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  She turned in to his body, tightness remaining at the base of her spine. “Better, but it still hurts a little. Maybe I was sitting at a funny angle.” She looked at the rock and smiled. “Remember the first time we made love? By the big rock that first night you followed me into the woods?”

  His hands slid around her belly, and he nuzzled against her neck. “I’ll never forget. That was the night you stole my heart.”

  He gazed into her eyes with so much love, her heart tripped in her chest.

  “It sure didn’t seem that way,” Savannah teased, remembering how moody Jack had been the next day when he was teaching the survival class and they couldn’t stop looking at each other. She’d known that all the emotions he felt scared him, and it had made her want to get to know him better, to ease his pain and to find out more about the rough and gruff man whose heart had been broken so badly he hid away from the world in order to survive.

  “It was a difficult time. My heart was coming alive for the first time in two years.” He pressed his lips to hers as they took a few steps out from under the protections of the trees and the density of the snowfall became evident. Snow fell in heavy sheets.

  “Shit. Come on, angel. I need to get you home.” With one arm secured around Savannah’s waist and a firm grip on her arm, he led her as they descended the mountain.

  Their footprints on the trail were already gone. Jack knew the mountain like the back of his hand, expertly maneuvering around trees and rocks, even without the trail to follow. The tension in Savannah’s back eased and returned in progressive waves. She slowed her pace each time it returned.

  Remembering a conversation she’d had with Max about this sensation, she said, “I think these are Braxton-Hicks contractions.”

  Jack stopped cold, his eyes filled with worry as they dropped to her belly.

  “Contractions? But you have two weeks, at least.”

  “Braxton-Hicks,” she repeated. “Remember I told you what Max said? They’re like practice contractions. She had them for three weeks before giving birth to Adriana.” She pressed her hands to her belly and smiled up at Jack. “My body’s just getting ready.”

  His eyebrows knitted together. “You sure you’re okay?” He looked out at the snow. “I don’t think it’s safe to fly in this, but if you need a doctor—”

  “Jack, I’m fine.” Knowing what she was experiencing made the waves of dull aches easier to handle. “Come on. Let’s go back to the cabin. Maybe I just pushed too hard today.”

  The trek back down the mountain usually felt much faster than the walk up, but today, with the snow and the new bodily sensations, Savannah moved slower. By the time they reached the cabin, it was late afternoon, they were both sweaty—Savannah from carrying all the extra baby weight and Jack, she was sure, from pure concern—and Jack was in full doting mode, hovering over every move she made.

  He helped her out of her coat and boots, taking each piece of wet clothing off carefully in front of the fireplace so she stayed warm. Her maternity pants and sweatshirt had remained dry beneath her jacket and boots. He settled her onto the couch and removed his own soaked clothing and boots.

  “Where do you want to rest? The couch or the recliner?” he asked as he disappeared into the bedroom, returning with her favorite thick blanket, fluffy slippers, and her e-reader.

  Her heart squeezed at his thoughtfulness as he knelt to ease her feet into her slippers.

  “This is fine,” she said, settling back against the cushions.

  Jack spread the blanket over her and moved the footstool closer. He placed her feet gently on the stool.

  “Water?” he asked, already on the move to the kitchen.

  “Jack, relax. I’m okay, really.”

  He set a tall glass of ice water on the end table and sat down beside her.

  “What else do you need? Want me to rub your back? Your feet?”

  “Jack.” She loved the nurturing side of him, but he was making her nervous. “I just want you to sit with me and chill out.”

  “I can’t help it. I know you said these are practice contractions, but what if they’re real?” He looked out the window as the sun set. Snow was coming down so hard, it was difficult to see past it.

  “Then I wouldn’t be able to sit here so calmly. Remember what Max said? She said real contractions were like being kicked in the back by a horse.” She felt her smile falter. “Ohmygod, Jack. Please remember to tell the doctor that I want an epidural if I’m too far gone with pain to ask for it.”

  He drew those broad shoulders back, confidence replacing the worry in his eyes, as he brushed her hair from her face. In the space of a second, her rock had returned.

  “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll be right there with ice chips, asking for an epidural.” He smiled and pressed his lips to hers. His voice softened as he spread his big hand across her belly, then lowered his face and said, “I can’t wait to meet you, Baby No Name.”

  She laughed. “Let’s think about names. What do you think of Sophia for a girl?”

  “I like it, but what about Adeline? It’s close to Adriana for your mom, and we could call her Addie.” He rubbed her belly, and his hand stilled. “Aren’t there any names you dreamed of calling your children when you were little?”

  “I didn’t dream of babies and white picket fences—you know that. I dreamed of horses and…You know what? I don’t think I spent a lot of time dreaming. I was too busy keeping up with my brothers to worry about the future. Of course, once I was a teenager, I was dreaming about becoming a lawyer, but this?” She placed her hand over his. “This dream only became real when I met you.

  “What about you?” she asked, immediately regretting the question. She didn’t want to dredge up sad memories for Jack, but they’d always been open and honest about the loss of his wife and that they had been planning for a baby.

  “I want this baby to represent us, all that we love, all that we’ve given to each other. I’d name a little girl Savannah if you’d agree, but you’ve already nixed that one.”

  She smiled. “I know you would. I don’t need a baby with my own name.” She cuddled in against him and closed her eyes, realizing that the waves of tightness in her back had finally eased. “I think I need to nap.”

  “Do you want something to eat first?”

  She shook her head. “No. You go ahead. I’m too tired.”

  ***

  SAVANNAH SLEPT FOR several hours. Jack ate dinner, brought in enough wood for the next few days, and tried to call his parents, but with the storm, there was no cell reception. Snow was now coming down at a blinding rate. He hoped that by morning it would let up. He’d already decided that as soon as it did, they were flying back home. He wasn’t going to take a chance of getting stuck on the mountain in another flash storm. When Savannah had said the word contractions, all he could think was that he’d failed her. They were at the cabin in the middle of a snowstorm, and her doctors were forever and a day away, back in New York City, where they lived. He knew she needed this time away for just the two of them. The cabin had always felt a world away from their real lives back in the city, where Savannah’s legal practice awaited. He wondered how many times her best friend and coworker, Aida, had tried to call over the past twenty-four hours. She and Aida were thick as thieves, and he knew Aida was on pins and needles about the baby, just as they were.

  He tossed another log on the fire and stretched out on the recliner, keeping a close eye on Savannah, asleep on the couch. Truthfully, he’d wanted this time away just as badly as she did, but now it was time to go home. Time to get his wife back to civilization, where contractions wouldn’t cause him heart palpitations, because her doctors were just a phone call and a short cab ride away.

  Savannah was sleeping soundly on her side, with a pillow tucked between her knees. Her hair was spread across the cushions, and Jack swore he’d never seen anyone smile in their sleep as much as Savannah did. He loved that about her. She was such a positive light in his li
fe, and had been since the day they’d met. Oh, she was stubborn as a mule. He thought she got that from her father, Hal, but Hal swore she was exactly like her mother had been. Savannah was also tender and loving, and she was always pushing Jack past his comfort zone, making him a better man, which was another thing he loved about her.

  Jack dozed off, listening to the crackling of the fire and the even cadence of Savannah’s breathing.

  He startled awake in the middle of the night, unsure of what had woken him. The cabin was dark, the fire burnt to embers. He tended to the fire, adding more wood to keep them warm, and heard Savannah moan in her sleep. He set the screen before the fireplace and knelt beside his sleeping wife. He didn’t want to wake her. She’d been so tired after their walk; she really needed to rest. Once the baby was born, they’d be up every few hours at night, and though he knew she’d enjoy every moment with their new baby, he also knew she needed to get as much rest as possible before the birth.

  She moaned again, a long, drawn-out, painful sound that brought his hand to her waist, hoping his touch would settle her back into sleep and out of whatever was causing her distress. He felt her belly tighten, and his breath caught in his throat.

  Practice contractions, he assured himself. That must be what’s causing her moans. Waking her would do no good. Instead, he rubbed her gently, hoping to ease the tension.

  “They’ve been going on for a while,” she whispered in a strained voice.

  “What can I do?” Jack caressed her cheek. “Do you want to move to the bed to be more comfortable?” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket. Still no service.

  Savannah sat up, breathing deeply. “I’m okay. Sorry I woke you.”

  “Baby, don’t ever worry about me.” He pressed his lips to hers. “Just tell me how I can help. Did Max give you any ideas about what to do when you have these?”

  She shook her head. “She just said to breathe through them and know they’d pass. As I was lying here, I remembered that the doctor mentioned that, too.” She glanced at the window. It was pitch-dark outside. “Is it still snowing?”

  “It was when I fell asleep. Come on. Let’s get you out of your clothes and into something more comfortable. Maybe that’ll help you fall back to sleep.” He helped her from the couch, and she clutched his arm with both hands, sucking in air between her teeth.

  “Wait.”

  Jack’s heart raced as he held her up. “Babe?” He watched her sweatshirt move with the contraction. “Are you sure these are Braxton-Hicks?”

  She huffed a few loud breaths before answering. “How should I know? This is my first baby.”

  “Okay, angel. Let’s try to relax and—”

  “Relax? How can I relax when my belly is getting tight and hard like that?” she snapped, eyes wide with fear or annoyance—he couldn’t tell which.

  “Baby, I just meant that we should get you in the bedroom and make you more comfortable, that’s all. I didn’t mean it like, chill out.” He knew how much his wife hated being told to relax in that way.

  “I’m sorry,” she said as he wrapped an arm securely around her waist, guiding her toward the bedroom.

  “Let me help you get your pants off.” He smiled as he said it, biting back the urge to tease her about sex and try to lighten the mood. She was too edgy for that. She leaned on his shoulders as he knelt to remove her pants. He tossed them onto the rocking chair in the corner of the room and went to the dresser. “What do you want to sleep in?”

  “My big T-shirt.”

  “Okay.” He grabbed her favorite maternity sleeping shirt and helped her take off her sweatshirt. She stood before him in her panties and bra, looking more beautiful than any lingerie model ever could. She was carrying their baby, the child their love had created. What could be more stunning than that? His throat thickened with emotions as he unhooked her bra, freeing her full breasts.

  “Christ, Savannah. Even eight and half months pregnant, every part of you turns me on.” He placed her hand on his erection, and she trapped her lower lip between her teeth.

  “Jack,” she said softly. “Oh, shit.” She squeezed his crotch—hard.

  “Fuck.” He moved her hand to his arm and held her as the contraction tightened her belly, the sharp pain in his balls she’d caused forgotten.

  “Breathe, Savannah. It’s okay, baby. Breathe.” She was huffing and puffing so fast he feared she’d pass out. His brain kicked into gear, drawing on what they’d learned in the childbirth classes they’d taken.

  “Look at me, baby. Focus on my eyes.” She did. “Good. Breathe with me. In…” He drew in a breath. “And out.” He blew it out slowly, repeating the steps until the contraction passed and her breathing calmed.

  “Good girl.” He slipped the T-shirt over her head and helped her put her arms through.

  “Jack?”

  He heard the fear in her voice before he caught it in her eyes. “It’s okay, baby. I’m right here. These are practice contractions, remember?” At least he hoped they were.

  “I know, but…” Her eyes dampened.

  He folded her into his arms and brushed a soothing hand down her back. “I’m here, angel. I’m right here, and there’s nothing we can’t handle. You’re okay. I promise.” He drew back and searched her eyes. “Talk to me, baby. What are you afraid of?”

  She opened her mouth to speak and no words came, but tears slid down her beautiful cheeks, slicing his heart wide open. He gathered her in close again, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

  “You’re going to be an amazing mother, and we are going to be such a happy family.” He helped her lie on the bed and stripped from his jeans, then slid beneath the covers behind her and held her close. “I’ve got you, baby, and I’ll never let go.”

  Her hand clutched his arms as another contraction swallowed her up.

  “Jack,” she cried.

  He tried to move away to rub her back, but she gripped him even tighter.

  “Stay. Hold me.”

  “I’m here. I was just going to massage your back.”

  She shook her head. “I need you close.”

  Damn right he’d stay close. He didn’t quite believe these were practice contractions.

  Chapter Four

  SAVANNAH DOZED IN and out between contractions, and Jack, true to his word, held her the entire time. He’d encouraged her to let him rub her back, but she was too scared to move out from his embrace, despite the worsening pain. She needed to feel his strength enveloping her, his breath on her neck, his heart beating strong and sure against her back. She didn’t know what time it was when that dull ache in her lower back circled around to the front and engulfed her with so much force she cried out, but the room was still steeped in darkness.

  Jack jumped to his feet, scanning the room. “What? What happened?”

  She gritted her teeth against the pain of the contraction as he came down beside her and lifted her gently, bringing her back against his chest. He rubbed soothing circles over the sides of her belly, but the pain was too much. She couldn’t stand his touch—any touch. Even the bed beneath her was annoying her.

  “Stop!” She pushed away. “Ohmygodohmygodohmygod. Jack. These can’t be practice contractions.”

  Jack flicked on the light, his face serious. She knew that face. It was his taking stock of what they needed face. “You’re sure?”

  Another contraction slammed her back against the headboard. “Shitshitshit. Jack.”

  He climbed onto the bed beside her. “Look at me, Savannah. Remember, we need to breathe.”

  “We?” She breathed fast—too fast, trying to stay ahead of the pain.

  “Yes, we. Focus on me.” His words were stern, though his eyes were full of love. He breathed in a calm pattern until she matched his breathing. “You’re okay. Together we can do whatever needs to be done.”

  Her contraction eased, and as if he’d been waiting for that moment, he jumped off the bed, reached for his jeans, and dug out his phone. “Still no
service.”

  “What do we—ohmygod!” She doubled over with another contraction, and Jack drew her back up again.

  “Breathe. Good girl. In and out. Good, Savannah. Good girl.” He held her trembling hands as she breathed through the contractions. When the contraction subsided, she felt like a train had run through her and left her ragged.

  “I need to get a few things before this gets any more intense, okay?”

  “What? Where?” Her brain wasn’t working right. She was anticipating the next contraction and afraid of him leaving.

  “I need to boil water so we have it sterilized and get a few towels. It’s okay, honey. I’ll be back in two seconds.” He kissed her quickly, then raced out of the bedroom.

  She listened to the water running, the pot filling, the sound of the stove lighting. The refrigerator opened, then closed. She heard him talking fast, and seconds later Jack was back at her side with a stack of fresh towels and a bowl of ice.

  “I can break up the ice with a hammer.” He rubbed her back.

  “Jack, is this it? Do you think this is it? I’m not ready. Anything can go wrong. We need to go back to New York.” She moved to the edge of the bed to get dressed, and he gripped her arms and held her steady.

  “There’s a foot of snow outside, and it’s still coming down. We’re not going anywhere. I put a call in with the emergency radio, but it’ll take forever for the team to get here.”

  “A foot…Oh God. Jack. We’re stuck in a snowstorm and I’m going to have our baby and we have no doctor and—”

  He wrapped her in his arms and lifted her chin, holding it in place as he stared back at her with love and confidence in his steady gaze. “And we will be fine. If this is it, if our baby wants to arrive today, tonight, whenever, we’ll bring him or her into the world safely. I will not let anything happen to either of you.”

  She watched him swallowing hard and knew this must be even harder on him, having already lost one wife at the time when they were planning their own family. She wanted to tell him that if anything bad happened, it wasn’t his fault, but that brought up the idea of something bad happening, and that was too hard to even think about, much less say out loud. She saw a hint of fear wash over his face, and just as quickly it was gone and her rock had once again returned.