The Pregnant Colton Witness

“You look like you need a rest, too, Nash.”

“I’m good.” He’d be better once he was with Patience again, saw that she was doing all right. She’d set off his internal warning radar as quick as any one of the kids. More so, in some respects.

“Okay, then, I’ll see you in there in a bit. Rocky’s going to do a sniff check around the clinic and then we’ll go see if we can figure out what direction our man in question headed. I’ll take Rocky into the clinic for his check after that.”

“Juliette and Sasha will be in on that, won’t they?” RRPD Officer Juliette Walsh was dating Patience’s brother, Blake, and was the K9 partner to their strongest sniffer, a beagle named Sasha.

“For sure, but we can help, too.” Mike nodded at the streaks in the eastern sky that heralded sunrise. “We may as well finish out the morning. See you back at the station.” They’d reached shore and Nash was relieved to see at least six patrol cars, lights blazing, parked alongside the clinic. He knew Patience was safe, but he still felt the tight band around his chest loosen as he drew closer. As if he was the one person who could keep her safe.

It was purely his concern for a colleague. And okay, he felt a sense of responsibility because they’d had that night together. Which underscored why he wasn’t in a place to get involved with anyone. If he was this connected to Patience after only one night of sex, along with working together, he’d be doomed if he seriously dated anyone.

Patience isn’t just anyone.

He shrugged off his annoying conscience and nodded at the RRPD officer guarding the clinic entrance, who let him pass.

Greta followed alongside him, down the long corridor to Patience’s office. But they didn’t have to go that far; he saw her in the kennel, through the portion of the glass wall that was still intact. She was talking to another officer, but when she saw Nash her expression softened and she gave him a half smile. Before he could acknowledge her silent greeting, however, the smile faded and creases appeared on her forehead. He remembered them in a different context, when she’d broken apart in his arms, her orgasm shaking both of them. But she wasn’t in his arms now, and this expression wasn’t that of a woman in the throes of passion. Patience looked worried. As if something about him made her anxious.

Patience stopped Maria midsentence.

“I’m sorry, but will you please excuse me? I’ve got to examine Greta.”

She walked up to Nash and Greta, waiting in the main corridor.

“Nash, wait.”

He turned around and she couldn’t read his expression.

“I—I should take a look at Greta. Please bring her into the exam room.”

She didn’t wait for him to answer, but shoved open the door to the large space. Within seconds she’d lowered the stainless steel table in the middle, and Nash led Greta to stand on it. He held her by the harness while Patience grasped the dog’s collar, then used the foot pedal to raise the examination table. Nash removed Greta’s harness and stepped back to allow Patience the space to care for the dog.

“She’s fine. Just wet,” he stated.

Nash’s bond with Greta gave Patience the first sense of normalcy since she’d seen the woman’s lifeless body slip into the lake. She mentally shook the image away.

“How long was Greta in the water?”

“Not more than twenty minutes tops. She dived four, five times before she found the victim.”

“It was a woman.” Patience wasn’t asking. She knew what she’d seen.

“Yes. And she was deceased. They tried to revive her, but...” He grew quiet. Hypothermia and longevity in cold water weren’t something he had to explain.

“But they couldn’t. To be honest, I thought she was dead as he held her. Nothing I can prove, of course, but that’s what my gut told me.”

“Gut instinct is there for a reason.” Their gazes met and it was as if Nash tried to communicate something else. Did he regret they’d only had one night together, too? Patience broke the eye contact and turned back to her examination.

“You did good work, Greta.” She spoke softly to the canine, pausing to shoot him a quick glance. “Has she shown any signs of distress?”

Patience felt along Greta’s abdomen, her flank. As she pressed her stethoscope to the dog’s rib cage, she was acutely aware of Nash being so near.

“No, she’s good. Another day of work for a Newfie, right, Greta?” He spoke with ease to his K9 partner, underscoring the tangible bond between them.

“She’s fine. Good to go. We can get her dried off in the grooming area.” Patience lowered the table and Greta promptly walked over to Nash, then plopped down. “And she’ll need to rest for the remainder of the day. It’s normal for her to be a little more tired—that water is frigid.”

“Yeah, I was worried when she had to dive down more than a few times. I’ll keep her harness off until she’s completely dry.” At the concern etched in his face, Patience realized with a start why she’d been attracted to him in the first place. The reason she’d given in to her desire and agreed to their night of passion. His dedication to duty, his ability to put others before himself. This was a man raising his four half siblings. How many men in their twenties would do that? Warm, tingling awareness lit up her insides.

“What?” He looked at her as if he’d heard her thoughts.

The result of her attraction and their shared night was so obvious to her as she stood in front of him, her belly on full view under her scrubs. While she knew no one else might notice yet, it would be a matter of days or maybe a week or two before her weight gain became obvious. Heat spread over her chest, up her neck. Now or never.

“Nash, we need to talk.” Could she sound any more commanding? This was not something to break to him in a rough way. “Can I make you a cup of tea, coffee? There’s hot chocolate in the break room, too, if you’d prefer.”

His face went blank before his steely determination returned. “Uh, no, thanks. Yes, we do need to talk. Not here, though. I have to escort you to the police station so that you can file a report.”

Her heart sank at how professional he sounded. And for good reason. The sooner she gave her report, the more accurate it would be. The better chance of providing a tidbit of information that might aid in apprehending the suspect. She needed to tell Nash she was having his baby, but it would have to wait. Again.

“I anticipated that. My standby is on duty now, for the duration. I’m free to give a statement.” And go home after and sleep in her bed, which sounded divine. “As soon as we get Greta dried off, we can go.”

Nash nodded, and she sensed a tension in his body. It could be the adrenaline from such a demanding op. But when he looked up at her, she saw vulnerability.

“Patience, I’m so sorry. I’ve been an ass. I should have contacted you before work put us together again. I’ve thought about you often since our night together.” His eyes shone with what could be longing, attraction. Nonsense—he was tired from the recovery op.

“No worries, Nash. Why don’t you take Greta to the grooming station and use the power driers? The sooner she’s dry, the sooner we’ll all get to bed.”

Her face immediately heated. If Nash noticed her self-consciousness over the unintended reminder of their night together, he didn’t reveal it. He had Greta by her leash and his hand on the door. “I just wanted to say that I’m really glad I got here when I did. Tonight.”

Of course, that was what he was going to say. Patience swallowed, knowing in that instant that telling him he was tied to her forever as her baby daddy was something she had to do pronto. But not here, not in the midst of trying to find a murderer.

“Thanks. Me, too. If you hadn’t shown up when you did, I know I’d have had to fire my weapon.” She couldn’t stop the shudder that ran through her. And she wasn’t the shaky type. Digging deep, she tried to find the woman she’d been just yesterday. The uncompromising K9 veterinarian who knew what she wanted. Instead of the emotional wreck she felt like, wondering how on earth she was going to raise a baby.

Nash’s hand dropped from the door handle and he closed the few feet between them. His touch was firm, warm, reassuring as he squeezed her shoulder. It was meant as a collegial reassurance, so why did it send lightning bolts of awareness through her?

“You didn’t have to use your firearm. And if you had, you’d have protected yourself. You’re a brilliant veterinarian, Patience, but you’re also a great shot. I was there on the firing range with you during our last weapons refresher, remember?”

She nodded. “I do. Thanks, Nash.”

He flashed his trademark sexy smile at her before he led Greta out of the room. Patience listened to their footsteps, walking in sync as they always did. Nash and Greta made a great team.

And now they were going to have a baby to fit into their routine. If Nash wanted to participate as a father. She’d thought for certain he wouldn’t, but the man who’d protected her tonight wasn’t the kind who balked at a challenge. And helping to raise a baby while still the guardian for his four half siblings would be the challenge of a lifetime.

Of course, he didn’t know about it yet. She wished she still had the clinic all to herself, because she needed to talk to labradoodle Fred and scarlet macaw Gabby most desperately now.

She needed the words to tell Nash Maddox she was pregnant with his child. Yet the image of the woman going into the water, the terror that had sliced through Patience when she’d thought the killer would harm her and the baby, put a dreadful pall over such happy news. Now she understood how the would-be brides and grooms all over Red Ridge felt. The threat of being murdered trumped the desire to host even the most joyous occasion.

Patience squared her shoulders. No one would harm her child or erase the thrill of anticipation at his or her existence. But even as she made the silent vow to herself, a shiver of knowing rushed over her.

The Lake Killer wanted her dead.

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