Sliding my hips onto the examination table, I shivered slightly at the feel of the cool, crinkly paper under my hips. The thin cotton gown did little to keep me warm in the always chilly room. I glanced over at Ward, swinging my feet restlessly. My heart gave a little kick to my ribs when I saw the look on his face. He was looking at me, his gorgeous silver-smoke gaze steady. The muscle ticking in his jaw gave away a hint of nervousness though.

He swallowed, the sound audible in the small examination room. I was twenty-two weeks along now, and we were here for my scheduled ultrasound. Today, we could find out if it was a boy or a girl. We’d had a funny discussion about it this morning with Ward declaring he didn’t want to know if it was a girl because, if it was, he’d probably have a heart attack.

Hands on hips, I’d glared at him. “What’s wrong with a girl?”

He’d spun to face me where he stood by the counter. “Nothing, absolutely nothing. I’m just afraid I’ll worry a lot more.”

“Have you ever worried about me?” I’d countered.

In two long strides, he was standing right in front of me. His hands lifted to cup my cheeks. “Yes. The whole time we were in training together, I worried about you. Not because I didn’t think you could handle yourself. It was never that. You’re stronger, smarter, and braver than probably any man I know. Hell, most women probably are. It’s just you mean too much. It’s all I can do to deal with worrying about you.”

My heart kicked up a notch at his words. I lost my words entirely. For a man who didn’t talk very often, when he did, he took my breath away.

As I recalled that conversation, his eyes broke from mine to study the floor in the examination room. Within seconds, he glanced back up as if he sensed my gaze on him. I smiled. “Don’t worry so much. It’ll be fine.”

He shook his head, a bark of a laugh coming out. Leaning back, he shifted his shoulders with a sigh. “Doctors make me nervous.”

At that moment, there was a quick knock on the door. Ward looked at me, his brow furrowing in confusion.

“They always knock just to make sure it’s okay to come in,” I explained. “Come in,” I called out.

Dr. Jenkins stepped into the room, closing the door behind her and adjusting her glasses. Her gaze bounced between us. “How are we today?” she asked

“Better. Like you said, the queasiness is wearing off. It’s not as bad as it was for a few weeks there.”

Nodding, she adjusted her lab coat as she slipped onto the stool nearby, spinning the attached monitor toward her. Clicking a few keys on the keyboard, she scanned the screen and then turned to me. “So have you decided?”

I glanced to Ward.

“Why are you looking at me?” he asked.

“Well, we weren’t sure this morning.”

A smile teased at the corners of his mouth, and he lifted a shoulder in an easy shrug. “Let’s find out. That way we can get used to the idea.”

Dr. Jenkins’ lips quirked, but she stayed quiet. Ward caught her eye with a sheepish smile. “Go ahead and laugh. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. I’ve never had a baby. I mean, I’ve never been about to be a father,” he clarified.

She did laugh then. “There’s a first time for everything. No matter what, it’ll be an adventure. Plus, you’re here”—she paused, her gaze sobering—“and that says a lot.”

Ward simply nodded, leaning forward in his chair and resting his elbows on his knees.

She stood, glancing to me then. “Okay, you know the drill.”

Rolling onto my back on the table, the sound of the paper crinkling was distinctly loud. In short order, she was handing me the wand and asking me to guide it inside. She squirted the gel for the ultrasound on my belly, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover it was warm. “Oh that’s nice. I was bracing myself.”

She flashed a quick smile. “I know. We got a heater. Believe it or not, we had to get special permission for that.”

Ward was quiet from where he sat. I felt her sliding the rolled instrument over my belly, and she adjusted the wand inside of me. Within a few moments, she was speaking softly.

“Everything looks great. Can you see?”

I craned my neck to see the screen, the grainy black and white view coming into focus. “See, there’s the head,” she said, gesturing to the screen.

I felt Ward stand, coming to the side of the table, one of his hands resting on my calf, his touch warm. I was overcome with emotion—to have him here, to have this happening. Even though it was all a big accident, sometimes accidents were the best thing ever.

“Okay, last chance to tell me you don’t want to know if it’s a boy or a girl,” Dr. Jenkins said softly.

Rolling my head, I glanced over to Ward. His eyes caught mine. For a beat, it was as if we were all alone. Intimacy arced between us, alive and shimmering in the cool air, both of us asking each other the same question without saying a word.

At his gentle nod, I answered, “We want to know.”

“It’s a boy.”

Wild joy spun inside my heart. Ward held my gaze, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Well, I guess you don’t have to worry then, do you?”

He gave my calf another squeeze, his hand sliding up over my knee. “Oh no, there’s still plenty to worry about.”

Staring at him, I was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion. Again. I was smiling so hard, my face hurt. I didn’t realize I was crying until Dr. Jenkins handed me a tissue.

“I’ll give you two a few minutes alone,” she said before quickly helping me remove the wand and wiping the gel off my belly.

Flashing a warm smile between us, she stepped out. “I’ll be back in a few. There are a few more things we have to go over.”

As soon as the door clicked shut behind her, Ward leaned over, startling me when he caught my lips in a kiss. As he drew back, he brushed my hair off my cheek, the tenderness in his gaze nearly making me cry all over again.

“I really don’t care if it’s a boy or a girl. I’m just glad it’s you and me and whatever is about to happen next,” he murmured.

I stared at him, my heart thudding hard and fast. I couldn’t quite believe this man—who I’d thought would be nothing more than one night and a searing memory, burned into my heart and soul—was now a permanent part of my life.

* * *

A few days later, I was in the kitchen at Ward’s house. Somehow over the last few weeks, we’d migrated over to his place more frequently. Perhaps because he had more space. Although I loved my little cabin, it hadn’t been built with a family in mind.

Opening one of the cabinets, I pulled out a cutting board and started chopping vegetables.

I discovered Ward loved when I cooked. I happened to be fairly good at it, so I’d been making an effort to have dinner ready for him whenever he got home. With my new, mostly normal schedule now, it worked for me to do it. Plus, I enjoyed seeing the surprise on his face every night.

Hearing the sound of tires coming down the driveway, I couldn’t help the tightening in my belly and the butterflies amassing there. I doubted I would ever lose the sense of anticipation I felt when it came to him. I stayed busy chopping vegetables, forcing myself not to run to the window and stare outside like a foolish girl with a crush.

As it was, he surprised me. I heard him step inside and the door close behind him. All of a sudden, there was a scurrying sound across the floor and something was twining around my feet. I glanced down to see a small bundle of brown fur wiggling like mad against my legs. “Oh my God! It’s a puppy.”

I leaned over and lifted it up into my arms. A quick glance and I knew it was a girl. She had curly, silky brown fur, and honestly, she looked like a little brown mop. Her wide brown eyes were barely visible amongst the fur. I snuggled her against my shoulder, laughing when she started licking my face.

Glancing over, I saw Ward as he leaned his hand against the counter, watching me with the puppy. “Jesse‘s dog had puppies two months ago, so I thought I’d surprise you. She was the only one left.”

I looked at the puppy again and almost burst into tears. I’d cried more in the last few months then I’d ever cried in my life, although I cried as much with joy as anything the last few weeks. Ward, somber and serious by nature with such a tendency to keep to himself, continued to surprise me with how sweet he could be.

Ward was at my side in a flash. “Why are you crying?”

I grinned as a tear rolled down my cheek. “I’m happy. I can’t believe you did this.”

He stared at me, his eyes flashing silver. “I’d do anything for you.”