Читать книгу One Night, Two Babies / Valente's Baby: One Night, Two Babies - Kathie DeNosky - Страница 12

On Monday afternoon, Zach sat beside Arielle in the obstetrician’s waiting room, thumbing through a magazine. He wasn’t the least bit interested in reading about or looking at pictures of maternity clothes. But since Arielle had been giving him the silent treatment ever since their helicopter flight to Dallas, it gave him something to do while they waited for her to be called to see the doctor.

Over the weekend, they seemed to have reached a truce of sorts and instead of arguing about their upcoming marriage, they had—as if by unspoken agreement—stopped talking about it completely. He still had every intention of making her his wife as soon as possible. Nothing she could say or do was going to change that.

“Arielle Garnier?”

Zach glanced up to see a nurse standing at the door leading back to the examination rooms. “Looks like it’s our turn, darlin’,” he said, rising to his feet, then offering his hand to help Arielle out of her chair.

Frowning, she placed her hand in his, stood and turned to face him. “It’s my turn, not ours, and I’d rather you stay here while I’m with the doctor.”

“You’ve made that very clear, darlin’. And I’ve made it just as clear that I’m going with you.” He placed his hand to the small of her back and started guiding her across the waiting room.

Her body language and stormy expression indicated that he would hear all about this once they left the doctor’s office. But if she thought that was enough to intimidate him, she was sadly mistaken. Nothing was going to keep him from seeing the first images of his child.

The nurse motioned for them to enter a small room at the back of the office. There she recorded Arielle’s weight, then took her temperature and blood pressure. “The doctor will be in shortly,” she estimated, smiling as she walked to the door. “If you’d like, you can have ‘Dad’ help you onto the examination table. Then go ahead and pull your top up to just below your breasts and your pants down to just below your tummy.”

As the woman closed the door behind her, an odd feeling spread throughout Zach’s chest. Although he’d thought of little else since learning that Arielle was carrying his child, something about the nurse calling him “Dad” made it a reality.

“For the last time, I would prefer to see the doctor without an audience,” Arielle protested, her tone reflecting her outrage.

Turning to face her, he cupped her soft cheeks with his hands. “It’s all right, darlin’. I know you’re probably self-conscious about your stomach,” he said, making certain his tone was sympathetic, even if he didn’t quite understand why she was uncomfortable about it. “But that’s to be expected. You’re pregnant. And there’s nothing I’m going to see now that I haven’t already.” Kissing the tip of her nose, he smiled. “Now, let’s get you on that table, ready to find out what we’re having—a bouncing baby boy or a sweet baby girl.”

She gave him one last belligerent glare, before allowing him to help her up onto the examination table.

“Didn’t the nurse tell you to expose your stomach for this?” he asked, reaching for the bottom of her maternity top.

To his surprise, she slapped the back of his hand. “I’ll wait until the doctor comes in.”

“Okay,” he uttered, quickly releasing the hem of the garment. Zach knew better than to press the issue if he wanted to keep his head resting comfortably between his shoulders.

“My nurse told me you brought the baby’s father with you for the ultrasound, Arielle,” a woman wearing a white lab coat announced when she walked into the room. Closing the door behind her, she smiled and stuck out her hand. “Good afternoon, I’m Dr. Jensen.”

He shook her hand. “Zach Forsythe.”

“Nice to meet you, Zach.” She walked to the other side of the examining table and, looking down at Arielle’s rounded stomach, shook her head. “My goodness, I think you’ve blossomed even more since last week at your regular appointment.” Gathering an instrument that looked a lot like a microphone, she reached for a tube of clear gel. “If either of you have any questions during the procedure, please don’t hesitate to speak up. I like for the dad to be just as involved as the mom throughout the pregnancy and delivery.”

There was something about Dr. Jensen that instilled confidence and he could understand why Arielle had chosen the woman to deliver their baby. “At the moment, I can’t think of anything. But I’m betting that changes, real quick,” he said, smiling.

Dr. Jensen nodded and, turning her attention to Arielle, asked, “How have you been feeling? Anything we need to address before we get started?”

Zach watched Arielle shake her head as she lifted her maternity top, then hooked her thumbs in the elastic waistband of her slacks and lowered them below her slightly rounded stomach. “I still have to make sure I eat something when my stomach gets empty, but otherwise, I’ve felt pretty good.”

“That’s not all that unusual,” the doctor assured her, squeezing a generous amount of the gel onto Arielle’s stomach. She held the instrument poised over the clear blob. “Are you both ready to see your little one for the first time?”

“Y-yes,” Arielle answered, her voice reflecting an anticipation as strong as his own.

“Will we be able to find out whether to decorate the nursery in pink or blue?” Zach asked.

The doctor smiled. “Probably not this time, but it won’t be too much longer.”

Nodding, Zach reached out and took Arielle’s hand in his. When she gripped his hand tightly, he knew she appreciated his support.

“Ready whenever you are,” he said, his gaze never wavering from Arielle.

When the doctor began moving the scope around Arielle’s stomach, a fuzzy, twitching image immediately popped up on the monitor. Zach wondered what the hell he was supposed to be looking at. But the more Dr. Jensen moved the wand around, he noticed what might possibly be an arm or a leg.

The woman pointed to the screen. “See, there’s your baby’s head and back.” She moved the instrument to the other side of Arielle’s stomach. “Let’s see if we can detect the sex from this angle.” Her sudden frown caused Zach’s heart to grind to a halt. “What’s this?” she asked, adding to his anxiety. “It certainly explains why you’re a bit larger than normal.”

“I-Is something wrong?” Arielle murmured, sounding as if she might burst into tears.

Zach lightly squeezed her hand in an effort to lend her every ounce of strength he possessed. “I’m sure everything is fine, darlin’.”

“Oh, there’s nothing wrong,” Dr. Jensen confirmed, turning to them with a wide grin. “I’m just wondering how you will keep up with two toddlers when they start walking.”

“Two?” Arielle echoed, her eyes round with shock.

“Twins?” Zach croaked at the same time.

Dr. Jensen laughed as she pushed the print button on the side of the monitor. “The way the first baby was lying, I couldn’t see the second one until I changed sides. But yes, you’re definitely having twins.”

At that moment, Zach couldn’t have forced words past the lump clogging his throat if his life depended on it. He was not only going to have a child, he was going to have two. Unbelievable.

His chest felt as if it had swelled to twice its normal size. Words couldn’t express what he was feeling, and, leaning down, he covered Arielle’s parted lips with his for a brief but intense kiss.

“Do twins run in either of your families?” the doctor inquired as she wiped the excess gel from Arielle’s stomach with a handful of tissues. She didn’t comment that both of them were breathing as if they’d run a marathon by the time he lifted his head and Zach figured the woman was used to displays of emotion after learning the results of an ultrasound.

Clearly in a state of shock, Arielle stared at him as if urging him to answer Dr. Jensen’s question. “Arielle has twin brothers,” he responded, finally getting his vocal cords to work. “But to my knowledge there aren’t any twins in my family.”

The doctor tilted her head. “Well, there are now.” She picked up Arielle’s chart and made a notation. “I see neither of you anticipated a multiple birth.”

“I…uh, suppose I knew it was a possibility, but…” Looking utterly stunned, Arielle’s voice trailed off as she rearranged her clothes and sat up on the side of the exam table.

“Are both of the babies okay?” Zach thought to ask as his brain began to function again.

“Actually, everything looks very good.” Dr. Jensen smiled. “Both fetuses appear to be a good size and I’d estimate the right weight for this stage of their development.”

Helping Arielle down from the table, he asked the doctor, “Is there anything special that we should or shouldn’t be doing?”

Dr. Jensen shook her head. “As long as you feel like it, Arielle, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy your normal activities, including sexual relations.”

He caught Arielle’s warning glare and wisely refrained from commenting on the doctor’s stamp of approval for their making love. But he didn’t even try to stop his wide grin.

Dr. Jensen started for the door. “I’ll see you in three weeks for your regular appointment and of course, if you have any problems or questions before then, don’t hesitate to give me a call.”

Zach and Arielle walked together down the hall to the elevator. They remained silent on the ride to the lobby and he figured she was coming to terms with the idea of having twins.

“How long will it take you to pack an overnight bag?” he asked as he helped her into the back of his limousine.

“Why would I need to pack?” she questioned, when he slid into the seat beside her.

“Because I’m moving you into my place.” It was more important now than ever that Arielle took good care of herself.

“No, you’re not.” She shook her head. “I’m going to go home, change into a circus tent and call my brothers to tell them the news about the baby…babies.” She suddenly emitted a nervous giggle. “Oh my God, I’m having twins.”

“Yes, you are, darlin’.” Giving instructions to his driver to take them to her apartment, he put his arm around her shoulders. He could tell she was still overwhelmed by the news and now wasn’t a good time to press her on the issue of moving in with him. “We’ll spend the night at your apartment and move you into my home tomorrow morning.”

“No, we won’t. You’re going to drop me off at my place and then go home to yours while I call my brothers. End of discussion.” She sounded quite adamant, but he noticed that she wasn’t scooting away from him, was allowing him to hold her close to his side.

“Sorry, darlin’, but I told you that I would be with you every step of the way.” He kissed the top of her head. “And that means from here on out, we’ll be doing whatever needs to be done together. Everything from doctor appointments to breaking the news to your brothers that we’re going to have twins.”

By the time they arrived at her apartment, the fact that she was going to be the mother of twins had sunk in and she was regaining some perspective. “I think it might be better if I’m the one to break the news to my brothers.” Removing her cardigan sweater, she walked over to hang it in the entryway closet, hoping Zach would take the hint that she needed a little time alone. “While I make the call from my bedroom, please make yourself comfortable. I’ll only be a few minutes.” She’d given up on him going home.

“I’d rather you stay right here and make the call on the speakerphone.” He shrugged out of his suit coat, loosened his tie and released the button at the neck of his white oxford cloth shirt, then walked over to place his hands on her shoulders. “I promise I’ll keep quiet as long as they don’t give you too much flak.” He used his index finger to raise her chin until their gazes met. “But I reserve the right to break my silence at any time if I think they’re upsetting you.”

Where was all this concern almost four months ago when she discovered he was gone and cried for days feeling like such a fool? Or a few weeks later when she realized she was pregnant with no way of contacting her baby’s father?

The heat from his hands permeated her shirt and sent an excited little shiver up her spine. Trying to ignore the way his touch made her feel, she advised, “I’m a big girl, Zach. I can take care of myself.”

“You don’t have to, Arielle. Not anymore.” Her breath caught when he took her in his arms, but it was the look on his handsome face that sent her heart racing. “From here on out, that’s my job. And believe me, I have every intention of taking it very seriously. I give you my word that I’ll do everything in my power to protect you and our babies. And if I have to, I’ll have no problem taking on both of your brothers to keep that promise.”

She could have asked him who was going to protect her from him, but he chose that moment to lower his head and cover her mouth with a kiss so poignant it brought tears to her eyes. At first, it seemed just a kiss to seal his vow to take care of her and their babies, but as his lips moved over hers, it quickly evolved into so much more.

As Zach tasted and teased, she tried her best to suppress her reaction to him. She started to push against his chest, but just like the first night at his ranch, her will to resist evaporated like morning mist on a hot summer day and she melted against him.

She briefly wondered how she could succumb to his charm after all that had happened. But as he parted her lips with his tongue and began a tender exploration, she quickly forgot the past and lost herself to the mastery of his caress.

Heat coursed through her at the speed of light as he coaxed and demanded that she respond, drawing her into his sensual web. A tingling sensation spread throughout her entire body as he slowly moved his hands down her back to the tail of her oversize shirt.

He slipped his hands beneath the gauzy lavender fabric, then up along her ribs to cup her breasts. She knew she should call a halt to things right away and regain her senses. Nothing had changed between them. She still wouldn’t complicate matters by agreeing to get married, or moving into his home. But when Zach rubbed her overly sensitive nipples through the satin and lace of her bra, all rational thought deserted her and she leaned into his embrace.

“I think before this goes any further, we’d better make that call to your brothers,” Zach said, nibbling tiny kisses along her jaw to the hollow just beneath her ear. “Otherwise, there’s no telling when we’ll get around to it.”

He continued to tease her with his thumbs. When she realized what he’d said, her cheeks heated and she started to back away from his electrifying touch. But to her dismay, he slipped his hands from her breasts and around to her back to hold her to him.

“We’ll pick up where we left off after we make the call,” he whispered, sending a wave of goose bumps sliding over her body.

She shook her head. “That wouldn’t…be a…good idea.”

“Sure it would, darlin’.” He nuzzled his cheek against her hair then took a step back. “Now, why don’t we make this a conference call and tell them at the same time?”

Still feeling a bit lightheaded from Zach’s drugging kiss, Arielle nodded and, dialing Jake’s number first, put him on hold while she called Luke. When she had both of her brothers on the line, she switched the phone to speaker, sank down onto the couch beside Zach and took a deep breath.

“I have some news to share and I decided to tell you both at the same time.”

“Will this explain why you cry every time I’ve talked to you for the past few months?” Jake asked, sounding uncharacteristically serious.

“And the reason you’ve avoided talking to me?” Luke added, his tone stern.

“I’m sorry, Luke,” she apologized, feeling guilty. She’d known how concerned her brothers were, but she wasn’t sure how to tell them that she was in the same predicament as their mother all those years ago. “You know how much I love both of you. I just had some things that I needed to work out.”

“You know we’d have done everything in our power to help,” Jake reminded her.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed Zach nodding his approval, feeling the same way about his own sister. “I know you would have, but this was something I had to work through on my own.”

“So you’ve done that and you are ready to tell us what’s been going on?” The more serious of the two men, Luke never wasted time getting to the heart of the matter.

“Yeah, don’t keep us in suspense,” Jake urged.

Taking another deep breath, she asked, “How do you feel about being uncles to twins in about six months?”

The silence that followed proved that this was not what her brothers had expected.

“I know this comes as a—”

The first to recover, Jake interrupted her. “You’re pregnant…”

“With twins,” Luke finished, sounding more formidable than she’d heard in a long time.

“Who’s the father?” Jake demanded.

“And how do we contact him?” Luke asked, sounding just as determined as his twin.

“Yeah, we’d like to have a little talk with the bastard,” Jake spat, going into “big brother” mode.