“Slade!” Trisha shouted his name as she jerked open the door and rushed into the hallway.

Becca stared out the doorway. Trisha ran and nearly collided with a big body that suddenly filled the end of the hallway. Two strong hands gripped the doctor, prevented her from falling and Brawn lifted her to the side to set her out of his way.

“What did you do to my husband?” Trisha yelled at Brawn.

He growled loud enough for Becca to hear, his gaze lifted until she had no doubt he focused on her and he took a step closer, then another and kept right on coming. A furious expression masked his normally handsome face and she couldn’t miss seeing a lot of skin since his shirt had been torn open to reveal one entire side of his chest.

Terror gripped her as she stumbled back and darted a look away from the threat to search for an escape but there wasn’t one. The small room had a window but she didn’t see a release on it to get it open and all she could do was put the exam table between them.

Chapter Fifteen

Brawn entered the room, his gaze locked on her and his hand shot back to grab the door. It slammed loudly, sealing them inside. His lips parted, he was slightly out of breath and a soft growl came out of him.

“Becca.”

“Stay back.” Her voice shook and she felt raw terror.

His gaze lowered down her body to her protruding belly. It was obvious she was pregnant. He snarled loudly, a vicious sound. He reached back again and the sound of the lock being twisted was undeniable. He took a threatening step closer.

She grabbed the table to keep from collapsing. “Please don’t hurt me or the baby, Brawn. I know you’re mad, that you don’t want me having this baby, but it’s mine. I love it.”

His eyes widened, he paled and another snarl tore from his parted lips. “You think I’d hurt you or my child?” The words came out harsh, his tone rough.

“You’re pissed.” She released the table with one hand and protectively curved it around her middle. “I don’t want anything from you, okay? I wouldn’t even be here if some of your men hadn’t flown me here against my will.”

He took deep breaths, his eyes narrowed into near slits and he took another step. “I’d never hurt you or the child. Why did you refuse to see me?”

She swallowed hard. “There’s no reason we should have to spend time together.”

His eyes lowered to her stomach. “No reason?”

She took a calming breath. “I have nothing to say to you. Why see each other? This happened and we just have to deal with it. I’m going to have my baby. I’m sorry if that upsets you but that’s too bad.”

His fists balled at his sides. “Your baby? Try ‘our baby’.”

Becca was afraid, seeing how mad he was at that moment. “You can see the baby any time you want. I was informed I need to stay here but we’ll just avoid each other. After the baby is born we’ll work out shared visitation rights. Someone can pick up and drop off the baby so we don’t ever have to see each other again.”

Another growl tore from Brawn and his nose flared. His eyes suddenly seemed to change color, darken to near black. “You’ll let me see my child? How generous.”

“I’m trying to figure out a way this is going to work, okay? You don’t have to see him if you don’t want to. I know how…” She was at a loss for words. “This shouldn’t have happened but it did. We’re just going to have to be adult about this and figure out a way to get along peacefully for the baby’s sake.”

Someone tried to enter the room but the lock held. Brawn glanced at it. “Stay out. We’re talking.”

“Damn it, Brawn,” Trisha called out. “Let me in. You’re lucky you only threw my husband and Tiger. You could have really hurt them.”

“Go away,” he snarled. “This is between Becca and me. I won’t harm her. Leave us alone.”

“Becca?” It was Trisha. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. It’s okay.” Becca frowned at Brawn, not sure that was the truth.

“I’ll be down the hall putting ice on the guys.” Trisha didn’t sound happy. “Yell if you need help.”

Brawn growled and snapped his head back to stare at Becca. “Come here.”

She shook her head. “You’re really angry and I’m really happy to be on this side of the table. Don’t you dare touch me, Brawn. I know you are upset but this isn’t my fault any more than it’s yours.”

“Come here.”

She refused to budge. “You’re angry.”

“Yes,” he growled. “You should have told me.”

Her anger flared. “When would that have been? When you came to get your stuff from my house? Maybe when you called me?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s right. You didn’t do either of those things. You had my father pack your stuff and send it to you. You never called to even see how I was. Why should I have called you?”

“You won’t come to me?”

“No. I like this much distance between us. I’d like it better if you just left.”

He came at her, his graceful movements reminding her of an animal slowly stalking his prey, and Becca backed up until the wall stopped her. Her breathing increased to a near pant from fear when his hands lifted to flatten on the wall on each side of her.

She watched as his eyes closed, his features softened and to her stunned surprise, he slowly lowered down her body to his knees. His face inched closer until he pressed his nose against her shirt, his hands released the walls to gently grip her hips and he nuzzled her belly.

“What are you doing?” She was frozen.

He sniffed, softly purred and turned his head to nuzzle his cheek over her belly. His hands slid on her pants, hooked her shirt and pushed it up enough to reveal the rounded mound. He pressed his warm cheek to her skin, another soft purr rumbled out of him and he just stayed there.

“Brawn?” Her voice quavered. “What are you doing?”

“I can smell him.”

“What?”

He lifted his chin and his eyes opened. The blue was back in his irises, the darkness gone and he held her gaze. “I scent my son.”

She wasn’t sure what that meant but his anger seemed to have totally dissipated. She breathed a little easier and tried to calm. She relaxed more against the wall and tried to slow her racing heart. The danger of him exploding into a rage seemed to have passed.

“Did you think I wouldn’t want him?”

She hated to see tears fill Brawn’s eyes but couldn’t miss them. Regret slammed into her. “I didn’t know.” Emotion choked her voice and she had to swallow. “I was afraid.”

“You believed I’d hurt you?” Some of the anger returned to his steady gaze.

“I don’t know. I’m hormonal, just afraid of everything and tried to do the best I could on my own.”

“You’re not alone anymore.” He pushed her shirt a little higher on her ribs, gently released it, and dropped his attention to her bare stomach. “I’m here.”

But for how long? That stray thought made her tense. If he said they were a team, she’d have to slap him. She’d heard that before. Staring down at him made her heart soften though. They were having a baby together, had created a life. Hot tears filled her eyes.

Brawn’s calloused fingertips caressed the skin over her belly, so warm and gentle that she closed her eyes to hide how she reacted. He rubbed his cheek against her stomach again, softly purred and the baby kicked in response. His fingers lowered and he lightly gripped her hips and gasped.

“Yes,” she told him softly. “He kicked.”

“My son,” Brawn rumbled, his voice too gruff to sound totally human.

Becca turned her head and remained still, allowing him to enjoy the awe of her pregnant belly. She’d had countless of those magical moments since learning of her pregnancy. His fingers moved, hooked the top of her pants and nudged them down a little. She allowed it, figured he wanted to see her lower belly, but gasped when he tore them down to her knees, baring her panties. Her eyes flew open and she gaped at him.