Forever, Please (Please #4) Read online

  Brenda came down the hall as I received a text.

  Kimberly: Good luck! I’m so excited!!!!

  “Why the constipated look?” Brenda asked as she set Hunter’s coffee on my desk.

  “You’re a real gem, you know that?”

  “Why yes I do.” She sipped her coffee, looking at me over the rim of the mug. “Well?”

  “My game went live.”

  “Oh, right.” She went back and settled in her desk. She fished her phone out of her purse. “I was supposed to buy that.”

  “It’s free. You just download it.”

  “Right. And how do you make any money?”

  “Jesus. Does no one play games on their phone?”

  Brenda swiped at the screen. “You need friends your own age.”

  “It’s free to play for a certain number of tries, but then you can buy more lives, and various other components to enhance the game. You buy them all in the app.”

  “Ah. It’s that kind of racket, is it? Okay—oh, here it is. That’s a fun little picture. Oh crap…what’s my password…”

  I rolled my eyes and grabbed Hunter’s coffee. I wasn’t sure if her download was worth the aggravation.

  Halfway through the day I sat at my computer, shoulders tense. There was a mountain of work to get through and I hadn’t been able to focus on any of it. My phone lay on the desk right next to my keyboard, staring up at me.

  I tried to resist.

  Grunting in frustration, I swiped the screen and tapped into the app ranking. Bruce said we most likely wouldn’t see anything for a couple of days as the game gained momentum, but I couldn’t help myself. The dial spun, updating. I flicked my finger, watching the ranking upload as the numbers got bigger. I let out the breath I was holding as one hundred blazed by.

  “Oh my God!” I jumped up. I snatched my phone and clutched it in both hands. “Yay! It’s at one-thirty-five! That’s something.”

  “Oh yeah?” Brenda got up to look. She wasn’t in the habit of checking her own phone for anything. Her kids still called her work line.

  I held the phone toward her and pointed.

  “Cool. So you’ve got a few downloads.”

  “Yeah… I wonder how.”

  “How many friends you got?”

  “Like…three.”

  Brenda scoffed and grabbed her coffee cup. “Let me refill before you head in to Hunter. I’d hate to have you make two trips.”

  “I get the feeling you aren’t as excited as I am…” I scowled at her, but my smile came right back. I logged out and called Bruce.

  “What’s up?” he answered.

  “Did you see? We’re in the ranking! On the first day!” My voice was so high I was squealing.

  “Oh yeah?” Why did Bruce and Brenda sound exactly the same? “Looks like our marketing push is working. I figured it would.”

  I shook my head and blinked. “You need to be more excited.”

  “It’s only day one, Olivia. As my kid would say, ‘slow your roll.’ We don’t want to be a flash in the pan. We want longevity.”

  “You sound like Hunter.”

  “I take that as a compliment. Okay, gotta go. I have a list of things I still have to do, including take my wife to dinner.”

  “Okay, well, I’ll keep—” I brought the phone away from my ear, realizing that the call had been disconnected. “He acts like Hunter, too.”

  “How?” Brenda put Hunter’s coffee on my desk and then sipped her own.

  “He stopped saying bye when he hangs up.” I grabbed the mug and headed into Hunter’s office with barely contained excitement. Bruce might not be fazed, but this was my first business venture. I was over the moon that it was at the tail end of the ranking. I’d take flash in the pan over mildly sizzling into a fast death.

  As I closed the distance to Hunter, my heart was racing and my smile was plastered over my face. I took in his handsome face, then connected with his sexy, smoldering stare. “Guess what?”

  His eyes started to twinkle as I set his cup in the corner of his desk. “What?”

  “The game—” A horrible pinch in my abdomen assaulted me. It felt like a hard, fast cramp. I reached for the edge of his desk, knocking the coffee forward and spilling some of the contents. I didn’t notice. Pain radiated through my lower half, a more pronounced cramp now.

  “Ow…” I put my hand to my lower abdomen.

  “What’s happening?” Hunter was up immediately. He came around the desk and bent over me, his hand gentle on my back. “What’s the matter?”

  I took a deep breath. Ordinarily this wouldn’t be a big deal. I had cramps every month, often more violent than this. But I shouldn’t be having cramps now. I didn’t think I should, anyway.

  Another wave of pain radiated through me. Was the baby in trouble?

  Fear pulsed. Tears came to my eyes.

  “Something might be wrong,” I said in a quivering voice.

  Hunter didn’t say another word. Neither did he panic, like I was about to. In a quick movement, he scooped me up into his arms. We were walking toward the door a second later, his powerful strides taking us from the room.

  “Mrs. Jones, get a car out front. I’m taking Olivia home.”

  “Yes, sir. Is she okay?”

  Hunter didn’t answer. He held me like a fragile vase, completely cool. He might’ve been waiting for the elevator on any normal day.

  I put my head against his neck as another cramp vibrated through me.

  “Try to relax,” Hunter said softly as he entered the elevator. His voice was a tranquil breeze. “You’ve been very stressed lately, and along with excitement and today’s events, your body is probably reacting. You just need to calm down. Take deep breaths.”

  I did as he said, but as another burst of pain made me whimper, I couldn’t ease away from the fear that something was wrong. That I might be miscarrying.

  “Deep breaths, baby. It’s going to be okay.” Arms not even quivering from holding my weight all this time, Hunter walked out through the lobby like a man on a mission. If there was anyone better in an emergency, I hadn’t met them.

  The car waited outside, its flashing lights signaling that it planned to double-park for as long as was necessary. Bert rushed forward when he saw us. “What happened? Do you need help?”

  “Everything is fine, Mr. Ramous.” Hunter stopped next to the car with a white-faced and concerned Bert looking over his shoulder. “Are you bleeding, Livy? Can you tell? I need to know if we should go home, or to the hospital.”

  “I don’t know,” I said, my hands shaking.

  Hunter looked at me for a moment before bending to sit me into the car. “Take us to the emergency room at California Pacific, Mr. Ramous.”

  A moment later Hunter sat in beside me and took my hand. His eyes were deep and comforting. “It’s going to be okay, Livy.” His voice took on that commanding edge, filled with power. “You need to relax.”

  I took a deep breath, closing my eyes and leaning toward him. He pulled me in tighter. His strength and solidity wrapped around me, stilling the tremors. I trusted in his voice. In his presence. “Okay.”

  Hunter took out his phone. After tapping the face a few times, he lifted it to his ear. “Yes, Dr. Cheung? Hello. I have an emergency. Are you on duty?”

  Hunter had set me up with Dr. Cheung as soon as we heard I was pregnant. The man knew someone important in every profession.

  We pulled up outside the hospital a half-hour later, navigating through the San Francisco traffic as quickly as possible. “Should I wait, Mr. Carlisle?” Bert asked as he hustled to get my door open.

  “Yes. I’ll text you if anything changes.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Hunter helped me from the car and then scooped me up again.

  “I can walk, Hunter,” I said as he began his purposeful stride.

  “And I could just stand by and watch you go through a scary experience from a distance. I’d rather be doing something.” H
e stalked toward a waiting room next to a store selling flowers and teddy bears. He set me down gently.

  “I’ll go to the restroom,” I said. “Just to check on what’s happening.”

  Hunter was pulling out his phone again. “I’ll be right here if you need me.”

  I made my way across the lobby, savoring his confidence that everything would be fine. Once in the restroom, with hands still shaking, I locked myself into a stall and pulled up my skirt to assess the damage. My eyes filled with tears as I saw a bright spot of red. “Oh no.”

  I did my business and lined my panties with toilet paper. I wasn’t bleeding that much, but I was still bleeding. I didn’t know what that meant.

  I walked slowly back to Hunter, trying not to break down. When his gaze found me, I saw a glimmer of fear spark in his eyes, but then the power and confidence returned. He was completely in control.

  “The doctor is on her way. She’s getting everything set up.” He ushered me toward a chair. “Are you still cramping?”

  I let my hand drift to my stomach. “No. But I’m bleeding a little—” I cut off as a sob choked me. “Hunter, I’m scared.”

  “I know. It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.” His arm tightened around me. “This is going to be fine, Olivia. Just take it easy. Breathe deeply.”

  I nodded and burrowed into him as much as I could, desperately trying not to panic. It had only been two months, but I’d already fallen in love with my baby. I wanted to meet him or her, and then watch as Hunter held our child for the first time.

  “Here we go.” Hunter helped me stand.

  “Hello, Livy. Mr. Carlisle.” A short woman with crow’s-feet at the corners of her eyes and deeply etched laugh lines around her mouth walked up with hurried, purposeful strides. Her gaze fell on me and a supportive smile took over her face. “Please, come with me.” She turned and gestured us on, no doubt thinking we’d both walk beside her. She didn’t balk, however, when Hunter swooped me up again and easily kept pace.

  “Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?” Dr. Cheung said as she directed us to the elevator.

  “I had some cramping and now I’m bleeding a little.” With her prompting, I told her how bad the cramps were and the color of the blood.

  “Uh huh.” She took us through a few halls and into a room with a bed covered in white paper. “Just sit her on the bed. And you are the father, Mr. Carlisle, correct?”

  Hunter hesitated. His glance came to me for a brief second. “Yes…”

  I wished I hadn’t heard the question in his voice. This was a terrible time for his past to get in the way.

  “Yes,” I said firmly. Despite my fear and panic, I leveled him with a glare. He reached forward and took my hand. It was a wise move. I didn’t want to have to break his kneecap for emotionally abandoning me at a time like this.

  “And did you want him in the room for the examination?” she asked me in a slightly softer voice.

  I knew what she was asking. Would I mind if he saw me spread my legs and show the world my hoo-ha. And frankly, as terrified as I was, I did a little. It had taken me years to feel comfortable presenting myself for an examination for a doctor. The man who used that area as a playground was another situation entirely.

  “He’s okay to stay if he wants to,” I said in a little voice. If I was expecting him to man up, I had to do likewise.

  “I’ll stay,” Hunter said, this time without hesitation.

  “Okay.” The doctor put her hand on the dreaded stirrups. “Why don’t you go ahead and use the restroom. I’ll need a urine sample.” She handed me a small cup. “When you get back, I’ll need you to undress. Just the lower half. Here’s a drape.” She put the drape on the edge of the bed.

  I ducked out of the room, shadowed by Hunter. He didn’t seem to want to let me out of his sight. That was okay by me. Except for the bathroom. I shut the door right in his face.

  After I was done, which turned out to be a meager amount since I’d gone earlier, I handed over the cup and then took off my skirt and undies. Hunter helped me tuck the drape around my hips before I settled back on the bed. I didn’t bother telling him I’d have to pull it out from under my butt in a moment. This was awkward enough.

  After I was settled, the doctor wheeled a metal tray full of instruments toward me. “And how severe was the cramping?”

  “At first it was like a bad pinch, and then like period cramps.”

  “Uh huh. And the bleeding sounds like it was fairly light. Okay.” She motioned me forward.

  With a sideways glance at Hunter, I scootched up into the incredibly awkward position where she would examine me.

  “Knees, please.” She touched my knee, indicating I was supposed to relax and let them fall to the side naturally.

  There was nothing natural about this position in front of my boyfriend.

  Dr. Cheung felt my abdomen and then examined me. After a moment she said, “Your cervix is fine. I don’t see any cause for alarm at first glance, but it is somewhat fragile. Yes, there—just a touch, and there’s a little blood. You’ll have a little more bleeding from this examination, but don’t let it cause you any alarm. Okay.”

  She pulled back her instruments and gave my knee a quick pat before turning away. I took my legs down, adjusted the cover, and scooted back. She opened a folder and started jotting things down. “It’s pretty normal for women to have some spotting in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. This is often caused from extra blood flow to the cervix, in which any contact with the cervix can cause some of this bleeding, like you saw. This can also be caused from stress, lifting heavy things, or fatigue. It’s best to avoid those, and whenever possible, lie down and relax if you feel your body reacting.

  “The cramping is probably also a sign that you’ve been too active, or putting your body through too much. If you ever feel a tightening, definitely slow down. Sit or lie, drink some cool water… It’s good to keep an eye on it, so to speak. Give me or one of the nurses a call if you’re concerned. As it’s subsided now, I’m not too worried. I would caution you, though, to take it a little easier.”

  I got the stern look doctors were known for, and a matching “I told you so” look from Hunter.

  “I want to have an ultrasound, just in case,” the doctor went on, tidying everything. “If everything looks good, I think you’ll be fine until your next checkup as long as nothing else happens.”

  I took a big breath and let it out. Relief washed through my body. “Okay.”

  “All right. Go ahead and get dressed and meet me out at the nurses’ station when you’re ready. I’ll walk you down.” She smiled at me, then nodded at Hunter.

  When she’d gone, I moved to get off the bed. Hunter pulled me up and hugged me close to him. “Everything is fine.”

  That was Hunter-speak for “what a huge relief!”

  I hugged him tightly before I disengaged so I could get dressed. “I panicked a little.”

  “That’s okay. It’s scary. It’s a little life we’re trying to protect.”

  I pulled on my skirt and let him help put me to rights. This was his version of taking an active role. I loved it. It was the Hunter I always craved. The one he still hid from strangers behind his distanced, unfeeling business mask. The guy he no longer hid from me.

  “One last test.” I smiled when I felt his hand on the small of my back, directing me through the door and to the doctor.

  “All set?” The doctor smiled at me again and led the way. She didn’t comment on the fact that Hunter let me walk this time. The fear had mostly passed.

  The next room was larger, with a big machine, screens, and room for a few people. There was only one woman in there, though, tapping something into a computer resting on the machine. She glanced up when we walked in.

  “This is Dr. Lund,” Dr. Cheung said as she stopped near the door. “She’ll be performing the ultrasound. I’ll leave you in her very capable hands. Just call me, anytime, if you’re worried about anythin
g else. Okay?”

  “Hello, Mr. Carlisle,” said Dr. Lund, a woman with frizzy blond hair. “Mrs. Carlisle, go ahead and put this on for me. Just disrobe from the bottom down.”

  “Oh, I’m not—”

  “Here, Livy,” Hunter said, his eyes soft. He handed me the sheet.

  I stared at him for a second as a thrill of warm tingles seeped through my body. He’d stopped me from correcting her!

  Oh my God, did he want to marry me? Obviously he’d tied himself to me forever with the baby situation, but…did he want to marry me?

  My thrill was short-lived. The stirrups came out a moment later. Apparently this test would be a bit more invasive than on the TV.

  Glancing at Hunter, I went through the same rigmarole before settling onto the bed and waiting for the instruction to scoot my butt to the end and throw my knees in the air. It came as expected, leaving me in another precarious position.

  “All right.” Dr. Lund wheeled her chair closer to my knees while still on the side of the bed. She didn’t plan to take up the normal gynecologist position, it seemed. She held up a thick plastic thing that looked like a wand. I knew exactly where that sucker was going.

  I glanced at Hunter again. Now that the danger was largely gone, this was damned uncomfortable.

  “There is some small risk in performing an ultrasound this way,” Dr. Lund explained, lubing up the end of the wand. “However, Dr. Cheung has given the go-ahead. It looks like your cervix is fine to handle it, and you’re young.”

  “Dr. Cheung expressed some concern about her cervix being fragile,” Hunter said, stepping closer. He put his hand on my shin protectively.

  I was clearly the only one thinking this situation was awkward.

  “The exterior of the cervix, yes. The wall. That doesn’t mean she has a weak cervix, however. Meaning it doesn’t have any bearing on her ability to hold a baby in the uterus. Since the fetus isn’t large enough for us to get a reading with the fetal Doppler, we’ll need to get a reading this way. The assurance greatly outweighs the risk.”

  Hunter nodded and stepped away a little. That explanation passed muster.