Page 6 of Talk Wicked to Me

She rubbed her belly. “Thank you. That’s really nice of you.”

“Yeah, well, I like your dog.” He crouched beside Ollie again and took his face between both hands. “Try to stay away from those tempting cookies, buddy, and take care of your mama and your new baby brother or sister, ya hear?”

Ollie licked his cheek.

“Attaboy.” He rose to his feet.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” she said as he walked her to the door.

“That smile’s enough of a thank-you. Don’t hesitate to use my number.”

“I bet you say that to all the pregnant women who come in here with lettuce in their hair and mustard stains on their shirts.”

“You caught me, but don’t tell anyone or they’ll start flocking to my office.” He winked and held the door open for her. “Have a nice night, Emerson.”

“You too, Dr. Wicked.” She stepped outside, then turned back. “Great name, by the way.”

There went that grin again. “I’m glad you approve.”

As she headed for her car, she was hit with another Braxton-Hicks contraction. She grabbed the trunk, measuring her breathing through the contraction.

“You okay?” He jogged over to her.

“I’m fine.” She waved him off. “It’s just one of those practice contractions. As if women need to practice that part of childbirth. Clearly the powers that be are male, because they have absolutely no clue what pregnant women really need, like practice sleeping.” She exhaled with relief as the contraction ended. With a hand on her lower back, she straightened her spine and drew back her shoulders. “See? Good as gold.”

“Even better than gold.” He nodded to her belly. “Gold can’t bring a life into the world.”

Was he for real? The guys she’d known never said things like that.

He opened the back door to her car, and Ollie jumped in. “Be good, buddy.” He unhooked Ollie’s leash and closed the door, turning a curious gaze on her as he handed her the leash. “You’re really having this baby all by yourself?”

“That’s the plan,” she said cheerily.

“My sister-in-law recently had a baby, and she was nervous and a little scared about giving birth. You don’t seem nervous or scared.”

“I’m not.” It was half the truth. She’d been through a hell of a lot worse things than bringing a baby into the world, and she was trying to be strong. She was strong. What was she supposed to say to the guy? I miss my parents? I wish I hadn’t spent the last twelve years without them? Nobody needed to hear that, including her. She was looking forward to having a family of her own again, and she didn’t need anyone’s pity. “Women have been having babies forever.”

He looked at her like he wasn’t sure he believed her. “Well, Emerson Lockhart, you’re a brave woman. But childbirth and new babies can be trying. If you get nervous or just need a friend to lean on, don’t hesitate to use my number.” He opened her car door for her.

A friend. Now, that was something she could use, but she was pretty sure he was just saying it to be nice. She climbed carefully into the driver’s seat and said, as confidently as she could, “I won’t, but thank you,” as if she wasn’t aching to take him up on it.

With that signature nod, he closed the door.

She glanced in the rearview as she drove away and saw him standing there, legs planted hip distance apart, arms crossed, watching her drive out of the parking lot.

What kind of cruel trick of fate was this?

It was like the universe said, Let’s dangle a sweet, hot guy in front of her when she’s as big as a house and about to be consumed with feedings and diapers and weeks of sleepless nights, and let’s give him a name that’s sure to conjure all sorts of naughty thoughts.

She glanced at Ollie in the rearview mirror. “If I weren’t pregnant, I might thank you for eating that cookie.”

If I weren’t pregnant, I wouldn’t have moved to the Cape.

The thought of not being pregnant brought a wave of sadness, and she rubbed her belly. “Don’t worry, baby. I love you, and I’d never wish you away.” Not even for a hot vet with panty-melting dimples.

Chapter Three

BAZ FINISHED CHECKING on the animals who needed medical care at the rescue and crossed the lawn toward his apartment above his office to change into his running clothes. He hadn’t been able to get Emerson out of his head. Thoughts of her were nagging at him like an itch he couldn’t scratch. His gut told him something was off with her. There had to be a reason she’d moved to a place where she didn’t know a soul right before having a baby. Maybe she had a crazy ex, or a crazy family for that matter. He’d been telling himself not to go to her place to check on her. She was clearly capable of taking care of herself. Although she had enlisted the help of a guy she barely knew to take care of her dog. Baz had already called his buddy Cameron “Cuffs” Revere, a cop and fellow Dark Knight, to check the guy out.