“I agree. But we have enough trouble convincing them to come this early. You wouldn’t believe how stubborn they can be.”
 
 I glanced toward Pierce. “Oh, yes I can.”
 
 “Hey. I’ve been extremely easygoing.” He narrowed his eyes.
 
 “Whatever you say, dear.”
 
 Trina snorted a laugh. “I like him, Pierce. He’s a good match for you.”
 
 He smiled grudgingly. “Yeah. I think I’ll keep him.”
 
 The door opened and an older man came in. He rubbed his neatly trimmed beard as he studied Pierce. “Do my eyes deceive me? Is this the irascible Pierce MacPherson, hater of all alphas, I see pregnant before me?”
 
 “Doc, you knew he was coming.” Trina winked at me.
 
 “I know, but it’s not often I get to gloat. Do you know how many conversations I had with this young man trying to convince him that one day he’d meet an alpha that would change his mind?”
 
 “We didn’t have that many conversations,” grumbled Pierce.
 
 I chuckled, and the doctor turned his amused gaze on me. “You must be the magical alpha.”
 
 My face warmed. “Well, magical might be a stretch.”
 
 “It was timing. Timing and chemistry.” Trina clutched a clipboard to her chest. “You met the right alpha at the right time.”
 
 “Yeah.” Pierce gave me an affectionate look. “Seth is pretty cool.”
 
 “Pretty cool?” I arched one brow.
 
 Trina grabbed the blood vials. “I’m going to drop these over at the lab. Hey, Pierce, be sure and tell Doc about your nausea.” She left, closing the door behind her.
 
 The doctor put his stethoscope in his ears and moved closer to Pierce. “You’re still having nausea?”
 
 He nodded. “It comes and goes.”
 
 “Lift your shirt, please.” The doctor pressed the end of the instrument against Pierce’s chest and listened. “Inhale.” Pierce obliged. “Exhale.” He moved the stethoscope around to Pierce’s back and had him do the same thing. Then he had him lie down, and he pressed the little round dial to his belly. “Is the nausea mostly in the morning?”
 
 “It’s when I’m around food. When I’m cooking mostly.”
 
 “Well, you might just have a very keen sense of smell, and that’s why it bothers you.” He straightened. “We’ll be able to tell more when we get the sonogram and your blood work back.”
 
 “Do you think there’s a problem?” I asked breathlessly. The very idea that Pierce or the baby might be in danger had me light-headed with worry.
 
 “I prefer to base my opinions on science, not guesswork. But Pierce is a young, healthy male. I don’t see why he wouldn’t be able to carry to term.”
 
 I swallowed hard. “You, of course, know about what he went through before.”
 
 “Yes.” Dr. Peters nodded. “We’re the ones who nursed him back to health.”
 
 “Is there any chance all of those drugs and abuse might have injured him in some way?”
 
 The doctor sighed. “There’s always that chance. But like I said, I go by facts.”
 
 “I’m sure it’s nothing. Lots of pregnant women can’t cook dinner when they’re pregnant.” Pierce touched my arm. “You worry too much.”
 
 I nodded, trying to ignore the fear in the pit of my stomach. “I just don’t want anything bad to happen to you or the baby.”
 
 “That’s why we’re here, Seth. Dr. Peters and Trina know what they’re doing. Let’s let them do their job and not freak out ahead of time.” He sounded so reasonable, I felt guilty that I was possibly upsetting him.