Page 92 of One Night with the Biker

“You’re young and healthy, and your baby looks fine,” he said with reassurance. “Unless complications arise, the typical schedule is every four weeks until the twenty-eighth week, then every two weeks. Once you hit thirty-six weeks, I’ll see you weekly.”

“You’ll be my attending physician?”

I’d read stories where an OB sometimes sent in one of the associates in their practice, especially if they weren’t on call.

“Even if I’m not, the doctors in this practice are more than capable of taking care of you and the baby.”

“I don’t know them. I know you.”

“We’ll talk about it closer to your due date. Why don’t you get dressed so you can check out? There’s still time before the lab closes to get your bloodwork.”

“Dr. Purdue, right?” Reese demanded, not giving the doctor a chance to respond before saying, “I’d like to talk to you while Ainsley dresses.”

The doctor made a show of looking at his watch. “I don’t have time at the moment.”

“I’m not asking. I’mtellingyou, so make the fucking time. I need to talk to you. It’ll be two minutes, then you’re free to see Kingdom Come for all I fucking care.”

Most people would’ve been mortified at Reese’s threatening demeanor, but most people hadn’t had Roman as a brother. I wondered how either of them would react if I ever pointed out how similar they were in so many ways.

Pretty sure, neither of them would appreciate that observation, which just confirmed how alike they were.

I had to all but do fucking handstands for Razor to give me time to come to Ainsley’s ultrasound. One thing that was becoming abundantly clear was they were pushing my back against the wall and forcing me to make a choice. I told Razor, Jester, Warrior, Bolt, Louisiana, and almost all the officers and the brothers I was closest to that I understood their position. I said it so many fucking times I thought maybe I’d turned motherfucking blue.

Only one thing mattered to them—Ainsley’s relationship to Roman. Not a goddamn thing else. Not the respect the Bastards had for their brothers’ ol’ ladies. Not my years of loyalty andservice. And not me.

Frankly, the argument was tired. I stood on one side and they were determined to draw a line on the other, daring me to make an attempt to bridge the divide. When we returned from the run, I intended to turn in my patch. I wouldn’t desert my club at the last minute, but Ainsley needed me. She wouldn’t have invited me to the ultrasound if she didn’t, so fuck anyone who stood in my way.

I walked into the office with a sense of obligation. She wanted me there and by a miracle I arrived in time. Didn’t expect to find a surfer like motherfucker about my age as her doctor and I acted like a jackass, especially after reading some women crushed on their physicians. I wasn’t jealous—that wasn’t me. I was more like…outraged.

As usual, Ainsley checked my bullshit. I loved the way she stood up to me so fiercely. I’d already fucked up enough, so I stood down, intending to serve as her support.

What I didn’t expect was my reaction to seeing the baby on the ultrasound. I didn’t expect to feel a depth of tenderness for her unmatched to anything I’d ever experienced. Seeing a little blob in grayscale shouldn’t have shot desire and protectiveness into me. I wanted to fuck her with the same fierceness I wanted to keep her safe. She carried a part of me I lost inside her. I needed a moment before I heard the heartbeat. Of course, my question came across as asinine. Still, I could’ve had a month and it wouldn’t have prepared me to hear the baby’s heartbeat.

It was no longer an abstract little being that had turned my fucking life upside down. It was my child.

For Dr. Purdue to brush Ainsley off when she requested his assurance he’d be her attending physician during the delivery pissed me the fuck off.

The doctor guided me into his office and closed the door. I ignored his fancy degrees, expensive furniture and expansive view of downtown.

“Name your price,” I said. “However much it takes for you to be the one to deliver the baby, I’ll pay it. I’ll have someone drop off half tomorrow and half after the delivery.”

“That isn’t the way this works, Mister…?”

“Sinclair,” I supplied. “Money talks, so it’s exactly the way it works. Point me to your billing department by the way. The only one who’s paying for Ainsley’s care is me.”

“You can request to talk to the manager at checkout. I don’t take payoffs, Mr. Sinclair. I took the Hippocratic Oath because of allegiance to my profession and my patients.”

“Don’t consider it a payoff,” I said flatly. “Consider it a fee. It’s important to Ainsley, so it’s important to me and I don’t intend to leave until you agree to do what she wants.”

“Security might say differently.”

“Security might find your fucking body floating in the river, too.”

He drew himself up and I raised my hands.

“I’m not here for a fight, Purdue. I’m here to give Ainsley what she wants.”

“Ten grand tomorrow and fifteen grand after she delivers, in addition to my normal fees.”

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