If Only by Lisa M. Owens Read Free Book Online Page A

He turned back to gaze at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. “If you need to go to the bathroom, go ahead. You won’t bother me.” He gave her a boyish grin as he continued, “It’s nothing I haven’t seen before.”
    “No, it’s not that. Please leave,” she pleaded.
    He whirled around to face her. His chocolate brown eyes searched her face with a knowing smile. His hand reached out to touch the soft curves of her face as he murmured gently, “I’m not going anywhere, Bree, so you might as well go ahead. You’re beginning to turn green around the gills. This is my baby too, and I’m here to support you in every way I can.”
    Without another word, he ran a washcloth underneath the faucet. He handed it to Bree silently, and then he walked out of the bathroom.
    She barely made it in time before she emptied the contents of her stomach. When her husband returned, she cursed her rotten luck. She didn’t want him to see her like this.
    He crouched down on the bathroom floor next to her, his large hands holding her auburn tresses up and off her back. His low voice whispered comforting words to her as she continued to be ill. “I love you so much, Red. We’re going to have such a beautiful baby. I think a little red-headed girl would be just perfect, don’t you?”
    When she was finally through, he ran the dampened washcloth over her face and then lifted her in his strong arms and carried her back to bed. He had a tray with a glass of ginger ale and a plate of saltines sitting beside the bed.
    She looked at him, confused. “When did you buy this?”
    Scott gave her an embarrassed grin. “I went to the grocery store first thing this morning while you were still sleeping.”
    Bree closed her eyes as he stroked her face. Then his hands pulled up her nightgown and cupped her abdomen, caressing her softly as his head bent down to kiss her bare stomach.
    “Now, listen to me, kid. This is your father speaking.”
    She laughed, her voice hoarse and her eyes filling with tears. Her hands tugged affectionately on his short dark hair as he looked up at her, his brown eyes twinkling.
    He grinned boyishly as he continued speaking, “Now you listen to me, young lady. You’re giving your mama one heck of a time. After all she’s doing for you! Give her a break for the rest of the day. Who knows? Maybe there’s a pony in it for you.”
    Bree laughed as she reached for her husband. She settled her head against his muscular chest and closed her eyes. “Come here, you knucklehead. You’re going to give this child a complex if it turns out to be a boy!”
    He crossed his arms against his chest and looked at her with determination in his eyes. “Trust me, it’s a girl. A father knows these things.”
    She stuck out her tongue playfully at him. “Long live the king,” she murmured, cheekily.
    He laughed as he wrapped his arms around her, and then he turned to look at the clock on the nightstand. Winking playfully at his wife, he murmured, “And don’t you forget it, woman.” He peered down at the watch on his left wrist and then looked at his wife. “I’m going to duck out for a little while.”
    Bree watched her husband as he got off the bed and walked over to the large walk-in closet to retrieve his leather bomber jacket. “Going to see your other woman?” she interrogated with a giggle.
    He crooked a finger at her and gave her a flirtatious wink. “You’re just one of many, baby,” he joked. Scott stepped back to the side of the bed and tucked Bree in, wrapping the blankets around her lithe frame.
    “No one else would put up with you,” she smirked.
    Giving her a quick kiss on the cheek, he asked, “Do you think you’ll feel up to some breakfast later?”
    She nodded with enthusiasm. “By the time I woke up yesterday after you had left, I was starving!”
    He grinned as he slipped his jacket on. “That’s my girl! I’ll bring something back. Any requests?”
    “Anything that won’t eat me,” she