I look up at Ivy and her eyes are closed.

“Are you okay?” I ask, blinking as droplets from my hair roll down my face.

“Uh-huh,” she hums, not opening her lips.

“Ivy, tell me what’s wrong,” I urge, halting my progress until she answers me.

“Nothing, Eric,” she responds, finally opening her eyes. “I just never thought…” She pauses to collect herself, taking a shuddering breath. “That a man could be so good to me.”

I feel myself choking up as she looks at me so tenderly. Doesn’t she know she means the world to me? I would do anything for her—anything.

“I love you, Ivy,” I say simply. My voice sounds rough because I never said those words to her with so much emotion before.

“I know,” she sighs, causing her belly bump to rise and fall. “I hear it in every word. I feel it in every touch. I see it in every look. How did I get so lucky?”

“No, I’m the lucky one,” I admit, standing up to nuzzle her nose. I glide my lips across hers, kissing her softly.

“I love you, Eric,” she utters, and I know it’s coming from the depths of her soul.

I fold her in my arms, holding her close. Even while she’s pregnant, my callused hands are still able to span her waist. Reaching behind her, I turn the water off and pull back the curtain. Shaking out the last folded towel on the shelf, I wrap her in it, letting myself drip dry.

I plug in her blow dryer and quickly get to work on her hair. She can’t go to bed with a wet head. I sit her next to the sink, and we don’t say a word for the next ten minutes or so. We just look at each other, and it’s enough.

I wipe away the condensation on the mirror when I’m done and she laughs when she sees how frizzy her hair is. She normally styles it so that it’s straight and sleek, but I kind of like it wild and untamed. It looks good on her—natural.

She can barely keep her eyes open as I carry her into the bedroom. I dig through the bottom drawer for her flannel nightgown. She starts to protest when she sees it.

“Ivy, you’re not going to sleep wearing just my shirt. It’s too cold for that now. You need to stay warm,” I tell her, patting her dry with the ends of the towel.

“But I want something of yours. Not this old thing.” She tosses it back at me. “I want something that smells like you.”

“You’re nuts,” I tease her, although my cheeks redden at her request. Something about it is incredibly erotic. I unzip my suitcase and root through it. “How about this long-sleeved t-shirt and my pajama pants?”

“Perfect.” She smiles at me, the towel draped haphazardly around her.

“Hold on. I’ll be right back.” I wink at her before ducking into the bathroom to retrieve one of her pads from the counter under the sink. I make one last stop at her lingerie drawer for a sensible pair of underwear.

She glances at me shyly as I remove the towel from her body and hold out the arms of my shirt, guiding one arm through and then the other before sliding it over her head. I make a valiant effort not to stare at her breasts while I’m dressing her, but her nipples stand out against the fabric as I pull the shirt down over them.

“It’s okay,” she says, rubbing my arm sympathetically. “This isn’t going to be easy. From now on, I’ll stop making it so hard for you. I’ll cooperate. I’ll behave.”

“You will?”

“You’re so good to me,” she whispers. “I don’t deserve it.”

She stands up and I help her step into her underwear. I start opening the pad, but she pulls it out of my hands, shaking her head. She takes care of it as I hold up the pants for her to get into. Smoothing the sheets as best I can, I help her get under the covers.

She stares up at me. “Don’t be long.”

“I won’t,” I respond, caressing her cheek. She tangles her fingers in my hair, pulling me down until my lips are on hers. We kiss softly for several minutes before I finally come up for air. “I thought you were going to be good,” I chuckle.

“That is being good,” she smiles, running her thumb across my lips. “Besides, I think you have another fire to light. But first I think you should change out of those wet boxers…and let me watch.”

I playfully pinch the tip of her nose as she squeals, but I’ll willingly comply with that demand. Moving away from the bed, I turn my back as I strip them from my body. She’s not heckling me to turn around, and I’m surprised. I peek over my shoulder, and find that her eyes are already closed.

I smile wearily as I get dressed before rubbing my hair with her discarded towel. She’s exhausted. She needs to rest. But I can’t help feeling let down. It’s like she left me suddenly, even though she’s right here.

And it terrifies me to picture a world without her in it.

Will

“Mind if I borrow Ben for a minute?” I ask Frank out of politeness, but I really don’t care what he says. “I have an errand I need him to help me with.”

“Sure, go ahead. It’s been pretty slow this afternoon,” Frank says, lifting his eyes from the copy of the Gazette he was reading. “Just don’t tell my son,” he chuckles, and I play along like it’s some kind of inside joke between the two of us.

“Where is Eric anyway?” I ask, glancing around. “I haven’t seen him today.”

“He went back to the house to check on Ivy. He’s nervous about leaving her alone all day. He’s afraid she’s going to try to run a marathon or something.” Frank grimaces, shaking his head. “I wish that boy would stop being so damn protective of her, but he’s scared.”

“Yeah, I know he is.” I’m not one to get sentimental, and Eric’s not my favorite person in the world, but how much can one guy take?

“Anything else you need, Frank?” Ben asks, ignoring me as he walks in with a hefty bag of ice melt slung over his shoulder.

“Nah, I think that’s it for today, but it seems like Will needs you for something,” Frank says innocently, unaware of our situation.

“Oh yeah?” Ben’s all business in front of Frank, but under the surface I can tell he’s pleased by the interruption.

“Can you give me a ride into town? Eric has his truck up at the house and I don’t want to bother him if he’s with Ivy.” I lay it on thick for Frank’s benefit.

“Sure, I could do that.” Ben wipes his hands on his jeans after heaving the fifty-pound bag on top of the pile. “You ready?”

“Uh huh,” I respond casually, despite my eagerness.

“See you tomorrow, Frank.” Ben waves, heading out the door.

“Okay, Ben,” Frank says absentmindedly, already lost in the sports section. “Goodnight, fellas.”

The bell above the door jingles as we step out into the cold. Ben’s still playing it cool, but I feel a jolt of excitement from walking next to him, side by side, the shadows we’re casting on the ground practically touching. He’s a lot brawnier than I am, all solid muscle, but not big and bulky like a linebacker. Oh no, he’s tight and trim in all the right places.

“I didn’t think I’d be back in your hillbilly truck so soon,” I flirt with him as he disengages the automatic locks. “Last night was pretty fantastic.”

For a split second, he blushes before getting behind the wheel. “What’s this all about?”

“We need to continue our conversation,” I respond breezily, fastening my seatbelt.

“I don’t think so.” He’s wary of my motives. “But we have to go somewhere after you fed Frank that line of bull, so give me a destination.”

“That same secluded spot would be nice,” I drawl, igniting the fire in his eyes. “And this time I’m not taking no for an answer.”

“Forget it, Will,” he spits out, gunning the engine. “We’ve already talked about this.”

“Yeah, but you have to reconsider. There’s too much at stake for you to cling to your stupid jock image. Now’s the time when you have to take one for the team.” I appeal to his better nature, hoping he won’t shut me out.