Grayson laughed at her saucy reply. Everything she said and did appealed to him. He’d never been able to say that about any other woman he’d spent time with. It seemed there was always something that got on his nerves, whether it be an annoying laugh or a fixation on her phone and social media accounts or insane jealousy if he had the audacity to so much as speak to another woman. His dealings with women had been exhausting more than fulfilling, especially with Heather.

She’d wanted to be married, like right now. The more she’d pushed him to make that commitment to her, the more he’d pulled back from her. The push-pull had ruined what had been a pretty good thing, and when he broke up with her, that was when he saw her true colors.

With Emma, he already knew there was no hidden agenda or other side to her that would emerge at some point in the future, disappointing him. She really was as sweet and sexy and smart and devoted to her loved ones as she appeared.

“What do you have planned for today?” he asked.

“Nothing really. It’ll depend on what Simone feels like doing.”

“Spend the day with me. I have an idea of something we can do that she’ll love if she feels up to it.”

“What’s this idea?”

“A surprise for both of you.”

“That sounds intriguing.”

“So yes? We’ll spend the rest of the time we have left together?”

“Mmm,” she said, sounding sleepy. “That’s a yes, Grayson.”

They’d tried to stop Hannah’s early labor, but the baby was determined to arrive now despite the best efforts of the doctors and Hannah to make it stop. She’d known labor would be painful, but she’d been unprepared for just how painful it was or how hard it would be on Nolan to see her in agony.

“I don’t think I can do this,” she said to him after another particularly awful contraction. As the hours passed and the pain intensified, Hannah began to feel panicky about having a premature baby and what might be ahead for all of them. Her panic fueled his.

“I’m going to find the doctor,” he said. “You want me to send your mom in?”

Hannah nodded as her eyes filled with tears. They’d asked for some time alone, but now she really, really wanted her mom.

Nolan kissed her forehead. “I’ll get her, and I’ll be right back with the doctor.” He left the room, and Molly came in a few minutes later.

“How’re you doing, honey?”

Immediately soothed by her mother’s calming presence, Hannah grasped her hand. “The pain is bad. Way worse than I expected.”

“You need an epidural.”

Tears she tried to fight back spilled down her cheeks. “I wanted to do it without one.”