Tiny Dancer(Divine Creek Ranch 13)(99)

“Don’t go getting all worked up, now. Just give her time. It’s eleven thirty. Let’s wait until after lunch. Then if we haven’t heard from her, we’ll call Heath. Damn it, I wish she’d let us go with her to the doctor’s office. I wish it was one of us with her right now.” His disgruntled tone let Quinten know he felt the same way about Heath being the guy with her at the moment. The territorial cavemen in both of them were stirring. Quinten took a deep breath as he ended the call and went in search of the saltine crackers for Camilla. He’d just keep busy until he heard something. Despite his worry for Camilla, a little kernel of hope was growing in his heart.



* * * *



Rosemary Garner cocked her head as she gazed at Camilla. “Are you feeling okay today, Camilla?”

Camilla sighed. “Honestly? I’m out of sorts. All the excitement with the club and restaurant coming together has me worn out, I guess.” She hated to lie to her friend. Rosemary had never been anything but kind and trustworthy in the time that she’d known her but Rosemary already had enough on her hands without dealing with Camilla’s worries too.

Rosemary rose from the conference room table and drew a paper cup from the dispenser at the water cooler, filled it, and brought it to Camilla. She stroked her burgeoning baby bump and glanced at Heath standing out in the hall.

“So…he’s your bodyguard?” she whispered. Camilla nodded and chuckled when Rosemary made a comical face and replied, “Don’t let my men know I said it, but he’s a freaking-hot bodyguard too. Those eyes…hubba hubba.”

Camilla sipped at her water and nodded, even managed a giggle. “Heath’s an old friend. He wanted to drive me today because he was concerned about me.”

“I know it drives us crazy, but it does come naturally to these men to be so protective. Back to the reason for your visit, I’ll have the proofs for the ads back to you just as soon as the printer sends them to me. We’re really excited to be doing some cross-promo with The Twisted Bull and Chantilly’s. With rodeo season coming up, you’ll be very busy, I’m sure.”

“I certainly hope so.” The thought of dealing with the rodeo just increased her exhaustion and nausea. What a weenie. Not but a few weeks pregnant and already you’re tapping out. Since it was just the two of them, Camilla asked, “How are you doing these days?”

Rosemary looked like the cat that got into the cream as she eased back into her chair and smoothed the fabric of her maternity top over her belly. “I can’t complain. I’m seven months along. The baby is fine, and everything has gone smoothly. I’m here in a strictly advisory capacity, or so my men tell me.”

“And that’s going all right? Just being here on a limited basis?”

Rosemary smiled, looking satisfied. “I can recall a time when I was sure this place would fall down around us if I wasn’t here during every operational hour and more besides. I felt it was my duty, since this was my family’s store. But I’ve come to understand—” Rosemary giggled and put her hand to her belly with a smile. “Oh, Camilla, you have to feel this!” She placed Camilla’s hand on her belly and Camilla gasped in awe when the baby rolled and she felt what must’ve been a little elbow or heel rub right across her palm. She sat there stunned, waiting for it to happen again. When it did, Rosemary smiled as she stroked her shifting abdomen with a loving tenderness that took Camilla’s breath away.

Once again, her mother came to mind. Had a moment like that one made her smile, or had it made her feel even more helpless? She blinked rapidly to dispel the tears forming in her eyes. She felt like she was being torn in two emotionally.

“What was I saying? Oh yeah. There are more important things in life than the store. This baby. And Wes and Evan. They’re so overprotective.” She rolled her eyes, looking a combination of mildly amused and slightly disgusted. “You’d think I was the only woman to ever get pregnant.”

A deep, familiar voice from the doorway said, “Far as we’re concerned, you are, Rosie.” Camilla smiled when she looked over and saw Evan Garner leaning against the doorframe. He grinned at her and said, “Hey there, Camilla. How’re you doing?”

Camilla rose from the chair, fighting down nausea and light-headedness. She really should’ve stopped earlier in the day to eat something. “I’m just fine, Evan.” She returned his hug and then walked with them out into the hallway and back out into the main store showroom area. Heath walked with them, after nodding and shaking hands with Evan, who seemed to approve of Camilla having a bodyguard.