by Lori Ryan
It still seemed surreal to her that the old Sumner B and B was now her home. Their home.
As much as Max and Devlin had argued about moving in, Valerie had said nothing would make her happier than to know her grandchild would be close enough to walk to her own house. Devlin knew Valerie wanted to gift them the house for more than just proximity of their grandchild. She was making sure Devlin and Max had a place to call their own, a place they wouldn’t want to leave. And she’d succeeded. Devlin loved their new home.
She and Max had insisted Valerie take at least half the market value for the house, though. They’d wanted to buy it outright but fifty percent was as high as Valerie had been willing to accept, despite the fact Max had more than enough money in the bank.
The chunk Max was paying would go a long way toward helping the family meet the loan payments on the lodge. Devlin and he had both agreed they wouldn’t feel right taking the house for less. When they’d threatened not to take the house at all, Valerie had finally caved and taken their offer.
She and Max had both feared Lily would be upset at being relocated. She’d been living in the bed and breakfast for almost a year, with Kayleigh spending the night on occasion. But Lily agreed it was time she found her own place closer to town and was ecstatic to be vacating so that Max and Devlin could start their new lives together.
The nurse weighed Devlin and took her vitals then escorted them into an exam room. She pulled open a drawer and sat a paper gown on the table. “Just undress from the waist down and slip into this lovely gown.” She laughed. “The doctor will be right in,”
When the nurse left them alone, Devlin suddenly felt shy.
Max’s laugh said he knew she was trying to figure out how to get her pants off and into the gown without him seeing her. “You know I’ve seen you naked a hundred times, right?”
Her face heated. “Probably not a hundred.”
He cocked a brow and grinned. “Yet.”
Devlin swung a hand at him but he darted away.
“Come on, woman,” Max motioned to the table, “get up there so I can see my baby.”
“You know the baby is the size of a pea right now, right?”
He shrugged as he helped her pull off her boot, then pants and panties, sliding the gown over her body. “Need a boost,” he nodded toward the exam table.
“Har-dee, har, har.” She laughed. “But yes, please.” Not that she really needed the help, she’d just grown addicted to the way Max could easily lift her in the air and place her anywhere. She almost didn’t want her ankle to heal. Almost.
Max scooped her up and positioned her on the table. They’d both been anxious for this appointment. Despite hearing the baby’s heartbeat at the hospital, they wanted the reassurance of having an obstetrician check the baby.
There was a knock at the door. “You ready?” the doctor asked, poking her head in.
“Yes,” they said in unison.
Canyon Creek’s family doctor, Dr. Glen Olson, had recommended Dr. Toliver. Their small town didn’t have an OB/GYN so she and Max had driven almost an hour to Vail where Dr. Toliver’s practice was located. This was their first visit and Devlin was more nervous than normal.
Dr. Toliver went through the regular greetings and a review of Devlin’s history, including details of the car accident.
“Well, it sounds like you’re okay now, thankfully, so let’s get our eyes on this baby.” She rolled over a cart with an ultrasound machine on top. “That’s why you’re really here, right?” She laughed.
Max slipped his hand in hers and they both nodded.
The doctor pulled out the stirrups from the bottom of the table. “I’m going to do a vaginal ultrasound today, since you’re only six to seven weeks along. It’ll give us a much better image than the abdominal ultrasound they did in the hospital, and a more exact due date.”
Devlin nodded.
“You know the routine.” The doctor nodded to the stirrups and Devlin slowly placed her feet in. God this was going to be embarrassing with Max here.
Max squeezed Devlin’s hand as the doctor began the scan. Thankfully he stood at the head of the table so that he could see the screen.
Devlin tried to remain relaxed but it was difficult with a wand stuck up her hoo-hah. She tried not to think about what would be coming down her hoo-hah in about eight months.
In less than a minute the doctor pointed to the screen. “There’s your baby.”
Devlin stared at the screen, unable to make out a baby, or anything for that matter. All she saw was a small dot inside a darker circle that basically looked like one giant blob. God, she was already a horrible mother. She couldn’t even see her own child.
“That’s the gestational sac,” the doctor moved her finger, “and right there is the baby’s heartbeat. Nice and strong.”
Devlin watched as something thrummed in the center of the dot. Tears pricked her eyes. A heartbeat. She could see it.
Their baby.
“Wow,” Max breathed.
“Oh, my God,” Devlin whispered.
“Hmm” the doctor said, shifting the wand around.
“What?” Devlin said.
“You’re going to feel a little pressure, Devlin,” she said, “nothing painful. I just want to get another angle.”
“Is everything okay?” Max asked, concern vibrating from his entire being. Now it was Devlin’s turn to squeeze his hand.
“Everything’s fine,” Dr. Tolliver said as she pointed to another spot on the screen. “But...,” she paused and glanced up at them with a huge smile. “How does twins sound to you?”
Devlin froze. This couldn’t be happening. “What?”
“Twins,” the doctor repeated, tapping the screen, smiling.
Devlin shook her head. “No, there’s only one in there. There can only be one.”
The doctor laughed. “Trust me,” she said, “there are definitely two babies here.”
Devlin peeked up at Max through her lashes.
He was ashen, eyes wide, mouth gapping, absolutely stunned.
“But, at the hospital,” Devlin said, trying to reason with the doctor, “they did an ultrasound. They only saw one.”
“It can happen this early on with a doctor who might not do ultrasounds all the time.”
Devlin looked at the screen then up at Max, who still hadn’t said a word. She wondered if he was going to pass out. Would this send him running? Would it be too much for him? Shit, it was almost too much for her.
Twins.
His gaze traveled from the monitor to Devlin then to Dr. Tolliver. His mouthed opened and closed several times, like a fish out of water, before he was finally able to speak. “But I only made one cradle,” he said quietly, almost to himself.
“Excuse me?” Doctor Tolliver looked from Max to Devlin.
“You made the baby a cradle?” Devlin asked, tears pricking her eyes as she brought her free hand to cover her heart. “When have you had time for that?”
He looked at her like he only just realized she was there.
Devlin laughed, raising her hand to cup his face.
His smile was breathtaking and assured her he wasn’t going anywhere.
She sighed in relief with a breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding.
“All right,” Dr. Toliver said matter-of-factly. “I want to see you back here in four weeks.”
Devlin hadn’t even realized the doctor had removed the wand.
“Are you two all right?” she asked, holding out a piece of paper.
“I don’t know,” Devlin said, staring up at Max. “Twins.”
“Twins,” he repeated.
Devlin took the paper from the doctor’s hand, staring down at what looked like gibberish. The picture was a black-and-white mess of nothing more than squiggly lines and waves and dark spots.
“Your babies’ first photo.” She smiled.
Babies.
“Are you okay with that?” Devlin asked, glancing u
p at Max.
He smiled, that glorious grin that still sent her heart racing.
“Well, unless you have any other questions,” the doctor said, “I’ll leave you to get changed. You can make an appointment at the front desk. They’re going to have a packet of information for you to look over. There are some special precautions with twins but you should be fine for now.”
Devlin barely registered the doctor’s voice, her gaze trained on Max. His hazel eyes held so much love and promise that she nearly cried.
“I’ll call in a prescription for prenatal vitamins for the pharmacy you listed,” Dr. Toliver said. “Read through the packet and call me with any questions you have, okay?”
“Twins,” Devlin said.
Max remained silent.
“Twice the trouble,” she said expectantly.
Max grinned. “Twice the fun.”
“Devlin,” the doctor called.
She jumped. “I’m sorry, what?”
“I said, read through the packet of information and don’t hesitate to call me or my staff if you have any questions. I’d like to see you again in four weeks.”
“Thank you, doctor,” Devlin said, a ball of unease beginning to build in her stomach.
Max sat frozen while she changed into her clothes, not offering to help this time.
Devlin kept her back to Max while she took a deep breath. This was it. This was the moment he left her.
She turned to face him. “I didn’t do it on purpose, Max, I swear.”
His gaze snapped to hers. “What are you talking about?”
“I don’t know, I’m just scared, I know you didn’t sign up for this. For twins, for any of it. This is more than you were bargaining for.”
“Well, of course you didn’t do it on purpose. It’s probably my fault. I have twin brothers you know.”
She giggled. “Yeah, I’ll blame you, even though fraternal twins come from the mom’s side.”
“Maybe they’re identical,” he said. “I do have pretty powerful sperm you know. My boys can split an egg right in two.” He laughed.
“You’re really okay with all of this? That we’re having twins?” She held up two fingers.
He stood, coming close and pulling her into his arms. His hands slid under her jaw and lifted her face to his. “I’m just happy to be with you, Minx, one baby, two babies or a gazillion.”
Her eyes went wide. “Oh, God, no, not a gazillion please.”
“Okay, we’ll start with two,” he tweaked her nose. “How about that?”
She nodded and smiled.
“I guess I better get busy making another cradle.”
“You really made a cradle?” she asked, her voice muffled.
He nodded.
“That’s the sweetest thing.” She pressed a soft kiss on his lips.
“It’s not finished yet,” he said. “I’ve got a lot to do on it still. And, apparently, now I need to make another one.” He laughed. “I love you, Devlin” he said, squeezing her tight.
Devlin couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. Max Sumner was the bravest, strongest, sweetest man she’d ever known. She collapsed against him, her hands clutching him for dear life.
Suddenly her stomach growled.
“Someone’s hungry?” Max laughed.
“Three someones, actually” she said quietly.
“Well, at least we know why you’re hungry all the time now. You’ve got two baby Sumners in there.”
Devlin glanced up and smiled, thankful he was being so light-hearted.
“Should we get some lunch and then go home and tell the family?” he asked.
“Sounds good.”
Max scooped Devlin up in his arms and swung her around as best as the tiny room would let him.
“Max!” she shrieked.
“God, I love you.”
“I’m going to be sick, if you keep twirling me around.”
Max slowed and lowered her to the ground, slipping down onto his knees. He wrapped his hands around her waist and pressed his face toward her belly.
She didn’t have to ask what he was doing. He talked with the baby regularly now. Well, babies actually.
“Hello babies, it’s your daddy again. I know your mommy sounds scared right now. I mean, having two babies is scary. But I just want you to know that she’s going to be okay, I’ll make sure. So if you hear her freaking out over the next few months, don’t worry.”
“Max,” Devlin slapped his head.
He raised his face and looked up at her. “Marry me.”
She sucked in a breath and tried to step back but he held her tight. “Max, what are you talking about? I…I don’t…”
Max looked at her stomach. “This is what I was talking about, babies. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of her.” He placed another kiss on her stomach and then stood, staring down at her with eyes that melted her heart.
“Max, we just got the house, and now with the twins…I think that’s enough change for now.”
“I’m not trying to change you, Devlin. I’m trying to keep you.”
Her heart melted at his words. But she didn’t want him to marry her out of obligation, as much as she loved the idea. “You can’t just marry me because we’re having twins.”
“Why not?” he asked so simply she had to question herself.
She stared into his gorgeous hazel eyes. They were greener today, lighter than their usual rich brown, which matched his mood she’d come to realize. He was happy, and she was surprised.
“We don’t need a piece of paper to prove we’re committed, Max,” she said.
“Maybe I do,” he said quietly. He released his hold and turned, walking toward the exam room window.
In that moment, Devlin realized something she never had before. Max was just as unsure of the future as she was. He needed a guarantee, proof that he’d always hold a permanent place in her life, and in the lives of their babies.
This was about trust, not a piece of paper. She truly trusted him, not only with her children, but with her heart as well.
She slipped up beside him, her hand resting gently between his shoulders. “Max,” she called softly.
He turned and looked down at her, his eyes growing darker. She hated that she’d made him doubt her love.
“Can we take out the obey part of the vows?” She bit her lip, and grimaced, unsure how he’d respond.
He burst into laughter. “Yeah, I’m okay with that.”
She smiled, relief flooding her. “Then yes, I’ll marry you.”
“For better or worse?” he asked.
“For richer or poorer?” she said. “But I’m really counting on the richer part because,” she pointed down to her belly, “twins.” She shrugged.
“As long as we both shall live?”
Devlin could hear the need for confirmation in his voice.
She braced herself on his shoulders and lifted on her toes. “As long as,” she paused, “you always leave the toilet seat down.” She pressed a small kiss on his lips. “Oh, and as long as you promise to clean out my hair from the shower drain. That’s just nasty, I hate to do it. Oh, and wait, I want to add—”
“Shut up, Devlin,” Max growled, pressing his lips against hers.
Devlin smiled against him. She knew there was nothing Max Sumner wouldn’t do for her and their children. The thought of spending the rest of her life with him suddenly didn’t seem so frightening after all.
She pulled away from his embrace and stared up at green eyes she hoped to see in their children one day. “As long as we both shall live,” she said softly.
Max smiled. “As long as we both shall live.”
We hope you loved Devlin and Max’s story. Aaron and Kayleigh's book is up next! Want to find out more about us and read John and Valerie’s story FREE? Join our newsletter here! You can also follow us on Amazon or Bookbub to be sure you get notices for all of our new releases here.
About the Authors
Hi! it's
Lori here. We could do the boring old bio stuff here—and we will—but, first, I want to tell you about the two of us.
Me and Kay, Kay and me, we're besties and buddies and soulmates and the mostest of everything. We occasionally have to do some serious marriage-counseling-type negotiations when we get into creative differences, but most of the time, writing with Kay is a BLAST! I love, love, love what we create when we get together. When we first started talking about writing books together, I didn't imagine it would be this great.
I'm so dang proud of the books and series we've put together. The heroes are steamy and sexy, the heroines strong and powerful...and, maybe, a little goofy, like me and Kay. We hope you love the people of Canyon Creek as much as we do. We hope you love coming back to the town and visiting again and again. We hope you want to stay there forever. We do.
Now, here's the regular bio stuff I promised, along with links to each of our websites where you can find the stuff we write separately, in case you can't get enough of us!
Lori Ryan is a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author who writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense. She lives with an extremely understanding husband, three wonderful children, and two mostly-behaved dogs in Austin, Texas. It’s a bit of a zoo, but she wouldn’t change a thing.
Lori published her first romance novel in April of 2013 and has loved every bit of the crazy adventure this career has taken her on since then. She is a hybrid author, publishing both independently and through SilverHart Publishing.
To see what Lori writes on her own, visit her website at www.loriryanromance.com.
In addition to being an author, Kay Manis is also a wife and mom. She lives with her husband and daughter in the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin, Texas. In January of 2012, after listening to Kay blather on and on about the millions of book ideas floating around in her head, her daughter finally reached her limit and said, “Just write it Mom!” They were the four most important words to Kay's new career and a catalyst for everything she's done since. In other words, she owes it all to her daughter! If you ask Kay, she'll tell you she can’t thank her daughter enough for her motivating words and belief that Kay could do more with her talents.
