Read Club Scars for Free Online Page A

much I love you.”
    “You look fierce.”
    “You keep wishing a kid just like me on us. I better be fierce to keep his ass in line,” he answered with a wink.
    “What if the ultrasound technician was wrong and it’s a girl?”
    “I’ll be over the moon to have a little girl as beautiful and sassy as her mama.”
    “Don’t borrow trouble, Kat. That’s what Zeke always tells me. As long as mama and baby are healthy, that’s all that matters,” Ginny said. “A girl would just require more shopping.”
    Crux rolled his eyes. “I’m sure that would be a horrible hardship for you women.”
    “Did Kat mention to you that the doctor suggested a return trip to the spa around the six week mark?”
    “Did she now?” Crux asked, giving Ginny a clearly unconvinced look. “You hear what the wily one is trying to blame on you now, Doc?”
    “While I may not have officially prescribed a spa day, I can’t deny the benefits, particularly with the amount of stress Kat has been under for the past nine months.”
    “I see how it is, Doc. You women just band together against us poor, defenseless males. We don’t stand a chance against beauty and cunning both. Did I just get billed for that advice as well?”
    “All part of the services, Mr. Croston,” the doctor said with a small laugh.
    Kat’s hand clamping around his jerked Crux back to the job at hand. Her beautiful features twisted in agony as she swayed in the bed in a useless attempt to ease the pain that gripped her. Sliding onto the bed behind her, he wrapped her in his arms giving something to brace against. All he could do was hold her. It didn’t seem like enough at this point.
    “Try panting through it and scream if you need to,” Ginny offered, face twisting in a grimace of sympathy for her friend.
    “I’m sure the screaming will come soon enough,” Kat hissed through clenched teeth before slumping back against Crux with a slow exhale.
    Kissing the top of her head, Crux let out a breath of his own. He hated seeing her in pain. Palming her belly, he rubbed softly.
    “Come on, kiddo. Don’t give your mama a hard time. You’re going to figure out real fast that that don’t fly in our house,” he growled.
    “Hard ass,” Kat whispered with a little smile.
    “If he comes out like me, he’s going to find out what kind of hard ass I can be.”
    “You’re going to be a good daddy, just like you’re a great husband.”
    “You might want to pull back on those drugs, Doc,” Crux said with a grin.
    “I’m afraid you can’t blame pharmaceutics for Kat’s views. You’re going to have to accept the compliment, Mr. Croston.”
    “You’re a great husband for me.”
    “Damn good thing, woman, because I’m the only one you’re getting.”
    “You make me feel safe and loved, beautiful and sexy, smart and funny,” she said, her voice breaking on the emotion.  
    “Maybe it’s because you’re beautiful, sexy, smart and funny,” he suggested, humor coloring his gravelly voice. “Don’t go getting all sappy on me. I’m going to need my tough old lady to get through this.”
    “Exactly what’re you getting through ? I’m the one getting ready to push out a watermelon,” Kat snapped, trying to look at him over her shoulder.
    “That reminds me. Make sure you take a couple of extra stitches, Doc. I want her back in original condition.”
    Kat plucked out a couple of his arm hairs in retribution for that off-color remark, and he smiled into the side of her neck. He straightened as she tensed. She pressed back against him, her back arching in pain.
    “Breathe, little sister. It helps,” Ginny urged.
    Kat let out a gasping pant. Her body shuddered. Nails scrabbling over Crux’s grease stained hand, she pried it from her stomach to cling to it with both of hers. A sob bubbled from her lips as she slumped.
    “I don’t know if I can do this.”
    “Of course you can. You’re one of the toughest bitches I know.”
    The look Kat shot her best