I’m the one stumbling this time when she pushes me back. “God, you piss me off.”
“What? Why? I’m giving you what you want.”
I’ve never had complications like this with a woman. Granted, my experience is limited to one woman, so that doesn’t say much in itself. I don’t remember learning Lucy’s quirks because I grew up with them. They were instilled in me before I knew how to spell my name.
She scowls. “What I want is for you to stop being so damn nice.”
“What? Why?” I repeat, confused as fuck.
If I’m an ass, she’s pissed. If I’m nice, she’s pissed.
“Because you’re making it difficult to hate you right now.”
“That’s a bad thing?”
“Yes!”
I’m doing everything in my power to fix this, to make her feel comfortable, so she doesn’t run away again, but it’s killing me. I’m very rarely the fun guy. My role has always been the serious and overprotective brother. Hudson was the Marine who thrived on having a good time, and Lauren was the mischievous one I caught sneaking out on too many occasions. I was the big brother who made sure everyone was okay and protected.
I stop us in front of the restored yellow Victorian home. “And we’re here.” Perfect timing before we get into another argument, and my goal of distracting her has somewhat succeeded.
She assesses the building and glares at me like I’m fucking with her. “This …” She does another once-over. “This is a house. Where’s the office?”
I point to the sign with the doctor’s name.
“This isn’t some midwives shit, is it? Not to be judgmental, but I’m not having my baby in some old home’s bathtub.”
“We’ll go to a hospital when you give birth, and so will the doctor. Give Dr. Riley a chance. If you hate him, we’ll go to the city.”
Compromise. Compromise. Fucking compromise. Marriage taught me that compromise is what keeps you going when the tides get rough.
She sighs. “Let’s do this then.”
Chapter Sixteen
Willow
The door chimes when we walk in, and the nurse behind the counter jumps up from her chair to greet us. Her smile collapses when she notices Dallas behind me. She has the perfect sun-kissed blonde hair and a summer tan. She reminds me of Lucy. Dallas’s type.
She tucks a strand behind her ear. “Dallas … I didn’t see you on the books today.”
“Hey, Fiona. I’m with Willow Andrews. We have an appointment with Aidan,” he explains, keeping his focus on me.
Dallas wasn’t lying about there being an office inside. It’s not modern, like the one I went to for my first pregnancy test. First professional one. I’d taken fifteen at-home tests and then finally gone to the doctor because I was in denial and determined they were all defective.
A few chairs sit in the waiting room across from the wooden front desk A photo of an older man with his name underneath it is centered on the wall, and a corkboard covered with flyers is hung next to it.
Get your flu shot!
Join the bowling league!
Fire department fundraiser this Friday!
The nurse’s red lips dip in surprise as she stares at me in curiosity the same way everyone did at the fair. “I see. Let me collect the paperwork your doctor sent over this morning, and then I’ll show you to your exam room.”
Dallas tucks his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Is Rick in today?”
“No, he’s out hunting. Won’t be back until the weekend. We have a light schedule today, even with Aidan here.” She laughs. “Everyone remembers all the trouble he got into when you guys were younger, and they aren’t sure if they trust him with needles yet.”
I jerk my head to glare at Dallas. The hell? Is he bringing me to some quack?
“Aidan knows what he’s doing,” Dallas says, reassuring me. “We can’t all stay the kids who drank behind my parents’ barn or nearly lit the town square on fire.”
Fiona slaps his shoulder. “I miss those days.” She taps it next. “How have you been doing?”
He nods, scraping a hand through his hair, and his face tightens. “Fine.”
“You let me know if you need anything, all right?”
“Thanks,” he replies flatly.
Well … this sure is fun.
“So, where to?” he asks.
She leads us to a room at the end of the hallway. The door isn’t numbered but does say Dr. Aidan Riley across the top glass.
I sit on the exam bed while Dallas scoots his chair next to me. I don’t realize I’m tapping my feet until he rests his hand on my thigh, causing me to flinch. I surprise myself by not moving it. He might piss me off, but his touch relaxes me. That still doesn’t stop me from scowling at him though.
There’s a knock on the door, and Dallas moves his hand like a kid caught with it in the cookie jar when the doctor walks in.
The first thing I notice shouldn’t be how attractive he is, but he’s definitely a looker. Blond hair cut short in almost a frat-boy style but more sophisticated and an oval face with perfect features. I was expecting a dude in overalls. Now, I’m stuck in a room with two men I wouldn’t have a problem screwing. My OB-GYN and the off-limits man who knocked me up.
He holds out his hand with a smile. “Willow, pleasure meeting you. I’m Dr. Riley, but call me Aidan, considering my father has the same name, and I’m not an old goat.”
I smile back, and his attention goes to Dallas next, worry crossing his features.
“Dallas, you doing okay, man?”
My smile collapses. I feel bad for Dallas. His loss follows him everywhere. He will forever be known as the man who tragically lost his wife too soon. And I’ll forever be known as the woman who screwed the heartbroken widowed man and got knocked up.
Dallas’s attention stays on me as he answers, “Sure am, Doc.”
Aidan sits down on the rolling stool and comes closer. “The doctor who gave you your initial pregnancy test sent over your records. It appears, you’re around twelve weeks. Good timing for your first ultrasound.”
“Right … right now?” I ask. I knew he’d want to run tests but figured he’d want to ask more questions before diving straight in.
“We can do it another time if you’d like,” Aidan replies.
“No.” I clear my throat. “Today’s fine.” I want to see my baby. I peek over at Dallas. “You probably don’t want to be in here for this.”
He kicks his legs out and makes himself comfortable in the chair. “I’d like to be. That cool?”
Fuck no.
Aidan opens a cabinet and pulls out a cup before handing it to me. “You think about it. Meanwhile, I need a urine sample.” He tips his head toward the other side of the room. “Bathroom’s right there.”
I shut the door behind me and am washing my hands when I hear their conversation.
“Your mom know about this?” Aidan asks.
“No,” Dallas answers. “Just Hudson, his girlfriend, and Lauren.”
“Is she …” Aidan pauses. “Are you two …”