Chapter 131
They both stood, Luca with a non–pregnant grace, Sutton with an awkward step. She felt his hand at her elbow, steadying her, and though she didn’t need the help, she didn’t shake him off. It was a little like turning to put the horse in the barn after it had bolted.
The nurse walked them into a waiting room. “I will run a few checks before the doctor comes to see you.”
The routine was normal: weight check, which she didn’t look at. She wasn’t vain, but she still didn’t want to know, only that she was in the healthy range Her blood pressure was slightly elevated, but no alarm bells.
Then the nurse peppered her with questions. “Any swelling in your feet or ankles?” as she made notes on her tablet.
Sutton glanced down at her feet, stuffed into the only pair of flats that still fit comfortably. “Some in the evenings,” she admitted. “Not too bad.”
Liar, her ankles silently accused. By five o’clock every day, they puffed out like bread dough, her skin stretched tight.
“Any headaches, dizziness or unusual pain?”
“Just the normal backaches and occasional Braxton Hicks, which I’ve been having since my second trimester.”
The nurse nodded. “It’s like that with some pregnancies,” she said before handing her a blue paper gown. “Change into this; open in the front. Dr. Matthews will be in shortly.” She left, closing the door softly behind her.
The moment they were alone, Luca turned his back without being asked, facing the wall. Sutton liked that she hadn’t had to ask, although there wasn’t much of her body he hadn’t already seen. Still, this was in a doctor’s office; it felt… well, different to flash her body to him now.
She struggled with her dress. The zipper ended up catching it halfway down her back, and she twisted awkwardly, trying to reach it. She let out a huff.
“Need help?” Luca asked quietly, still facing away.
“No,” she said, then reconsidered as she nearly toppled sideways. “Actually, yes. Just with the zipper.”
He turned, moving to stand behind her. She felt the tug of the zipper tab as his fingers gripped it. His fingers brushed her lower back as he lowered the zipper; an unexpected shiver raced down her spine. His touch lingered for a moment, and his breath stirred her nape. They both froze as Luca groaned.
Finally, he stepped away, saying, “If only we were not here.”
Sutton took a moment to steady herself because she felt the same way. Then she slipped the dress off her shoulders, letting it pool around her feet. She stood in her underwear. It was just a black pair of cotton panties and bra, nothing like the lacy things she used to wear for him before. Quickly, she stripped off her underwear and donned the paper gown, before folding her clothes and putting them on one of the chairs.
“Okay,” she said when she was settled on the exam table, legs off the side. “You can turn around now.”
He did, and immediately something intense crossed his face. “I hate that I wasn’t here for this. I also hate that I hesitate to touch you.”
Sutton was shocked by how hot and primal his look of lust was. She was seven months pregnant; she had never thought Luca would find her sexy like
this. But the desire written on his face said otherwise.
“Luca…” She was hot and breathless under his gaze.
He shook his head slightly, as if clearing away a fog. “Not now, not here. It just…” he said, the word rough–edged. “You’re beautiful.”
The sincerity in his voice made her cheeks warm. She was thinking of a way to respond when a knock sounded at the door.
Dr. Matthews entered, a tall man with salt–and–pepper hair and kind eyes behind wire–rimmed glasses. He had a calm, reassuring presence that Sutton had appreciated from her first visit. She had wanted a woman at first until she had met him. He had put her at ease.
“Sutton, good to see you,” he said warmly, then nodded to Luca with a slightly more assessing gaze. “Are you the baby’s father?”
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“Yes, my name is Luca De Santis.”
“It’s about time you turned up.”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Luca replied, his tone serious.
Dr. Matthews checked her chart on his tablet, humming thoughtfully. “Everything looks excellent so far. Blood pressure’s not too bad, weight gain right on track.” He set the tablet on the counter. “How have you been feeling since your last visit? Any new symptoms?”
“Good mostly,” Sutton replied, shifting slightly to find a more comfortable position. “Some back pain, especially at night. Worse than before. And the Braxton Hicks are getting more frequent.”
“All normal at almost seven months,” Dr. Matthews assured her. “The baby’s getting bigger, which puts more strain on your body. Try a heating pad for your back… not too hot, just warm, and make sure you’re staying hydrated.”
Luca listened intently, his focus absolute, as if he were mentally filing away every word for future reference.
“Let’s take a look at your little one, shall we?” Dr. Matthews helped her lie back on the exam table, the paper crinkling beneath her. He opened the gown to expose her belly, rounded and taut, with a dark line running down the center. Luca moved closer, his eyes never leaving her, and though she’d been examined like this before, Sutton suddenly felt self–conscious with him here watching.
“This will be cold,” Dr. Matthews warned, though she already knew. He always talked her through what was going to happen. He squirted gel onto her abdomen, and she flinched anyway, her body tensing at the shock of cold.
“Sorry about that,” the doctor said with a rueful smile. “Technology advances every day, but somehow we still can’t get warm ultrasound gel.”
Sutton smiled. He told the same joke on every visit.
He pressed the transducer against her belly, moving it with practiced precision until the monitor displayed a grainy black–and–white image. And then, filling the room, the rapid whooshing sound of her baby’s heartbeat–strong and steady and miraculous.
“Perfect,” Dr. Matthews said with satisfaction. “Strong heartbeat, good size for 28 weeks. He’s in a good position too, head down already, which is
excellent.”
Luca leaned in closer, his eyes wide with undisguised wonder. Without seeming to think about it, he reached for her hand, his fingers warm as they entwined with hers. Sutton didn’t pull away. Couldn’t have even if she’d wanted to, transfixed as she was by their child on the screen. So she could understand how he was feeling… seeing the baby for the first time.
“There’s his face,” Dr. Matthews pointed. “See the profile? That’s his nose, his lips. And there’s his hand, up near his face.”
“He?” Luca asked.
“Just a figure of speech. Sutton hasn’t wanted to know the sex of the baby.”
Luca nodded. “Is he sucking his thumb?” Luca asked, his voice hushed with amazement.
“Looks like it,” the doctor confirmed with a smile. “They practice all sorts of behaviors in the womb. Getting ready for the outside world.”
Sutton couldn’t take her eyes off the screen… off their baby, their child, real and whole and alive inside her.
Tears pricked unexpectedly at the corners of her eyes, and she blinked rapidly, trying to will them away. Damn hormones. They made her cry at
everything these days over stupid things.
“Is everything… is he okay?” She asked, her voice unsteady despite her best efforts.
“Your baby is perfect,” Dr. Matthews assured her. “Exactly the right size, all organs developing normally, good amniotic fluid levels. You’re growing a very healthy baby, Sutton.”
The relief that washed over her. She hadn’t realized how tense she’d been, how worried, until that moment. Luca’s hand tightened around hers, his
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thumb rubbing small circles against her skin. That scan showed more than the others. So, to her, hearing that had been important
Dr. Matthews froze several frames on the monitor, printing the images. “I’ll give you two a moment,” he said, wiping the gel from Sutton’s belly with a warm cloth. “Sutton, you can get dressed. I’ll be back in a few minutes to discuss your third trimester care.”
When the door closed behind him, Luca was still Istaring at the ultrasound printouts, held carefully in his free hand like precious artifacts. His other hand remained wrapped around hers.
“This is… incredible,” he said finally, looking up at her. “So perfect already.”
Sutton sat up slowly, adjusting her gown with her free hand. “It’s been a pretty easy pregnancy. I just don’t seem to have much room left.”
Their eyes met. “I should get dressed,” Sutton said, finally breaking the moment. She waited.
Luca nodded and reluctantly released her hand, turning away to give her privacy. She changed as quickly as she could.
“You can turn around now,” she said when she was decent.
He did, and his eyes immediately found hers. “Thank you,” he said simply. “For letting me be part of this.”
The raw honesty in his voice made her chest tighten. “It’s your baby too,” she replied, because it was the truth, and because she didn’t know what else to say. A month ago, she wouldn’t have felt the same way.
She was saved from further response by Dr. Matthews‘ return. The rest of the appointment passed in a blur of information overload… including signs of preterm labor to watch for, preparations for birth, what to expect in the coming weeks. Luca asked questions that revealed he’d been doing his research, reading up on pregnancy and childbirth on his own.
“Thank you, Doctor.”
As they left the building, Luca stopped her before she could get into the car waiting. “Can I take you to dinner tonight?”