Page 27 of The Doctor

KADE

I swearRaine is trying to test my patience. She’s been walking about the house all day in the shortest of shorts and a cropped tank top that shows off so much of her stomach, I’ve been walking around with a semi all day.

Needing some fresh air and to burn off my frustration, I decided to go for a run. Five miles doesn’t do the trick, but I don’t want to leave her alone for any longer. While Raine is feeling better this morning, she’s barely eaten anything, and when I look at her, I can see the exhaustion on her face.

Pulling my discarded t-shirt out of my back pocket as I hit my driveway, I wipe away the sweat that’s running into my eyes. Punching in the code on my garage door, I step inside the house and hear Raine talking.

“I’m doing so much better,” she says. “When Kade comes back, I’ll ask him if I can travel.”

She’s ready to leave. I thought she was comfortable here now that we hashed things out.

I find her sitting on the couch with her legs tucked underneath her and her phone up to her ear. “Where are you going?”

Her eyes widen as she looks up at me. Swallowing hard, she drops her eyes. “Oh, he’s here. Let me call you back after I talk to him.” Disconnecting the call, Raine smiles sheepishly up at me. “You’re back.”

“I am,” I smirk as she follows a drop of sweat down my neck, between my pecs, and down into my shorts. “Were you hoping I’d stay gone longer?”

“Of course not. This is your home,” she untucks her legs and moves to stand. Placing my hand on her shoulder, I stop her and sit down beside her.

“Where are you hoping to go?”

“How do you know I want to go?”

“I guess I don’t. I thought since you said you wanted to talk to me that you would like to travel, but maybe I’m your excuse to not go.”

“I don’t want an excuse, but if you think I should stay here, I will.”

“Okay, why don’t you tell me where and when you’re going first, and then I’ll tell you what I think.”

“Lexie was just hired for a photoshoot in Rio. It’s kind of a special place for her and Ryder, and she needs me there if I can travel.” Her smile is wide, and I can tell she’s bursting to go.

“When would you go, and for how long?”

“In…” she unlocks her phone and looks at her calendar app. “In two-and-a-half weeks we’d leave, and we’ll be gone for a week.” Looking back up at me from under her lashes, Raine gives me a pleading look that I have no chance of saying no to.

“That’s soon.”

“I know, but Lexie didn’t want to pass up the opportunity. Like I said, it’s a special place for them. Is it safe for me to go?”

“It’s hard to say when you’ve only been taking the medicine for a little over twenty-four hours. I think it would be best if I travel with you to make sure you don’t get sick again.”

“Oh,” she blinks several times. “I think that’s unnecessary. Most pregnant women don’t travel with doctors in tow.”

“No, they don’t, but most aren’t as sick as you’ve been, and most don’t have a… what’s the term? — a ‘baby daddy’ who is an obstetrician. If you want to go, I insist that I go with you.”

Why do I keep putting my foot in my mouth? Things have been on good terms between us since we talked last night, but most of that time was spent sleeping. When I saw how excited she was to go on this trip, I didn’t want her excitement to stop. All I want to do is to be a part of it.

“Okay, I need to talk to Lexie, but I’m sure we can make it work. Do you think you’ll be able to take time off? It’s very short notice.”

It is, and it might cause a problem with the other doctors, but something deep down is telling me that I need to be on this trip with Raine.

“I’ll have to do some rearranging, but I think I can make it work. Do you not want me to come?” I quirk an eyebrow at her.

“Um… I… of course, I want you to come if you think that’s what’s best, but I don’t want it to cause you any problems.”

“Let me worry about that. Your job is to rest and grow our baby.”

Leaning forward, Raine lifts her hand and hovers it over mine but eventually drops it into her lap. “Does that sound as weird to you as it does to me?”

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