My heart starts walloping triple time at the sight of him. He’s shirtless, and there are beads of sweat trickling along the ridges of his abdomen. Holy moly. I should interrupt his midday workouts more often.

“What’s wrong?” His voice is fraught with alarm, while I can barely remember my own name.

“Huh?” I lift my gaze to his worried face. It takes a ridiculous amount of effort to fight through this lusty haze and try to remember what I summoned him for.

He snaps twice. “Focus, Li’l Bit.” Then, using the towel slung around his neck, he dabs at his brow while grinning to himself.

“The baby!” I say, reminded when I feel a nudge down below.

“Is something wrong?” His amused expression quickly vanishes.

“No.” I shake my head. “Nothing like that. Put your hand right here.” I press his palm firmly to my growing bump. “Did you feel that?”

He frowns. “I don’t feel anything.”

“You have to push really hard and concentrate.” I grip his first two fingers and dig in there.

“I don’t want to hurt him.” He attempts to pull away, but I tighten my grip. “Or you, for that matter.”

“You won’t. Just be patient.”

I study his face for a reaction. A few nudges go by, and he doesn’t so much as flinch to indicate he noticed. I’m trying not to get frustrated because the books say your partner should be able to feel movement between twenty-one and twenty-four weeks. I’m twenty-three now and so far, nada.

I’m about to throw in the proverbial towel and head back to the room to finish getting ready when his eyes go wide with amazement.

“I’m pretty sure I felt something.” The thrill in his voice brings tears to my eyes.

Hell, everything lately brings freaking tears to my eyes. But this is super special. This man is giving my child a father he or she wouldn’t otherwise have had. And he couldn’t be more involved or genuinely excited about it. Lyle constantly makes me feel like the luckiest girl in the entire world.

I nod and smile, digging his fingers a little deeper in hopes that baby bean will push back.

It works.

“Okay, I know I felt it that time.” His smile is blinding. “Wow…” He starts to poke and prod without my insistence. “He’s really strong.”

“I hope you won’t be too disappointed when it turns out to be a girl.”

“You know me better than that.” He reaches out, attempting to pull me in for a sweaty embrace.

“Uh, I just showered and dried this unruly mane. Keep your stink to yourself, sir.” I bat his arms away half-heartedly.

“Whatever…you love my man stench.” He returns his hand to my stomach. “And I promise, I’ll be happy no matter what. I just really enjoy sparring with you.”