Captive (27 page)

I cried out from the pain and looked around frantically for Harmony. “What’s going on? Is everything okay?”

She took my hand and met my eyes. “Breathe. Come on. The baby needs that oxygen, Kate. Breathe. There you go.”

I sank against Ryke as the wave of agony went down. Dr. Polanski offered him a quick nod and then looked at me.

“Kate, you’re getting close to time to push,” he said, putting on a rubber glove on. “I’m going to check your cervix again. What we’re seeing is that the baby’s heart rate has gone down just a little.”

“What?” I cried, my chest constricting.

“Everything’s okay,” he said. “I’ve been watching the monitors at the desk. This happens sometimes. I don’t think we need an emergency c-section at this point. But when it’s time to push, I need you to give it everything you’ve got. We want to get this baby out as quickly as possible.”

I was dizzy and my heart was pounding anxiously. “What’s wrong? Is something wrong with the baby’s heart?”

“No. The baby is perfectly healthy.”

“Don’t dick around with me,” I cautioned, fighting to keep my voice steady. “Be straight.”

The wrinkles on Dr. Polanski’s face deepened as he offered me a kind smile. “The baby is perfectly healthy, Kate. The decrease in heart rate can indicate fetal distress, but it’s not something I’m overly concerned about or I’d take you to the operating room right now. Trust me.”

“What kind of distress?” I asked, leaning into Ryke.

“It’s often caused by the umbilical cord being wrapped around the neck.”

“Just do a c-section right now!” I cried. “Please! I don’t want to take any chances!”

“If I need to, I will.” The doctor went down to my legs and I was seized by another contraction. Ryke held me and I panted through it with Harmony’s coaching.

Dr. Polanski smiled and got up.

“You’re just about there. You’ll see the nurses hustling around here preparing for delivery, but everything’s good, Kate. This is what I do. Trust me and listen to me and everything will be okay.”

I nodded and clutched Ryke. Everything started moving faster then. Bright lights were shined between my legs and more nurses came in. I was surrounded by people coaching me about when to push. They all counted and told me how well I did every time. I held tight to Ryke’s arm and obeyed every instruction, praying it would be okay this time. I was desperate to meet the baby I’d been impassive about. Now I knew it was never because I didn’t care, but because I cared so much.

“Need a break, Kate?” June asked. I shook my head frantically and prepared to push again.

“That’s my girl,” Ryke said. “Come on baby. You can do this. You’re the strongest person I know. Fight.”

And I did. I told myself strength was flowing from his body into mine, and there was nothing Ryke couldn’t do. Nothing mattered but pushing with all my might every time I was ordered to. When it hurt, I reminded myself it would all be worth it. This baby was a gift to our family.

With a warm gush between my legs, the pain subsided immediately. I fell against Ryke and he craned his neck to see the work the doctor was doing between my legs.

“Ryke,” I murmured. “What’s happening?”

A shrill wail was the answer to my question. Ryke supported me so I could look up. Mom’s face was wet with tears. The cry was coming from a baby with a head full of black hair.

“You have a son!” Dr. Polanski said happily, holding him up for me to see. I sobbed, so many emotions coming to the surface. Ryke dropped his face to mine, kissing me lightly. His face was streaked with tears, too.

“He’s so beautiful,” I murmured. “Can I touch him?” Every muscle in my body was weak, but I found the energy to crane my neck and see our son. Dr. Polanski was coaching Ryke through cutting the umbilical cord.

“We’ll clean him up and you can hold him as long as you’d like and nurse,” the doctor said. “You did fantastic, Kate.”

I reached my hand out as the doctor turned to take him to the waiting nurses. “Just a touch.” My voice broke when I started crying again. “I want to know he’s real.”

“Of course.” Dr. Polanski handed the baby off to a nurse, who brought him over and crouched next to me. I reached for the tiny hand, cradling it in my much larger one.

“I love you,” I said. “You’re the most beautiful boy I’ve ever seen. You look just like your daddy.”

Ryke took pictures of the nurses cleaning up our son and I watched, filled with intense relief and joy. The doctor was still working on slowing my bleeding, and soon I had to let my head fall back. It took too much strength to hold it up.

I turned my head to the side when Ryke came over to lean down next to me.

“You did amazing,” he said, kissing my forehead. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, too,” I said softly. “Thanks for believing in me.”

The shine in his caramel eyes said more than words could. “Always.”

The doctor covered my lower half with a blanket and my mom brought Melody in. She was enchanted with her brother from the moment she saw him.

“What’s his name?” she asked when a nurse put him in my arms.

“He’s perfect,” the nurse said. “Eight pounds, two ounces and healthy.”

A tear slid down my cheek as I looked at the tiny face in the bundle I held. I’d lost hope that I was capable of bringing a healthy baby into the world. And then this miracle had snuck up on me.

“I hadn’t … we haven’t talked about names. Ryke? I’d love it if you’d name him.”

We’d never spoken of names, but I was sure that didn’t mean he hadn’t thought about it. I’d been too afraid it would bring me even closer to the child I was terrified I’d never meet. But now … all bets were off. My heart was entwined with my son’s the same as it was with Melody’s.

“I had a teammate who only got to play a couple of pro games because of a head injury,” Ryke said. “He’s an outstanding guy who actually got hurt saving a kid who was about to get hit by a car. Could we name the baby Andrew after him?”

“Andrew Jason Ryker,” I said, looking at the tips of dark hair peeking out from the edge of his tiny baby stocking hat. “That’s perfect.”

This was the moment I’d dreamed of, but it was so much more than I’d thought possible. I was surrounded by the little girl who brought me out of the darkness, the baby boy who taught me to hope against hope and the man who loved me through anything. I wasn’t a prisoner of worry anymore, though I knew the four of us would have ups and downs in our lives. But we’d celebrate the good times and face the hard ones the same way we were gathered around the hospital bed right now. Together.

Melody cooed and made funny faces at AJ, holding his rapt attention.

“Can you smile?” she begged. “Smile, AJ!”

“He will later, sweetie,” I said. “And I bet he’ll smile at you first.”

AJ was bundled in a blanket in her arms, but he turned toward the sound of my voice. I was next to Melody on the couch, and Ryke was kicked back in his favorite recliner, watching us all with a small smile.

“Did you hear mommy?” Melody cooed to AJ. “That’s our mommy.”

It was the first time she’d called me that, and tears pooled in my eyes as I met Ryke’s gaze.

“And that’s our daddy over there!” Melody raised her elbow awkwardly, trying to give AJ a view of Ryke. “He’s a kickass hockey player!”

My lips parted with surprise. “Melody Ryker! Where did you hear that word?”

Her eyes darted to Ryke before she shrugged and gave me a contrite look. He grinned sheepishly when I turned his way.

“Hockey players kick ass, baby. You don’t want our kids to grow up pansies, do you?”

I tried to give him a scolding look, but it was half-hearted. He patted his lap once and I got up from the couch and settled into the recliner with him. I loved that he could wrap his arms all the way around me again.

“I need to make a dinner reservation for tonight,” he said. “What time did you say your mom and Dale are coming over to babysit?”

“I told her six. Where are we going for our first post-baby date night?” I loved being with my children but was looking forward to an evening alone with Ryke.

He smiled and pulled me a little closer. “The Palmer House.”

I furrowed my brows. “But that’s a hotel.”

“Yeah, but they’ve got room service.” He gave me a knowing wink. I wasn’t ready to spend an entire night away from the kids, but a few hours at a hotel with my husband sounded divine. Even with a newborn, we found time for morning sex, but we never had as much time as I wanted.

I smiled, my body warming in response to the soft nuzzle of his lips on my neck. “That sounds like the perfect dinner spot for me and my kickass hockey player.”

Ryke raised his brows and grinned playfully. “I think we both know it’s not my hockey skills you’re eager to see tonight.”

I leaned in to kiss him but stopped just short of his lips. “Which skills am I eager for, Mr. Ryker?”

“My wrestling ones.”

I laughed and nipped at his earlobe. He was right. I was already excited about spending a few hours doing the little things that made us both hot. And hopefully, discovering a few new ones.

Thanks so much for reading Captive! If you enjoyed it, I’d sincerely appreciate a review on the site of the retailer you purchased it from.

Captive is book #2 in the Fire on Ice series. Book #3 in the series, Edge, will be released in May 2014. It’s the story of Ryke’s friend and teammate Luke Hudson.

My next release is Now and Forever, book 3 in the Now Series, which will be out March 3, 2014.

The best part of my work day as an author is hearing from readers. So if you haven’t found me – please do! Facebook is the easiest place to connect with me. I’m also on Goodreads and Twitter.

This book is for all the readers who read Bound and were so touched by the story that they reached out and told me it wasn’t over. You guys were right! Without you, I wouldn’t have considered ideas for another book about Ryke and Kate. But once I did, I was immediately excited by the possibilities. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for caring about my books, and for taking the time to review them and send me messages.

Captive would not be the book it is without the help of Denise Milano Sprung. Her support and guidance helped shape my story from beginning to end. If you don’t follow the blog she and her blog partner Christine run — Shh Mom’s Reading — you’re missing out!

Brenda Wright from Twinsie Talk Book Reviews – another fantastic blog you should check out – was also there for me through every day of the writing process. Reading scenes, answering random questions, and always, spreading the word. Brenda and the other Twinsies have been so good to me.

My critique partner Jane Koscielak is a dear friend who helps me remember what’s important when I’m writing. Her eye for detail and instincts about plot and words improved this story tremendously.

Beta readers Carrie Jones, Pam Million and Michelle Tan strengthened this story with their insights and keen observations. Carrie has been with me from my first book, and now I refuse to release one without her beta reading it.

The women of Random Moon books have been a source of support, inspiration and much-needed laughs during the stressful moments of this writing process. I’m honored to be in their company.

My ladies in Rothert’s Readers, my FB support group, motivate me when I need it and put a smile on my face most every day. Love you girls!

And as always, thanks and love to my husband and three boys.