LITMIR.BIZ

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Ravjani chuckled. “I am not the one who must be doing now. Your wife must begin pushing your creation out of his comfortable home. And you are still the cheerleader, Mr. Walker.”

      Begin pushing? What the hell did the idiot think she’d been doing? For hours and hours already. And there was more?

      “Mr. Walker. If I ask for the tray, I am meaning that,” Ravjani barked, pointing to a shallow metal dish filled with gleaming surgical instruments. “And I am needing it quickly.”

      The floor tilted. Blackness crowded the edges of Josh’s vision.

      Then, like yesterday, Dani’s voice, somehow urgent and calm at the same time, cut through the darkness. “Josh. I’ll be fine. Women have been having babies for thousands of years. Just come hold my hand.”

      Like yesterday, he obeyed that voice. Then following Ravjani’s instructions, Josh moved around to the head of the exam table so he could brace Dani’s back with his chest.

      As he touched her, moved her braid to the side, clasped her hands, the black mist cleared. Once again, Dani had rescued him—this time from embarrassing himself.

      “Push when you are ready,” the doctor told Dani.

      “Aauunnh!” She bowed forward, rigid with effort.

      Nothing happened. Eventually, she went limp.

      “Again.”

      She made another magnificent, shaking effort—her chin on her chest, her teeth gritted.

      Still nothing happened, except Ravjani in that damned calm voice said, “Once more.”

      Dani shook and pushed, her face white with the strain.

      “Another time, please.”

      “Uuhn—nah!”

      “It’s a boy,” Ravjani announced happily as he lifted a red and white streaked...thing and laid it on Dani’s stomach. It scrunched up its wrinkled face and gave a little cry of protest.

      “Oh, isn’t he beautiful?” Dani breathed. Beneath her fatigue radiated wonder and joy and exultation.

      Disappointment closed Josh’s throat. All that agony, all that valiant effort—and this was the result? He’d never seen an uglier being. “Oh, Dani, I’m so sorry.”

      Ravjani whisked the thing away. Josh cradled Dani’s head against his chest. Tried to think of something comforting to say. Got distracted by her satiny skin and the damp, silky curls that coiled around her face and over his fingers.

      “There. All presentable.” Ravjani dumped a neatly wrapped bundle in his arms. “Mr. Walker, say hello to your son.”

      Hesitantly, Josh looked down at the newborn infant in his arms. “Oh, Dani, you’re right,” he breathed, barely able to form the words. Well, he was busy—falling hopelessly, ecstatically, deliriously in love. “He is beautiful.” And talented. Just lying there, this tiny baby filled a man’s empty heart. Amazing.

      No, a miracle. “Thank you.” Overwhelmed by the emotions coursing through him, Josh wanted to ravage Dani’s lush mouth. He settled for a light kiss on her forehead. “Oh, Dani—thank you.”

      “Show your gratitude by doing housework,” the doctor suggested, plucking the precious bundle from Josh’s arms, which immediately missed the weight. “Now, little one, meet your mother.” Ravjani handed the baby to Dani.

      Who smiled radiantly at...her son.

      Mine, too!

      Well, not technically, legally or biologically, but... Determination as implacable as forge-tempered steel formed within him. After years of icy grief and anger and anguish, by a freak twist of fate, Josh had a baby—and he wasn’t giving it up. Not yet, anyway. Only a fool wastes second chances.

      Which brought him back to Carrie and the baby she’d denied him. Dammit, why hadn’t she—

      ...Stop picking at the scab.

      Right. He had more important things to think about than the past. Like the rest of his life. The baby he’d just seen born.

      And the woman who’d given him both.

      When Ravjani told him to go away while “we do a little mending,” Josh went. As far as the waiting room. There, be slumped in a molded plastic chair and tried to formulate an agenda.

      High on the list: concretely expressing his gratitude to Dani Caldwell. For saving his life. And giving him the most incredible, fulfilling experience of his life.

      Most urgent item, though? Figure out how to get his hands on that baby again.

      What are my chances of persuading Dani to let me take the baby home to Virginia? he wondered.

      Of course, the baby’s mother would have to come, too.... For a moment he felt Dani’s warm, soft mouth under his again and wondered if he was playing with fire.

      No, he wouldn’t be stupid enough to kiss her again. He knew better than most how to avoid getting burned.

      Anyway, how tempting were a few bone-melting, earth-shattering kisses when be could hold that baby in his arms?

      Sometime later, Ravjani handed Josh a list of things Dani and the baby would need, could do and should avoid. “If you wish to be a good father,” he said sternly, “you will see that these instructions are followed by the letter.”

      After scanning it quickly, Josh flashed the doctor a blinding smile and thanked him for the ammunition.

      Chapter Three

      Dani twisted the motel showerhead and stepped under the spray. Leaning against the wall, she let the warm water sluice over her. “This is ridiculous,” she murmured.

      She’d had the baby three whole days ago. How could she still be so exhausted?

      And what would she have done without Josh Walker? she wondered. Without his reassurance about back labor being normal, without his deep voice encouraging her and his hard chest supporting her, lending her strength while she pushed and pushed against the wall of pain....

      And afterward... I was about as energetic as a hibernating turtle.

      Dani turned so the water could cascade over her hair.

      Josh, on the other hand, had come striding back into the room and told her not to chew her lip off. Then he’d practically ordered the doctor to bring them here, contacted the town druggist and demanded that he not only open his store—on a Sunday evening—but personally deliver the items on the list Dr. Ravjani had given him. Arriving at the town’s only motel, he’d continued to issue commands like the crew chief in a disaster drill. A crib for the baby. Extra pillows. Meals and diapers—even a nightgown for her.

      True, it was old-fashioned, macho bullying at its worst, but at the time, it was just what she needed.

      When she’d tried to protest that she didn’t want to be a bother, Josh had muttered something about just playing his husband role, keeping the story straight until they left No Lake.

      Dani blinked back some stupid tears. Jimmy had been the perfect prom date, a great boyfriend with whom to exchange senior rings and notes in class. But a thoughtful, dependable, supportive husband? Dani shook her head sadly.

      Josh Walker, on the other hand, could give lessons! That first day, he’d helped her in and out of bed as if she was made of fine bone china. He’d brought meals to her from the café across the street. Yesterday, he’d borrowed Ravjani’s car and collected her belongings from the cabin.

      He’d even helped with the baby. Which Jimmy hadn’t even wanted....

      Those dumb tears threatened again, so she thought about the first time Josh had insisted on changing a diaper—his big strong hands had ripped the tape strip right off. The next attempt had fallen to the floor when

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