“If you don’t have any other questions, I’ll have the nurse take you over to the ultrasound room.”
Excitement fills me and from the way Bridger squeezes my hand, I’m not alone. After thanking my doctor, he slips out and a nurse comes in a few minutes later. She eyes my man with interest written all over her face.
As we follow her down the hall, the nurse asks, all sultry, “So, are you a friend? Maybe the baby’s uncle?”
My heart rate spikes, and I fist my hands at my sides so hard that I’m sure I’ll leave marks on my palms from my nails. As the nurse opens the door to one of the ultrasound rooms, Bridger wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me back against his solid chest.
His voice rumbles through my body, “Avery is my woman. Mine.” His hand wraps around my body and rests on my bump. “Just like this baby.” His voice turns artic, “You shouldn’t hit on any man who comes here with a woman, no matter what the relationship is between them. It’s not a good look. You should only be focused on your patients.”
The nurse pales slightly and I try really hard to stop myself from smiling. I’m fairly sure I fail.
“I’m sorry,” she squeaks before scurrying down the hallway and disappearing.
“I should lodge a complaint with your doctor,” Bridger grumbles while leading me into the room. While I getcomfortable, I don’t take my eyes off Bridger. When he turns and notices, he grunts, “What?”
“That was sexy as hell,” my voice sounds all breathy.
He leans over me, his mouth hovering over mine, “Is that so?”
My hand wraps around the back of his neck and I pull him closer. When our lips meet, it’s like a bomb goes off. The kiss goes from sweet to sinful in a heartbeat. I moan into his mouth, and he swallows down the sound.
When the door opens, I try to pull back quickly but he doesn’t let me. He slows the kiss and then pulls away slowly. I look over at the ultrasound tech who is grinning from ear to ear.
“I love seeing couples in love who are growing their families,” she chirps.
My cheeks heat and Bridger shoots me a smug as fuck smile and winks. I can’t seem to take my eyes off him, even as I follow the tech’s directions to pull my leggings down a little and my shirt up.
It’s only when the tech exclaims, “Let’s have a look at your baby,” that I look away from him.
The moment our little one appears on the screen, all grainy black and white, I steal another look his way. The awe on his face is priceless. I’m tempted to take a picture. Instead, I file it away in my memories.
While the tech moves the wand over my belly, she tells us about everything she’s checking. When we get the chance to listen to the baby’s heartbeat my eyes fill with unshed tears. I’m not the only one either. Bridger’s eyes turn glassy, and he reaches for my hand like he needs me to ground him.
“Oh,” the tech exclaims before giggling softly. “Do you want to find out the gender?”
“Yes,” we say in unison.
When she points at the screen, “Do you see this? It looks a little like a hamburger?” I nod without looking away from the screen or chancing a glance at Bridger. “You’re having a little girl.”
My eyes go wide as Bridger breathes out, “A girl.” There’s a beat before he growls, “I’m going to have to get a gun if she looks anything like you, Sweetheart.”
The tech giggles, but I don’t. Because I have a feeling he’s not joking. When I can finally tear my eyes away from the screen, the way he has his jaw clenched tells me I’m right.
But that’s okay. We’re having a little girl. I know my man is going to be the best girl dad around. She’s a lucky little girl. I can’t wait and am so glad I’ll have a front row seat.
CHAPTER 17
BRIDGER
The moment we step inside the house, I grip Avery’s waist and turn her so her back is against the door. I close the distance between us, but her baby bump makes it so I can’t quite get close enough. Her navy-blue eyes blink up at me in surprise and I find myself smiling.
“Bridger?”
My name on her lips is my undoing. I slam my mouth down on hers, the kiss I intend to be sweet turning feral in a heartbeat. I’ve wanted this woman for the last two weeks, but I’ve held off.
Not only did I not want to move too fast and to build a solid foundation instead, but I was afraid. I didn’t want to do anything to hurt our little peanut. It’s one thing to read in a book about sex being okay, but I wasn’t sure until the doctor confirmed it. For all I know, those books were written by men who couldn’t take a little break from getting their own dicks wet for the sake of their woman, and the child she’s growing. I wasn’t going to trust it blindly.
But now I’ve been given the green light and I’m taking full advantage of it.
