Surgeon Boss, Surprise Dad
Page 15
Her words cut into his chest, pierced his heart.
“No matter what your future holds, good health or not, I love you,” she whispered. “You, you, and only you. It’s the man you are inside who I love. The person who makes me whole.”
Adam lifted her hand to his mouth, kissed her fingers. “I don’t want to hurt you, Liz. Not ever.”
“I know that.”
Looking into her eyes, he saw the forgiveness, the reality that she did know that he’d never meant to cause her pain.
“I don’t want to burden you.” He squeezed her hand, willing her to understand what he was saying. “If a time comes in the future when you need to leave, I’ll understand.”
She shook her head at him. “Haven’t you learned anything these past few weeks? Being without you is what hurts me, Adam.” She reached across the coffee-table he’d wedged next to the sofa so they could play their game and tangled her fingers in the fabric of his T-shirt, tugging him toward her. Pushing the game board aside, he slid toward her, stopping only when their faces were millimeters apart. “For the record, I won’t understand if you leave me. I didn’t understand a month ago, and I won’t understand at any point in the future.”
“I’m sorry, Liz.” If he told her a million times how sorry he was it wouldn’t be enough to erase what he’d done to her.
“We’re putting that behind us, Adam. It’s in the past.” She let go of his shirt, smoothed the fabric, and cupped his face. “It’s the future that’s important. Our future.”
Her meaning rang clear and his heart almost burst with his emotions for Liz. No matter what, as long as they were together the future would work itself out. They could face any tribulation. Together.
“I don’t deserve you, Liz, but I thank God I have you. I love you.” He kissed her, holding her close, knowing that he’d hold onto Liz with all his heart for the rest of his life.
“I’ll never leave you. Not so long as you’ll have me.”
She smiled brightly, pressing her lips to his. “Good. Then you’re going to be mine for ever.”
“Tell me again,” he said, moments later, wondering exactly how he’d gotten across the coffee-table and tangled up with Liz on the love seat. Adam slid his hand beneath the waist band of her shorts, rested it against the gentle bump.
Liz’s lips curved into a smile. “I’m having your baby.”
Adam let out a joyous whoop that had Liz first rolling her eyes, then sniffling, all the while battling laughter.
He looked into her eyes, saw Liz’s love for him shining brightly and realized he understood how she felt. He would want to stay by her side no matter what, for richer, for poorer, for good health or bad, for always.
EPILOGUE
SWEAT beaded on Liz’s forehead. Never in her life had she felt such intense pain. Not even following her car crash.
Lord, if this baby didn’t get here soon she was going to split in half.
“You’re doing great, honey,” Adam encouraged from beside her, trying to force-feed her another ice chip. Adam’s MS had gone into remission and he’d been symptom-free for months now. They both knew that could change in the blink of an eye, but they kept their hearts focused on what mattered most. Each other.
“Just a little while longer and our daughter will be here.”
They’d been arguing for weeks on the sex of the baby. Adam saying they were going to have a daughter, Liz insisting the baby was a boy. Neither had found out during her ultrasounds and had asked the radiologist to edit any clips that revealed the sex as they truly didn’t want to know until delivery.
“Luther Jacob Cline—” named after Gramps “—will be very upset when he learns his father kept insisting he was a girl. Poor kid might develop a complex.”
“I’m telling you Elizabeth Ann—” named after Liz, as well as Adam’s mother “—is who’s arriving today.”
Another contraction hit Liz, tightening her stomach into a hard knot. “Whoever is in here, I wish they’d hurry.”
An hour later, Liz gave birth to a round-faced little boy. She’d never seen Adam look happier, more proud, more loving, and she knew he’d keep the vows they’d made to one another the very week Dr Bell had OK’d her to put weight on her ankle to hobble down the aisle sans crutches.
No matter what their future held, she and Adam would face it together.
“He’s gorgeous, Liz. The most precious baby,” Adam cooed, cuddling their son in his arms from where he sat next to her on the hospital bed.
Liz glanced into her son’s face, watched him attempt to suck on his fist. “Our baby. If only Gramps were here…”
Adam took her hand, lifted it to his lips, and placed a kiss. “He’s watching from heaven, Liz. You know he is and that he’s proud of you.”
Yes, she did know that and from somewhere above she’d swear she heard Gramps say, “Good job, Liza girl. Good job.”
All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.
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First published in Great Britain 2008
Paperback edition 2009
Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited,
Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
© Janice Lynn 2008
ISBN: 9781408908983
Table of Contents
Cover
Excerpt
About the Author
Title Page
Surgeon Boss, Surprise Dad
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Epilogue
Copyright