by Leanne Banks
“Damn good to hear your voice. I was starting to wonder if you’d disappeared or headed to Chantaine or Italy without letting me know,” he said.
“I wouldn’t do that,” she said. “I’ve just been tied up with my sisters. How are my boys?”
“Your boys are screaming to see you. Even Suzanne says they miss you. Come over for the weekend,” he said.
Her heart jumped again and she began to pace. On the one hand, she was desperate to see Ryder again. On the other hand, she was distracted by the possibility that she could be pregnant. Ryder had been much more intuitive about her worries than she would have ever expected.
He made a buzzing sound. “Time’s up. Because you didn’t say no, that must mean yes. I’ll pick you up around five,” he said.
“Wait,” she said breathlessly. “Let Raoul bring me. That way he can go through his security protocol and I won’t be hassled by him or my brother. Hopefully,” she added in a low voice.
“Good,” Ryder said. “The twins have a trick they want to show you. See you soon,” he said.
“Trick?” she echoed, but he’d already disconnected the call.
Anticipation zinged through her and she giggled. Her mood felt as if it had lifted into the stratosphere. Amazing that he had that effect on her so quickly. Frightening, really, if she thought about it too deeply, so she wouldn’t.
A few hours later, she tried to ignore the lecture Raoul was giving her about how she was taking risks and how she should stay away from windows.
“Your Highness, do you understand what I’m saying?” Raoul asked.
“Absolutely,” she said.
“You haven’t been listening to a word I’ve said,” he said.
“That’s not true. I’ve listened to at least every third word you’ve said. I’m not reckless, but I won’t let my position steal my joy. You never know how long you’ll have that opportunity. There’s so much drudgery you have to grab the joy.”
Silence followed. “That’s remarkably deep, Your Highness,” he said. “But after protecting you for five years, I’m not surprised. You hide your depth well,” he said, glancing at her through the rearview mirror.
Bridget felt a twist in her chest at her guard’s revelation. “Thank you, Raoul. You deserve sainthood for being my guard.”
“You are not as bad as you profess,” he said. “But stay away from windows and call me before you walk outside the house.”
She laughed as he pulled the car to the curb of Ryder’s home. “Way to slide in those instructions,” she said and opened her door before he could. “Ciao.”
Before she arrived on the porch, the door flung open and Ryder greeted her, sweeping her inside. “Your men are waiting for you,” he said and pulled her into his arms.
He felt so strong and wonderful and alive. She felt as if she’d come home. She was safe and more whole than she’d ever dreamed possible. He picked her up and spun her around and she couldn’t help laughing.
“You act like you haven’t seen me in a year,” she said, squeezing his strong shoulders.
“It has been a year,” he said and searched her face. “Right?”
A shriek sounded just a few steps away.
Bridget glanced at the floor and saw the twins scooting toward her and Ryder. “Oh, bloody hell,” she said, panicked. “They’re moving! We have to stop them.”
Ryder roared with laughter. “That was my first response, too,” he said and squeezed her shoulders. “But crawling is next. After that, standing. Then walking.”
Bridget stared, torn between exultation and cold fear, and shook her head. “What are you going to do?”
“Cope,” he said. “Manage them, if such a thing is possible. The good news is they get worn out a lot faster,” he said.
Tyler stopped at Bridget’s feet and gurgled.
Her heart twisted so tightly that she could hardly breathe. “Oh, you darling,” she said and bent down to pick up the baby. She groaned. “You’ve gained weight. Is that possible?”
Ryder picked up Travis and extended him toward Bridget. She gave the baby a kiss and cooed at him. He cooed at her in return and her chest expanded, filling her with an overwhelming sense of love and emotion. “Oh, you darlings. I’ve missed both of you.”
“Both?” Ryder asked.
“All three. Especially you,” she said and sank onto the sofa with the baby on her lap. “The last few days have been full of drama. Poor Phillipa has been seduced by one of our family enemies. She’s such an innocent. I know he’s taken advantage of her, but I’m hoping she’ll regain her sense.”
“Who’s this enemy? I thought you Devereaux were peaceful and moderate,” he said, joining her on the sofa.
“We are for the most part,” she said. “But the LaFittes have been bad news for our family. One of them murdered my great-uncle. And one seduced my father’s bride away from him,” she said.
“I can understand the first, but the second, not so much. You wouldn’t have been born if your father had married a different woman,” he said.
“True,” she said. “But the LaFittes are still on our don’t list. No discussion,” she said.
“What about me?” he asked in a rough voice. “Am I on your don’t list?”
Her breath hitched in the back of her throat. “Probably, but that hasn’t stopped me, has it?”
His lips lifted in a lazy half grin. “Guess not. I ordered Italian for dinner. Bought red wine on the way home.”
“Sounds great, but I’m all about water these days. I’m on a new diet that favors lemon and lime water. It’s supposed to cleanse the toxins. Do you have any limes?”
Ryder blinked. “Limes?”
“No problem. Filtered water is good.”
“So, red wine is out?” he asked.
“Just during my lime phase,” she said with a smile.
They watched the twins scoot around the den until they wore themselves out. Ryder rocked Tyler and she rocked Travis. It took only moments before Travis was drooling on her shoulder. She met Ryder’s gaze and he gave a slight nod and they carried the babies up to their cribs.
Seconds later, they walked downstairs and shared a late meal. Although Italian fare didn’t appeal to her at the moment, Bridget pushed the food around her plate to make it look as if she’d eaten it. Later, she took her plate into the kitchen and pushed the contents into the trash can.
Did this mean she was pregnant? she wondered. She loved Italian food. If she hated it, now what did it mean? Her stomach twisted into a knot, but she took a deep breath and returned to the den. “Delicious dinner,” she said and sat down beside him.
“You didn’t eat everything. It must not have been that delicious,” he said, sliding his arm over her shoulder.
“I had a late lunch and I’m watching my girlish figure,” she said with a smile.
“I’ll take care of that second job. I have no problem watching your girlish figure,” he said, sliding his lips along her neck.
She laughed, exulting in his caress. Turning toward him, she lifted her mouth to his. “Kiss me,” she said.
“Is that an order?”
“Kinda,” she said.
He gave a low, dirty chuckle and did as she commanded.
The next morning, Ryder awakened early. Bridget’s back was pressed against him. His hand was curled around her bare waist. Her skin was butter soft against his palm. It was a good morning. The best kind of morning. Bridget was with him.
He couldn’t remember a time when he’d been more at peace. Something primitive inside him drove him to keep her with him. He started to understand why men kidnapped their women and kept them in luxurious captivity. Which was crazy. When had he ever felt this need for a woman? When had a woman ever filled up all his emptiness and need?
Bridget wiggled against him, then suddenly raced out of bed to the master bath. A couple moments later, she returned, carefully crawling into the bed and inching herself toward him.
Several t
hings clicked through his brain. His gut twisted. “Bridget,” he murmured against her ear.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Are you pregnant?”
Silence passed. Way too long. His heart sank. Another baby? He couldn’t imagine it. How in the world—
“I don’t know,” she finally said. “I’m late.”
A half dozen emotions sliced through him. He couldn’t speak.
“How late?” he finally managed.
“A week and a half,” she said, still not turning to look at him.
“We should do a test,” he said.
“No,” she said. “I can’t take a test, and you can’t do it for me. The press is watching me even more than usual now. I want to know as much as you do, but a few more days may give us the answer without any exposure to the press,” she said and finally turned toward him.
“You’re late. No red wine. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Her eyes clouded with turmoil. “Our relationship is still new. We haven’t made any sort of promises to each other.”
His heart pounded against his chest. The thought of another baby scared the crap out of him. His brother’s babies had become his own. The baby he shared with Bridget would be his to protect as well.
“If you’re pregnant, you need to start taking prenatal vitamins as soon as possible. You need to get on a regimen—”
“And if I’m not, I can go back to my red wine–swilling, unhealthy ways,” she said.
He bit the inside of his lip to keep from laughing. “I still think you should let me do a test.”
She shook her head. “Three more days. I’ll live healthy until then.”
He searched her face. “I would protect you if you’re pregnant with my child, Bridget. I would marry you. I would protect our child.”
Her eyes still swam with emotion, some of which he couldn’t read. “That’s good to know,” she said and tucked her head under his chin. “Can we talk about something else until then?”
Ryder spent the weekend secluded in happiness with Bridget. They shared the care of the twins, took the boys for a stroll in the neighborhood despite Raoul’s protests and spent their nights together, his body wrapped around hers, her body wrapped around his.
He returned to work Monday wondering if she was pregnant, wishing he could keep her with him. He met with Dr. Hutt.
“Dr. Robinson is still having financial problems due to his family. It’s distracting him from his duties,” Dr. Hutt said.
Ryder immediately felt defensive. “We need to look for a solution instead of immediately booting him out of the program.”
“I agree,” Hutt said, surprising Ryder with his response.
“What about your princess friend?” he asked, leaning back in his chair. “Wouldn’t this be a perfect solution? She gives him a bonus scholarship, he takes a tour of her country. Win, win.”
“Are you serious?” Ryder asked.
“Yes,” he said. “You and I must manage residents from all eco-social backgrounds. Not everyone is from your background. Not everyone is from mine.”
For the first time in months, he felt a measure of hope. Maybe, just maybe Hutt could see past his privileged upbringing. “Are you sure you shouldn’t push him harder?” he asked. “Maybe he just needs to work more.”
His colleague frowned. “He’s already working hard. Harder than I ever did,” he said.
Ryder was stunned. He’d never known Hutt was capable of such insight. “When did this change happen?”
“The last time you and I met, I went home and couldn’t sleep. For several nights. Dr. Walters not only kicked my butt, he also encouraged you. He wasn’t one man to the residents. He stepped into their shoes and gave them what they needed. As advisers, we have to do the same.”
Ryder shook his head. “When in hell did you become a reasonable man?”
His colleague laughed. “It’s amazing the kind of perspective a wife can offer when you choose to talk to her.”
“Your wife did this?” Ryder asked.
Hutt shrugged. “Professionally speaking, of course, she didn’t,” he said.
Ryder felt a change click through him and extended his hand to Dr. Hutt. “Give my best to your wife,” he said.
“And give my best to your princess,” Hutt said.
One day later, Bridget called him. He was in surgery, so he checked his messages. “Meet me today. Name the time,” she said. “I have good news.”
His day was crazy, but he managed to meet her at a quiet cocktail bar after work.
“Rough day?” she asked as she sipped a martini.
He felt a crazy surge of disappointment. The last couple of days, he’d secretly begun to like the idea of having a baby with Bridget. “You’re not pregnant.”
“I’m not,” she said and lifted her glass to his. She smiled in relief. “Cheers.”
“Cheers,” he said. “And damn.”
She blinked. “Damn?”
“Maybe I could have forced you into a shotgun marriage if you were pregnant.”
She laughed and took another sip of her martini. “I wouldn’t want a shotgun wedding for you or me,” she said.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I think we could have made the best of it.”
She sucked in a deep breath and glanced away. “Perhaps, but now we don’t have to,” she said with a shaky smile. She bit her lip. “My other news is that another medical center has stepped forward to participate in our program.”
Surprised, Ryder searched her gaze. “Really?”
“We finally have doctors willing to come to Chantaine,” she said, relief crossing her face. “I followed your advice and found experts willing to visit Chantaine and give training. And this medical center is willing to offer our scholarship and package to their residents. So far, two have signed up for our program. They weren’t our first choice, but Stefan is confident this arrangement will be in the best interest of the country.”
“Wow,” Ryder said. “What a coincidence. Today Dr. Hutt and I agreed to send one of our residents to Chantaine. He’s a talented generalist, but he has financial issues you can solve. Still interested?”
“Of course,” she said. “I shouldn’t say we’re desperate, but we’re definitely open. We’re also going to need a new director for Chantaine’s Health Center, but that’s clearly a work in progress.”
“I guess this means you’re headed for Chantaine…or Italy,” he said, his gut tightening into a square knot.
“Not right away, but very soon,” she said. “I’ll go back with Phillipa.”
Chapter Twelve
Ryder returned home well after 9:00 p.m. after meeting Bridget for cocktails and dinner. He had arranged for Suzanne to stay late to watch the twins, but Marshall greeted him.
Marshall handed him a beer. “Hey, big guy. Congratulate me. Suzanne and I got married this weekend in Vegas. I sent her home because she was tired out. I kept her pretty busy this weekend,” he added with a wink.
Stunned for the third time today, Ryder stared at Marshall. “What?”
“Suzanne and I got married. Don’t worry, she’s determined to still be your nanny even though I told her she could be a lady of leisure.”
Ryder accepted the beer and took a sip. “Oh, Lord help me.”
“That’s not quite a congrats, but I’ll take it,” Marshall said, giving Ryder a fist bump. “You look kinda strange, big guy. What’s up?”
Ryder shook his head and sank onto his couch. “Just a crazy day. Are you sure Suzanne is still going to take care of the twins?”
Marshall sat on the other side of the couch. “Yeah. She’s determined. You know she can’t have babies, right? That’s why her husband left her. His stupidity, my good luck.”
“Bridget mentioned something about it,” Ryder said, his mind falling back a few days to when her pregnancy had still been a possibility. And now she would be leaving soon. He knew the twins would miss her.
“Yeah, I told
her there’s more than one way to crack that nut. Getting a baby. We’ll check out the IVF stuff, then we’ll look into our adoption options. She was surprised I would be open to that. She’s an amazing woman. I would do anything for her,” Marshall said.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were going to do this?” Ryder demanded.
“You’d already warned me away from Suzanne, but I wanted to get to know her. It took some work to get her to go out with me, but I knew she was the one for me. She’s the first really good woman I’ve met and I knew I didn’t want to let her go.”
Ryder felt a twist of envy that Marshall had been able to overcome the obstacles that might have kept him and Suzanne apart. “Congratulations,” he said, extending his hand.
Marshall nodded and smiled. “Still can’t believe I was able to talk her into eloping. Of course, now is the hard part, but with her, I don’t think it’s gonna be that hard.”
“She’s a strong woman. If anyone can keep you in line, she’s the one,” Ryder said.
“Yeah, speaking of women, what’s up with your princess?”
Ryder’s gut tightened again. “I think she’s headed back to Chantaine soon.”
Marshall’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Whoa. I thought you two—”
“Temporary,” Ryder said. “For Pete’s sake, she’s a princess, and I’ve got my hands full with the boys and my position at the hospital.”
“Hmm,” Marshall said. “I could have sworn you two had it going on. Shame you couldn’t work it out. Sorry, bud,” he said and thumped Ryder on the shoulder. “Hope you don’t mind, but my wife is waiting for me at home.”
“Okay, okay,” Ryder said with a faint smile. “Just make sure she gets enough sleep to take care of the boys.”
Marshall just gave a dirty laugh and walked out the door.
Ryder stared into the distance and felt more alone than ever. For the most part, he hadn’t minded being alone. In the past, it had meant he had to take care of only himself. All that had changed when his brother had died and Ryder had taken on the twins. Now it was just him and the twins.