Unexpected Complication (Harlequin Super Romance)

by Knupp, Amy

  Hesitating for a beat, Devin wondered if Trent was out to cause trouble, maybe try to make him leave so Carey didn’t get more upset than she already was. For once, Devin wasn’t sure he could blame her brother.

  He followed Trent outside the room and eased the door shut behind him.

  “She know you’re here yet?” Trent asked.

  “No. I just got here. She’s been asleep the whole time.” He braced himself.

  “My mom and Phillip are in the cafeteria. They’ll be back up soon.”

  Devin nodded.

  “She cares about you.”

  Devin slowly turned to meet Trent’s gaze head-on. He didn’t say a word, wanting to see where he was going with this conversation.

  “She didn’t want you here last night.”

  Devin nodded. “We had…a disagreement.”

  “Any woman who protests that much about having a man visit her in the hospital is in love.”

  Devin gave a half-hearted chuckle. “Something like that.”

  “Look, I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but I do know she really cares about you. And if that’s so, then I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. That is, if you really care about her.”

  Devin sized him up. “I care about her.”

  “Hurt her and you’ll hear from me.”

  “I have no intention of hurting her.”

  Trent nodded once. “Let’s go back in and make sure Sleeping Beauty’s behaving herself.”

  Making peace with Carey’s brother could very well turn out to be the easiest part of his day.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  DEVIN KNEW the exact instant when Carey woke up, even though she didn’t immediately open her eyes. He’d been staring at her for almost an hour, willing her body to heal itself. He slumped on an uncomfortable vinyl-cushioned chair and his feet rested on the bottom side rail of her bed.

  Her eyes flickered open and focused on him for a split second, then shut again. He watched her face, and the distress he saw there ripped at his insides.

  He stood and leaned over her. “Carey.” His voice sounded gravelly, as though he’d just woken up. He only wished this were a bad dream and he could wake up.

  Her eyes eased open again, but she didn’t speak.

  “How do you feel?” he asked.

  In slow motion, she licked her lips and cleared her throat. “Scared shitless.” Her raw honesty choked him up. He read unmitigated fear in her face.

  Sitting on the edge of the rock-hard bed, he grasped her hand, aching to do anything that would help her. “Do you need something? A drink of water?”

  She nodded, and he jumped up to fill a cup from the pitcher on the table. As she maneuvered herself upright, he held the cup to her lips.

  “I wish you’d let Monica call me last night. I would’ve been here in a second.”

  It suddenly occurred to him that maybe it was best the way things had happened. If he’d spent the night in a vigil by her side, he might not have figured out his future was with Carey.

  “Didn’t want to bother you.” She seemed like a stranger, ill at ease with him near.

  Devin dropped the subject. This wasn’t the time to scold her for anything. Now was the time to help her get better.

  He wanted to tell her everything he’d figured out in the past few hours about being a father to her child, but he didn’t dare bring up any of their personal problems here. Not now. Not in the state she was in.

  All he could do was sit here holding Carey’s hand.

  He regretted he’d taken so damn long to see the light. Why couldn’t he have figured it out before last night? If he had, if he’d been able to take Carey into his arms when she’d told him she loved him, she might not have wound up here in this cold, sterile room, fighting for her health and her baby’s life.

  He tried to swallow the lump in his throat. He needed to be strong for Carey now. To help her believe everything would turn out okay.

  As soon as she was stable and he could take her home, he hoped he’d be able to convince her they had a future together.

  Carey closed her eyes again. Devin was the last person she wanted to see. It hurt too much. She fought against the tears forming beneath her eyelids. Didn’t he realize how much the sight of him tormented her? The pain of last night was as fresh as if it’d just happened.

  But she wasn’t about to admit it.

  She had to put him and the turbulence he caused in her heart to rest, had to block them out, because her tiny baby was depending on her body for a few more weeks in the womb.

  Carey focused on breathing deeply and evenly, hoping Devin would move off her bed, figure she was asleep. When she finally heard him shift to the chair again, she turned over carefully, attempting not to jostle any of the monitors and cords she was hooked up to.

  Her baby had been her priority for weeks, and now the child was all she had. She resumed her deep breathing and alternated breaths with pleas to the powers that be that her little girl would be okay.

  HOURS LATER, the nurse finally worked up Carey’s discharge papers. Her blood pressure had gone down significantly, thank God. Dr. Estes had sentenced her to full bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy. She had no idea how she’d manage lying around for ten weeks, but she’d do it somehow if it would give the baby more time to develop.

  She’d never been so overcome with relief.

  Devin hadn’t left her side since he’d arrived. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. She’d finally sent her mom home to get ready for her honeymoon. Carey had called her a few minutes ago to tell her and Phillip to go ahead and get on the plane.

  “Doc wants you in bed or on the couch all the time. You can get up to pee,” the nurse said harshly. It was an act, Carey knew, because throughout the day, the older woman had proven she was a sweetheart with her caring attentiveness. “You’ll need someone to take care of you. No cooking, no walking, no working, no sex.” She trained a meaningful look on Devin, and Carey resisted the urge to correct the nurse’s assumption they were a couple.

  “Don’t worry,” Devin said. “She won’t lift a finger.”

  The nurse went over the discharge papers with her—with them, actually, since Devin hung over her shoulder like a meddling grandmother. Carey signed them and moved to the edge of the bed to get up and dress.

  Devin handed her the clothes her mom had brought in, his gaze fixed on her protruding abdomen. Instead of the frown she expected to see, the corners of his mouth actually turned up. “She’s getting huge,” he said.

  She placed a protective hand on her stomach and couldn’t help smiling down at it, imagining the baby who was responsible for her increasingly cumbersome middle. “Grow away, baby,” she whispered. The sadness caused by Devin’s presence was greatly outweighed by her relief to be going home with her baby still inside her.

  Once she’d pulled her clothes on in the private bathroom, she went back to sit on the bed, waiting for the nurse’s return as she’d been ordered to do.

  “You’re supposed to lie down,” the nurse said gruffly as she charged back into the room pushing a wheelchair.

  “But I’m leaving—”

  “Watch her,” the nurse said to Devin, but Carey could see a spark of mischief in her eyes.

  “I suppose it’s out of the question for you to let me walk to the car.”

  “In the chair,” Devin said, his voice stern. His expression softened when she met his gaze though. “Enjoy the ride.” He wasn’t acting like the man who’d turned her away last night.

  Once they were in his SUV, silence settled around them, and the events of the night before taunted Carey. She couldn’t ignore reality now that they were out of the sterile hospital.

  “Where are you taking me?” she asked.

  He glanced over at her. “To your apartment so you can pack your bags.”

  “I’ll stay there until Trent can come get me.”

  “I’m not about to leave you alone. Either yo
u can pack your bags and stay at my house, or I’ll wait with you.”

  She sighed. Arguing about it wasn’t worth the effort or the upset. He could hang around if he wanted to, but she intended to ignore him.

  The more she was around Devin, the harder it would be to remember… It would be far too easy to let herself believe everything was hunky-dory if she let him take care of her. No matter how tempting the delusion was, her heart couldn’t afford it. She wished she hadn’t given her mom the go-ahead quite yet. Carey hadn’t been thinking about who would get stuck waiting on her.

  He reached across the front seat and grasped her hand. “We need to talk.”

  Rehashing the dead end they’d arrived at last night was the last thing she needed. She couldn’t afford to get worked up. “Please, Dev. Let it go.”

  “Will you give me a chance, Carey? I promise I won’t do anything to upset you. Please.”

  “I don’t want to drag out everything again. There’s no point.”

  “We have some new ground to cover,” he said, and she couldn’t miss the faint smile on his face.

  Intrigued, she sat back and stopped arguing. She was curious enough she’d hear him out, although there was very little he could say to change their situation. If she felt her stress level rise, she’d call Trent or Monica to get her out of there right away.

  As they pulled up into the driveway, Devin spotted a familiar car parked in the street. Instead of the annoyance and combativeness that normally struck him at the sight of his cousin, he felt strangely calm, albeit protective of Carey.

  “What’s he doing here?” she asked, apparently noticing Jerod, too.

  “We’ll find out. Try to stay calm.”

  He got out and walked around to her side to help her down from the high seat. Jerod approached from the street. Instinctively, Devin put an arm around Carey’s waist.

  “Hello, Jerod,” she said as he neared.

  “Carey.” He nodded at her. “Devin.”

  “What’s going on?” Carey asked.

  “I’d like to talk to you…to both of you, actually. Could we go inside?”

  Devin and Carey exchanged a brief, puzzled look and she nodded.

  “Carey just got released from the hospital,” Devin told him, hoping he’d get the clue not to upset her.

  Jerod’s eyes widened. “Everything okay?”

  “Blood-pressure problem,” she answered. “It’s okay now.”

  They made their way up the long flight of stairs, and Carey dug around in her purse for the key. She finally located it, and Devin took it from her and unlocked the door.

  “Let’s go in the living room so Carey can relax,” Devin said. “This won’t take long, will it?”

  Jerod shook his head.

  Carey sat at one end of the sofa and Jerod took the other end. Devin remained standing and noticed that Jerod held on to a file folder.

  “What’s going on?” Carey asked.

  “Well,” Jerod began. “This is awkward, but what the hell. I’m heading to Oklahoma City to be part of a new station we just purchased. It’s a fresh challenge, and frankly, there’s no reason for me to stay here.”

  “Congratulations,” Carey said, still looking confused.

  “Thanks. Anyway, I’m feeling a little strange about leaving you here with loose ends. I know you don’t want anything from me,” he added quickly. “But…” He shrugged. “I’m pretty sure I’m missing out somehow. Never thought I’d feel that way. But you’ve made your wishes clear, Carey, and I intend to honor them.”

  Devin’s dislike of his cousin eased ever so slightly at that moment. “What’s in the folder?”

  Jerod looked up at him, seeming to size him up. “It’s none of my business what’s between you two. Doesn’t matter, I suppose. But I saw how close you were at Grandfather’s funeral.” He glanced at Carey. “I’ve had an attorney draw up paperwork for me to give up all paternal rights.”

  Devin wasn’t sure he’d heard right. Both he and Carey stared at Jerod.

  “I don’t want you to worry about me having a change of heart, whether you’re with Devin or someone else. You and I didn’t work out, and I might be the loser in that. But. Anyway.”

  Jerod stood and set the folder on the makeshift coffee table. “I hope that helps you in some small way, Carey.”

  Devin couldn’t help smiling as he looked at Carey. Tears pooled in her eyes. When she met his gaze, he raised his eyebrows in question.

  She nodded briefly and started to stand.

  “Uh-uh,” Devin said, putting a hand out to keep her on the couch. “Bed rest.”

  She sniffed loudly. “Jerod. Thank you. Kind of odd circumstances, but I appreciate what you’re trying to do.”

  He tried a smile that didn’t quite work, then nodded. “I need to go. You’ll be one hell of a mother, Carey.”

  Jerod went outside and Devin followed him, telling Carey he’d be right back.

  Once out the door, Devin spoke. “Thanks, man.”

  “I hope she’s okay….”

  “She will be. I’ll make sure.”

  Devin stuck his hand out and Jerod shook it.

  “Good luck,” Devin said.

  “You, too.” Jerod looked at him strangely, then started down the stairs.

  Halfway down, he stopped and turned back to Devin. “You going to marry her?”

  “Sure as hell going to try.”

  Jerod grinned nervously. “Don’t invite me to your wedding.” Then he took off the rest of the way to his car without looking back.

  DEVIN WENT BACK inside, relieved to return to the cooled air after baking in the late-afternoon sun that beat down on the landing outside.

  Carey still sat on the sofa. “About that talk. Do you want to rest first?”

  “Hell, no. I’ve been resting all day.”

  Carey eyed him as he went into her bedroom. Both cats had apparently been camped out in there because they came shooting out at once.

  When he returned, he carried a pillow and a fuzzy blanket. She allowed him to fuss over her, arranging the pillow on the sofa’s end and holding the blanket up in front of her, despite the fact she sat upright.

  “Down,” he said.

  She complied, stretching out on her side and allowing him to cover her even though she wasn’t cold. She was dying to know what he wanted to say. He seemed way too upbeat for it to be bad news.

  He sat on the floor, inches from her face, pulling his knees up and resting his arms on them. He took his sweet time to begin speaking, and the suspense drove her crazy.

  “Speak,” she said. “Say what you want to say before my blood pressure spikes again.”

  “I’m not sure where to start…”

  “The beginning’s good.”

  He drew out a breath, and Carey took in the rugged profile of the man she loved too much. He was close enough she could almost count his eyelashes.

  “I had a moment of reckoning this morning,” he finally said, still not looking at her. “It finally hit me that the thing I want most in my life is you.”

  Hope reared inside her and she hardly dared to breathe.

  He folded his hands together and cracked his knuckles. He was nervous, which touched Carey immensely.

  “You scared me to death today.” She could see him struggle to swallow, and he lifted his face. “I love you so much, Care. Seeing you in that hospital knocked the wind out of me. Confirmed how much a part of my life you already are.” He reached under the blanket and took her hand. “You…and that little girl.”

  Her heart thumped in her chest, and she grasped his hand tightly.

  “I kept thinking how awful it would be if anything happened to her.” He paused as if he had to search for the right words to say. “It would be awful if I could never hold the baby you’ve been carrying for months.”

  She understood exactly what he meant, because the same what-ifs had haunted her for the past eighteen hours or so. Her throat tightened in spite of her
attempt to stay even-keeled.

  “She’s become such an inherent part of you. I want you, Carey. All of you. Your laughter, your drama…your daughter. I want her to be our daughter.

  He rubbed the back of her hand absently. “I swear to you, I wanted this before Jerod dropped his little bomb.”

  “I know,” she said. “I could tell something had changed before he showed up. I just didn’t dare to hope…”

  He squeezed her hand lightly and his eyes bored into hers. “He’s history. He doesn’t want the child, but I do.”

  Tears flooded her eyes as she stopped resisting the hope. “Are you serious?”

  He nodded. “More serious than I’ve ever been.”

  He propped himself up on his knee, grasping her hand with both of his now. “I want to marry you, Carey. Want to marry you and the baby and be a family.”

  She saw it in his eyes. Knew it in her heart. If he had any lingering doubts, he would never talk about marriage.

  She sat up, not letting go of his hands. “Don’t you dare tell me to lie down right now,” she threatened. “You have to be sure about this, Devin. One hundred percent sure.”

  He rose to sit on the couch next to her, his blue-gray eyes not leaving her face. “I’ve never been so sure about anything.” He raised her hand to his lips and pressed a tender yet compelling kiss to the back of it. “Be my wife, Carey.” His voice had dropped to a near whisper.

  She burst out in something between a laugh and a sob. “Yes! If that was a proposal, this is a yes!” Joy made her feel lighter than air, which was saying a lot, considering how heavy she really was.

  He leaned over her, pushing her onto her back. “That was a proposal.” He kissed her full on the mouth. “And there’s no backing out now. You and the baby are stuck with me.” He kissed her again, propping himself up on his knees to avoid smashing the baby in question.

  “I want to marry you soon. Want to give the child my name, if that’s okay.”

  Okay? It was a dream come true. For years, she’d yearned for the perfect family she didn’t have, never once guessing she already knew the right man to make it possible. “I think that would probably be just fine.”