“So what, you want to get married? Is that what you’re telling me?” He tensed at the words. But didn’t entirely hate the idea. In some ways, it made sense.
“No.” She didn’t blink. Didn’t hesitate. “That’s just it. I want to be with you in whatever capacity you can thrive, being with me. And if that’s a cottage down the beach, and you disciplining our child to keep her safe, while we stand together after work exercising my twin brother’s dog, then I’ve got my dream come true.”
Gray’s throat got tight. So much he couldn’t swallow. He had to blink at the prick behind his eyes. As he wondered, if he’d ever dared to dream bigger than a business and a house on a cliff, would his dream be coming true, too?
He knew the answer.
Just wasn’t sure how to access the dream.
Sage waited another month before making her doctor’s appointment. Her doctor’s office had offered the option, as long as she was careful about her diet. And she’d needed the time. Knew that Gray did.
And, in a practical sense, she’d wanted to be able to do the first ultrasound and exam in the same office visit.
For all that was changing in their lives, and the passion that always seemed to be sizzling under the surface between her and Gray, the month had been surprisingly...calm. With all of his buildouts going on, both in the clinics and on the beach, Gray was occupied constantly. And seemingly never alone.
And any off time had been surrounded by neighbors in holiday mode. From the Thanksgiving feast set up on a long table and served buffet style around a bonfire on the beach, to the weekend of light hanging and attaching as a pathway in the sand along the beach, too. Everyone helped everyone, wore smiles and had a few drinks. Everyone but Sage, on the drink part, that was.
No one seemed to realize she’d been without her customary glass of wine.
One night, when Leigh had been with Scott and Iris, Sage had walked the entire two-mile strip of beach along the pathway of lights, taking in the individual decorations on every single cottage—even the ones that were still deserted—pretending that she was perfectly content alone with her unborn baby. But, in truth, she’d hoped to run into Gray.
It hadn’t happened.
The two of them had had a moment, in the courthouse, after the judge had granted her request to detach Gray’s income account from the assets frozen in the GB Animal Clinics case. They’d exited the small courtroom into an empty hallway, and he’d grabbed her up and kissed her.
Fully. On the lips.
And in spite of being fully in her professional persona, at work, she’d engaged full throttle. They’d both jumped back as soon as their tongues touched. And neither of them had mentioned the episode since.
They’d both appeared at all the big gatherings with neighbors. Just no more alone time.
She and Leigh had put up their tree without him.
But she’d hung a stocking for him, along with Scott’s. She had one for Iris, too, if the photographer chose to join them.
Leigh had asked Gray to come look at her tree. He’d told her he would but hadn’t gotten there yet.
Nor had he and Sage entertained in-person private conversations. She’d initially instituted the text message communication plan to get them through the first few days of shock. And there they were, a month later, continuing to hide behind phones.
Thing was, it was working. She was hearing more of Gray’s thoughts than she’d have heard in person, at least based on past experience, and was falling more in love with him every day. Something she hadn’t thought possible.
If only they could do the doctor visit by text. She’d made the appointment to take place during her lunch hour, while Leigh was fully occupied in her preschool class at the day care. And Gray was meeting her there. He wanted to be present for the ultrasound. She’d made it very clear he needn’t be, but being a doctor, he knew the technology. Had run countless ultrasounds during his career, and when he’d reminded her of that fact, she’d wanted him there. For his sake. Not hers.
They weren’t romantic partners. Or even sexually active. And he was going to be standing over her stomach, bared to the top of her hair down there. To manage her stress, she’d insisted that he not be brought back to the room until she was already on the table and ready to go. Thankfully, her doctor was a gem, and the ultrasound technician about as understanding as they came.
Both knew that Gray was the child’s father. And that they weren’t married. She’d already had her exam and she and Gray would be meeting with the doctor after the completion of the ultrasound.
She’d chosen her clothes accordingly. Leggings—they had an elastic waistband. And a formfitting tunic-type short dress that she could roll up to her breasts. And not care if the bottom of it got a little gel on it.
He’d worn dress pants and had tucked in his button-down shirt. Could be the chosen clothes were for a business meeting that morning. Or might have been for the doctor visit. Didn’t much matter to her heart. It lit up the second she saw him come through the door. His longish hair falling around his ears, and those brown eyes locked on hers.
They were about to meet their baby for the first time.
What bit of it would be developed so early in gestation.
She already knew the doctor had heard a heartbeat. Gray didn’t.
The technician had already been in the process of spreading the gel on Sage’s stomach when Gray walked in. She barely noticed the cold. But was suddenly nervous.
