Reality Ever After by Cami Checketts Read Free Book Online

palm.
    Josh grabbed her hand. His face hardened. His eyes filled with anger. The electrifying silence held for several long seconds. Josh stared at her. When his smile came it was tight, a mask of self-control. Sydney let herself breathe again. She shouldn’t have slapped him. He wasn’t going to hurt her, but he definitely could.
    “I guess I probably deserved that.” His grip on her hand relaxed. “I’m sorry. You probably think I’m some kind of psycho.”
    “You’re a cocky jerk.” Sydney pulled her hand free, wrapping her arms around her midsection. The pain had lessened. Was the baby okay?
    Josh nodded his head as if agreeing with her. “You have to know this isn’t normal for me, chasing and kissing women who come out of the gym. It’s just like I told you. I’ve never been turned down before.”
    She looked at his dark hair, his long-lashed chocolate eyes, his stubbled, strong jaw line, those lips. He was probably right, any woman would be flattered by his attention, but not her. Definitely not her. She could never be interested in anyone but Crew.
    “Engaged,” she reminded him, exaggerating her lip motions. “Do I have to spell the word out for you again?”
    “No.” To his credit, Josh hung his head, actually appearing ashamed of his actions. “Just for the record, I’ve never even hit on an engaged woman before.”
    “Good. Don’t make it a habit, Josh, I don’t think you’ll like the results.”
    “I liked the results a few minutes ago.” He raised his eyes to hers with a slight grin.
    Sydney’s icy look probably wasn’t the answer he hoped for.
    A red Jeep roared into the parking lot. Sydney moved a respectable distance from Josh, thanking the Lord that Crew was here now.
    “Crew,” she cried out, unable to help the anguish in her voice.
    “Are you okay?” He rushed to her side, gathering her in his arms.
    “No.” She whispered against his neck, savoring the comfort and warmth of him. This was the smell and body she needed. “I think something’s wrong with the baby. I cramped and passed out and I’m afraid…” She swallowed and shook her head.
    Josh stuck his hand out. “Josh Eccles.”
    “Crew Naylor.” Crew shook the hand briefly, keeping her close to his side.
    “I…I helped your fiancé after she passed out,” Josh stammered.
    “Helped her?” Crew raised an eyebrow, looking to Sydney for an explanation.
    “Josh helped me,” Sydney reiterated. For some reason she didn’t want Crew to kill Josh. And he might if he knew he’d kissed her.
    “How did he help you?”
    “We need to go to the hospital,” she said.
    That seemed to distract Crew. He helped her to his Jeep and lifted her into the passenger side. He climbed into the driver’s side and glared at Josh as they drove past.
    “Who is that guy?”
    “I don’t really know him very well. He’s talked to me a few times.” Her stomach cramped again and she realized that she might be bleeding all over Crew’s seats. “Crew, there’s something wrong with the baby.”
    “What?”
    “I’ve been cramping and I think I’m bleeding.” She bit her lip, fighting back the tears. “Oh, Crew. What if I did something to our baby?”
    He reached over and squeezed her hand. “It’ll be okay.”
    They got to the hospital and he rushed around to open her door. He swooped her into his arms and ran with her, through the double doors of the nearby emergency room. 
    “She thinks there’s something wrong with the baby.”
    The receptionist popped out from behind her desk. “Sydney’s pregnant?”
    “Yes,” Crew snapped. “Where’s Doctor Saunders?”
    “He isn’t here. I’ll page him and get Autumn.” The girl kept sneaking looks at Sydney as she dialed the number.
    She was only a year older than them, but Sydney couldn’t even remember her name right now. Sydney’s stomach started cramping again and the wetness was still coming. Crew was probably getting blood all over his arm. “Set me down,