Page 48 of Falling for Love

I sigh. “You’re right.”

I spend the better part of the day at the spa on top of the hotel, and he’s right. After all the luxurious pampering, I feel like a different person. My muscles are lax and my brain is mush. No anxiety-ridden thoughts to be found.

Another day passes. I haven’t had my cell phone since we were at the attorney’s office, and I’ve called my parents from Jack’s phone, telling them I lost mine. That keeps them in the dark for a while longer.

Now, we’re watching some action flick on television, but my mind is elsewhere. I’ve checked in with work. I was supposed to be back this week but as I’m steering clear of Chandler, I had to take another stretch of time off.

Jack’s cell rings and when he nods at me, I know it’s the attorney. My stomach flips, my nerves back in full force.

He slides his finger across the screen and holds the phone to his ear. “Hello?” He listens, then says, “Hi, Robert.” More listening until I’m jumping out of my skin with anticipation. “Yes. We’ll be there.”

“What did he say?” I ask as soon as he disconnects the call.

“His office, tomorrow morning at nine a.m.”

I press a hand to my chest and force myself to breathe.

He slides his hand into mine and squeezes. “Look at it this way. Things with the senator are almost over.”

I squeeze back. “Thank God.”

CHAPTER THIRTY

Jack

Today is Taylor’s doctor appointment. I’m an excited prospective dad who’s going to hear the baby’s heartbeat and hopefully see an ultrasound, too. As I wait for her to finish getting ready, I stare out the window and look at the clear blue sky.

Things are finally settling down. After the meeting, we learned that Taylor isn’t in any kind of legal trouble, but the senator is. Although the authorities need to investigate further, nothing Taylor did falls under the heading of illegal. My hunch was correct. Cross knew exactly what to have Taylor say and do so he could manipulate her into believing she’d stepped over the line and could be arrested for campaign fraud.

She mentioned her cousin to the federal officials, explaining how close he is to the senator. They picked David up for questioning. We aren’t getting any information directly but as a favor, Carter called to let us know David rolled on the senator, backing up Taylor’s story and giving the feds even more dirt on the man. We went out to dinner to celebrate the good news.

As a result, Cross is being arrested today. Unfortunately, the agent in charge feels that as a senator, he deserves the respect of turning himself in as opposed to some kind of public arrest and perp walk. As long as he can’t hurt Taylor, I don’t care how they handle taking him into custody. I don’t doubt he’ll have a high-powered attorney and the case will drag on. If it goes to trial, Taylor will have to testify. Not things I want her worrying about now.

“I’m ready!” She walks out of the bedroom and joins me in the main area of the suite.

I look her over in her pink ruffled dress and wedge heels. She’s stunning, and as always, I’m hard just looking at her. I skim over her with my gaze and hold out my hand. “Come on, beautiful. Let’s go find out more about our baby.”

A little while later, we’re in an exam room with the doctor, who is running the probe over Taylor’s stomach. A whoosh-whoosh sounds and I still at the echo of my child’s heartbeat. Emotion I didn’t know I had wells up and lodges in my throat.

“Hear that?” Dr. Williams, a woman in her mid-forties, asks.

I nod because words escape me.

“One hundred sixty beats per minute. A perfectly normal heartbeat,” she says with a smile.

Taylor squeezes my hand in hers. “It’s amazing.” I’m in awe.

“Did you check the portal? The bloodwork from your last appointment was uploaded and has the answer.”

She raises her shoulders, her tension obvious. “I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t think to check. I’ve been out of town, and my life has been a little crazy.”

“No worries. Do you want to know now?”

Taylor glances at me and I nod. “We want to know,” she says.

Dr. Williams treats us to a warm smile. “Okay, then. Let’s see your little boy.”

“Oh my gosh!” Taylor exclaims. “A boy!”