Page 26 of Bridles and Bribery

“I can’t wait.” She sobbed out the words. “I’m so glad you made it to Dallas safely.”

“Me, too.” He didn’t tell her about getting grazed by a bullet. It was something he’d sworn Gil to secrecy on. Jillian had been through enough. Right now, the only thing he wanted her to focus on was carrying a healthy baby to full term. “I love you.” He hadn’t realized it was possible to miss another person this much. He craved her presence right now. Her touch. The way she always made him feel when they were together.

“I love you, too, sweetheart.” Her voice grew dreamy. “Miss you like crazy.”

“The feeling’s mutual, babe.” He let out a gusty sigh of self-pity over the number of miles currently separating them. “So, uh…I read through that paperwork you signed with the surrogacy firm.”

She drew a tremulous breath. “When did you find the time for that?”

“En route to Dallas.” He omitted the part about how turbulent his flight had gotten. “Bottom line is this. They’re smoke-screening you with the paperwork. Since you’re the biological mother, it’s within your right to sue the donor for child support.”

She fell silent.

“Did you hear me, Jills?”

She started speaking again in a rush. “Is that what you want, Dave? Child support?” Her voice rose incredulously.

“Honestly? I’d rather not risk having them counter-sue you for visitation privileges.”

She made a whimpering sound of protest. “They could do that?”

“In exchange for child support? Yes. Whether visitation privileges would be granted is another story.”

“That’s something I’d rather not risk, either.” She sounded adamant.

“I’m good with whatever you decide, babe. Just wanted you to know your options since the surrogacy firm hasn’t been straight with you.” Dave didn’t like the fact that they’d provided no reason for the donor backing out of the agreement. Had they done it under duress? Were there any extenuating circumstances? He wasn’t a fan of legal loopholes. Loopholes could come back to bite a person.

“I’d much rather return to work and earn my own income,” Jillian continued in the same fervent voice.

“That’s not what this is about.” Getting her to return towork was the last thing Dave had been trying to bring up. He couldn’t have cared less if she ever earned another penny. He made more than enough to provide for their family.

“I know, but I fully intend to pull my weight in our marriage, Dave.” She sounded anxious.

“I’ve never doubted it.” He should’ve put more thought into the topic before bringing it up. He hadn’t meant to upset her or make her feel inadequate.

“I’d like to talk more about this when you get home.” Her voice grew pleading. “I, um…have some ideas about what I’d like to do with the rest of my life.”

“Like loving me and helping me raise a kid?” he teased, though he knew she was referring to her professional endeavors. Knowing her, her ideas would be good ones.

“Those two items are at the tippy top of my list,” she assured softly, “second only to loving and serving God.”

“Where have you been all my life?” he groaned, flopping back against the queen-sized bed in his hotel room. The moment his shoulders connected with the mattress, he regretted the flop. He’d all but forgotten about the wound on his arm.

“Only a few miles down the road from your office while I was working in the ER.” Jillian’s voice was rueful.

“I know, right?” In a town as small as Heart Lake, it was crazy that it had taken so long for them to meet. He spoke through gritted teeth, hoping the pain he was feeling didn’t mean his wound was getting infected. He was probably going to have to pop a few pain pills before his first meeting with his client later this morning. Gil had done him a favor and called Jan Jacobson to apologize for his late arrival.

“Dave, are you okay?” Jillian asked suddenly.

“Yep.” He focused on breathing through the pain.

“You don’t sound okay.”

“If you and the baby are okay, I’m okay,” he assured huskily.

“Right back atcha, big guy, and you’re not okay. I can feel it,” she insisted. “So quit pretending you are. I’m your wife, remember? You don’t have to be okay with me. You can just…be.”

Her words brought tears to his eyes. “Have I told you today how much I love you?”

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