Broken Together (55 page)

Rafael
retrieved a bag with soft strips of meat and a box of dog biscuits from the top
of the refrigerator.

I
opened the bag and sniffed the soft jerky treat. “This should work.” I kissed
Rafael before joining Jase on the floor. “Does this puppy have a name?”

He
shook his head. “Not yet.”

Rafael
leaned against the breakfast bar. “I thought you might want to do the honors.”

I
studied the puppy, who was boldly sniffing the air. A black button nose and
shiny black eyes were the only features visible beyond the explosion of fur. A
small tuft of white fur jutted from his forehead and chest. The rest of his
coat was streaked in gold, brown, and black. “He’s adorable.”

Jase
eyed the mound of fur. “Any names come to mind?”

The
puppy locked in on the treat. Slowly, he inched forward.

I
held the treat in the palm of my hand while trying to avoid eye contact.
“Bica?”

Rafael
shook his head.

The
puppy inched a little closer.

“Blaze?”

Jase
wrinkled up his nose.

“Gunner?”

Jase
chuckled.

Rafael
shook his head again.

The
puppy stopped and stretched his neck as far as it would go.

“Bear?”

Rafael
smiled. “That one I like.”

The
puppy snatched the treat, stretched out on his tummy, and began to chew.

I
stroked his silky soft fur. “Bosco?”

The
puppy’s ears perked up.

“Bosco,”
Rafael repeated.

The
puppy stood and trotted over to him.

“Bosco,”
Jase agreed.

He
glanced at us.

I
smiled. “Bosco it is then.”

*
* * * *

“I
swear that dog is trying to kill you,” Jase grumbled.

“He’s
not. He just doesn’t know which way to walk.” I stepped out of the tangled
mess, shortened the lead, and locked the retractable leash. Jase and I resumed
walking. “Did you get a chance to see the house before you left?”

Jase
nodded. “They’re putting the finishing touches on the theater room now. The
theater lighting is really cool.”

I
pulled Bosco a little closer so he wouldn’t trip the other pedestrians. “What
about the front of the house?”

“You’d
never know there were two separate entrances,” Jase assured me. “Did you know
he knocked out the wall separating the two garages, so you can access all of
the cars from either side of your house?”

I
shook my head. “He adds something new every week.”

Jase’s
arm rose protectively before we crossed the street. “The dining room looks
great. I like the tables you picked out.” We’d ordered two square counter
height tables in espresso.

Bosco
clambered over the curb.

I
laughed when he began prancing in front of us. “I hope sixteen chairs are
enough.”

Jase
walked to a nearby tree. “You’ve still got the table in your sunroom if it’s
not.”

We
stopped and waited for Bosco to pee. I wondered how his paws were fairing on
the tiny mosaic tiles. “Do you think they’ll finish by the time we return next
month?”

Jase
nodded. “I heard the investigation is drawing to an end.”

 “Thank
God. I hope they got everyone.” We started walking back toward the flat. A five
pound puppy with four inch legs didn’t have to walk far.

Jase
slowed. “Do you mind if we stop at the bakery?”

We
waited for a couple of cars to pass before crossing the street. “I don’t mind,
as long as you order two extra
croquettes
and
natas
for me.”

“I
think you should order the food while I sit outside with Bosco. I don’t want
you waiting outside by yourself,” Jase stated apologetically.

I
handed him the leash. “What would you like?”

He
grinned. “
Croquettes
and
natas,
only twice as many as you.”

I
knelt down and mussed the hair on Bosco’s head. “Would you like some
bica
?”

Jase
helped me up before pulling a metal chair out with his foot. “
Bica
sounds great.”

I
rubbed my tummy, recalling how active the baby was after the
bica
last
night. I would have enjoyed a repeat performance but thought it best I order
juice.

I
stepped inside the warm, fragrant bakery. I ordered a mix of lamb and veal
croquettes
and a dozen
natas
so we could share some with the doorman and Rafael
when he returned home from work. I almost forgot the
bica
and the orange
juice.
Pregnancy brain,
I thought.

The
man handed me a small cookie. “
Para o seu cachorro
.” He pointed out the
window.

I
turned toward the window. “For my dog?”

He
smiled. “
Sim
. For your little puppy.”

“
Obrigada
,”
I replied with a smile.

He
set the drinks and pastry bags on the counter. “
Você é bem-vindo.
”

I
gathered the bags and drinks and joined Jase outside. “I don’t know if this is
a dog treat or a real cookie, but the gentleman who waited on me wanted Bosco
to have it.”

Jase
pulled a chair out for me. “Would you like me to taste it?”

My
jaw dropped. “You would do that?”

Jase
shrugged. “If it came from this bakery, how bad could it be? Besides, I’ve
eaten far worse things.”

I
sniffed the biscuit before handing it to Bosco. “Why don’t we let Bosco be the
judge?”

Bosco
gobbled it up.

I
twisted the lid off my orange juice.

Jase
sipped his
bica
. “You seem so happy and relaxed here. Are you sure you
want to go back?”

I
glanced at him in surprise. “I think I could be happy anywhere, as long as I’m
with Rafael. I’m relaxed because school is behind me. Maxim has been elected,
I’m not working, and I’m getting plenty of sleep.”

He
looked thoughtful. “Do you miss work?”

“A
little,” I admitted, “but it seems pointless to return when I have to ask for maternity
leave in a few months.”

Jase
dropped a Euro on the table after finishing his
bica
. “You and Rafael
have been through a lot. Still, you’re two of the kindest people I know. You
deserve to be happy, and you deserve some time off from work.”

“Thanks,
Jase.” Bosco was nodding off. I eased onto the sidewalk, snapped a photograph,
and scooped him up. His paws rested on my tummy while I cradled him against my
chest.

Bosco
was quite the surprise, but I couldn’t deny he felt right.

*
* * * *

“Should
I be worried that you’re fondling my pregnant wife?” Rafael planted his feet against
the floor. The door closed behind him.

I
ignored his gruff tone and waved him over. “Come here!”

Jase
held Bosco over my tummy.

Rafael
sat on the other side of me.

“Watch,”
I whispered.

Jase
balanced Bosco on my belly. He slowly removed his hands.

Bosco
bounced as the baby attempted to kick him off.

Rafael
laughed a deep, hearty laugh.

I
grinned.

He
lifted Bosco from my tummy and kissed the top of his head. “Poor dog. Is our
baby picking on you?”

“He
doesn’t like anyone touching her belly,” Jase insisted. “You try.”

Rafael
passed Bosco to Jase before resting his hand on my tummy.

The
baby kicked hard enough to move Rafael’s hand.

His
eyes widened. “That’s a really strong kick.”

“I
know.” My hand joined his.

Jase
retrieved Bosco’s leash. “I’m taking Bosco for a thirty minute walk so the two
of you can do whatever it is that married people do when they haven’t seen each
other all day.”

Rafael
raised a single eyebrow.

I
stood and pulled him toward the bedroom. “Thanks, Jase. I owe you one.”

*
* * * *

I
smoothed the coral sundress over my basketball sized belly before handing
Rafael my cell phone. “Will you take a picture of my tummy?”

He
set my phone on the counter. “Only if I can take it with my phone.”

I
bit my bottom lip. “Will you text the picture to Brady?”

A
frown marred his handsome face. “Why?”

“He’s
feeling left out because Jase gets to feel the baby kick. He wants a belly shot
so he can see how big the baby is.”

Rafael
set his phone on the counter. “Those two need to stop ogling my pregnant wife,
find nice girls to marry, and knock them up.”

I
tried not to laugh. “Kadyn wants a picture too.”

Rafael
groaned.

“They’re
not looking at me,” I reasoned. “They just want to see my belly.”

He
pulled my back to his chest so he could cradle my tummy in his arms.

My
eyes slid closed. I loved the feel of his body wrapped so protectively around
mine. “The more invested they are in this pregnancy, the more likely they are
to babysit for us when the baby is born.”

Soft,
full lips caressed my neck. “That could prove useful.” Rafael slid the strap
over my shoulder so he could release my breast. He kissed my shoulder while lowering
the other strap. Warm, strong hands kneaded my breasts, tugging both nipples
into stiff peaks that threatened to send me to my knees.

“How
long will Jase be gone?” I panted. I shifted my bottom against his erection,
anxious to relieve the tension between my legs.

 Rafael
forced my chin back as he sought my lips. He tugged at my panties until they
slid down my legs. “The virtual shooting range should keep him busy for a while.”
His hand followed my spine as he forced my chest against the table.

I
gasped when the cool wood pressed against my swollen breasts.

With
a well-muscled thigh, he forced my legs a little wider. His t-shirt and sweats
made a soft swooshing sound as they tumbled to the floor.

I
gripped the other side of the table.

His
fingers dipped between my legs as he lifted the dress. “You’re so ready.”

I
whimpered when I felt the soft, velvety tip of his erection slide into place.
Heat licked my skin everywhere our bodies touched. I squirmed against him.

Rafael
reached for my hips.

I
sucked in a breath.

With
an ominous growl, he thrust.

The
room sheeted white.

Rafael
allowed no time to adjust. I clung to the table as he slammed inside of me.
Over and over he thrust… demanding… possessing… owning every part of me. There
was something primal and raw fueling this…
need
.

My
breasts scraped against the cold table. Fire licked between my legs. Our bodies
wound tighter and tighter, then spiraled into something unrecognizable. I
prayed it would never end, even as I yearned for my release.

Rafael
grabbed my hips, slammed inside of me, and screamed, “
Kristine!
”

I
disintegrated when he pulsed inside of me.

*
* * * *

Dr.
Barriera studied the slip of paper. She looked… crestfallen.

Rafael
gripped my fingers so hard they hurt. “What’s wrong?”

She
held one finger up while she reached for the blood pressure cuff. “I want to
check her vitals again.” She wrapped the cuff around my arm, positioned the
stethoscope in her ears, and pumped. The seconds ticked by while she listened. She
eyed the gauge.

“Breathe,”
Rafael whispered.

Fear
slinked through the room.

Dr.
Barreira removed the stethoscope from her ears. “Kristine’s blood pressure is well
outside the normal range. She has too much protein in her urine.” She pressed
her fingers into my shins. “The swelling in her legs suggests her kidneys are
not functioning properly. I’m afraid she has preeclampsia.”

“Which
is?” Rafael smoothed his fingers over my leg as if trying to erase what Dr.
Barriera had seen.

She
set my chart aside. “Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication characterized by
high blood pressure, fluid retention, and protein in the urine. It’s worrisome
for a number of reasons. Preeclampsia can reduce blood flow to the placenta,
which means less oxygen and nutrients for the baby. It can cause seizures and
damage Kristine’s organs. It can also cause a placental abruption which can
prove life threatening for Kristine and the baby.”

Rafael
stumbled back. He looked like he’d just been hit by a grenade. “No. That can’t
be right. Run the tests again.”