Page 165 of Labor of Love

Feeling like I’ve won something, we leave my office and head towards the elevator. The beady-eyed beta pops up, seemingly out of nowhere, making me flinch.

“Sir, your 11:30 am appointment has arrived.” I can see the confusion on his face as I wrap my arm around Rowan’s waist and guide him into the elevator.

“I’m canceling my appointments for this afternoon.” The poor beta’s eyes widen, almost until they look like they could pop out of his head.

Sliding out his foot, he tries to stop the doors from closing. “Sir?—”

“Deal with it Harry, for fucks sake.” I hiss, nudging him back with the tip of my shoe and a stern face. “That’s what I pay you for.”

The doors close and finally I press the ground floor button, muttering under my breath, “Goddess knows it’s not for his barista skills.”

As we start moving, I can feel Rowan’s gaze on me. My arm is still around his waist, and neither of us has made any effort to break our connection.

“What? Don’t look at me like that.” I glance at him. Those big brown eyes are staring up at me, and he’s got one perfectly arched brow raised. “Right. Spit it out. I know that face.”

Clicking his tongue, Rowan crosses his arms. Hints of coconut fill the confined space with the movement. “You know, his name is Henry.”

With a gentle squeeze, I lean down to whisper, “What I know is that he scorches my coffee and it tastes like tar.”

3

ROWAN

Being near him seems to calm me. I don’t know why that surprises me, but it does. He is the father of my baby, after all. In the elevator, I let him hold me, let myself get swept up in the idea that we might be more than just an employee and his boss. Fantasies. Dreams I can’t have. It wouldn’t be right. Pushing them aside, I say nothing as we make our way to the appointment.

Deciding to stay with Zion as my doctor had been an easy choice, I trusted him to keep me safe and deliver my baby—just like he had with Bell’s little one. Since he was also friends with Bell and their friend Shiloh, I’d gotten to know him a little better outside of his clinic. Did I enjoy the trek across town for my scans and check-up? No, but at least the clinic was nice, relaxing almost, with its pastel hues and comfortable furniture.

Sitting in the waiting room, I try not to soften as I see Gideon picking up leaflets and reading them intently before sliding them into his pocket for later. I suppose they’ll come in handy when he has his own family one day.

Mine.

A wave of nausea washes over me.

This was his family.

I was keeping it away from him. I try to tell myself I’m doing the right thing, that this is what’s best for everyone involved, but as he strikes up a conversation with a younger expectant omega woman over feeding schedules, my chest aches.

Finally, we’re shown in by a smiling nurse who directs me to lie on the bed and wait for the doctor. I hand my satchel and coat to Gideon and climb up, getting comfy as I lay back and stoke my growing belly while we wait. It was hard to believe we were just over half-way through the pregnancy already. The baby lets me know they are wide awake and excited for the scan as they move around, kicking me under my ribs.

I must make a noise or something, because Gideon places his hand near mine and grins when he feels the restless baby too. I hadn’t even paused to consider the fact that my boss had followed me into the appointment room and was by my side.

While I’m wondering whether I should ask him to leave, Zion strolls in and grins. Gideon tenses beside me at the presence of another alpha and I lay there, my gaze ping-ponging between the two.

“So,” Zion says with a mischievous grin, as he sits on a little stool with wheels beside the bed and flips through my patient notes. “This must be the baby’s father.”

I sigh, rolling my eyes. “No, he’s?—”

“Yes.” Gideon cuts me off as Zion raises a brow. “I am. So, doctor, how’s our little jellybean doing?”

Zion gives me a look before motioning for me to roll up my shirt. Grabbing the bottle of gel from a warmer, he squirts it liberally on my stretched stomach. Moving the little handheld attachment over my bump, he brings up a grainy image on the screen and a fast, fluttery noise fills the silence.

Gideon’s hand is warm on my shoulder as he gives me a comforting squeeze. I should just tell him. He must know thatI never intended to trap him—that I wasn't a gold digger. I wouldn’t expect anything from him…but he should know.

“Nice strong heartbeat.” Zion nods as he continues to check the screen. “Did you want to know the gender?”

I arch my brow at Gideon, since apparently, we were here together, and he was speaking for us.

“Yes, please.” He grins, his smile wide and there are creases by his eyes as he takes my hand in his and brings it to his lips. It was all too natural. Too gentle. Too loving. Ignoring the emotions surging up inside me, I turn back to the fuzzy shapes on the screen.

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