through her. She had never quite gotten over the fear of doctors and needles.

Jake stood and strode to open the door, letting rain blow in from outside. “No.”

“Hey, Jake.” A portly man with a long gray braid moved gracefully into the room, black bag in hand. Kind brown eyes shifted to Sophie. “You must be Sophie.”

Sophie eyed the stairs. “Yes.” Maybe she could escape to her room.

“This is Doc Mooncaller.” Jake closed the door with a muted click .

The doctor crossed and bent down to one knee in front of her. “Rumor has it you fainted, young lady.”

“She’s pregnant.” Jake leaned against the door, broad arms across a muscular chest.

Sophie gave him a baleful glare. Weren’t lawyers supposed to be good at keeping secrets? “He’s guarding the way out,” Sophie whispered to the doctor, rolling her eyes.

The doctor chuckled. “Why, you going to run?”

“I might,” she muttered.

Twinkling eyes met hers. “Good luck with that. How far along are you?”

“A couple of weeks.” She swallowed, her stomach churning.

He pressed a steady hand against her forehead. “Just found out?”

“Yes.” She fought to keep her voice normal.

He reached into his bag for a stethoscope, which he pressed to her chest. “Tired?”

“Yes.” Yes, but that might be from fighting her attraction to the pissed-off lawyer.

“Overwhelmed?” the doctor asked.

“Yes.” Her voice thickened this time.

The doctor reached out gentle hands and pressed lightly along her neck and glands. “Feeling dizzy now?”

“No,” she said.

He left the stethoscope hanging from his neck. “It’s time for you to get some rest, dear. Things will be better tomorrow.” He stood, his knees popping. “I’d like to see you for a full examination tomorrow—say, after breakfast?”

“She’ll be there.” Jake moved away from the door.

“She needs peace, Jake.” The doctor placed a hand on Jake’s arm while opening the door. “Don’t upset her.” With that, the doctor escaped into the stormy night.

Silence ticked across the room before Jake moved toward her, bent, and lifted her.

“I can walk.” Why did it have to feel so good to be in his arms? Solid and warm, the man provided a comfort she could become addicted to.

He climbed the stairs to her bedroom and laid her gently on the bed. “I know.” We can talk about this tomorrow.”

“You’re not sleeping here.” Alarm flared in her as he shrugged out of his shirt. Jake didn’t answer as his hands went to his belt. She sat up. “I mean it. Mrs. Shiller would be shocked.”

His jeans hit the floor. “Mrs. Shiller and her friend, Lily Roundbird, left this morning.”

“Oh. I forgot about their week-long trip to Yellowstone.” Sophie relaxed. Though the man still didn’t need to stay.

“They spend more time in the various casinos on the way down, and probably just a day at Yellowstone.” He kicked his pants to the side.

Sophie sat still as stone while Jake gently pulled her shirt off and tugged his much bigger one over her head and threaded her arms through. Once again, her body won over her mind. She wanted to be held. Heck, she needed it. “I’m not living in Montana.”

“We’ll figure that out, too.” He dragged the covers over them. Then he tucked her into his large body and warmth enfolded her.

She couldn’t have remained awake if her life depended on it. “Where’s Leila?”

“At mom’s,” Jake said.

Okay, then. She dropped into sleep as smoothly as warm cream from a pitcher, toasty and safe in Jake’s arms.

Her sleep was a dreamless one.

Orange blossoms and spice swirled around her as she struggled to awaken. She opened one eyelid to see a thick mug.

“Wake up, sweetheart. We have a doctor’s appointment,” Jake said, his voice deep and strong.

Sophie groaned and rolled over before yanking the pillow atop her head. It was instantly removed. “I am not getting up.” She curled into a ball and leaped for dreamland.

“Yes, you are.” After placing the cup on the nightstand, he lifted her from the bed.

“No.” She snuggled her face into a warm chest.

He lowered her until her feet rested on the smooth floor. “Yes.”

She groaned as her feet cooled, and she pushed away from Jake. “I’m pregnant, and I need sleep.” It was a last-ditch effort that resulted in a deep male chuckle.

“Nice try. Drink your tea, and I’ll make my famous scrambled eggs while you shower.”

She opened blurry eyes on a freshly showered man, and her libido picked up. Just a bit. “Your scrambled eggs are famous?”

“Extremely,” Jake said solemnly with a twinkle in his eyes. “If I leave, do you promise not to go back to bed?”

Sophie looked longingly at the bed and then at Jake’s determined face. “Fine,” she huffed and turned to grab her toiletry bag, “but those eggs better be worth it.” She stomped out of the room and headed for a warm shower.

An hour later found her refreshed and dressed. She sat at the table, her stomach growling in response to the aromatic concoction on the stove.

“You’re a bit of a grouch in the morning.” Jake failed to hide his grin as he dumped scrambled eggs with ham, onions, and cheese onto a plate before her.

“Am not,” Sophie said before taking a healthy bite of eggs and closing her eyes in appreciation. “I’m tired. And pregnant.” She glared at him before taking another big bite.

He took a drink of what smelled like coffee. “So this morning attitude is new?”

“Not exactly.” She didn’t want to give up caffeine but orange juice was good, too.

Jake wisely sat and ate his eggs in silence, pausing from time to time to make sure she ate hers.

Sophie leaned back in her chair, her stomach all but bursting. “So you’ve been to the Supreme Court?”

“Twice.” Jake took the empty plates to the sink. His faded jeans curved over a rock-hard ass, and Sophie couldn’t help but lick her lips. Then her gaze trailed over the crisp black shirt and the muscles shifting beneath it when he moved.

“You could probably get a job anywhere,” she said.

His back stiffened as he ran water into the sink. “Probably.”

“And make a lot of money.” Her mind spun with the possibilities.

“More than likely.” He placed the plates in the dishwasher before turning to face her, his back against the counter, his arms across his chest. “I’m not leaving Montana.”

Yeah, she’d been considering the thought. “Why not?”

“It’s my heritage. I want Leila to grow up here and know her heritage. Be loved by her grandparents and uncles. Maybe cousins someday.” His face hardened.

“You’ve had this discussion before,” Sophie said softly.

Jake nodded.

“I like my life.” She rose to her feet.

“Your life just changed. Both of ours did.” Jake folded the dishtowel on the counter and put a hand to the small of her back. “Let’s go to Doc’s and make sure you’re all right.”

Sophie nodded. There really wasn’t anything else to say. She followed him out of the house and climbed into his truck. They didn’t speak on the way to the town center. All too soon Jake pulled to a stop near the spraying fountain, and Sophie turned toward a deep blue door set into a log-cabin-type building with Doc Moon written in yellow letters.

“There wasn’t enough room for his whole name.” Jake helped her from the Jeep.

Sophie sighed in relief at the mostly empty sidewalk before darting through the blue door into a comfortable mauve waiting room. The last thing she needed was the entire town knowing she was pregnant with Jake’s baby.

“Well, hello, Jake.” A fiftyish woman fluffed her poufed white hair and smiled capped teeth from behind the receptionist counter. “This must be Sophie. I’m Gladys, and I need you to fill these out.” Gladys handed her a clipboard with several papers attached and a pen.

Sophie took them and dropped into a wooden chair. She had finished about half of the forms when a door to the right of the receptionist’s desk opened.

Doc Mooncaller poked his gray head out. Today he wore an official-looking lab coat with a stethoscope draped over his neck. “Sophie, come on in. Just bring those papers.” He moved back down the hall.

Sophie stood and wasn’t surprised as Jake bounded up. She lifted an eyebrow at him.

His hopeful expression was too much to deny. “Can I come in?”

“Okay,” she whispered, “but you have to leave if I need to get naked.”

“I’ve seen you naked, Sunshine,” he whispered back as they headed down the hall to the open examination room.

Sophie raised her arms in exasperation as she walked inside and plopped on one of the two brown guest chairs.

“Aren’t you supposed to be on the table?” Jake sat next to her.

Sophie frowned. Suddenly, this was all too personal. “Maybe you should return to the waiting area.”

“Too late,” Jake whispered as Doc walked into the room.

“Well, Sophie. I guess you didn’t make a run for it, huh?” Doc settled onto a rolling doctor’s chair. “I’d like to do a full examination and medical history.” He nodded toward the table. “My nurse will be in to give you a gown and take your blood pressure in just a minute. Jake, you go back to the waiting room.”

Jake straightened. “But Doc?—”

“I mean it. You can come next time. Right now you’re just in the way,” the doctor said.

“Fine. But if you need me, call me.” Jake dropped a light kiss on Sophie’s head before grudgingly leaving the room.