The Road to Rose Bend Naima Simone (ebook pdf reader for pc .txt) đ
- Author: Naima Simone
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âWhatâre you doing here?â she hoarsely demanded. Then, glancing around and taking in the avid attention focused on them from the receptionist and others in the waiting room, she edged closer to him and lowered her voice. âWhereâs Leo?â
âShe couldnât make it. One of the guest bathrooms flooded, and she has to wait at the inn for the plumber. So, she called me, and I told her I would meet you here.â
âYou donât have to do that,â she insisted.
For a variety of reasons. The main one being, he seemed to have an aversion to anything having to do with her pregnancy. Hell, when the man had touched her stomach in his office, itâd seemed more like an act of torture than affection or curiosity. Heâd lost a child; taking him to that examination room and subjecting him to hearing a babyâs heartbeat and seeing the image of that baby on a sonogram was cruel and unusual punishment. She refused to inflict that agony on him.
âI know I donât have to,â he said. âIâm here because I want to be.â
But she was already shaking her head and poking a finger into his abdomen. And damn, were those rocks? Seriously. Who had abs like that outside of Dwayne Johnson? âNo, youâre here because youâre doing that âheroicâ thing again. When itâs not necessary. I got this.â
Truthfully, she needed to get used to being on her own. She wouldnât deny Daniel access to their daughter or son, but being hundreds of miles away, Sydney would be primarily raising their child as a single mother. This was her choice, and she was strong enough to do this.
Regardless of what Daniel or her parents thought.
âSydney.â He gently cupped her prodding finger. âI donât doubt that you âgot this.â I also donât doubt that you could do this on your own and be just fine. But the fact is you donât have to. Iâm here for you. Just like Leo wouldâve been if she could. Just like any friend would.â
Any friend would.
Yes, because they were onlyâcould only ever beâfriends. If the other day had revealed anything to her, it was that.
âCole,â she said, inching closer and tilting her head back so she wouldnât miss any nuance in his expression, in his eyes. âLeo shouldnât have asked you. Because she might not realize this is going to hurt you. But I do. And donât try and tell me it wonât. I canât be responsible for causing you more pain. I wonât.â
He didnât immediately reply, instead he studied her with shadows darkening his gaze to nearly brown. Then he lowered his head over hers so his lips nearly grazed the tip of her ear, and his delicious, earthy scent surrounded her.
âYouâre a strong woman. And youâre also a soon-to-be mother who is about to experience one of the most emotional moments of her pregnancy. Youâre going to look at your baby on that screen and find out if youâre going to have a gorgeous little girl or a precious boy.â His voice thickened, roughened. âNow, your baby will have a face, even if itâs in your head. He or she will be more real to you than ever before, and you might cry. You might do nothing but stare in awe at that black screen with the image of your child. Either way, youâre going to be overwhelmed with emotion because itâs an amazing, special moment. And itâs a moment you should not spend alone. Regardless of how I feel, Iâm going in there with you. You wonât be alone. Not on my watch. So, get it through that beautiful, thick head. Iâm. Staying.â
Thick head? She glared at the base of his throat. Well, he could... Oh damn. Beautiful? He thought her headâwas beautiful? A ball of warmth dropped into her stomach, detonated, radiating pleasure. Hell, it even tingled in her toes, and she curled the digits into her sandals. She blinked, a little dazed that an offhand compliment from him could make her feel like the sun was rising inside her.
Heâd left her speechless. Because, really, what in the hell did she say to that?
Or to his willingnessâno, his insistenceâthat he wasnât leaving her side, regardless of the cost to his own heart, his own pain?
Obviously, the only thing to say was âOkay,â because she whispered it just as the nurse called her name again.
Spinning around, she moved forward. She didnât have to glance around to see if people were staring at her and Cole, because those curious gazes prickled her skin. Good Lord. Rose Bendâs gossip grapevine would be burning up today.
Speculating if Cole Dennison had taken up with pregnant black sheep Sydney Collins.
Or worse, the mayor was taking pity on poor Sydney and accompanying her to her doctorâs appointment because the father of her baby couldnât be bothered.
As embarrassing as the first one was, the second rumor was even more humiliating. Because it contained a kernel of truth.
âIâm Sydney,â she said to the nurse.
âNice to meet you, Sydney. Iâm Jackie,â the nurse greeted. Her gaze flicked behind Sydney. âHi, Cole.â
âHey, Jackie,â he replied, and a big hand settled on Sydneyâs shoulder. âIâm with her today. I hope itâs okay.â
âIf itâs fine with Sydney, itâs good with me.â The nurse smiled. âFollow me. Weâre in Room 3 at the end of the hall and to the left.â Moments later they entered an exam room. âYou can put your purse down here,â Jackie said, gesturing toward a chair in the corner. âIâll take your weight and vitals.â
Sydney narrowed her eyes at the scale, then shifted her glare to Cole. âYou. Over there.â She jabbed a finger at the window
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