Spurs & Stilettos (20 page)

I stare into his eyes trying to figure out whether he is serious or not and I can’t read him. My eyes light up at the idea but I know my parents would kill me, after the baby is born though of course. We barely know each other so I know the happy feeling it gives me is nothing more than that. I’d be insane to consider that seriously when we just recently fell head over heels for each other. “Wesley, I’m not getting married in Vegas. Nice try though.”

Chapter 25

If it weren’t for Wesley being in the hospital, I would have lost my mind by now. He jokes a few more times about getting married in Vegas until I finally tell him he’ll have to answer to my dad. That keeps him quiet for a while. Nora and Nolan stick around popping into the room every once and a while. Nolan still won’t look at me which I am fine with. Nora and I plan to do lunch one day and I can see Wesley’s approving smile when she asks me. I’ve been in Vegas now for almost a week and still have yet to step into a casino.

Amber left two days ago to fly back to San Antonio. We sat and talked in the room the night before ironing out all the details of what was going to happen when Wesley comes home. The nurse tells us Wesley can leave in a few days, and that is a good thing since he is more than ready. I’m mentally exhausted from being here and I just want to lie in a real bed. We decide that I will go back to the ranch with Wesley to look after him.

Nolan and Nora stay up until the bitter end. In fact, we all ride to the airport together. I choose to sit as far away from his dad as I can. Nora clings to Wesley as she bides him goodbye.

“Hope, if you need any help with him at all, please don’t hesitate to call me.”

“I will Nora, I promise.” I understand her maternal instincts kicking in. Wesley is her baby boy.

When we pass through airport security, Wesley, being the bigger man he is sticks his left hand out to Nolan. Nolan just scoffs for a minute before firmly shaking his hand. “Take care son.” His eyes find mine and he gives me his usual glare. I want to smile in his face but I turn to Wesley.

“We need to get to our gate Wes.” One more goodbye and we are on our way.

It’s hard to think that only a week ago I was frantic on a plane on my way to Vegas to find my hurt boyfriend. Now, I’m more relaxed sitting beside him with our fingers laced together. His face is still bruised although not as bad as it was, I lean over to kiss his cheek lingering my lips there for a second.

“Oh no, Wesley is Bandit still in Vegas?”

He laughs squeezing my hand. The stewardess stops offering us a beverage. She pours us each a Coke before going to the next aisle. “Bandit was transported back to the ranch. He’ll be there when we get home.”

Part of me is a little scared again after seeing what he did to Wesley but I know it was just a freak accident.

We arrive back in San Antonio and Amber meets us at the airport to bring us to his ranch. She’s packed a few bags of clothes and toiletries, everything I can possibly need while I’m with Wesley.

When we arrive at the ranch it’s still as beautiful as the last time I saw it. Amber gasps taking in all its beauty as she parks. Wesley insists he is fine, but I help him get out of the car and into the house. He relaxes in his recliner, letting out a sigh of relief. His eyes close as he gets as comfortable as he can.

“Thank you Amber for everything. I’ll call you later ok?” I pull her in for a tight hug.

“That’s what best friends do Hope. If ya’ll need anything let me know.” She looks towards Wesley who is now lightly snoring and laughs. “Tell him bye for me when he wakes.” I walk her out the door and watch her drive away.

“Sweetheart, what are you doing out here? Come inside and relax. I know you’re tired too.”

I jump quickly turning to find Wesley standing behind me. He shouldn’t be out here, he should be resting. I quickly frown, “You need to be resting cowboy. I was just walking Amber out.”

I kiss his cheek and lead him inside. He winces in pain as he sits back down. What a stubborn man, I hate seeing him in pain like this. “Sit here Wes, I’ll grab you one of your pain pills and some tea, ok? I also need to make a phone call.”

I need to call my doctor and schedule my first appointment to find out exactly how far along I am. I’m nervous as hell but I have Wesley here with me and I keep reminding myself he is excited about this and it eases everything. The receptionist informs me she can get me in tomorrow because of a cancellation and I accept the appointment. Once she tells me the time, I hang up the call.

Wesley takes his medicine and washes it down with the tea smiling, “Thank you Hope, I have no idea what I’d do without you.”

Somehow he still makes me blush saying the simplest things like that. “Well for starters, you’d be in pain because you’re too stubborn to take it easy and relax. I have my first doctor appointment tomorrow; do you think you’ll feel up to going?”

His face distorts into a frown as he attempts to sit up a little straighter. “Is that a serious question sweetheart? I don’t care if I feel like hell. I wouldn’t miss that for the world.”

I’m relieved and I feel bad for asking like that. I didn’t mean to offend him in any way. “I didn’t mean for it to sound like that Wes.”

“I know. At least you’re concerned about me. I love you.” he winks sending my heart to a new level.

“Are you scared Wesley?” I ask timidly.

“Of what? Having a baby?”

“Yeah, I mean we haven’t been together for very long and what if in a few months you decide you don’t want me anymore? What if pregnancy makes me crazy? I’m scared of so much Wesley. I don’t mean to be but I am.” I admit to him.

“Come here,” he demands rather gruff.

I stand face to face with him looking into his green eyes. With his good hand he pulls mine into his, “I will never want anyone the way I want you. Do you hear me? You’re all I ever want and you’re all I will ever need. Don’t be scared, this is a journey we will take together. I don’t want this with anyone else. Yes, we haven’t been together very long but the beauty of it all is we get to take the time to get to know each other.”

I close my eyes taking in a deep breath and as I let the breath out, I feel a little more at ease. When I open my eyes, he’s smiling at me melting my soul, “I love you Hope, and never doubt me or us.”

“I love you too.” I do. I fiercely love this man with every fiber in my being.

*********

My hands are clammy against the steering wheel and I’m nervous that at any moment they’re going to slide off causing me to drive off the road. My doctor is in San Antonio so we have to drive a few miles to get there. Wesley admits he is in a little pain today but not as much as yesterday. He looks about as nervous as I’m feeling right now. We don’t talk much during the ride but that’s fine. Just feeling his body heat next to me makes me feel a little better.

I fill out a ton of paperwork when we enter the office. I’m severely thankful for insurance right now with this situation. I sit in the waiting room chair trying to get comfortable. I want to relax before they call my name because I know once I’m back in the room everything for sure is going to change.

“Ms. Trahan?” the nurse says. “You can follow me this way.”

I draw in a deep breath and let it out as I stand. Wesley is right beside me in a flash leaning into my ear, “I like Mrs. Tyler better.”

I glare at him trying not to laugh. “Stop it!”

The nurse checks my vitals and hands me a gown to put on when she steps out of the small room. She then instructs me to sit on the table. I stare at the little gown as I begin to undress. Wesley lets out a low whistle and I feel my face turn crimson as I hurry and slip the gown on. I jump on the table and try to relax.

“Behave Wesley Tyler, I mean it.”

“I can’t whistle at you? I have to admit, that little gown turns me on.”

“Unbelievable, that’s what you are! I oughta…” I’m in the middle smiling as I give him a piece of my mind when the door opens to the room.

“Ms. Trahan, I’m Dr. Barnes. It’s nice to meet you.” Dr. Barnes is very young. She looks like she can’t be any older than 35. She looks petite and I’m wondering how she’s supposed to deliver babies. Maybe she has some hidden strength I don’t know about. She adjusts her glasses as she brushes her long cocoa brown hair behind her ear.

“Nice to meet you too. This is my boyfriend Wesley, he’s the father.” Wesley smiles as he leans in a little closer to hear what the doctor has to say.

“Today we’re going to see if we can hear the heartbeat. I need you to lie back Hope and relax.” I lie back as instructed trying my best to relax. I take in several deep breaths before I finally feel as though I’m ready for this.

Dr. Barnes turns on a computer monitor to my left. The screen lights up showing an ultrasound screen. Wesley moves from his chair to my right side, grabbing my hand in his.

“First we’ll try this way and if we can’t find the heartbeat, we’ll have to try vaginally.” I scrunch my nose at the idea of a vaginal ultrasound. I really hope this little peanut will cooperate.

She squeezes the cool goo onto my stomach. The minute it hits me, I suck my stomach in trying to adjust as quickly as I can. I find myself squeezing Wesley’s good hand tighter and tighter as Dr. Barnes touches the wand to my belly and begins moving it around. The feel of the wand helps relax me for a moment and I’m completely forgetting why I’m here until I hear it.

Thump thump. Thump thump.

My eyes dart to the screen looking for the thump I heard. Poor Wesley, I’m squeezing the life out of his hand. My own heart stops right there on the spot as I lay my eyes on the little tiny blip on the screen. I can feel the tears well up and I don’t try to stop them. This is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.

“Well, we definitely have a strong heartbeat. Congratulations!” She looks at a few more things and takes a few measurements. “It looks like you are only a few short weeks along. This will give you an approximate due date before the end of the year. I’m going to print this picture up for you and give you a minute to get out of this gown and then I’ll be right back.” She smiled warmly as she exited closing the door behind her.

I can’t move. I’m still staring at the screen although nothing is there anymore. I look over to see Wesley attempting to wipe a few tears away from his face. It’s kind of hard when the only free hand he has is entangled in mine. “I can’t believe that’s our baby. I love it already. I want to frame that picture.” All I can do is nod yes. I’m more than ok with anything he wants to do and just hearing him say he already loves our baby has my heart soaring.

He continues to look at me, his eyes red from crying. I reach over and carefully wipe the remaining tears from his eyes and smile. He leans forward brushing his lips against mine. Passionately I kiss him back, pulling him in closer to feel him. He pulls back giving me a boyish grin, “Marry me Hope.”

“You did not just ask me to marry you.” I smile not knowing fully just how serious he was.

“I did and I mean it. Olivia Hope Trahan, will you marry me?”

I blink a few more tears back, this man is unbelievably amazing. Once again my heart has stopped and I’m gazing into his eyes. Marry him? Just the thought of it does two different things to me. First it does send a happy feeling, I can’t deny that, but secondly it terrifies me. So much has happened to us in such a short amount of time and we barely know each other. I can’t marry someone I don’t know, that’s insane. In Vegas, I did pretend to play the part of wife just so I could be able to see him but I never actually gave it any thought like that. I bet our baby peanut is even swimming around crazy over the thought. I knew before he was the best thing that’s ever happened to me, I knew that when I read the article about Karlee and myself and then when I told him we were going to be parents. Now I just need to come off of my happy cloud and give him an answer. I’m full of mixed emotions. Part of me wants to say yes but I also need to know his intentions. I don’t want him feeling like he has to ask me just because I’m carrying his child. We can’t base a marriage off of that. The other part of me knows full and well I’m going to say no right now and he will get over it.