It’s Baby Time
Remy
I’ve been tossing and turning all night long, unable to get comfortable. It’s not surprising I can’t get comfortable, with my belly big enough to have its own zip code. Somehow Dex has managed to sleep through my shifting and grumbling. He’s snoring peacefully beside me, making me smile.
I never thought this would be my life; nine months pregnant with a gorgeous man in my bed…and I’m happy about it! Don’t get me wrong, I’m fucking terrified. But, I’m happy too. Ridiculously happy, in fact.
A sharp pain in my lower abdomen makes me gasp. My hand flies protectively to my stomach as I gasp from the sensation. After a second the pain recedes a little but doesn’t end entirely. I attempt to sit up and feel a sudden rush of wetness between my legs.
What the hell? Did I just pee myself?
“Dex,” I reach over and shake his shoulder, trying not to let myself panic. Is something wrong with my baby? “Dex, wake the hell up.”
Dex blinks awake with confusion. “What’s up wrong?”
“I don’t know, it hurts and something’s wet. Dex, I’m scared.” The words are difficult for me to admit but as the pain spikes again I can’t hide my fear. Dex sits up, suddenly wide awake, concern etched in his face. He reaches out and puts a hand on my belly, before speaking to me in a soothing tone.
“Everything’s okay darlin’, take a few good deep breaths for me.”
A sob escapes my throat as I try to do as Dex says, but find it nearly impossible to calm my panicked breaths. His comforting hand moves to my back and starts rubbing comforting circles.
“Breathe for me, please. A few nice deep breaths,” he instructs, still calm as a damn summer day. How is he not as freaked out as I am right now?
“Daddy?” Maya appears in the doorway looking sleepy and concerned.
“Everything’s alright princess. I need you to be a good girl for me and go get your shoes on.”
“Are you okay mommy?” Maya asks me, still standing in the doorway. I’ve finally managed to start taking deep breaths like Dex instructed, and the sound of Maya calling me ‘mommy’ spreads warmth through my chest. She started a few weeks ago, right after she started preschool and realized the other kids mostly had two parents. She came home and asked Dex if I was her mommy. He explained to her that she never lived in my tummy like the new baby does, but if she wanted to call me mommy she could because I love and take care of her like a mommy.
“Maya, princess, mommy is okay. I need you to go get your shoes on because the new baby is coming now so we need to go to the hospital.”
Maya complies, padding out of the room to find her shoes.
“I’m having the baby now?” I ask, another shot of pain gripping me.
“I think so,” Dex says before kissing my shoulder tenderly and climbing out of bed. He comes around to my side of the bed and helps me up.
“I’m scared, Dex.” I admit, barely above a whisper. He gives me a sympathetic smile then smooths my hair down.
“You’ve got this Rem.”
I give him a skeptical look and absentmindedly rub my stomach. I’m about to push a human being out of me. What the hell was I thinking getting knocked up?
“I’m going to be there with you every step of the way.”
I’m still not convinced, chewing on my bottom lip.
“Plus, you don’t really have a choice. Our little girl is coming right now whether you’re ready or not,” there’s a hint of amusement in his tone that actually relaxes me a little. I nod with resolve and waddle to the dresser to pull on a pair of sweatpants. Dex yanks on a pair of jeans and grabs our ‘go bag’ before ushering Maya and I out of the house.
Dex calls his mom on the way to the hospital to tell her to meet us there. She’s going to pick up Maya from us and then bring her back to meet the new baby once it’s out of me. Good god, I feel like I’m about to live through a scene in Alien.
“Seriously Rem, you’ve got this.” Dex puts a reassuring hand over mine.
“Easy for you to say, you’re not pushing a human being out of your junk today.”
Dex chuckles.
“Fair enough, but I promise it’s going to be worth it.”
*****
Seventeen hours and a ton of cursing and sweating later our baby girl is born. When the doctor passes the wrinkly pink miracle to Dex there’s a distinct sheen of tears glistening in his eyes. He kisses her fuzzy head and whispers to her all kinds of promises about never letting anything hurt her.
Then he looks up and our eyes meet, emotion wells in my chest and prickles my own eyes. “You did amazing darlin’. Are you ready to hold our little jelly bean?”
I nod wordlessly, not trusting my voice at the moment. I open my arms and Dex arranges her for me.
“We never did decide on a name,” Dex says, sitting beside me and gazing down at our daughter in my arms.
“What about Callie?”
“I like it, she looks like a Callie,” he agrees.
After a few more minutes the nurse says she’s going to take Callie to the nursery so I can rest and Dex goes to get Maya and his mom. Before he leaves he kisses me hard and gives me a sneaky sort of smile I can’t decipher.
Dex
“Okay, princess, I think she’s waking up. You remember what you’re going to do?” I ask, kneeling down in front of Maya in the hallway outside of Remy’s hospital room.
“Yes daddy,” she smiles proudly and holds her hand open to me. I take a deep breath and place the ring in her hand before turning her to face the room and waving her in. She scrambles up onto the bed as Remy blinks awake.
“Hey baby girl,” she opens her arms to let Maya snuggle up to her.
“Do you love me mommy?” Maya asks with her best ‘getting what she wants’ look. I do my best to keep from laughing at the blatant manipulation I’ve got my five year old daughter doing on my behalf.
“Of course I love you, Maya.”
“If you love me, then will you marry my daddy?” She smiles widely and opens her hand to hold the ring out to Remy. I hold my breath and step into the room, bracing for a reproach but hoping for an enthusiastic ‘yes’.
Remy gasps at the sight of the ring and then looks towards me. She squints her eyes with accusation.
“I believe Maya asked you a question, darlin’.”
“This has to be the most Machiavellian proposal ever contrived.”
“You said I couldn’t propose while you were pregnant. I respected your request,” I point out. “Now, are you going to leave my princess hanging or what?”
Remy rolls her eyes but I see the hint of a smile playing at the corners of her sweet lips.
“Yes, I’ll marry your manipulative yet sexy father,” she tells Maya, plucking the ring from her hand and sliding it on. Then she pulls Maya in for an embrace.
“Can I get in on that?” I ask, but instead of waiting for a response I squeeze onto the bed and wrap my arms around both my girls. The timing is perfect because the nurse arrives seconds later with Callie and my world is complete.
“Maya, meet your new little sister.”
Maya’s eyes are wide as she gently touches Callie’s tiny hands.
“I’m going to teach her so many fun things daddy.”
“She’ll like that princess.” I kiss Maya, then Callie, and finally Remy. My heart is so full I feel like it might burst.
“I’m really glad you stormed into my apartment that day and called me on my bullshit,” Remy whispers.
“Any time my beautiful impossible girl, any time.”
Synopsis:
The only thing more difficult than catching her, is keeping her.
Dex:
I’ve spent the last four years in self-imposed celibacy. It was going fine until I met her. Remy Harris, the wild eyed vixen no man can pin down. She’s more than willing to have a good time, but I’m looking for so much more than that.
Remy:
Love ‘em and leave ‘em. It’s safer that way. In my experience all men are looking for is a good time anyway. It’s better to give them what they want and walk away before they can do the same to you. When I needed a calculus tutor I never expected to find one who’s so…sexy. Since when are nerds so hot?
***While every book in this series can be read as a stand alone, you will likely get more enjoyment from Impossible Girl if you’ve read Worth the Wait and Naughty Angel first**
