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was scared as hell at the thought of having this baby on her own. It would be easier with him there to support her. But she didn’t want him there with a gun to his head. If he really thought he couldn’t be a dad, then maybe she needed to start listening.
    His eyes were dark when he finally answered her.
    “That wasn't necessary. The child had on a helmet that met all safety requirements. The bicycle was safe and would have met all safety standards. They were good parents, they immunized their child. Did everything they should have.”
    “Is that how good parents are measured—by them following the safety standards and ticking all the boxes?” That certainly did make sense. He was good at following the rules.
    Nick swung his stool deliberately closer so that he was barely next to her. This time she shifted, watching him.
    “You don’t talk about your time in the Marines. Why won’t you let me in?” She tugged at that unruly strand of hair that refused to be tamed.
    He pulled her closer, his warm breath on her hair.
    Her nerve endings started firing one after the other until she could scarcely breathe. He shot out a hand and caressed her cheek. The movement was so unexpected, she didn’t have time to react.
    Her heart thundered in her chest, so loud, she was sure he would know exactly what she wanted. A small voice of reason whispered in her ear. Danger. Then as if picking up on the tempo, her heart rate started the very same beat.
    Danger. Danger. Danger.
    She sucked in a breath and licked her lips. She knew what he was doing. He was distracting her. Or was she distracting him. Why was this becoming so confusing?
    She placed her palm on his chest over his racing heart. He was as affected. This wasn’t in her head. He wanted her. She could smell him. She closed her eyes, remembering that smell. Oh, how she missed it.
    She let out a small groan.
    “What is it?” His voice was barely audible, husky.
    What was it?
    She reached up to cup his nape, pulled down his head and opened her mouth, letting his lips crush against hers. His tongue darted into her mouth, hungry, snaking out to quench his thirst. She clutched his shoulders and deepened the kiss. He pulled her closer until she was on his lap. She moaned softly into his mouth before reality struck.
    There were in the middle of a consulting room.
    On duty.
    She pulled back.
    “Skye?” He tugged at her ponytail gently.
    She let the back of her fingers touch the side of his cheek, felt the warmth. He had a slight morning growth that on someone else might look scruffy. On Nick, it looked dangerous and daring.
    She had to tell him the truth.
    “I haven’t been fair to you.” He pulled her head down and held her close. “I’m sorry.”
    Skylar turned her head away. Her eyes filled with shameful tears, and the words she should have said remained unspoken.
    His arms dropped to his side. He didn’t move.
    Her gaze caught the big clock on the wall. The second hand slowly moved. Tick. Tock . The only thing she could hear was the sound of that clock. “Nick, I’m due for a scan later. Would you like to be there?” She swore the clock stopped as she waited for his answer.

Chapter Four
     
    An hour later Skylar rocked back and forth, gnawing on her bottom lip. What the heck was she thinking when she asked him to join her? Her gaze went to Nick, who sat beside her in the small consulting room, and she curled her hand tighter. He could have been on the moon both in distance and mood.
    “It's okay for you to come closer and sit next to your wife.” The resident doctor lifted his glasses off the bridge of his nose.
    Nick fingered that scar on his hand. It wasn’t a war scar. She’d asked him about it. He never said where it came from. If she thought it would help, she’d ask again. But that look in his eyes was a haunting shadow of what he was thinking when he touched that scar, and it made her afraid of the answer.
     “Are you ready?” the registrar asked.
    Her