Chapter 19

Chapter Nineteen

Briar

W e walk into the doctor's office, and I realize right away that all the other women are way further along in their pregnancies than I am. Most women's hands are wrapped around their swollen bellies, or they're reading magazines resting on their stomachs.

I go up to the receptionist while Emmett stands at my back. The young girl's eyes go to Emmett before landing on me.

"Hi, how can I help you?" She's a cute brunette with a friendly smile.

"Briar Adams. I have an appointment."

She flips through some folders. "New patient, right?"

"Yeah."

"I just need you to fill this out. Medical history, insurance information, emergency contact."

I clench my fist to stop my hand from shaking before accepting the clipboard. "Great, thanks."

"Have a seat. They'll call you in when they're ready." She signals with her hand to the waiting room.

Emmett waits for me to pick a seat. I'm usually careful and sit away from people. I don't care for people who want to chat up everyone in the waiting room and ask questions about their lives, so I steer clear of them. I sit in the corner, and Emmett sits beside me, manspreading so his thigh is touching mine. I'm not sure why, but I find it comforting.

I start filling out the form. "Um, Emmett…" I whisper.

"Yeah?"

"The second question is my address."

He shrugs. "Put mine."

"But—"

"Just put mine."

With so much online these days, I haven't had to think much about the change of my address.

"If you're sure."

"I'm sure." He nods toward the clipboard.

I fill out all the information I have, digging out my insurance card from Plain Daisy Ranch. Of course they would offer their part-time employees health benefits. They might regret it when they find out I'm pregnant if their benefits package goes up. Then I stare at the Emergency Contact box. Huh. It would usually be Gillian, and I could put her. I mean, what are the chances something happens to me?

Emmett grabs the clipboard then snatches the pen, scribbling his name and phone number on the form, then hands it back to me.

"Thanks?" I say-slash-ask. My heart skips a beat that he's being so kind about this situation. Especially since I feel like a loser. Everything in my life is up in the air, and I'm about to bring another being into the world.

"I'm your person." He doesn't face me, instead staring forward. "You know, until Gillian knows."

"Definitely." That hard thing inside me softens a little more.

He taps his fingers on his thigh. A habit I've noticed he has whenever he's uncomfortable. Does being alone with me make him uncomfortable? When I first moved in, I felt that way, but now he's almost like a friend.

When I hear his headboard hit my wall at night when he gets into bed, comfort washes over me because he feels near. It's so stupid. I should still hate the man. Hell, I shouldn't want any man in my life right now. But Emmett is gentle and patient with me, and those are my turn-ons. I do love his cocky side and the way he makes me laugh. He's sexy, but this softer side he's showing me is something I could grow to love if I don't stop myself.

"Excuse me." A woman comes to stand in front of Emmett, one hand resting on her swollen stomach. If I had to guess, I'd say she's about halfway through her pregnancy. "Are you that guy from Plain Daisy Ranch?"

My eyebrows shoot up, and I whip my head to the side to look at Emmett. He raises his head, looking my way before circling back to her.

"He is," I answer, way more excited than I probably should be.

"I see your videos on socials. I keep telling my husband I want to come down and check it out." She sits in the chair across from Emmett. "Do you hire out for the gender reveal parties?"

Emmett chuckles and side-eyes me. "That was for my brother."

"Yeah, I read that. Congratulations to them. I haven't had my gender reveal yet because I want something unique. That's what drove me to your videos. Would you consider doing mine?"

"Um…" Emmett shifts in his seat.

"Excuse my manners. My name is Parker." She holds out her hand.

"Emmett." He shakes it, and she moves her hand to me.

Parker looks at me with a sigh. "I don't even remember what it was like to have a flat tummy anymore. Then again, it was never as flat as yours." She eyes my stomach.

I politely smile and cover it up with the ends of my cardigan. "Good to meet you, I'm Briar."

"What a pretty name. Emmett and Briar. Those names are written in the stars because you two are so darn cute. How far along are you?"

"Oh, um…" I start to tell her that Emmett isn't the dad, but he links his hand with mine. A warm, buzzing sensation travels up my arm.

"It's still early, but I can't wait to watch her stomach swell with our baby."

I force myself to smile at Emmett. He really can be a great salesman.

"Now I see why my husband's been pushing off the idea of you doing the gender reveal. He's probably afraid you'll steal my heart like you did hers." Her gaze flickers back and forth, her smile widening as she sits across from us.

"Aw, you got it all wrong. She stole mine." Emmett squeezes my hand.

I cough and clear my throat, causing Emmett to smirk, but he gives nothing away. I have to remind myself that nothing he's saying is true. He's just playing some game. Either that or making it so I don't have to confess how messed up my situation is to a perfect stranger.

Parker leans back in her seat. "Did you hear that, ladies? Briar here scored herself a real man. And he's a cowboy."

The other women in the waiting room give her polite smiles, and their eyes fall to our joined hands. His calluses are rough, and his hand is huge, swallowing mine, but the way he runs his thumb along the edge of my pointer finger… Jesus, he might as well be running it over my clit.

"So? Can I hire you?" Parker asks.

"Yeah, I just did that for my brother. We don't officially?—"

"We could come to you," she says. "I was going to make it a closed affair anyway. Then we'll record it for everyone else to see. We could stay on the grounds, or is there other lodging nearby? I looked it up, and it's only forty-five minutes away, right?"

Holy shit, how much digging has she done?

"I'd have to check the schedule."

I lean forward. "I'm sure we could manage it. We'd have to check with the lodge where I teach yoga classes."

"Pregnancy ones?" she asks, her eyes lighting up.

"Yes, I mean obviously, since I am pregnant as well."

Emmett chuckles, amused because I'm now selling the idea.

"And there's a winery and a flower farm and this cute store…"

Parker takes out her phone.

"Look up their website. I'm sure we could get a package together for you." I'm lying through my teeth, but this woman is dressed like a lot of my old clients. No doubt her husband works in some executive tower. They probably have rich friends.

"My husband, God help him, acts like he could do what you do on a horse." She frantically swipes on her phone.

"I could teach him. We've been thinking about starting a dude ranch," Emmett says.

"His daddy shower! That's perfect." She grins at us.

"I'm sorry?" I've never heard that term before.

"I promised him a trip before the new baby comes. Like a bachelor party but before the baby comes. They were talking Vegas. What's with Vegas?" She looks at Emmett.

He's still blinking. I think he believes it's as absurd as I do, but who knows? The person I thought Emmett was would love any excuse for a guys' trip.

When neither of us says anything, she continues. "I get one after. My girlfriends are taking me to Bora Bora. You know, after I get the nanny all up to speed. This is our fourth, so we'll probably have to hire a second one to help handle our brood. Hold on." She digs in her purse, taking a receipt out and a pen. "Please call me or email me. I really want to make this happen."

I take the piece of paper from her. "We'll definitely be in touch."

She does a soft clap and wiggles in her seat.

The nurse peeks her head out of the door. "Briar Adams."

"She's right here!" Parker points at me.

I stand with my clipboard, unfortunately letting go of Emmett's hand.

"Don't forget hubby," Parker says.

I stop a few feet away, holding out my hand to Emmett, not bothering to correct her. She already thinks Emmett is the dad, so what's the point? If she does end up doing something with the ranch, I'll just tell her we eloped and to please not mention it to anyone on the ranch or something.

"Oh yeah, hubby, come on." I look at Parker with a smile. "And they say only women have pregnancy brain."

"Wifey, I thought I was going to stay out here." Emmett glances nervously between Parker and me.

"No, silly, you come in too."

"Are you sure?" Emmett asks.

I lock eyes with Emmett, hoping he sees that he needs to sell this. "No, I want my guy next to me the whole time," I say in a baby voice.

I smile at Parker who looks over the moon as though she just met a celebrity. I tug and he finally follows me toward the door.

"Mr. and Mrs. Adams, right this way."

"Noughton!" Parker calls. "That's your last name, right?"

"I'm really scared right now," Emmett whispers.

"Oh, yeah, independent woman not wanting to take her husband's last name." I wave my hand like I'm crazy, right?

"Good for you. Talk to you soon." She waves.

Thankfully the door shuts, but Emmett is white as a ghost.

The nurse weighs me and measures my height. After she leaves the room to wait for the doctor, Emmett scootches to the end of his chair.

"Am I going to see…" His eyes shift to between my legs.

"Well, yeah," I say, just to mess with him. "You said you're my person. I thought you'd be my Lamaze partner and be there for the birth too." I pretend to be upset, and Emmett's face falls.

Yeah, I'm gonna let him sweat it out a little until the doctor comes in.