Page 6 of Rowdy & Kat

“It was false labor,” Maria growled between clenched teeth. “She’s scheduled for a C-section next week. You can leave.”

“Oh, that’s right. You’re the funny twin. Now, stop joking and take me upstairs, before my family shows up here and makes a scene.”

Suddenly panicked, Maria stared at the lobby doors. “Why would they show up here?”

“I told them about the baby as I was leaving. They’re going to track me down to find out what’s happening.”

“Uh-huh,” Maria said and hit the elevator button. “I’ll take you up to see Kat, but be nice.”

“Oh, I will.”

“No mean comments about her weight or how red she is from crying.”

“I know how to act around pregnant ladies. My cousin had a baby at the end of December, and I never once made Elle feel bad.”

“Sure,” Maria said and entered the elevator.

As I followed her inside, I ran my hands through my hair. “How do I look?”

“Like a thug.”

“Sure, but do I look like a sexy thug?”

Refusing to find humor in my words, she muttered, “Kat’s very pregnant. Your looks don’t matter.”

“So naïve,” I replied and shook my head. “Kat wasn’t visiting my clubhouse for my intellectual skills.”

As we left the elevator, I felt Maria fighting a smile. Instead, she only narrowed her eyes and snarled at me.

“Be nice,” she warned again. “Kat’s insecure about her size.”

“Well, she’s carrying my kid. Of course, she’s going to be plump.”

Maria stopped marching down the hallway and eyed me. “Did you really want to date her?”

“Yes.”

Anger easing, Maria asked, “Are you mad she didn’t inform you about the pregnancy earlier?”

“Yeah, a little. Right now, though, I’m excited to see her.”

Maria studied me. When she bit her bottom lip, I felt like I was looking at her sister.

“I’ll let her tell you herself.”

“Tell me what?”

“Kat should be the one to explain the gender and other details.”

Maria knocked quietly on a door, opened it a crack, and poked her head inside. I heard her say my name. She turned back to me and glared like a ferocious beast.

“If you make her cry, I won’t care if you’re a biker,” she warned. “I’ll neuter you and deal with the consequences.”

“Fair enough. Not scoot your ass out of my way.”

Maria rolled her eyes and opened the door. I sauntered inside, unsure what I’d find. My heart raced in that wild way it always did when Kat entered the clubhouse. Her long, golden-blonde hair somehow shined in the hospital room’s dull lighting. Kat’s green eyes widened at the sight of me.

Even with her looking very pregnant, extremely tired, and super blotchy, Kat was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.