The chattering of a squirrel broke into Brook’s dream. One minute, she and Robert were waltzing around a ballroom and the next, the squirrel scurried all around the dance floor, causing havoc and ruining their good time.

She awoke with a start and looked around in confusion. The memory of last night’s events came back to her, making her smile.

“Good morning.”

Brooke jumped at the voice and turned her head to see Robert standing in the doorway to the tent’s bedroom.

He wore only his glasses and a smug smile and held a cup of coffee. “Sleep well?”

She narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. “So good that I might have to rename you Thor.”

“I won’t answer to it. I’m partial to Superman now,” he countered. “In fact, I’ve decided that’s what I’ll be for Halloween this year.”

Brooke stretched and sat up. “I have to pee. I don’t suppose you have a latrine out here somewhere?”

He took a sip of coffee and sat it on the floor. “Actually, I do.” Going into the outer room, he picked up something and returned with one of her overnight bags. “Put something on and I’ll show you where it is.”

The backs of Brooke’s thighs protested when she stood up, most likely from the odd position he’d put her in last night. Remembering the incredible pleasure he’d brought her, Brooke thought that a couple of sore muscles were worth it. She didn’t let on, though.

Robert slid an arm around her waist and gave her a brief kiss. She smelled mouth rinse on his breath and became aware that hers must stink. Pulling away, she said, “I really need to go.”

He moved to the other side of the bed and fished a pair of sweatpants out of his hiking pack. Brooke snatched jeans, a tank top, and a pair of panties from her bag and put them on.

“Okay. Ready.”

The naughty gleam in his eyes made her put her hands on her hips. “Robert.”

“Follow me,” he said in response and led the way out of the tent.

Brooke grabbed her bag and followed him down a short trail to a small tent.

“This is the poop tent,” he announced.

Brooke laughed at his pun even though she wrinkled her nose. “You’re gross.”

He shrugged with a grin. “You’ll find everything you need in there. I’ll be back at the tent making breakfast.”

“Okay.”

He turned back to camp and she ducked into the makeshift outhouse.

* * *

When she returned to the tent, Brooke’s stomach growled at the scent of meat and eggs cooking. Robert sat in a camping chair, stirring something in a frying pan that sat on a small camping stove. He still wasn’t dressed and her eyes roved over his muscular upper body.

Her palms itched to run over his chest and a prickle of desire raised Goosebumps along her shoulders. She sat her bag down and took the other chair by the stove.

“Everything okay?” Robert asked solicitously.

She nodded. “Yeah. You really did think of everything in there. I didn’t know they made portable toilets like that.”

“They make things easier, that’s for sure.” He gestured towards the coffee pot that sat on the other burner. “Fresh coffee and there’s sugar and cream on that little table there.”

“Thanks.”

As she fixed her coffee, Brooke pondered what had occurred between them last night. Making love with Robert had been so beautiful she could barely describe it.

Robert had been an intoxicating combination of fun, erotic, and caring. The way he’d touched and kissed her had made her feel so special. If that’s the way he’d been with his former girlfriends, she couldn’t imagine why they’d left him.

“What are you making?” she asked.

“Spam Surprise.”

Brooke laughed. “You are?”

He smiled, his brown eyes crinkling a little. “Yeah. It’s the perfect camping food. Just throw it all in a pan together, fry it a little bit, and you have the breakfast of champions.”

“Or you could call it Heart Attack in a Pan.” She smiled sweetly at his frown. “Just saying.”

“Well, it’s either this or cereal. Your choice.”

Leaning over, she kissed his shoulder. “Or I could have you.”

“You could.” He pressed his lips to hers. “But you better eat first to keep up your strength.”

She laughed and straightened. “Okay. Bring on the Spam Surprise. What’s in it?”

“Spam, obviously, cheddar cheese, eggs, hash browns and various seasonings,” Robert replied.

“Sounds delicious,” Brooke said as her stomach growled.

Robert turned off the burner, scooped some onto two plates, and handed her one. “There’s ketchup and Tabasco sauce. Pick your poison.”

“Neither.” She blew on a forkful of the food and put it in her mouth. Salty, savory, cheesy goodness met her taste buds. “Holy shit. That’s really good. No wonder Kate likes it.”

Robert grinned. “She has me make it any time we go camping. She always makes sure I packed the Spam.”

As they ate in companionable silence, Brooke watched some birds flit around in the trees and a rabbit nibbled new grass growing close to a nearby tree. A cool breeze brought the clean scents of water and pine to her. She had to admit that it was relaxing. No beeping machines or screaming kids. No angry patients demanding faster service or dealing with slow lab techs. Just Robert, good food, and pretty scenery. I could get used to this.

Looking at the man beside her, she watched the way the brisk breeze ruffled his hair and wanted to run her fingers through it.

He caught her watching him. “What?”

“I was just thinking what a good-looking man you are.”

Splotches of color appeared on his cheeks and she was amazed that the man who’d turned her inside out last night had suddenly turned bashful.

He adjusted his glasses and looked down at his food. “Thank you.”

Curious, she asked, “Robert, why don’t you see how handsome you are?”

His face reddened more, but her cellphone ringing intruded. “Hey! It’s Hoss! Pick up!” it blared.

“Damn Chase for putting that on there,” she groused as she hurried over to her purse. She got her phone out and answered it. “Hoss, you better have a good reason for calling me.”

“I need you,” he said. “Can you come to the hospital?”

The panic in his voice made the hair on her arms stand up. “What’s wrong?”

“Anna went into labor late last night. It’s too soon, Brooke. Our little buns were supposed to bake longer,” Chase said. “Things were going okay at first, but then one of the twins shifted and they’re talking about doing a C-section and then they said there’s something else wrong and they just kicked me out of the delivery room a few minutes ago. I don’t know what’s happening and I don’t understand all the lingo they were slinging at me.”

His heavy breathing and the tears in his voice told Brooke that Chase was on the verge of a panic attack. “Honey, you have to try to calm down. Anna and those babies need you to be strong.”

“I know, I know. But they only kick the daddies out when something’s really wrong, right? Please come.”

Brooke said, “Of course, I’ll come.”

“Thank you. Is it my fault?”

Putting a hand to her forehead, she said, “No. Why would you think that?”

“Is it because of my sperm being weak or something?” Brooke’s heart broke for Chase. He’d come to Brooke for advice because he had thought he’d never have children. In his youth, a case of mumps caused doctors to tell him he was likely infertile. So Anna’s pregnancy was a miracle.

Sympathy flooded Brooke. “God, no, Chase. It doesn’t work like that. Sometimes twins come early, that’s all. Chase, you hired some of the best OB docs there are. They’re going to get this figured out and Anna and the twins will be just fine. Okay?”

He sniffed in her ear. “Yeah. They were talking about hemorrhaging and stuff like that. What would cause that?”

“Chase, listen to me. I’ll be there soon, and we’ll see what’s going on.”

“Yeah. I’m sorry to bother you. I’m just scared and hungry.”

Brooke couldn’t help the snort of laughter that escaped her. “When aren’t you hungry, Hoss?”

Her question was met with a forced laugh.

“Is Emily or GQ there?”

“Yeah. Everyone is here.”

“Let me talk to Emily.”

“Okay.”

Muffled conversation was followed by Emily coming on the line.

“Hi, Brooke.”

“Hi, honey. You guys have to calm Chase down,” Brooke said.

“We’re trying,” Emily replied in a hushed tone of voice. “Believe me. Ric even tried singing to him to make him laugh a little.”

Brooke broke into laughter. “Your brother has a lot of talents, but singing isn’t one of them. What are the doctors saying?”

“There might be a rupture, but that’s all we know. No one’s been out for a little while,” Emily said.

Brooke’s antennae went up at that. “Well, shit.” Noise behind her drew her attention. Turning, she saw Robert packing up the cooking stuff. “Okay, you need to get a candy bar or something into Chase. You know he needs to eat when he’s upset. His blood sugar might be low.”

“We tried that, but he won’t eat.”

Brooke pursed her lips for a moment. “Put him back on, please.”

“Okay. Here he is.”

“Hey,” Chase said.

“Hoss, you told me you’re hungry, but you won’t eat. What’s up with that?”

“I don’t know.”

Brooke sighed. “Eat something or I’m not going to come. I mean it, Chase.”

“Aw, hell…”

“Promise me that you’ll eat something!”

“Okay, okay! I promise.”

“Good boy,” Brooke said. “We’ll be there in just a bit. You be strong for your family. Got it?”

“Got it.”

“See you soon.”

She hung up and put her phone against her trembling lips. A rupture could be very serious for both mother and child. Anna had become a very good friend and the thought of something happening to her made Brooke’s body feel icy.

The McIntyres had insisted that Brooke would be an honorary aunt to the twins, just as she was to Hayley and TJ. Thinking about Chase’s low sperm count she knew what a miracle it was that Anna had conceived. They were so excited about becoming parents. It would crush them if the babies didn’t survive.

Robert’s arms came around her and he pulled her back into his chest. “What’s wrong with Anna and the babies?”

“She might have a uterine rupture.” She swiped at a tear. “It happens sometimes with twins.”

“But Anna’s not full term.”

“No, but there could still be a lot of pressure on her uterus from excess amniotic fluid. Or, one of the placentas might have been implanted too deeply. Chase said that one of the twins shifted, which could’ve caused a tear,” she said.

Robert gave her a squeeze. “They have to be all right!”

She could see Robert was as upset about this as she was. She loved how empathetic he was with those in trouble. “I hope so. This could be really serious, Robert. They’ll need to do an emergency C-section and if they can’t repair Anna’s uterus, they’ll have to do a hysterectomy.” Brooke drew in a deep breath.

With a kiss to the side of Brooke’s head, Robert said, “Come on. Let’s get going.”