Page 27 of Not the Bodyguard's Widow
Alex’s thoughts chased around in his mind like the six-year-old soccer team he’d coached last year. Laughing, yelling, and headed for the wrong goal. He took a deep breath. “First, tell me why she thinks you need an ultrasound today.”
“Mrs. Capps says I might have placenta previa. Where I have had so many miscarriages, I have a higher chance because of the surgery they use to clean everything up.”
“What is placenta prev—?”
“Previa. The placenta is in the wrong place and could detach. This early in the pregnancy, with rest, it can move to a better position as the baby grows. But...” Kimberly didn’t finish the sentence.
Alex closed his eyes and prayed. What would his father do in this situation? What should he do? Mrs. Capps was correct. A legal change of name and a disguise would keep Kimberly safe. Alex also suspected that a marriage, even a sham marriage, would give Mrs. Capps some peace that her neighbors weren’t “living in sin.” He smiled at the absurdity of the thought. He wanted to consult Abbie, though he didn’t need to call his sister to know what she would say after she stopped laughing and warned him not to fall in love with his fake wife. “What are the risks of placenta previa?”
“It depends. I am not bleeding much. Extreme cases need hospitalization, sometimes blood transfusions, and the baby is at some risk and may need to be delivered cesarean.” Kimberly laid a protective hand on her abdomen, the gesture tugging at his heart.
Thanks to Abbie’s pregnancy, he knew having to deliver the baby now would mean a slim chance of survival and weeks and even months of hospitalization. If his insurance could make a difference, there was only one answer.
“I’ll do it.”
“What?” Kimberly’s head shot up.
“I’ll marry you, today.”
10
Kimberly openedand closed her mouth, trying to form a coherent sentence. “You can’t. I can’t. This is so wrong. People aren’t supposed to marry for health insurance.”
“That isn’t the reason I am doing it.”
Her hands twisted the tissue in her lap. “Then why?”
“Because it is a brilliant option, and your baby’s life may depend on the ultrasound.”
He was a nice guy, but next time she married, it would be for the right reasons, not for money as her mother advised. A fake marriage was so risky. “We can go to Elkhart. I won’t let them touch me other than getting the ultrasound, and I’ll insist on pictures.”
Alex shook his head. “No, you are not going to a clinic like that.”
Kimberly looked at her phone. “You’ve known me for twenty-four and a half hours. People don’t do this unless they are in crazy romance novels! I can’t ask you to do this.”
“You didn’t ask. I’m volunteering and keeping you safe.”
“You can’t go around marrying women because you are their bodyguard.”
“You’re correct. Mr. Crawford and Mr. Ogilvie would be very upset.” The smile on Alex’s face grew.
“What will your family say?”
“It’s about time.”
“And when our relationship ends? Because you know it will.” He needed to see reason. This wasn’t some joke. Just because Mrs. Capps’s solution solved several problems didn’t mean it was a good one or the only one.
“When it ends, I hope we will still be friends.” He gave her a warm smile. If he smiled that way even once a week for the next twelve to fifteen weeks, he’d make it impossible to walk away.
“You can’t marry clients because they are widowed and pregnant and need to hide.” Kimberly hugged her arms and repeated her argument, hoping to get him to see reason. “This is crazy. We met only yesterday!”
Alex’s phone beeped, and he held up a finger. “Hello?”
Kimberly sunk back into the couch and rubbed her head. There had to be another way. Another doctor. Alex was too kind. He’d ruin her for another marriage. In only twenty-four hours he had her believing good guys still existed. Someone out there deserved a guy like him.
Alex tapped her arm and handed her the phone. Candace’s face filled the screen. “Alex says you are being difficult. Don’t you know the first rule of bodyguards is to never say no?”
“If I hadn’t told my old bodyguards no, I’d be a prisoner in the house in California. Sometimes no is necessary.”
