Do Over Rules: A Secret Baby Surprise (The Archer Brothers Series Book 4)

by Jenna Gunn

  “She had a wedding ring with diamonds and rubies. But it wouldn’t have been worth enough.”

  Christian says, “I find it hard to believe she would do that…but hell, this whole thing has my head spinning.”

  “Tell me about it.” I want to think she didn’t do this, but damn if Mike’s little phone call didn’t plant a big ass, ugly seed right in the middle of everything.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  I’m still shaky from the encounter between Bishop and Franco. My nerves are threadbare.

  And that was before Bruno started crying. It’s been nearly three hours now. Poor little guy. I just don’t know what to do for him.

  I text Bishop. I know he won’t get the message until later, but I somehow feel it’s important he knows. Bruno is sick. He’s has a fever and has cried for three hours straight now. I don’t know what to do.

  I call Raven. She can hear him crying in the background when she answers. “Is everything okay?”

  “I don’t know. I’m really worried. Bruno isn’t feeling well. He’s got a temperature, and he’s in pain, I think. Poor little guys’s been crying non-stop. I wish I were more experienced.”

  “Do you think I should take him to the Urgent Care?”

  There’s concern in Raven’s voice. “Do you have a doctor here in town?”

  “Not yet.” I say as I brush back Bruno’s damp hair. “Shhh. It’s okay.”

  “I think Urgent Care makes sense then. You know, I think Ben’s girlfriend is upstairs above you right now. I’m pretty sure she was a school nurse.”

  “Oh, really? Do you think it would be okay for me to go up and ask her?”

  “Of course.”

  “I wouldn’t want to bother him.”

  “He loves kids. He will not want to see Bruno sick.”

  I take a shaky breath. “Okay. I’ll let you know.”

  “Please do.”

  I scoop Bruno up and hurry up the front steps of the house. I’m swaying Bruno trying to calm him as I knock. Ben comes to the door right away.

  His face creases in concern as he pushes open the screen. “My lord, what’s wrong?”

  “He’s got a fever, and he won’t stop crying. Raven said that your friend might be a nurse.”

  A friendly face appears around the corner. The woman has sun bleached hair and a t-shirt on that says More Wine, Less Whine.

  She brushes a hand over Bruno’s hair. “Who’s this little darling?”

  “This is Bruno.”

  “I’ve heard about you, little cutie.” She extends her hands. Bruno hesitates then goes to her arms. She cuddles him up. “He is hot. Crying a lot, huh?”

  I nod, tears threaten my lashes.

  “I think I’d take him in for a checkup, dear.”

  “Okay, that’s what I was thinking.”

  “He might have a touch of an infection, or a virus. They might want to do blood work.”

  I feel someone beside me. Tyson leans into the doorjamb. “Everything okay?”

  “I’m going to be taking Bruno to the Urgent Care.” Becka passes him back. My hands shake as I take him.

  “Mia, you’re pretty upset. How about I drive you two to the clinic?”

  “You’d do that for me?”

  He smiles gently, “Of course. I’m sure Bishop wouldn’t want you to go alone.”

  I give my thanks and excuse myself to gather up the things I’ll need to go. Tyson meets me at the Fiat. I strap Bruno in the back, and climb in next to him. Tyson quietly drives us the short distance to the hospital. He parks near the Urgent Care entrance.

  He opens the car door and carries the baby bag for me. When we get inside, he checks us in while I find a place to sit.

  I’m a wreck. Bruno’s never been sick a day in his life. I’ve never even been sick. I’ve had my fair share of sprains and even a partial fracture from a fall during the show, but the hospital is not a place I’m familiar with.

  Of course my mind is going to all kinds of scary places.

  Tyson seems right at home.

  “You’ve been here before?”

  “I come here pretty often.”

  I can’t help but gasp a little. “Oh gosh, for what?”

  He grins, “Not me usually, most of the time it’s for someone else on Ocean Rescue getting banged up, or for completing forms on beach visitors that get injured.”

  “Ah, I see. Thank you for coming with me. I’m a mess.”

  “I thought you looked like you could use a hand.”

  Bruno’s still crying but he’s half asleep, his little whimpers break my heart into a gazillion pieces.

  “I’m sure he will be fine,” Tyson says. “Did you call Bishop?”

  “No, I sent him a text. Should I?”

  “Let’s see what they say initially, then we’ll call him.”

  The door to the patient treatment area swings open. “Bruno Archer.”

  I stand, and Tyson follows with our belongings.

  The nurse asks a few questions, weighs Bruno, takes his temp, and leaves us. Bruno isn’t sleeping anymore. He’s screaming now. My insides are shaking so hard I think I might throw up. Don’t they make mommy sedatives for moments like this?

  There’s a quiet knock on the door, so low I can barely hear it over Bruno. A beautiful female doctor enters. Her long dark hair is braided, hanging over her shoulder. Her dark brown eyes are filled with kindness as she says. “Someone’s upset.”

  Bruno goes quiet as he watches the woman.

  “Hi Abby,” says Tyson from the corner. She shifts around and a small smile teases at the corner of her mouth. “Hello, Tyson. Fancy seeing you here.”

  She turns back to us. “This must be Bruno.”

  “It is.”

  “I heard there’s a new Archer boy in town. Maddy is my good friend, I work at the bakery when I’m not here.”

  I smile, feeling a little better. “It is a small town.”

  She reaches for Bruno’s little toy car. “Now what’s going on here?”

  “He woke up fussy. I realized he has a temperature, and he’s been crying steady now for a few hours. As you probably could hear.”

  “Poor little thing. Not feeling so hot today, huh? I have an idea of what’s going on. But I’ll take a listen and then a look.”

  My phone starts ringing. “Oh gosh, I’m sorry.” I pull it out and see Bishop’s number. “This is Bishop. Can I take it really quick?”

  “No problem,” says Abby as she puts on her stethoscope.

  “Hey, Bishop.”

  “Where are you? I came home, but your car is gone.”

  “I’m at the hospital with Bruno.”

  There’s a quick intake of breath. “Jesus. I’ll be right there.”

  “Bishop, wait—“

  The call drops.

  “He hung up. I guess he’s coming.”

  Tyson stands up. “I can go meet him if you want.”

  “I think we might be done here before he even parks and gets inside,” Says Abby.

  She listens to Bruno’s chest. Then looks in his ears. “Just as I suspected.”

  I’m breathless as I wait for her to continue.

  “Ear infection. Pretty nasty one. But very treatable.”

  My breath leaks out. “That’s common, right?”

  “Very,” She says kindly. “Now are you okay? I know this kind of thing is nerve-wracking.”

  “I’ll be fine, I think. Ty was kind enough to drive me here when he saw I was coming unraveled. I am not sure I could have driven, honestly.”

  She turns toward Ty and winks. “He’s a good man, like that.”

  “I’m very lucky to be surrounded by such good people. Especially since I feel like such a newbie mom.”

  Abby smiles and I catch her holding Ty’s gaze for a few seconds. Then she says, “Indeed, aren’t we all lucky to be under the watchful eye of the Archers?”

  Ty shrugs. “I don’t know. I’m thinking we are lucky to have the good do
ctor looking out for us too.”

  “We both serve our calling. You just get to catch a tan while doing yours.” She laughs. “Alright, let me get you a prescription and you can be on your way.”

  Abby leaves and quietly closes the door. Bruno buries his warm little face in my neck. “She’s nice.”

  Ty raises his brows. “Yes…she is.”

  “Is she single?”

  He grins and his dimple pops up. Ty’s got the looks of a chick magnet with those blue eyes, sun kissed hair, and dimple. I can’t imagine the good doctor being able to resist him.

  “I think she likes you.”

  He doesn’t say anything.

  “Wait a minute, is that why you volunteered to drive me?”

  He chuckles. “Honestly, I didn’t know she was working.”

  We laugh together.

  “Guess it’s a good day all around then. I know I sure feel better.”

  “So do I.” He says with a wink.

  The door pops open, and Abby invites us out. “Here you go. I wrote some notes for you on how to make him more comfortable now. I’m sure he will be feeling better soon. If you need something, don’t hesitate to call the clinic number.”

  She walks with us to the lobby.

  “Thanks so much, it was nice to meet you.”

  “And you as well. Ah, I see Bishop coming now.” She says, nodding toward the entrance.

  “Oh boy, he looks like a bull about to crash through that door.”

  Abby laughs. “That’s an Archer for you.”

  I notice that Tyson stays behind.

  “Well, thanks again.” I hustle to meet Bishop before he has a heart attack.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  We’re all wiped out. Bruno is finally sleeping soundly and Mia is napping. I sit on the porch and wait for the food delivery to arrive so there’s no chance of waking anyone.

  My insides feel all torqued from finding out they were at the hospital. I know Mia is just as wrung out from last night and today as I am.

  When the food’s delivered, I walk into the master bedroom. I watch Mia sleep for a few seconds before brushing my fingers across her forehead. “Hey, beautiful.”

  Her lashes flutter, and then her big gray eyes focus on me. “Hi. Is it morning?”

  I smile. “No. It’s dinnertime.”

  “That sounds nice. I’m starving.” She stretches, yawns, and sits up. I can’t help myself, I wrap an arm around her. She leans against me, quietly resting her head against my chest.

  I stroke my hand around on her back, trying to find the right words to comfort her. “I’m sorry today was so stressful and upsetting.”

  “I feel like such a novice parent.”

  “Ditto.”

  She sighs. “The doctor was so nice. She made me feel a lot better.”

  “Abby’s great. I’m sure Ty was over the moon after seeing her.”

  Mia laughs, “Yeah, definitely some chemistry going on there.”

  “Come on.” I pull Mia from the bed. “Italian. Hot and waiting.”

  “And we didn’t have to cook. Now that sounds too good to resist.”

  Mia fixes the drinks— I open all of the to-go containers and spread the feast out on the table. Her eyes go wide. “Eating for four?”

  I laugh. “I worried all my lunch off.”

  “I feel the same.” She stabs a fork into the manicotti and grins at me. “I’m just gonna dive right in, okay?”

  I join her. We eat like we have no table manners, right out of the to-go boxes, talking, laughing, and feeding one another. I stop and watch her. She glances up. A little smile pulls at the corners of her lips as she chews a bite of a garlic knot.

  She swallows and says, “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  “You’re looking at me funny.”

  “Am I?”

  “Um hm. Now what is that look?”

  I take a big bite of bread. Stalling. She watches me chew, her eyebrows raised the whole time.

  “Just feeling good. You know. Good to be here tonight. Together. The world feels right tonight.”

  Her eyes soften, “It does.”

  We go back to eating. I catch her eyes on me a few times. “Okay. Now you have to tell me what you’re thinking.”

  Her cheeks pink up. She waves her hand, dismissing me.

  “You’re not getting out of it that easy.”

  “Oh, alright. I was just thinking how handsome you are. Three years has done you good. Not like you look older, but you just look really good.”

  I sit my fork down and reach for her hand. “So do you. I always thought you were beautiful. But something has changed. Or maybe it’s me that’s changed. Whatever it is, I love it.”

  She slides off her chair and comes around the table. I turn my chair to face her. She walks right up between my widespread thighs. Her breasts are at the perfect height for my face as I wrap my arms around her strong little body.

  She skims her fingers through my hair. A practiced touch. Mia knows I have always loved the way she does that.

  My own fingers find the way under her tank top, to the warm bare skin below, as I nestle my face against the softness of her breasts. She smells so good. Feels so sweet under my touch. The world narrows to all the little places where we are touching. My fingers skimming over her ribs. My nose in the soft fabric over her breasts. Her legs wedged between my thighs. Her fingers threading through my hair.

  I breathe her in.

  She undoes me. Always.

  The smell of her. The taste of her. The feel of her. It’s the magic recipe for my ruin.

  I wrap my bug hands tightly around her, flexing my fingers around her waist, then her hipbones. Pure, unchecked male desire pools in my loins.

  I want her beneath me. Cradling me. Loving me and only me.

  Mia leans forward, her breath steady and deep and sure.

  When I graze my thumbs across her nipples, she lets out the tiniest moan. Just barely perceptible.

  Her fingers drop from my hair. I want them back instantly. But I smile when she begins to gather the sides of her skirt, lifting it higher and higher. My fingers join hers, lifting and tracing along the smooth skin of her thighs and her butt.

  She spreads her legs just a little, enough for me to slip my fingers along her damp panties. Her eyes are full of trust and connection as she holds my gaze. We are here. We are together. And this is all that counts in this moment.

  I tease her clit and rub my thumb along her folds. The delicious scent of her makes my pulse pound forcefully through every vein in my body.

  She sighs and leans into me. Her hands drop lower and cup the shape of my shaft. My breath catches, freezes up as she begins to open my pants. Oh yeah, I love her hands on me.

  I’m surprised as hell when she opens her legs, pulls her panties to the side and straddles me, lowering herself down onto my engorged, rock hard cock.

  “Shhhh…” she purrs against my ear. “We’ve got to be quiet.” Then she slowly, lovingly begins to move against me. She tilts herself, rocks just enough to seat me so deep inside of her that I’m pressed tight against her womb.

  Her mouth finds mine. Her fingers frame my face, and I lose myself in her long, slow, erotic as fuck kiss.

  She teases and probes, and nibbles, and tastes my mouth over and over again as her body is sheathed around me in the most amazing embrace ever.

  Mia begins to contract her inner muscles around me over and over again. Tops it off with just the slightest amount of rocking.

  God. It’s… unreal.

  I’ve never made love to her without moving.

  She’s so damn tight. So damned hot.

  It’s melting and searing—glorious torture.

  When I can’t take any more, I groan. Against her ear I rasp, “Killing me.”

  The wild animal in me wants to thrust and crash, and ram myself into her, but the moment is too sweet and perfect to break.

  Instead, I clench every frigging m
uscle in my body and hang on for the slow destruction of my soul..

  I’ve never felt such a profound connection. Maybe it’s the stillness. Everything is heightened. So fucking acute it’s like a magnifying glass is pointed right at my heart.

  Our breaths mingle, my body begins to shake. And she’s getting close, her temperature rising beneath my hands. Suddenly her inner muscles begin to clench wildly and spasm.

  Hell yes. She’s coming. Hard.

  Mia buries her face against my neck, “Bishop, Bishop, Bishop,” she whispers. I clench her hard down onto me. My cock jumps. I almost black out from trying to hold back, from fighting my body’s demand to buck beneath her. I grit my teeth and pray I don’t howl like a wild animal.

  I open my mouth in a silent shout, burying my face in her hair. God. Help. Me. I. Will. Not. Yell.

  It’s the orgasm of a lifetime. One I’ll never, ever forget.

  Slowly our shaking orgasms pass. Our bodies begin to cool.

  We are wrung out, our bodies wrapped up, locked in a breathless embrace for the longest time.

  When she pulls back, I realize that we didn’t use a condom. I mean, I guess some small part of my brain realized how incredible it felt inside of her, but my thinking brain was on vacay, seduced into pure bliss by the little vixen.

  My eyes pop wide. Oh damn.

  She touches my face gently, “I calculated my cycle. It’s okay. We’re safe.”

  I relax back against the chair. “It felt so damned good.”

  She smiles, quietly says. “It did.”

  As we clean up the the takeout she asks, “Dessert?”

  “That wasn’t dessert?”

  She grins sheepishly. “No. I got ice cream.” She pulls out a pint of my favorite flavor, Brownie Batter.

  My heart gets an extra little zing. “You didn’t forget.”

  She glances at me as she pulls out two spoons from the silverware drawer. “Of course I haven’t forgotten. I might not have been here, but you are burned into my heart.”

  She starts humming one of the songs she used to perform to as she reaches for two bowls.

  My heart suddenly pinches behind my sternum. I know she loved that song and the routine she did to it. It brings me back to a dark place I’ve been going often. The realization that she’s giving up a lot to be here. “Are you going to be happy here? Staying in this small town without performing and traveling the world?”