Snorting, he cocked a brow. “Why go nine months without coffee? As long as you drink it in moderation, you can have it, same with anything else. My mother drank a cup of coffee every morning. She just added a bit more milk and only had the one cup, but she still got her caffeine and didn’t have to kill anyone.”

  “If my blood pressure is high, trust me, honey, they will take it from me.” And she would become an über bitch and no one wanted that. Damn, no one wanted her to be an über and complete bitch for that long. Not even her! Especially not her!

  “Then we will just have to get it down and keep it down. But you’ve also been stressing, which isn’t good for the blood pressure. We’ll definitely have to fix that,” he commented.

  Corbin came out of the bathroom rubbing a towel over his head. “Take her to the spa for the day. A massage, mani and all that other crap will help her relax a lot.”

  Patty grinned. “He’s right. I would love to have a spa day. Think your manhood will be able to stand up to having manis, pedis and massages with your woman today, Blake darling?” she teased him with a smirk. “Because I have to tell you, it already sounds heavenly.”

  “No massage for me, but the rest I’m sure I can survive.” When she frowned at him, he smiled. “Bullet wound, no aggravating the site and surrounding tissue. I know for a fact you were taking notes when Doc Cassidy was shooting out all the things I wasn’t allowed to do.”

  “Ah yes, good point,” she muttered. “Thanks for that reminder,” she grumbled at him. “Just another reason for you to be good.” She smiled and looked to Corbin. “How are things shaping up at the ranch? Have you started to get them whipped into shape?” They had hired three new men, men from a ranching background and more importantly, men that the sheriff himself had recommended.

  “So far so good,” he said, pulling on a pair of jeans. Grabbing a shirt, socks, and his boots, he moved to the chair on her side and sat. “They haven’t gotten lost, I haven’t had to kill them, and they seem to be picking up on the way we do things quickly. Hopefully they get it all in line before Blake comes back. I did warn them that his bite was much worse than his bark and to run if he actually did bark.”

  Patty grinned at that and shook her head. “Which is true. So the first time that he meets them I better not be anywhere near or else they will think he’s a big softie.” Blake was a marshmallow around Patty, but only for Patty and they all knew it. “Maybe that first day Blake goes back I will talk Daddy into going shopping with me. I need to buy some new fabrics and ship them to New York.” Now that she could breathe easier without a threat of death hanging over her she could hopefully find that footing in life once more, the balance between work and home.

  “Might not be a bad plan,” Corbin said. He grinned when Blake snorted at her side. “Best not to ruin the horrific reputation I’m trying to create for the new boss man. ’Course, they are slightly confused as to why he’s not around. Daniel’s been explaining there was a bit of an accident and you were taking a bit of time plus some holiday days off as well before officially taking on the position.”

  “More like being blackmailed into taking time off. Not that I mind when I get to stay in bed with Tish. But still, it’s the damned principal of the matter,” he shook his head.

  She snickered, couldn’t help herself. “Well too damn bad, big boy. You are stuck here with me for the next week plus so suck it up, cupcake, and deal.” She was teasing him, the grin on her face and tone in her voice showing clearly that she was.

  Blake stared at her and then, screwing up his face, stuck his tongue out. He actually stuck his tongue out at her. Corbin burst out laughing and got to his feet, stomping them slightly before working a belt through the loops of his jeans. “All right you two, behave yourselves and remember, if you get arrested, call me so I can come and take pictures.”

  Patty moved to Blake and wrapped her arm with his. “Don’t worry. He won’t get me in trouble. Will you Blake? You will ensure that I’m kept very far from trouble and we will enjoy our spa days.” She actually looked forward to it, a great deal.

  “’Course I’ll keep you out of trouble. Now if you were going with Corbin as chaperone…” He smiled as the man in question started waving his hands around. “Don’t you have work to do, buddy?”

  “Yes, and you keep that kinda crap to yourself. She doesn’t need to hear it, or any such things, blatant lies and horribly blown-out-of-proportion rumors, ever.” Moving to the bed, he leaned in and kissed her. “Don’t believe anything he says about anything I may or may not have ever done.”

  “Oh now I have to know,” Patty said and wrapped an arm around Corbin’s neck to pull him closer. “Come on, Cor, you know you wanna tell me.” She whispered temptingly, her lips brushing against his, her nose rubbing his.

  “Nope, not happening, not ever,” he said, shaking his head. Pressing another kiss to his lips, he teased her lips open, brushing his tongue to hers. When he drew back, it was with a satisfied grin on his lips. “I will see you later tonight. Behave and have a good spa day.” Slipping from her loosened hold, he whistled as he left the room, shrugging into his T-shirt as he left.

  Patty was grinning as Corbin left and shook her head. Looking to Blake, she said, “Come on, big boy. Let’s go on a spa date.” Slipping her hand into his she gave it a squeeze and together they went out for their spa date.

  * * * *

  Kicking her feet on the table, Patty picked at the paper gown she was in and sighed. “Why the hell did they make me put on this gown?” They had gotten into the doctor’s office and had been told to put on the oh-so-flattering gown and wait for the doctor. She was fine and her blood pressure was fine as well, so she didn’t know what the hell was happening or why the gown, but that was neither here nor there.

  “So why do you think they had me put this wonderful fashion statement on? I mean seriously, what do you think that they are doing? My blood pressure is much better, so why?” That was her question.

  Shrugging, Corbin kept swinging his feet where he sat up on the little counter by the sink in the room. “You never know with the Doc. She’s likely got a reason behind it all but we just need to wait her out, she will tell us eventually. Patience, Tisha, patience.” He grinned. “I know it’s a stretch, babe, but try.”

  Patty stuck her tongue out at him and looked up at the ceiling. Sighing, she closed her eyes. “Goodness I hate waiting.” She muttered. “I hope that the Doc gets in here soon. I want to go for ice cream.” She looked to Corbin and grinned. “You promised we would.”

  “And we will go. I’d never break a promise to you, darling.” He smiled at her. “But we can’t do a damned thing until she gets in here and tells us what’s going on. So, you never did tell us, what are you planning on doing with those cases of samples that showed up the other day?”

  “Good point.” Patty laughed and shrugged. “I was thinking of setting up a shop front in Mission proper.” They lived in the county of Mission, very rural, however there was a small town of Mission that was actually very quaint and she loved it.

  “That sounds like a good idea,” Blake said. He was leaning against the wall near the door, had been since they’d arrived, and didn’t appear ready to move at all. “And really, the people of Mission and surrounding areas need all the design help they can get. Have you seen some of the horrid seventies crap still existing?”

  Patty laughed. “Yes, why do you think that I have decided to open one?” She was going to say something more, but the doctor walked in with a chart in hand.

  “Hello there, guys,” the doctor said to the men and then Patty. Taking her seat on the metal stool, she crossed her legs and put the file down. “So, how you feeling? Any changes in appetite?”

  “Nope. So why the gown?” Patty retorted.

  “Well, because I need to check you to make sure that you are doing okay,” the doctor replied.

  “Okay. I don’t understand.” Patty was confused. Very damn confused.

  “You don’t know?” Leaning back, the Doc looked from Patty to the guys and back again. Smiling, she shook her head. “Well in about eight months you should be welcoming the newest member of the family.” She then waited for it to actually kick in and for them to realize what she was saying.

  Corbin stopped kicking and Blake became still—well, more still than he had been. “You’re saying she’s pregnant?” Corbin’s voice rose up a full octave in the space of those four words. At the nod from the doctor, she couldn’t be sure who looked more stunned as they all shared looks of surprise and, after about the fourth time whipping her head about, happiness started to appear.

  “Oh hell. We are going to have a baby.” She rested her hand on her belly and grinned. “We are pregnant!” She looked to Corbin and then Blake. “Well don’t just stand there, you big goofs. Come and give me a hug!” She was happy. Tears were spilling from her eyes, but happy tears.

  Corbin got there first, scooping her up and spinning her around. Kissing her, he hugged her close and grinned. Then Blake was behind her, his heat warming her since he hadn’t said anything or made a sound. When she turned, he looked at her and nodded, leaning in to kiss her as he scooped her up into his arms. He didn’t spin her around, he just held her tight, his cheek to hers as a shudder worked through his body, his arms tightening slightly before he let her back down onto her feet.

  Before they could say a word she blurted, “You are telling Daddy. I plan on staying in town while you tell him.” Not because he would be angry, but more because he would be demanding to know when they would ‘make an honest woman’ out of her.

  “Not a chance in hell,” Corbin said. “You are most definitely coming with us. Besides, this way he won’t get in our faces like he would if you weren’t there.”

  Blake was still watching her, his hand sliding up and down her arm slowly. A knowing small smile curled his lips—he looked like he might just know what was likely to happen. “I wouldn’t worry about it, Tish. We’re more than ready for everything he may or may not question us about.”

  Patty snorted and shook her head. “Well let’s just hope that you are still feeling that way after we meet with Daddy.” She slipped her hands into her men’s and then grinned. “Okay. Let’s get dressed.” She then realized that the doctor was still there. “Oh crap.” Hearing the doctor’s laughter, she got back up on the bed and smirked. “Okay, Doc, do your worst so we can go home and these boys can break it to Daddy that he’s gonna be a grandpa.” She knew her father was going to love it.

  “Quit worrying,” Blake said. Moving back to his previous position, he leaned against the wall once more. “We’re already well ahead of the old man this time around. Trust us,” he added with a smile that was just a little bit bigger than his last.

  Patty watched her men instead of the doctor and what she was doing. As long as she focused on something else, she was good. “Just what do you boys have planned?” she asked with a smile. “Come on, talk to me boys?”

  “That would spoil the surprise,” Corbin said when Blake stayed silent. Corbin, he was the one she’d have to get it out of. Blake could play sphinx with the best of them, silent and still. But Corbin she could likely bribe, trick, or just generally confuse into giving her the information. She’d have to get him alone though. It could be done. “So you will just have to wait and see.”

  “Oh, that’s bad,” she whispered softly to him and then winced when the doctor took some more measurements. “You both know just how much I hate surprises.” She let out a breath and sighed. “All right, how long until I get to know what you boys have planned?”

  “Depends.” He shrugged. “We’ll have to play it all by ear. And of course, it all depends on how long the doctor plans on poking at you and doing whatever the hell she’s doing. Plus there is the time we’ll lose at the ranch talking to your dad. So really, it could be a while at this rate.”

  “Oh, that’s bad.” She sighed and shook her head. “The doctor is trying to make sure that our child is healthy.”

  “She did go through a trauma a couple weeks earlier. I’m just ensuring that everything is fine,” Doc said quietly and then pulled back. Tugging off the latex gloves, she tossed them in the trash. “All right. Get dressed and come on out. I will have the prescriptions for you and we will make an appointment to see you next week. Your blood pressure is still higher than I would like, so let’s see you next week. If it continues.” She shrugged. “If it continues then I will have to ask you to lay off the caffeine.”

  “Oh hell no.” Patty shook her head. “I don’t think that I will be able to give up my coffee.”

  “If it means the child will be healthy, you will,” the doctor retorted.

  Damn, the doctor had her there. “All right. Let’s hope that it doesn’t come to that.” She was going to do everything she could in order to ensure that she didn’t have to give up coffee. When the doctor walked out she sighed. “Okay then. I guess that I should get dressed huh?”

  “Yes, you should.” Blake straightened up. Collecting her clothing, he handed it to her. “You are still worrying too much, Tish. We’ll figure out a way to get your pressure down and then you can keep the coffee. But you need to remember to relax sometimes. You can’t just keep running around like you used to, always on the go. You’re in the country again, woman, get back on a country schedule.”

  “Yeah, I guess I need to learn to slow down again.” She sighed and closed her eyes. “I’m trying,” she murmured. “So I need you to help me please. I think that I need some lessons on slowing down.” Which was the honest truth.

  Blake’s scent wrapped around her as a warm hand cupped her face. “We’ll always be here for you, Tish, no matter what. Even if it means teaching you how to slow down and enjoy the moments we are given on this earth.” When she looked up, he smiled and pressed a kiss to her lips. “Dress, and then we will go and start your lessons. Damn citified girls.”

  “Sounds good.” Patty had to laugh at that and she moved from the little table and back into Blake’s arms. Hugging him close, she sighed happily. “God I love you.” She loved them both honestly, and she was really looking forward to being able to spend the rest of her life with them, and now a baby. She was over the moon.

  “Good, ’cause you are so stuck with us for the rest of your life.” He hugged her back. “Dress, we’ll meet you in the hall,” he said softly. Another kiss to her lips and he stepped back, heading for the door. Corbin leaned in and kissed her, giving her a quick hug as well, and then followed him out of the room to give her a bit of privacy while dressing.

  When she was finally dressed she walked out of the room and smirked at Blake, who was leaning nonchalantly against the wall and looking drool worthy, and then at Corbin who was standing there with his hands in his pockets. She sighed. Damn she was a lucky, lucky woman. “Sounds good, honey, let’s get ourselves home?”

  Corbin lifted a brow. “Didn’t say anything. Or are you answering yourself again?” he asked with a chuckle. Yeah, she talked to herself on occasion and yes, she’d even answered herself. So what? Who didn’t do that?

  “Don’t poke at her, Cor,” Blake said pushing upright. “We have things to do and we still have to manage to get out of here sometime today.”

  “This is true.” Patty grinned at him and shook her head. She moved to the desk and scheduled her next visit as well as taking her prescriptions. Looking to her men, she smiled. “Come on boys. Let’s get home so that we can tell Daddy that he’s going to be a grand-daddy.” If word hadn’t already gotten to him. Damn small towns.

  “He won’t know yet,” Corbin said, taking her hand in his. Blake lifted the prescriptions from her fingers and tucked them in a pocket. “No one’s going to spoil this one. Course, your old man has been hoping each and every time we all show up at the ranch. And when we don’t tell him, he goes off muttering. I’d swear he’s got little voodoo dolls or something.”

  “Voodoo dolls?” Blake asked.

  “Either that or he’s into playing with dolls. I caught him stuffing something into the drawer that had hair on its round head. I’m hoping it was a voodoo doll, ’cause otherwise we may need to get him some psychiatric help.”

  “More like we need to get you some,” Blake muttered under his breath. Taking the card from the nurse with the appointment time and date, he added it to his pocket.

  Patty was smiling ear to ear. “You two are so funny. But you are right. I swear that man has been wanting a grandchild since…well, forever.” She shrugged. “I just didn’t think we would be succumbing to his will this quickly.” She was teasing them, but God it felt great to tease them. “Now, let’s hurry up, tell Daddy, and then go home and celebrate.”

  “You sound like you have a plan in mind, Tisha. Just what exactly do you think we should do for this celebration of ours?” Corbin asked as they walked to the truck. Blake unlocked the doors as he went around to the driver’s door and climbed in. Corbin helped her into the passenger side and followed her in.

  “Sex. Lots and lots of sex,” Patty told them both with a grin. “Yes, I think that would be very good.” She was totally in for that. “Come on, boys. Also, the sooner that we can get home the sooner you can tell me what you have planned for us.”

  “Us?” Corbin asked with a quasi-innocent look on his face. “Why whatever do you mean, darling?” he chuckled. Hugging her to his side, he leaned back into the corner of the seat and tugged on a lock of her hair lightly. “Besides, who said you’d be finding out today? It could be tomorrow, or next week, or three months from now.”

  “Oh come on.” Patty let the last word draw out because she would never survive having to wait even longer. “Oh goodness gravy, you are killing me here. Please don’t make me wait that long? Seriously.” They both knew that she was impatient as always.

  Corbin just laughed and shrugged when she shot him her evil glare look. Bugger. Blake didn’t seem to really be paying attention to the conversation. He was driving along, all competent and yet relaxed-looking. “We shall see,” he said, squeezing her to him. “But you shouldn’t be stressing about it, stress is bad for you and the junior rancher you are carrying.”

 

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