Kathie DeNosky – One Night, Two Babies / Valente's Baby: One Night, Two Babies (страница 11)

Dr. Jensen nodded and, turning her attention to Arielle, asked, “How have you been feeling? Anything we need to address before we get started?”

Zach watched Arielle shake her head as she lifted her maternity top, then hooked her thumbs in the elastic waistband of her slacks and lowered them below her slightly rounded stomach. “I still have to make sure I eat something when my stomach gets empty, but otherwise, I’ve felt pretty good.”

“That’s not all that unusual,” the doctor assured her, squeezing a generous amount of the gel onto Arielle’s stomach. She held the instrument poised over the clear blob. “Are you both ready to see your little one for the first time?”

“Y-yes,” Arielle answered, her voice reflecting an anticipation as strong as his own.

“Will we be able to find out whether to decorate the nursery in pink or blue?” Zach asked.

The doctor smiled. “Probably not this time, but it won’t be too much longer.”

Nodding, Zach reached out and took Arielle’s hand in his. When she gripped his hand tightly, he knew she appreciated his support.

“Ready whenever you are,” he said, his gaze never wavering from Arielle.

When the doctor began moving the scope around Arielle’s stomach, a fuzzy, twitching image immediately popped up on the monitor. Zach wondered what the hell he was supposed to be looking at. But the more Dr. Jensen moved the wand around, he noticed what might possibly be an arm or a leg.

The woman pointed to the screen. “See, there’s your baby’s head and back.” She moved the instrument to the other side of Arielle’s stomach. “Let’s see if we can detect the sex from this angle.” Her sudden frown caused Zach’s heart to grind to a halt. “What’s this?” she asked, adding to his anxiety. “It certainly explains why you’re a bit larger than normal.”

“I-Is something wrong?” Arielle murmured, sounding as if she might burst into tears.

Zach lightly squeezed her hand in an effort to lend her every ounce of strength he possessed. “I’m sure everything is fine, darlin’.”

“Oh, there’s nothing wrong,” Dr. Jensen confirmed, turning to them with a wide grin. “I’m just wondering how you will keep up with two toddlers when they start walking.”

“Two?” Arielle echoed, her eyes round with shock.

“Twins?” Zach croaked at the same time.

Dr. Jensen laughed as she pushed the print button on the side of the monitor. “The way the first baby was lying, I couldn’t see the second one until I changed sides. But yes, you’re definitely having twins.”

At that moment, Zach couldn’t have forced words past the lump clogging his throat if his life depended on it. He was not only going to have a child, he was going to have two. Unbelievable.

His chest felt as if it had swelled to twice its normal size. Words couldn’t express what he was feeling, and, leaning down, he covered Arielle’s parted lips with his for a brief but intense kiss.

“Do twins run in either of your families?” the doctor inquired as she wiped the excess gel from Arielle’s stomach with a handful of tissues. She didn’t comment that both of them were breathing as if they’d run a marathon by the time he lifted his head and Zach figured the woman was used to displays of emotion after learning the results of an ultrasound.

Clearly in a state of shock, Arielle stared at him as if urging him to answer Dr. Jensen’s question. “Arielle has twin brothers,” he responded, finally getting his vocal cords to work. “But to my knowledge there aren’t any twins in my family.”

The doctor tilted her head. “Well, there are now.” She picked up Arielle’s chart and made a notation. “I see neither of you anticipated a multiple birth.”

“I…uh, suppose I knew it was a possibility, but…” Looking utterly stunned, Arielle’s voice trailed off as she rearranged her clothes and sat up on the side of the exam table.

“Are both of the babies okay?” Zach thought to ask as his brain began to function again.

“Actually, everything looks very good.” Dr. Jensen smiled. “Both fetuses appear to be a good size and I’d estimate the right weight for this stage of their development.”

Helping Arielle down from the table, he asked the doctor, “Is there anything special that we should or shouldn’t be doing?”

Dr. Jensen shook her head. “As long as you feel like it, Arielle, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy your normal activities, including sexual relations.”

He caught Arielle’s warning glare and wisely refrained from commenting on the doctor’s stamp of approval for their making love. But he didn’t even try to stop his wide grin.

Dr. Jensen started for the door. “I’ll see you in three weeks for your regular appointment and of course, if you have any problems or questions before then, don’t hesitate to give me a call.”

Zach and Arielle walked together down the hall to the elevator. They remained silent on the ride to the lobby and he figured she was coming to terms with the idea of having twins.

“How long will it take you to pack an overnight bag?” he asked as he helped her into the back of his limousine.

“Why would I need to pack?” she questioned, when he slid into the seat beside her.

“Because I’m moving you into my place.” It was more important now than ever that Arielle took good care of herself.

“No, you’re not.” She shook her head. “I’m going to go home, change into a circus tent and call my brothers to tell them the news about the baby…babies.” She suddenly emitted a nervous giggle. “Oh my God, I’m having twins.”

“Yes, you are, darlin’.” Giving instructions to his driver to take them to her apartment, he put his arm around her shoulders. He could tell she was still overwhelmed by the news and now wasn’t a good time to press her on the issue of moving in with him. “We’ll spend the night at your apartment and move you into my home tomorrow morning.”

“No, we won’t. You’re going to drop me off at my place and then go home to yours while I call my brothers. End of discussion.” She sounded quite adamant, but he noticed that she wasn’t scooting away from him, was allowing him to hold her close to his side.

“Sorry, darlin’, but I told you that I would be with you every step of the way.” He kissed the top of her head. “And that means from here on out, we’ll be doing whatever needs to be done together. Everything from doctor appointments to breaking the news to your brothers that we’re going to have twins.”

By the time they arrived at her apartment, the fact that she was going to be the mother of twins had sunk in and she was regaining some perspective. “I think it might be better if I’m the one to break the news to my brothers.” Removing her cardigan sweater, she walked over to hang it in the entryway closet, hoping Zach would take the hint that she needed a little time alone. “While I make the call from my bedroom, please make yourself comfortable. I’ll only be a few minutes.” She’d given up on him going home.

“I’d rather you stay right here and make the call on the speakerphone.” He shrugged out of his suit coat, loosened his tie and released the button at the neck of his white oxford cloth shirt, then walked over to place his hands on her shoulders. “I promise I’ll keep quiet as long as they don’t give you too much flak.” He used his index finger to raise her chin until their gazes met. “But I reserve the right to break my silence at any time if I think they’re upsetting you.”

Where was all this concern almost four months ago when she discovered he was gone and cried for days feeling like such a fool? Or a few weeks later when she realized she was pregnant with no way of contacting her baby’s father?

The heat from his hands permeated her shirt and sent an excited little shiver up her spine. Trying to ignore the way his touch made her feel, she advised, “I’m a big girl, Zach. I can take care of myself.”

“You don’t have to, Arielle. Not anymore.” Her breath caught when he took her in his arms, but it was the look on his handsome face that sent her heart racing. “From here on out, that’s my job. And believe me, I have every intention of taking it very seriously. I give you my word that I’ll do everything in my power to protect you and our babies. And if I have to, I’ll have no problem taking on both of your brothers to keep that promise.”

She could have asked him who was going to protect her from him, but he chose that moment to lower his head and cover her mouth with a kiss so poignant it brought tears to her eyes. At first, it seemed just a kiss to seal his vow to take care of her and their babies, but as his lips moved over hers, it quickly evolved into so much more.

As Zach tasted and teased, she tried her best to suppress her reaction to him. She started to push against his chest, but just like the first night at his ranch, her will to resist evaporated like morning mist on a hot summer day and she melted against him.

She briefly wondered how she could succumb to his charm after all that had happened. But as he parted her lips with his tongue and began a tender exploration, she quickly forgot the past and lost herself to the mastery of his caress.

Heat coursed through her at the speed of light as he coaxed and demanded that she respond, drawing her into his sensual web. A tingling sensation spread throughout her entire body as he slowly moved his hands down her back to the tail of her oversize shirt.