Free Not Quite Married by Christine Rimmer

an appointment.”
    Clara sputtered out a reluctant agreement.
    “All right, then,” said the doctor. “I’ll release you. Take it easy and I’ll see you in a week.”
    * * *
    Dalton was ready for her objections. And to be told he could go.
    The minute the doctor left them alone, she turned a rather frantic-looking smile on him. “Thanks so much for everything, Dalton. But I know you have to go back to your own life and I’ll just call—”
    “I’m not going anywhere,” he cut in before she could really get rolling, rising from his chair to move to her side. “My driver’s waiting to take you home.”
    She gulped and stared up at him. “Home?” Her dark eyes sparked. “You mean to Denver?”
    He asked, gently, “Would you like to come to Denver to stay until the baby comes?”
    “Of course not. I told you. I live here.”
    “Well, then. That’s where I’ll take you. To your house.”
    She drew in a slow, shaky breath. “Really, it’s okay. You don’t have to—”
    He sat down on the bed beside her. “Let me take you home, Clara. Come on. I’m here and I’m willing.”
    Her face was flushed. “God. Modified bed rest. I don’t believe it.”
    “You’re three weeks from your due date.” He kept his voice even and calm. “Really, don’t you think it’s time you cut back?”
    Her slim shoulders slumped. “I... Well, yeah. You’re right. Dr. Kapur is right. I know that. It’s just, I like to keep busy. And I’m used to being independent. And now I’m suddenly supposed to be home all day, lying around watching TV.”
    “There are other options. You could read. Knit. Do you knit?”
    “I tried once.” She pulled a pouty face, which he found way too adorable. “I was lousy at it.”
    He took her hand and felt a small surge of triumph when she didn’t jerk away. “It’s only for a few weeks.”
    She gave a little laugh that sounded way too much like a sob. “Right. And then the baby will be here. And then I’ll never sleep again.”
    He chuckled. “It’s not going to be that bad.”
    “How would you know? You’ve never had a kid, either.” And then her big eyes got bigger. “Or have you?”
    He reached out with his free hand and guided a few soft strands of hair out of her eyes, tucking them behind her ear. Her skin was cool and smooth as velvet. “No. Our daughter is my first.”
    She nibbled nervously on her lower lip. He wanted to bend close and steal a kiss. But he knew it was too soon. She whispered, “You’re being so nice to me. Why?”
    He told the truth. “I want to take care of you.”
    Her eyes were so wide, her mouth so damn soft. “Right now you remind me of how you were on the island. It’s kind of disorienting. Whatever happened to that guy, anyway?”
    He didn’t really know how to answer that question. So he ignored it. Instead he rubbed his thumb lightly across the back of her hand and insisted very gently, “Let me take you home, Clara.”
    “I...” A small, soft sigh. And it happened. She gave in. “All right.”
    * * *
    At her house, he herded her straight to the downstairs master suite, which was large and comfortable, with a walk-in closet on the other side of the roomy bathroom.
    In one corner of her bedroom, she’d set up a bassinette, a changing table and shelves and a rocking chair. She explained, “For the first weeks after the baby comes home, she’ll stay here in my room. Eventually, I’ll move her to her own room upstairs.”
    Did she have the baby’s room set up and ready? If not, he would take care of it.
    But they would get to that later.
    The bed was a king, a four-poster in dark wood with a cheery quilt for a bedspread. He went right over and folded the covers back.
    She stood in the doorway, cell phone in hand, looking recalcitrant. “I need to call the restaurant. Then I want a shower.”
    “You can call the restaurant from bed.”
    “I want a shower before I get in bed. And I don’t want you ordering me around.”
    He kept