The Billionaire’s Risky Pregnancy

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Taking you to the hospital,” he said. “I don’t trust anyone else with you or our—” His voice disappeared into the back of his throat, and Smith sat her down in his car as he rushed behind the wheel. She watched his hands tremble as he tried to turn the key in the ignition, and despite her pain, she touched his fingers wanting only to calm him.

“This won’t be like Liza,” she said. “I won’t leave you.”

“I know,” he said. “I…” His voice trailed off as he hit the gas. The way he whipped around the corners caused her to fear for everyone’s safety. But another wave of pain wracked her body and only caused him to drive faster.

“Please be careful,” she said without thinking. Smith slammed into the first parking spot that he could find.

“Are you still with me?” he asked. She nodded and fell into him as they passed through the sliding doors and hit a white room. A nurse from the farthest end of the station called Caroline leapt to attention as soon as she saw them and ordered a wheelchair along with the first available bed.

“Thank you,” Tasha muttered, patting her arm until she searched for Smith’s hand. He was with her as they entered the elevator. He did not leave her when she lost her clothes and was helped into a paper gown. Everything around her was cold until she came to rest under the thin sheets.

And his kiss was on her brow.

“Do you want me to call anyone?” he asked. She started to mutter George’s name when her mind turned to Lynette. But she hadn’t even told her sister that she was pregnant. And George was likely with Zachary now.

“I… you’re not going anywhere, right?”

“Of course not.” Tasha’s body was hooked up to machines. Her head turned to the monitor, and she shuddered at the sight of the baby’s heart beat ready to give out.

“This isn’t happening,” she whispered. “It wasn’t like this for Betsy.”

“Betsy?” he asked.

“The lady in the boutique,” she continued. “It… Brandon came so fast. Maybe it… it did look like it hurt. But it was over before it even started.”

“It’s not always like that,” he said. She peered into his eyes and finally understood his story of Liza and what it had to have cost him.

“I don’t want to put you through this again,” she said as she stroked his cheek. “You can still go.”

“Tasha… stop.” His lips were on hers, and she nearly returned his kiss when a sharp pain sent her back to the pillows even as he kept his hand in hers.

“What is it?” he asked. “Tell me everything.” She couldn’t form the words as she was seized with another shot of pain, and Smith called over his shoulder for help.

 “Maybe it’s nothing,” Tasha said. “I don’t want you to worry.”

“I will, “ he promised.  “And I’m right here.” Caroline returned to the room and checked her vitals. Did the nurse ever not smile? Tasha tried to draw strength from the response when her lips shifted into a straight comforting line.

“I’ll get the doctor,” she said. “We’ll figure this out.” The sound of the woman’s voice let her sigh, but when she looked as Smith, she saw everything that he had lost.

“It won’t happen a second time,” she tried to promise him. “I’m not letting you off the hook that easily.”

“Good,” he said. “Because I don’t want to let you go.” He held her hand tighter, and Tasha leaned forward to kiss his lips when her back burned and she shifted against the bed.

“What’s wrong?” Smith asked as he clutched Tasha’s hand to his chest.

“Not sure,” she said. “Can you get that nice nurse back?” He quickly kissed her fingers and called out for help until Caroline returned to the room. She laid one hand on Tasha’s belly and glanced at the monitor before she started to turn on her heel again.

“I’ll only be a minute.”

“That’s not good enough!” Smith barked as he tried to wrestle the nurse back to the bedside. Caroline stood tall and pushed his hand away.

“Do you want to stand there with your chest puffed out or let me do my job?” she asked. Tasha saw him shake and strained forward for his hand in an effort to pull him back.

“Let her go, Smith,” she pleaded. “Stay with me.” He relented with a scowl and returned to the bed. As soon as he was close enough to touch, Tasha wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her head in his shoulder. She couldn’t meet his eyes but still felt his jaw quiver when she touched his face.

“It won’t be like last time,” she tried to assure him. “I wouldn’t that do that to you.”

“Tasha, I—”

“Because I do love you,” she said softly. “And I have no wish to see you sad.” Her pain stilled for a slight second, and Smith reached his hand under her arm and the paper gown so he could hold her close.

“Same here,” he said. “I love both of—” Tasha’s body seized, and he tried to calm her within the space of the sheets. His kisses were gentle as her lifted her braids away from her neck, and as soon as his finger were on her flesh, she sighed.

“Okay now?” he asked. Tasha nodded and laid against his shoulder. Smith kept her in his arms and ran his hands down her back.

“What is—?”

“That hurts!” she screamed. “Smith, please.” He didn’t let her go as he called out for help. But now it wasn’t just Caroline who reappeared. The nurse was backed by two men in white with a gurney, and they started to lift her body to the rolling bed when Smith ran to the door and blocked their way.

“What the hell is happening to her?” he demanded.

“We’ll let you know,” Caroline said as she touched his arm. “Please just let us do our jobs.” But Smith would not be swayed.

“Sir, the fetal heart rate is low. And she is—”

“I see it,” he said. “God know.”

It took all of her strength to stretch forward, and as soon as she saw blood coating the blankets, Tasha reached for the nurse’s hand.

“I don’t want this!” she wailed. “It isn’t supposed to be like this.”

“It never is,” she said. “Please try to relax. We’ll get you through this.”