“ ’Tisn’t junk,” Shawn said from the doorway. “I spent many a happy night in that bed where Darcy’s making herself at home just now.”

“Well, junk’s what it is now,” Brenna shot back with a little sniff. “And in the way. And how many times, I’d like to know, do you have to hit a nail to put holes this size in a wall?”

“You put pictures over them, and it doesn’t matter how big the holes are.”

“Since that’s your thinking on it, if you’ve a mind to put up anything in the cottage, call someone who knows one end of a hammer from the other. You’ll want to make him swear to that, Jude,” Brenna warned, “else the cottage’ll be rubble by spring.”

“I’ll fix the damn holes meself if it’ll shut you up.” His tone was pleasant, dangerously so. And that was just enough to give Brenna’s heart a little jerk and make her cover the reaction with sarcasm.

“Oh, to be sure, you’ll fix them. Like you fixed the sink at the pub the last time it plugged up so I had to wade through an inch of water on the floor to repair the damage.”

When Darcy snickered, Shawn sent her a cool and silent look. “I’ll have what’s left of mine out by tomorrow, Jude, if that’s all right with you.”

Recognizing scraped male pride, she started to step forward quickly. “There’s no hurry, Shawn. We were just . . .” She trailed off as the room took a sick, slow spin.

Before she could stagger, Shawn darted across the room at a speed that had Brenna’s mouth falling open and scooped his sister-in-law into his arms.

“It’s nothing.” Her head already clearing, Jude patted his shoulder. “I was just dizzy for a minute, that’s all. It happens now and then.”

“You’re for bed,” he said, already striding out. “Get Aidan.” He tossed the order to Darcy over his shoulder.

“No, no, I’m fine. Shawn, don’t—”

“Get Aidan,” he repeated, but Darcy was already up and running.

Brenna stood where she was for a moment, her measuring tape in her hand. As the oldest of five, she’d seen her mother stretch right out on the floor during a dizzy spell while pregnant, so she wasn’t particularly alarmed by Jude’s behavior. What she was, was stunned by the fluid strength she’d just witnessed. Why the man had plucked Jude up as if she’d been weightless.

Where had that been hiding?

Shaking herself clear, she hurried into the master bedroom in time to see Shawn lay Jude gently on the bed and pull a throw over her.

“Shawn, this is ridiculous. I—”

“Lie down.” He jabbed a finger at her in a way that made Jude obey and Brenna goggle. “I’m calling the doctor.”

“She doesn’t need the doctor.” Brenna nearly flinched from the furious glare he aimed at her when he whirled around. But she also saw sheer male fear behind his eyes, and was touched by it. “It’s just a part of carrying, that’s all.” She moved to the bed to sit and pat Jude’s hand. “My mother used to lie right down on the kitchen floor when she had a spell, especially with Alice Mae.”