“I mean, at least I know you well enough to know that any man who let you go is not in his right mind. And certainly breaking up with someone in the ER is probably one of the lowest things I’ve ever—” He paused, pressing his lips together before speaking. “Anyway, it’s horrible.”

He rolled his stool even closer to her. Close enough that she could feel his breath on her. “Listen, you lost a baby, someone you loved—you need to grieve. You shouldn’t feel ashamed or like less of anything. There’s no time line for these things. You did nothing wrong. It wasn’t your fault.” Anger flashed in his eyes. “And it was shitty of that asshole or anyone to make you feel like you were somehow at fault.”

She just stared at him, allowing his words to fill her and enter her heart and mind. Tears continued to fall, but she had no desire to stop them. She had been scared but excited to become a mother. No matter what the circumstances. She might have been pregnant only eight to ten weeks, but it was enough for her to start to make plans, see the future. It was enough for her to fall in love.

Daniel continued to wipe aside her tears with his thumb. He stayed firm and strong, his eyes never leaving hers as her tears fell.

“I...I feel so empty.”

He nodded.

“I...I...” She never finished her sentence, because she was flat-out crying. Daniel pulled her close, wrapped his arms around her and held her while she sobbed. She was enveloped in comfort and strength and couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so safe.

Or could she? Such a feeling of comfort and stability—and familiarity—flashed through her, but, like an elusive dream, it was gone before she could grab it.

When the wave of sobbing passed her, she kept her face burrowed into his shoulder for a minute, enjoying the scent of him, and the comfort of his body, before pushing back to look at him.

“And Steven is a goddamn fucking asshole.” Not a new thought, but the pronouncement felt good. She wiped away her tears and tried to get herself back together.

Her proclamation earned her a small smile and a chuckle. “Yes. That he is.”

She was keenly aware of the intensity of his gaze and the rapid hammering of her own heart. His face was only a few inches from hers, and she shifted her gaze to his mouth. Without really meaning to, she found herself studying his lips and wondering how they would feel against hers.

The thundering of helicopter blades startled her, and she jumped away from him. He closed his eyes as he shook his head at the sound. When he opened his eyes, his lips were set in a grim line, shyly invoking both dimples, almost as if he’d been caught red-handed.