Page 53 of Damaged Protector
“It’s not time yet,” Journey insisted. “We’ve got two more weeks.”
“Uh-huh. Tell that to him.” She pointed at the woman’s round belly before rounding the desk and squatting beside her wife, her hand tenderly stroking her face. “Remember what the doctor said? Little man is the boss of all this. Not us.”
Journey tilted her head until her forehead rested against Lynn’s. “You’re right. We should probably at least get checked out.”
“What can I do to help?” I asked, resting my hand on the pregnant woman’s forearm.
“Could you get my purse from my office?”
“And get Shark,” Lynn added, pulling out her phone. “I’m pretty sure she’s having contractions, and I need to time them.”
“I’m on it.” Walking briskly down the hallway, I came to the boss’s office first. Through the open door, I saw him softly kissing a petite blonde woman who I assumed was his wife. At least I hoped so.
They both turned to me when I halted just outside the door. “So sorry to interrupt, but Lynn and I think Journey is in labor.”
He stepped back, his hand dropping to hold the blonde’s smaller one as I entered the office. “How far apart are her contractions?”
“Lynn is timing them now, but J thinks her last one was about five minutes ago. I don’t think it’s an emergency yet, but she wants to take her to the hospital.”
Shark kissed the woman’s temple. Maybe he really was a big softy beneath his gruff exterior. “I’ll drive them. Can you come pick me up from the hospital later, Peach?”
“Of course. I’ll take Harper back to work and feed her. Let me know when you’re ready.”
He nodded. “I’ll stay till the baby is born, in case they need anything. If it’s too late, I’ll call one of the guys to come get me. I don’t want you to have to get the kids out of bed.”
Yep, definitely a softy.
He turned his attention back to me. “Where are they?”
“In the business office. I’m going to grab Journey’s purse.”
“All right. I’ll meet you down there. This is my wife Charli, by the way. Honey, this is Mallori.”
She smiled and unhooked her hand from her husband’s so we could shake. “So great to finally meet you. That’s our little one, Harper.”
While his wife was greeting me, Shark had lifted a tiny little girl in a pink outfit from her car seat. He was nuzzling the infant, and she was munching happily on his chin.
“Dada loves you, baby girl. Can you say Dada?”
“Beau Atwood, she is only two months old,” his wife scolded with a wry grin on her face.
He returned her smile with a chagrined one and shrugged. “Never too soon, Peach. That’s gonna be her first word.” Ignoring the slobber on his chin, he gently returned his daughter to her seat and strapped her in.
After whispering something in his wife’s ear, he handed her the baby carrier and headed down to check on Journey. Charli stared after her husband with a goofy look on her face, and I wondered what he’d said to her.
“I’m just gonna…” I gestured toward the door, and she snapped out of her stupor.
“I’ll walk with you. I’ve been wanting to talk to you about something.” Charli looped a diaper bag over her shoulder, and we left the office and turned left. “I heard you’re a dancer. Do you ever teach?”
“I’ve taught at dance camps, and I’ve been thinking about doing some private lessons. You know, for extra money.”
Her pretty blue eyes brightened as we walked. “I own a preschool, and one of my students has an older sister who has been looking for a private teacher. Would you be interested?”
My eyebrows lifted. “I’m definitely interested.”
“Awesome! Do you mind if I give her your number?” she asked, pulling out her phone.
I rattled off my number as I located Journey’s green purse and tucked it under my arm. “I’ve been researching what people pay for private lessons in the area, and if I could get at least five students, that would almost totally cover my housing for the year.”