NINE

Eden

“Well, no fucking shit.”

I spun, almost screaming as I barreled nearly full force into my brother.

“Why’d he have his paws around you, Eden?” Colt ignored my greeting, eyes trained on Nash across the kitchen.

I stood frozen in front of my brother. His right arm hung in a cast, left leg casted up to the hip and looking so uncomfortable. He’d hobbled in on a cane. We’d already put in a wheelchair ramp for him, but it would be just like the stubborn ass to refuse to use it.

“How are you? God, I missed you so much.”

“Was only gone for a month,” Colt huffed, sliding down into a kitchen chair and looking exhausted already.

“Didn’t the doctor say you had to use the wheelchair for the first few weeks?” Nash approached, sitting opposite Colt at the small kitchen table.

I hovered at my brother's shoulder, unsure of what to do or say.

Colt seemed…out of it. I knew he was on a ton of pain pills, but this was more than that. He seemed, actually…depressed.

“You didn’t answer me.” Colt nailed Nash's eyes. “Thought you were supposed to take care of my sister, man, not fuck her.”

I flinched at his words. Colt had said a lot of mean things in my life, but nothing like that…

“Take it easy, man,” Nash muttered, eyes hardening on Colt’s.

“Whatever.” Colt pushed out of his chair, stalking out of the kitchen and down the front steps.

He walked on quick, if not stable, steps, all the way across the farmyard to the paddock where Raven rode her horse.

He stood at the fence, most of his bodyweight on the wood, I could tell from here. “He doesn't look too good.”

“Who the hell would? Guy intended to finish the job there. Who wants to come home earlier?”

“And there’s the three surgeries and the two weeks in the hospital.” I sighed when Nash's arms came to rest around my waist.

“He’ll come around.” Nash kissed my neck, hands sliding up my waist and cupping my tits. “These feel bigger. You sure you're not pregnant?”

“You’re relentless.” I chastised with a shake of my head. “Speaking of, we should get going to my appointment for birth control.”

“Right. Wouldn't want to be late for that.” Nash spun me in his arms and planted a kiss on my cheek. A kiss that took my breath. God, I loved him.

“Maybe we can make time for a date after. We may be celebrating, you never know.”

“You wish, Nash Campbell,” I teased, pulling my purse off the hook near the door and throwing it over my shoulder. “Now, are you going to escort me to my appointment or what?”

“With pleasure, ma’am.” He tipped his cowboy hat, eyes brimming with cocky mischief.

“Cowboy wannabe.”

“Drama queen,” he shot back, slapping my ass as we went down the stairs, heading for his truck.

Colt didn’t even spare us a glance when Nash honked and I called that we’d be back in a bit.

Ten minutes and the always fun exercise of peeing in a cup later, the nurse at the doctor’s office was escorting us into a room. I’d told Nash I was okay to go in alone, but his chest had puffed, jaw clenched. He didn’t want me out of his sight he’d said, and who was I to disagree? His overbearing, protective side was only one of the reasons I’d fallen so hard for him, after all. Truth was, I liked him a little caveman.

I looked at Nash, his shoulders hunched as his big body tried to fold up to fit into the tiny chair. He would be nearly laughable if he weren’t gorgeous sitting there, looking so out of place and masculine. I had to resist the urge to crawl into his lap and plead for him to take me right here.

I was about to tease that we should skip dinner and just head home when the doctor tapped on the door, letting himself in.

Nash's eyes narrowed instantly.

The caveman in him never ceased to come out when another man was around, no matter the situation.

“Afternoon, Ms. Sutherland.”

“Campbell. It’ll be Mrs. Campbell soon.”

The doctor’s eyes caught Nash’s for a moment. “Well, that’s good to hear. You may want to get to planning that wedding.”

“Why’s that?” I asked politely, drawing the doctor’s attention back to me.

“Well, Ms. Sutherland, I’m guessing you didn’t realize this, but you’re pregnant.”

My jaw hit the floor.

My heart rattled against my rib cage, fighting for release.

The doctor rambled on about vitamins, appointments, and more, but I had to trust that Nash caught it all. The bastard was riveted and hanging on every word the doctor was saying, dopey grin on his face.

Goddammit, that fucker knew all along.

Well, it wasn’t like I’d really done anything to prevent it, and it wasn’t even like I disliked the idea. I wanted kids, someday. Definitely with Nash, whenever fate saw fit…which apparently was right about now.

Truth be told, I just hated that the sonuvabitch had been right all along. All those times he’d teased me about cravings or my boobs getting bigger, I had been pregnant.

“You knew,” I accused, eyes spearing his.

“Uh, I'll have the front desk schedule your next appointment,” the doctor said, backing out of the door.

“Calm down, baby. I don’t want you getting upset.”

“Oh, shut up.” I launched off the exam table, throwing my purse over my shoulder. Nash’s laugh followed me all the way down the hallway and past reception. “You’re the most infuriating human on the planet right now.”

Once we were all done and outside, he opened the passenger door of his pickup, taking me by the elbow as he gently lifted me in. “Love you too, Tiger.”

I couldn’t help the grin that danced across my lips when he dusted his mouth over mine. “Love you too.”

“Well, don't act so mad about it. This is good news. Means we push the wedding up.”

“Nash!” I breathed, catching sight of his ring glistening on my finger.

He shrugged, shutting my door and crossing around the front of the truck. “So how we gonna break this one to Colt?”

“Oh God, Colt is gonna kill both of us.”

Nash laughed out loud, his rich, throaty voice shaking me to the core.

Whatever happened, I’d be in good company at least

As much as he may infuriate me, Nash was definitely my partner in crime. I knew he always had my back, and wherever I went, he went. We were in this together; it hadn’t taken long for Nash to prove that.

“So what about that date, Mama?” My stomach turned somersaults with his words.

“Mama,” I breathed the word out loud. “I think that just became my new favorite thing.”

Nash grinned, palm landing on my knee and squeezing. “Everything about you is my favorite thing.”