“I know. Can you go check and see if he’s still here? I want to say thank you.” Raina also wanted to apologize for being difficult. He’d only been trying to help her and she was pretty sure she’d snapped at him.

Ridley left briefly and Raina used the time to close her eyes and rest her head. It was nice to finally understand why she was so tired. She’d figured it was just part of being pregnant. It had made her feel incredibly guilty because after all the time, stress, and worry that had gone into getting pregnant, she’d expected to enjoy it. To be glowing and healthy and excited.

Instead she’d just been barfing and miserable and sick.

At least there was something she could do now that would hopefully make her feel better.

Ridley came back in the room, Nick trailing behind her. As soon as he saw her, he pushed past Ridley and strode to the side of the bed.

“I came as soon as I got Matt’s message. What happened? Are you okay?” He turned to Ridley. “Is she okay?”

“They said she’s dehydrated. She’s going to be just fine after she gets some vitamins and nutrients in her.” Ridley leaned over the side of the bed and kissed Raina on the forehead. “Now that I know you’re in good hands, I’m going to give the rest of the family a call and let them know you’re okay.”

“Thanks, Ridley. I should have called on the way here but I wasn’t even thinking.” Nick took the seat next to her bed. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here sooner.”

“Where were you, Nick?”

“I went to get a soda from the vending machine and then I was in the conference room waiting for Matt. I didn’t realize I left my phone on my desk. I waited for him to come back for about fifteen minutes before I went back to my office. Kay finally found me.”

“I was so scared something was wrong with the baby,” she admitted finally, giving voice to the fears she hadn’t wanted to say aloud.

“Did the doctors say the baby was in any danger?” He placed a hand over her abdomen.

She wasn’t showing at all yet and hadn’t gained any weight. She’d actually lost weight. It was no wonder, considering she hadn’t held down a full meal in over a month.

“Everything seems to be fine. The doctor is going to come back in a while to give me the results of the blood work. I think they’re going to give me something to help with the nausea, too. I feel like such an idiot. Dr. Waters told me to report any problems I had, but I just thought throwing up was part of being pregnant. I hope I haven’t starved our baby.”

“It’s not your fault, Raina. You couldn’t know what’s normal or not. At least we’ll know something soon.” His phone beeped and he pulled it out. “I wonder if this is Mom. Once everyone hears what happened, you’ll probably have more visitors than you really want.”

Raina ran a hand over her hair self-consciously. “Why is it that when people most want to visit you is also the time when you look your worst?”

“You look beautiful.”

“Nick, I want to tell you something.”

Nick put his phone down and pulled his chair closer.

“I love you,” she whispered. “I’m tired of dancing around it and not being brave enough to say it. You’ve always been honest with me, even when it wasn’t easy for you. How can I be any less brave for you? So, I love you. I love you so much.”

He looked like he was in shock by the end of her little speech. His mouth fell open and he let out a little cough.

“You’re going to make me cry in public, you know that?” He laughed softly.

She leaned to the edge of the hospital bed so she could be as close to him as possible. He leaned against the metal frame and pressed his forehead to hers.

“No more I think I love you?”

She grinned up at him. “Definitely not.”

*   *   *   *   *

NICK SAT ON the edge of Raina’s bed and watched as she tried to braid her long hair over her shoulder. If she felt well enough to be worried about her appearance, he figured she must be recovering quickly.

“I still can’t believe that Steven made up all those lies. He deliberately led me to believe that you tried to seduce his wife away from him. He never mentioned that you had no idea she was married.”

“I think it makes him feel better to blame someone else,” Nick replied.

“What if Steven hadn’t been divorced when I met him but hadn’t told me? That could have happened just as easily to me.” Raina reached out and grabbed his hand. “I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you he’d been calling. I just didn’t want to upset you or make you think you couldn’t trust me. He’s not the one I want. He never was. Are you mad at me?”

“I’m not upset with you. I’m just upset that you didn’t feel you could tell me. I don’t want you to keep anything from me.”

“I won’t. I’ve learned my lesson. I know you wouldn’t keep secrets from me, either. Especially about something as big as finances.”

Nick stopped and looked down at her. “Finances?”

“Yeah. Steven said that your foundation was in financial trouble.” Something in Nick’s face must have changed because she suddenly stopped talking. “Nick?” He looked up at her and she sucked in a deep breath. “There’s no truth to what Steven said is there?”