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  Sophie kept her arms around his neck. “Reed, I don't want to come between you and your family. I never wanted it to be this way.”

  He unbuttoned buttons as she talked. “Sophie, it'll be okay.” Reed tossed her shirt on the floor behind him. “You know the best thing about our fight?”

  She shook her head.

  Taking her back in his arms, he said, “Makeup sex. And we have some serious making up to do.”

  Sophie grabbed a fistful of his T-shirt and tore it over his head. “I couldn't agree more.”

  * * * *

  Sophie woke up from a strange dream. She would have sat straight up in bed if not for Reed's arm around her. She dreamed that Dot was wearing a bubble gum pink prom dress and throwing cookies at her.

  Holy hell! That was awful.

  “Soph?” Reed's voice was grumbled from sleep.

  Sophie looked at him over her shoulder. “I'm okay. I just had a weird dream.”

  He nuzzled his lips against her neck. “What was it about?”

  His hand started smoothing over her hip so she was making an effort to keep her train of thought.

  “I had a dream your mom threw cookies at me while wearing a prom dress.”

  Reed's hand drifted back up her middle. “Were they your cookies or her cookies?”

  She stopped his wandering hand for a minute. “Why does it matter?”

  He freed his hand and ran his fingertips over her tummy and up to her breast. “Because her cookies are so hard they could have hurt you.”

  This made her laugh. Reed pressed his hips against her from behind. She could feel a definite erection.

  “Sophie?”

  “Hmmm?” She pushed her hips back against his. Reed raised her top leg over his thigh and trailed his hand between her thighs. His wandering fingertips found her wet and wanting. He entered her from behind in one strong thrust.

  “Let's not talk about my mom anymore.” He began a rhythm that made her moan.

  “Who?” Reed held her immobile as he drove into her relentlessly. He cupped her breast and rolled her nipple between his fingertips. Sophie could hear the sounds of their heavy breathing and flesh pounding against flesh. She couldn't see him. She could only feel his hard muscles against the back of her body. The pleasure was immeasurable. He thrust into her again and again until she pulsed around him in an orgasm that made her whole body tremble.

  Reed pumped his hips harder. “I love you, Sophie.” He pulled her tight against him as he came.

  While he was still inside her, Reed whispered, “If I died now, I could go a happy man.” Sophie fell asleep thinking that she didn't want him to go anywhere.

  * * * *

  Reed had finally come to terms with the fact that his own mother was responsible for everything that happened to Sophie. It was a difficult thing to realize, but he didn't want the anger to fester any longer and he sure as hell didn't want her trying to get away with anything else.

  He hoped Sophie took a nap while he had dinner with his family. Reed knew she wouldn't be comfortable coming with him, even though she offered. She had a hard time hiding her relief when he told her to relax and enjoy her evening.

  After they finished eating, Jack and Keith went in the living room to watch the fights. Reed offered to help his mom clean up so he could have the opportunity to talk to her alone. He didn't want an audience for something that definitely wasn't going to be pretty.

  As she handed him a wet dish to dry, Dot said, “We missed you last week. I suppose you were too busy with your new girlfriend to come see your family?”

  Reed took the plate, dried it, then leaned on the counter to look at her. He noticed that she wouldn't meet his eyes. That didn't stop her from making snide comments, though. “She must be keeping you on a short leash.”

  He folded his arms over his chest and tried to reign in his temper. “Mom, this stops now.”

  She continued washing dishes. “What are you talking about?”

  Reed waited, but she still wouldn't look at him. “I know what happened with Lucy. I know that's why you don't like Sophie.”

  Dot dried her hands and started wiping down the counter. “You have no idea what you're talking about. You weren't there.”

  “Lucy told me about the misunderstanding with the cigarette.”

  She scoffed. “Misunderstanding? Misunderstanding? She set me up so she could steal your dad away from me. That's not a misunderstanding.”

  Reed felt bad that after all of these years, his mom actually believed that.

  “Getting caught wasn't your fault, but Lucy didn't set you up. She was already dating Sophie's father so you know she didn't want Dad that way. Lucy told me that she regrets offering you that cigarette. She would take it back if she could.”

  Dot pursed her lips. “That cigarette! For your information, I didn't even smoke it! I got punished for nothing. I got my dreams taken away because of her!”

  “Is that why you started the rumor that she was pregnant?”

  His mom looked a little taken aback that Reed knew about that. “Sounds like Lucy made sure to tell you that part.” She shrugged. “For all I know, it could have been true. She smoked cigarettes and was seeing a college boy. Who knows what a girl like that was up to?”

  Reed shook his head in disbelief. “The rumor didn't quite go your way, did it? It was okay for everyone to think Lucy was fooling around and getting pregnant until they thought she was fooling around with Dad, right? Mom, why would you want to hurt someone that way?”

  Continuing on to wiping down the table, she sniffed. “Lucy Murphy hurt me first. I only made sure she regretted it.”

  He took the cloth away from her. “Trust me, she regrets it. From what I've been told, you won't let her apologize either. Is missing out on being the prom queen over thirty years ago really worth all of this animosity? Is it worth locking an innocent woman in a room until she screams so loud she's hoarse for days after?”

  Dot tried to deny it. “I did not!”

  “Stop lying to me! I know it was you. I didn't want to believe it, but it's true, isn't it? How could you hurt Sophie when she never did anything to you?”

  She seemed to deflate. “I wasn't trying to hurt her. I was just so angry after I got off the phone with you that I wanted to give Sophie a piece of my mind. I saw her in the storeroom and acted without thinking. She wasn't supposed to be in there that long!”

  Reed started pacing. “What gives you the right? She could have been seriously hurt.” He swung around to face her again and gently took hold of her shoulders so she would look at him. “Don't you get it? It's over. You have Dad. You won already. What more do you want? Enjoy the life you have. Enjoy the family you have before it's too late.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “Let me ask you something. Is this the person you want to be? Is it that important to have your way?”

  Tears glistened in her eyes. “I was wronged, Reed. I won't forgive that!”

  He looked at her in disbelief. “You wronged Sophie and you wronged me. Should I hold a grudge against you now? When's it going to end?”

  Dot shook her head. “I don't know.”

  He tilted her face to look her in the eye. “It ends now. Let it go. I love Sophie and I won't give her up, not for anything or anyone. You need to decide what's more important, your family or your pride.”

  Reed walked out of the kitchen without looking back.

  * * * *

  He was surprised to find Sophie still asleep on the couch when he got back from dinner. Max was with her. The dog raised his head off her hip but settled back by her side when he saw that there wasn't a threat to his lady.

  Not knowing if she had just fallen asleep or not, Reed decided to take a shower and read through a stack of paperwork until she woke up.

  An hour later, Sophie was still asleep. Max hadn't moved from her side either.

  He placed his hand on her forehead, but she felt normal. Reed brushed his fingers
through her hair to wake her up. “Sophie, honey, are you feeling okay?”

  She woke up at the sound of his voice. Sophie blinked a few times and smiled at him. Max scooted down to the floor when she sat up on the couch. “I'm fine, why?”

  At least she wasn't sick. “It's nine thirty. Did you get a late start on the nap?”

  “No. I guess I was more tired than I thought. I feel pretty good now.” She stood up and stretched.

  He grinned. “Are you craving pickles and ice cream yet?”

  * * * *

  Sophie wrinkled her nose. “How about just the ice cream?” Ice cream sounded wonderful but the thought of pickles? No thanks. “So, how did it go over at your parents' house?”

  “Same. Keith ate everything, Dad told his stories and Mom pretended that everything was okay.” Reed highlighted the discussion he had with her in the kitchen.

  “I'm sorry, Reed. I feel like it's all my fault.”

  “It's not you, Sophie. My mom needs to get over herself. I love you and that's all there is to it.”

  She smiled. “Well, okay then.” Sophie still wished things could be different with Dot.

  He continued to stare down at her.

  “And I love you too.” She planted a hot but brief kiss on his lips. “Let's have some ice cream.” Sophie took him by the hand and led him to the kitchen.

  “After ice cream, we'll go to bed.”

  “But, I'm not tired anymore.”

  “Neither am I.” Reed winked at her.

  “Oh. Oh! Then let's hurry up!”

  Chapter 20

  “What's it say?” Tracy bent over Sophie's shoulder.

  “Hold on!” Sophie was nervous enough.

  “Let me see it.” Tracy made a grab at her hand.

  “Hey, I peed on that!”

  “Gross! Okay, just show it to me.”

  “We have to wait thirty more seconds. Oh wait, I see something.”

  Wringing her hands together, Tracy asked, “Is it another pink line? Am I going to be an aunt?”

  Sophie shakily stepped back and took a seat on the side of the bathtub. All she could do was stare at the test stick. Big tears welled in her eyes, but they were happy tears.

  “You're crying! What the hell does crying mean?” Tracy looked at the instructions as if they would tell her. “Sophie, what does it say?”

  Wiping away her tears, Sophie gave a tremulous smile. “I'm pregnant.”

  Tracy pulled her up and hugged her. “I get to be an aunt! This is going to be one gorgeous baby, Sophie! How do you feel? Are you okay?”

  Sophie still had a hold of the stick. She stared at it again and compared it to the picture on the paper. “I'm definitely pregnant. Reed was right. That time in the pickup truck did the trick.”

  Tracy's eyes widened. “You got knocked up in a pickup truck? That's flipping awesome!”

  “Why is that awesome?”

  “I don't know. It's kind of sexy since you guys aren't in high school.”

  Sophie turned pink thinking about it. They were definitely acting like teenagers that night. Forgotten condom and everything. Reality hit her hard. “Oh my God, Tracy! I'm really pregnant with Reed's baby!” She held a hand over her mouth. “I think I'm going to throw up.” She took some deep breaths. “No, I'm okay.”

  Tracy didn't look convinced so she backed up. Her stomach didn't agree with her either. Sophie rushed to the toilet and got sick. Afterward, she washed her face and brushed her teeth.

  Sophie came out of the bathroom to another hug from Tracy. “It'll be okay, little mama. Hey, you really are a little mama!” Sophie started crying again. “Are those happy or sad tears?”

  She sniffled. “Happy. I have to tell Reed! Oh, but what if he's busy at the construction site? He's had such a rough week already. I don't want to bother him.”

  Handing Sophie her cell phone, Tracy said, “You mean bother him with the news that he's going to be a daddy? Yes, definitely bother him! Now!”

  * * * *

  Reed was having a shitty day. For the second time that morning, he had to go to the Falls Condos site and deal with another problem. When he pulled in and parked next to the building construction, Ben walked over looking none too happy. Reed grabbed his hard hat off the seat and was about to put it on when his phone rang.

  He checked the screen. Sophie. Hearing from Sophie might boost his mood. “Hello?”

  “Reed? Hi. Are you busy?” She didn't sound right.

  “No, not yet. What's wrong? Are you okay?”

  She sniffled. Didn't sound like it. “I'm very okay. I'm wonderful, in fact. Reed, we're going to have a baby!”

  “What?” The phone slipped out of his hand and landed on the floorboard. He leaned over to catch it when he heard Ben scream, “Reed!” He had to practically lie on the bench seat to get to his phone. Wait, did Ben actually scream? That was the last thought he had before a piece of scaffolding fell on his truck, smashing his windshield and crushing the top of the cab. He thought he'd gotten lucky until something hard hit him in the shoulder and the side of the head.

  That's when everything went black.

  * * * *

  Sophie heard the phone drop from Reed's hand with a thumpity-thump sound in her ear. Must have stunned him too. She waited for him to get back on the phone, but it was a good minute before she heard anything. What she heard almost stopped her heart. It sounded like a big crunching boom and an exhalation of breath. “Reed! Answer me! What happened? Reed, say something! Oh God, no.” She tried again. “Hello? Hello? Please answer me!” She listened as hard as she could and picked up the muffled sound of a man's voice yelling, “Reed? Reed? Get him the hell out of there! Call 911!” Simultaneously, the blood rushed from Sophie's head to her feet, her lips started to tingle in panic, and the phone fell out of her hand.

  She realized that Tracy was keeping her from falling too.

  “Sophie, what happened? You're as white as a sheet!” Her mouth moved, but words wouldn't come to her. Tracy gave her a little shake. “Sophie? Talk to me!”

  Sophie heard herself as if she were detached from her body, “Reed.” Everything slammed back into focus. “Reed! I think he's hurt. I…I…I heard a crashing sound and someone said to call 911. We have to go to the hospital! Right now!”

  Pulling out her keys, Tracy ushered her out the door. “I'll drive you. There's no way in hell I'm letting you behind the wheel in the state you're in.” Sophie ran to the car, pulled the door open, and rushed inside. “Let's go!”

  Tracy peeled out of the driveway and drove as fast as she could to the hospital. “It'll be okay, Sophie. Reed will be fine. Whatever happened might not be that bad.”

  Sophie knew it was bad. She knew it from the panic in that man's voice and she knew it in her soul. Reed was seriously hurt. “God, don't let him be dead. Please, let him be okay.” She prayed the entire way to the hospital.

  It seemed to take forever for them to get there. They caught every red light and had to take a detour twice. Tenderly, Sophie rubbed a hand over her belly. Their baby was in there. Reed had to live. She loved him too much to lose him now.

  * * * *

  They arrived before the ambulance. Tracy let Sophie off at the hospital entrance on her way to the parking lot. Sophie rushed in and ran to the front desk. The last time she'd been at Madison Falls Medical Center was when her dad died. Since that horrible day, she'd never wanted to come back. The smell of antiseptic and the muted purple tones of the lobby were ingrained in her memory. Instrumental music piped through the speakers was meant to soothe but only managed to grate on her nerves.

  A gray haired volunteer with kind eyes waited behind the front desk. Sophie was moving so fast, she almost plowed into the lady. She tried to calm down. She really did, but panic was sending little prickles all over her scalp and a roaring noise was starting to drown out the ambient music.

  “Who are you here for, dear?” This wasn't the first time the lady had encountered a frantic woman sea
rching for a patient. Her voice was kind and composed.

  On any other day, it might have sounded reassuring, but not today. Not to Sophie. “Reed Sutton. Is the ambulance here yet? He's been in an accident. Is he okay?”

  The volunteer, whose nametag read “Mildred” checked the computer. She glanced up at Sophie through her bifocals. “I'm sorry. We don't have anyone by that name here.”

  Sophie felt the tears well up again. By that time, Tracy was behind her with a hand on her shoulder. “It's okay, Sophie. He's just not here yet.”

  Mildred, the desk lady, pointed to the left. “There's a waiting room right over there if you want to have a seat. Your friend is right, miss. The ambulance might be on its way here.” She gave Tracy a “take care of her” look and went back to her computer. Tracy pulled Sophie away and made her sit down on a couch with ugly plastic cushions.

  She went to the vending machine and got a can of pop for Sophie. “Drink this. You need to calm down, Sophie. I know you're upset but remember the baby.”

  Sophie nodded and held the can between both hands. This couldn't be happening.

  “I love him, Tracy. I can't lose him. We're going to have a baby.” The last words trailed off when she saw the flashing lights of the ambulance as it pulled up to the front door.

  She stood on shaky legs and watched the EMTs unload a gurney with someone strapped to it. There was blood all over his face and chest and a brace was placed around his neck. Oh, God, is that Reed? She knew for sure when she saw Ben climb out behind him. He was bleeding too. There was a gash on his forehead and the knees of his pants were jagged and dirty.

  Sophie and Tracy both ran toward the front entrance. The EMTs were speaking into walkie-talkies and wheeling the gurney at a fast clip. Even though the man lying there was unrecognizable with the blood and the bruising, she knew it was Reed by the clothes he had on this morning. Only, that was Reed but he wasn't moving. His eyes were closed and Sophie wasn't even sure if he was breathing.

  She ran with the gurney and asked the guy in front, “Is he alive? Is he okay? Please, is he okay?” The man rushed by her in an effort to get Reed treatment as soon as possible. “I'm sorry, ma'am. We don't know anything yet. Please step aside.” Sophie took a few more steps, but it was Ben who held her back. “Let them help him, Sophie.”