“The doctor’s finished with his exam,” says the nurse as she enters. “Now, he’ll be hoarse and his throat will be sore, so he won’t feel like talking much. Who’s first?”

Emily pushes me forward and I follow the nurse, dread sitting like a rock in my stomach. I reach the door and then step over the threshold and look to the left. Drew is sitting up … well, as high as he can due to his leg, but he watching me as walk in. I smile, wobbly, but a smile nonetheless. I can’t believe the relief I feel seeing his eyes open.

“Hi, Drew.” That’s it, you idiot? The love of your life is sitting there and that’s all you can say?

“Hi.” He swallows as if that one word has caused him great pain. I rush over to his side and put my fingers to his lips.

“Don’t talk. It’s going to hurt for a while.”

He’s still staring at me like—I don’t know what it’s like. What the hell is he thinking? His hand reaches up to my fingers and he pulls my hand down and just holds it. Okay, so I get teary-eyed and so does he. He smiles and so do I, sans the wobble.

“I love you, Drew.”

“I love you too, Dora,” he whispers.

I do something I know is taboo, but I crawl up beside him, watching out for all the wires and tubes, and snuggle next to him. His arm cradles me, and I feel his lips caress the top of my head. As I listen to the gentle thump of his heart, I close my weary eyes for some much needed rest.

I don’t know how long I slept, but I wake up next to Drew, who is snoring lightly, and I feel like someone is watching me. I turn my head and see it’s the nurse who guessed I was pregnant.

“I’m sorry,” I say, but I’m not. I know I’ve probably broken a major hospital rule, but I’m not going to budge until I know. Drew is going to completely recover. I’m the mother of his baby, and I love him, and they’ll just have to deal.

“We can move in a cot for you to sleep on,” the kind nurse whispers.

“I’d rather lie here. I’m being careful of his leg and the wires. I need to hear his heart beating.” I wait for her answer, praying that she won’t make me move.

“Okay. Let me know if you change your mind.” She smiles and leaves the room.

“I can’t believe I’m holding you. I never want to let you go. Why did you leave the shoot and ignore my calls and then block them? I tried to see you but Jeff told me that you needed space and that if I pushed too hard you wouldn’t ever want to see me.” I look at his face and see the pain in his eyes.

“I left the shoot because seeing you with Angela made me think two weeks were all I was going to get with you. You acted like you were so into her. It wasn’t until I got home, that I realized the steamy kissing scene was all an act. And when I called your room and Angela answered …”

“What do you mean when Angela answered? She was never in my room. When I came back and found out you left, I flew back home to talk to you. Oh, wait I gave her the key so she could have a few friends over.”

“She told me you were in the shower and that you guys were going out and it might be late when you returned my call. I’m so stupid, I fell for her lies.”

“I should’ve ignored Jeff and just made you talk to me,” he whispers.”

“I’m so sorry Drew, can you forgive me?”

“Only if you will swear that you’ll never leave me again.” He sounds tired and I gently kiss him.

“I promise.” I lay my head on his chest and smile as he starts to nod off.

“What’s the secret?” I hear Drew’s raspy voice whisper next to my ear. I look at the clock and see we’ve been asleep for a couple of hours.

“You heard me? They said you might be able to.” I tilt my head to look at him smiling at me. He squeezes my side gently and tilts his head, obviously awaiting my answer.

“Maybe I should wait until you’re out of here,” I say quietly, “when you feel better.” I watch as he smiles crookedly due to the minor swelling still left around his mouth. He slowly shakes his head. My heart melts, then starts racing as I realize he’s not going to wait. “But I think I should. You might not like what I have to say.” I bite my lip nervously and he squeezes me again.

“As long as it’s not that you don’t love me, and don’t want to be with me, I’ll be okay,” he whispers as his eyes bore into mine. I know I have to tell him.

“Remember New Year’s Eve?” I ask, and watch as he nods, sending me a wicked smile. “Well, we didn’t use any protection, which was my fault because I attacked you and …” I take a deep breath. “I’m pregnant,” I blurt out, and he squeezes me hard.

“We’re pregnant,” he says, his eyes filled with excitement. “New Year’s right?” He tries to sit up straighter and I curl into him and gently press him back down.

“Yes, New Year’s, now behave. You’re supposed to be resting and staying calm. Do you want to get me thrown out of here?” I say, giggling at the huge grin on his face.

“We’re pregnant. You know what that means?”

“Yes, it means I’m going to get fatter and then in five months we’re going to have a baby.”

“Yes, that of course. But I need to get out of here so we can get married.” He excitedly whispers.

“Wait, you don’t have to do that.” I say biting my lip hoping that he ignores what I’ve just said.

“Are you kidding? I love you and you love me so why wouldn’t we get married? Okay, so I can’t get down on one knee, but Pandora Ann Phillips, will you marry me?” I look at him and tears fill my eyes.

“Yes! Of course I will.” I feel his arms surround me and his lips touch mine.

Epilogue

Waking up, I look at the clock. It’s three a.m. I listen for a sound, but nope, no crying. I do hear a muffled voice, so I get out of bed, putting on my slippers and satin robe. I move quietly to the nursery where I hear the voice coming from. Drew is standing by the changing table, expertly putting a diaper around our sweet baby girl.

So much has happened this past year: Drew and my wild week of passion, our separation, his accident, his recovery, Julie and Kevin’s bundle of joy arriving in July, our wedding, Liam and Jeff off in Australia for a few months, and the birth of our twins, Amanda Lynn and Jason Edward, two of the most beautiful babies in the world.

“Now, we have to be quiet. Mommy needs her sleep and we don’t want to wake up your brother either. At least not until I have your bottles fixed up. You know how impatient he is when he wakes up hungry. But you, my little angel, you’re the patient one, and you’re such a good girl, aren’t you? Of course, I love you both equally, but I hope you understand that I love your mom the best. She is, after all, the one who gave you guys to me. How was I to know the necklace I gave her last Christmas was a Mexican pregnancy ball?”

My hand reaches up to my neck to hold the little silver ball that chimes softly when I move.

“I guess it worked pretty well, huh? We got two for the price of one. Today is going to be a busy day, as it’s your first Christmas. You probably won’t enjoy it much this year, but just wait until next year.”

I see Mandy watching her father as he talks to her as if she understands every word.

“We’re going to see all your grandparents and great-grandparents today. Your aunts and uncle too. Now let’s be super quiet and we’ll go get the bottles ready, because I hear your brother moving in the crib.”

He picks Mandy up and kisses her cheek and she giggles. She keeps on giggling the more he shushes her. He turns and sees me standing in the doorway and his smile—yes, his smexy smile—totally makes me melt. Here we are, our own lucky group of four, and I couldn’t be happier. As I continue watching him tend to our children, a warm sensation washes over me. There’s really nothing hotter in my opinion than a gorgeous man who’s wonderful with kids. I know exactly what we’ll be doing once he finishes feeding our twins—yes, I do.