Chapter Twenty-ThreeQuinnI wake up in Archerโs arms, and for the first time since I found out Iโm pregnant, everything feels like itโs going to be okay. He made me dinner last night, and went out and got me more Sour Patch Kids before we went to sleep.I carefully roll over, moving closer to him. It feels so good to have him next to me. Physically, his presence is comforting on its own. But having him here for everything else is almost enough to do me in.We jumped into a relationship and need to take things slow. He said he likes me but held off moving forward out of respect to Dean, but things are bigger than their friendship now. We have less than a week before we drop the bomb on my family, and Iโm fairly sure all four of my brothers are going to have a few choice words for Archer.Early morning sun filters through the large windows. I forgot to close the blinds last night, and the light is shining right in on Archer. I reach over and take my phone from the nightstand. My blinds
Chapter Twenty-FourArcherPanting, I roll to the side, flopping down onto the mattress. My heart is still racing, and sweat covers my brow. Quinn is breathing just as hard, and her bare breasts rise and fall as she gulps in air.I didnโt think it was possible to have better sex that we did the first time, but I feel confident to say we just topped it. Reaching for the water bottle on the nightstand, I take a drink and grab the sheet, pulling it up over us. Weโre both hot and sweaty now, but with the ceiling fan going on high, weโll cool off fast and I donโt want Quinn to get a chill. Sheโs still fighting a cold and has to be worn out after the marathon sex we just had.I know I am.โThat was more than thirty minutes,โ she says once she catches her breath and moves onto her side. I wrap her in my arms.โIโm not sorry about that.โโYouโve set a high standard for yourself,โ she says with a coy smile.โI always aim to please, babe.โQuinn laughs and runs her fingers through my hair. โYou
Chapter Twenty-FiveQuinnI need a drink. A big one. With lots and lots of alcohol. I close my eyes in a long blink, praying I misheard Kara.โThatโs less than a year away!โ Mom exclaims. โDo you think you can get everything ready in time?โMarch isnโt that far away, sheโs right. And there is a lot to do before then, and Iโm not thinking about the wedding.โI think we can swing it,โ Kara says. โIโll have to get right to work, I know, and my momโs already on it.โ She looks back at Dean, smiling. โWe donโt want anything fancy, anyway.โI bring my hand to my head, subconsciously rubbing the space between my jaw and my ear. Itโs been hurting off and on since last weekend, and I knew I should have listened to Archer about a sinus infection lingering for longer than normal now that Iโm pregnant.โAre you okay, hun?โ Mom asks, and I flick my eyes up to her.โOh, yeah. I think I have an ear infection, thatโs all,โ I blurt. I should have made something up, but Iโve never been a good liar and n
Chapter Twenty-SixQuinnThe air leaves my lungs, and if it werenโt for Archerโs arm around me, I might have fallen over. Momโs eyebrows pinch together, and she tips her head looking at the images.โWhere did you getโโ Mom tips her head, eyeing the photos. The blood drains from my face, and I canโt open my mouth to form the words to warn Archer.โThis has your name on it, Quinn,โ she says quietly. And then it hits her. Her mouth opens, and she lets out a gasp. The ultrasound pictures fall to the table, and Dad picks them up.It doesnโt take him long to come to the same conclusion. He stands up so fast his chair scoots out from behind him and falls over.โYou knocked up my daughter?โA hush falls over the room, and I swear even the dogs stopped sniffing around the table to look.โQuinn,โ Mom starts, still looking confused. She picks up the chair and reaches up for Dadโs wrist, pulling him back down. โWhatโฆwhenโฆare you sure?โโWait a minute,โ Owen says, reaching across the table for the
Chapter Twenty-SevenArcherโAll things considered, that went as well as I thought it would.โ I put my arm around Quinn and push off the ground, sending the glider back. Itโs getting late, and everyone but Weston and Jackson have left already. Wes is working the night shift tonight, so Jackson is staying here with Quinnโs parents.Quinn rests her head on my shoulder and closes her eyes. She looks exhausted. Physically, I know she will be for the rest of the first trimester at least. Emotionally, sheโs spent.And I still think sheโs one of the fucking strongest people I know.โYeah. Only my dad and Dean want to take you out back and cut off your testicles. But donโt worry, I wonโt let that happen. I happen to like them. Well, more so what theyโre attached to.โI laugh and press my lips against the top of Quinnโs head. โThanks for looking out for my balls.โ The sound of katydids and crickets echo through the yard, reverberating off the tall corn that surrounds us. The sounds of a countr
Chapter Twenty-EightQuinnโCan you tell?โ I smooth my shirt over my stomach and turn to the side.โNo.โ Marissa shakes her head. โI know you and youโve always been a skinny bitch, so I guess Iโm able to pick up on that slight bump you claim is the baby, but to anyone else, you look like you ate a big meal.โโItโs weird,โ I say, wrinkling my nose, and grab my shoes. I take off my heels and put on my running shoes, not caring how silly it looks with my dress pants and blouse. Itโs Friday, and weโre leaving work for the week. โIโm almost looking forward to showing.โโJust donโt turn into Bethany.โI widen my eyes and shake my head, showing my horror. โIf I do, slap me.โ Bethany works with us and had her first baby last year. She made sure everyone knew everything about the pregnancy and complained nonstop about her symptoms. Though I can emphasize now, and after throwing up three times yesterday, I broke down and took an anti-nausea pill this morning.I still feel sick, but I havenโt pu
Chapter ThreeQuinnThe air leaves my lungs and Iโm left standing there, watching Archer walk up ahead of me. What the hell? Did I say something wrong? One minute we were talking, feeling like the old friends we should be, and the next heโs acting like he canโt get away from me fast enough.It doesnโt matter. More importantly, it shouldnโt matter.He stops at the employee door, needing me to punch in a code to unlock it. I fold the scrubs over my arm, careful not to press them against my wet dress, and take a spot next to him to enter the code. He doesnโt look at me, doesnโt say a damn thing. The tension rolls off him in waves, and as nice as our chat was a minute ago, I cannot wait to get back into the bar and away from him.Thatโs how Archer Jones has been since the moment I met him. Closed off. Guarded. Letting the walls inch down just enough for me to get a glimpse of the man inside only to bring them up again.A little green light flashes after I punch in the four-digit code and
Cheat CodesBook One in the Dawson Family SeriesCopyright 2018 Emily GoodwinChapter OneQuinnI am a glutton for punishment. Ever since the tender age of fourteen, I knew there was something wrong with me. Because of all the boys in all the world I could go and have a crush on, I fall for him.My older brotherโs college roommate. The mysterious boy with the troubled past who could have any girl he wants. The cute boy with the dark hair and deep brown eyes whoโs as smart as he is cocky, who somehow managed to both get into med school and win over a lifetime friendship from sports-loving Dean, who only attended the same college because of a basketball scholarship.And those girls? I was never one of them. Not then, and I wonโt be again now.I donโt expect to see him here tonight, but if he shows up, I wonโt be surprised. Everyone is back in town for Deanโs engagement party, and itโs inevitable we all end up at Getaway, the bar owned by my twin brothers. My heel catches on the toe of m
Chapter Twenty-EightQuinnโCan you tell?โ I smooth my shirt over my stomach and turn to the side.โNo.โ Marissa shakes her head. โI know you and youโve always been a skinny bitch, so I guess Iโm able to pick up on that slight bump you claim is the baby, but to anyone else, you look like you ate a big meal.โโItโs weird,โ I say, wrinkling my nose, and grab my shoes. I take off my heels and put on my running shoes, not caring how silly it looks with my dress pants and blouse. Itโs Friday, and weโre leaving work for the week. โIโm almost looking forward to showing.โโJust donโt turn into Bethany.โI widen my eyes and shake my head, showing my horror. โIf I do, slap me.โ Bethany works with us and had her first baby last year. She made sure everyone knew everything about the pregnancy and complained nonstop about her symptoms. Though I can emphasize now, and after throwing up three times yesterday, I broke down and took an anti-nausea pill this morning.I still feel sick, but I havenโt pu
Chapter Twenty-SevenArcherโAll things considered, that went as well as I thought it would.โ I put my arm around Quinn and push off the ground, sending the glider back. Itโs getting late, and everyone but Weston and Jackson have left already. Wes is working the night shift tonight, so Jackson is staying here with Quinnโs parents.Quinn rests her head on my shoulder and closes her eyes. She looks exhausted. Physically, I know she will be for the rest of the first trimester at least. Emotionally, sheโs spent.And I still think sheโs one of the fucking strongest people I know.โYeah. Only my dad and Dean want to take you out back and cut off your testicles. But donโt worry, I wonโt let that happen. I happen to like them. Well, more so what theyโre attached to.โI laugh and press my lips against the top of Quinnโs head. โThanks for looking out for my balls.โ The sound of katydids and crickets echo through the yard, reverberating off the tall corn that surrounds us. The sounds of a countr
Chapter Twenty-SixQuinnThe air leaves my lungs, and if it werenโt for Archerโs arm around me, I might have fallen over. Momโs eyebrows pinch together, and she tips her head looking at the images.โWhere did you getโโ Mom tips her head, eyeing the photos. The blood drains from my face, and I canโt open my mouth to form the words to warn Archer.โThis has your name on it, Quinn,โ she says quietly. And then it hits her. Her mouth opens, and she lets out a gasp. The ultrasound pictures fall to the table, and Dad picks them up.It doesnโt take him long to come to the same conclusion. He stands up so fast his chair scoots out from behind him and falls over.โYou knocked up my daughter?โA hush falls over the room, and I swear even the dogs stopped sniffing around the table to look.โQuinn,โ Mom starts, still looking confused. She picks up the chair and reaches up for Dadโs wrist, pulling him back down. โWhatโฆwhenโฆare you sure?โโWait a minute,โ Owen says, reaching across the table for the
Chapter Twenty-FiveQuinnI need a drink. A big one. With lots and lots of alcohol. I close my eyes in a long blink, praying I misheard Kara.โThatโs less than a year away!โ Mom exclaims. โDo you think you can get everything ready in time?โMarch isnโt that far away, sheโs right. And there is a lot to do before then, and Iโm not thinking about the wedding.โI think we can swing it,โ Kara says. โIโll have to get right to work, I know, and my momโs already on it.โ She looks back at Dean, smiling. โWe donโt want anything fancy, anyway.โI bring my hand to my head, subconsciously rubbing the space between my jaw and my ear. Itโs been hurting off and on since last weekend, and I knew I should have listened to Archer about a sinus infection lingering for longer than normal now that Iโm pregnant.โAre you okay, hun?โ Mom asks, and I flick my eyes up to her.โOh, yeah. I think I have an ear infection, thatโs all,โ I blurt. I should have made something up, but Iโve never been a good liar and n
Chapter Twenty-FourArcherPanting, I roll to the side, flopping down onto the mattress. My heart is still racing, and sweat covers my brow. Quinn is breathing just as hard, and her bare breasts rise and fall as she gulps in air.I didnโt think it was possible to have better sex that we did the first time, but I feel confident to say we just topped it. Reaching for the water bottle on the nightstand, I take a drink and grab the sheet, pulling it up over us. Weโre both hot and sweaty now, but with the ceiling fan going on high, weโll cool off fast and I donโt want Quinn to get a chill. Sheโs still fighting a cold and has to be worn out after the marathon sex we just had.I know I am.โThat was more than thirty minutes,โ she says once she catches her breath and moves onto her side. I wrap her in my arms.โIโm not sorry about that.โโYouโve set a high standard for yourself,โ she says with a coy smile.โI always aim to please, babe.โQuinn laughs and runs her fingers through my hair. โYou
Chapter Twenty-ThreeQuinnI wake up in Archerโs arms, and for the first time since I found out Iโm pregnant, everything feels like itโs going to be okay. He made me dinner last night, and went out and got me more Sour Patch Kids before we went to sleep.I carefully roll over, moving closer to him. It feels so good to have him next to me. Physically, his presence is comforting on its own. But having him here for everything else is almost enough to do me in.We jumped into a relationship and need to take things slow. He said he likes me but held off moving forward out of respect to Dean, but things are bigger than their friendship now. We have less than a week before we drop the bomb on my family, and Iโm fairly sure all four of my brothers are going to have a few choice words for Archer.Early morning sun filters through the large windows. I forgot to close the blinds last night, and the light is shining right in on Archer. I reach over and take my phone from the nightstand. My blinds
Chapter Twenty-TwoArcherI missed a call from Quinn today, and I noticed it right before I went into surgery. Iโve never had a hard time clearing my head before, but today, as I wash my hands and have my surgical scrubs put on, itโs all I can think about. She hasnโt called meโever. What if something is wrong? She didnโt leave a message, and she didnโt text either.Iโm sure everything is fine with her and the baby. It has to be. As awful as I feel to admit it, thereโs a small part of me thatโs glad Quinn is pregnant. The timing couldnโt be worse. Dean is going to hate us both. Heโll forgive Quinn eventually, but the light he holds her in will forever be dimmed.But now that sheโs pregnant, weโre talking, and we have a chance. And if anyone was to be the mother of my child, no one is better than Quinn.Sam puts the patient under and we get started. As soon as I make the first cut, Iโm back in the game, and the surgical team and I make small talk as we go about treating the patient.An
Chapter Twenty-OneQuinnThe door shuts behind me and I turn around, prepared to tell Archer this is silly. But the second I see the look in his eyes, all the air is sucked out of my lungs.โQuinn,โ he pants, voice heavy with desire. A shiver runs down my spine and his hands land on either side of my waist. โAre you sure you want this?โParting my lips, I hook my arms around his neck. โYes,โ I breathe, telling the honest truth. I do want Archer, and Iโm not just talking about sex.I want him to be with me during this pregnancy.I want him there when I give birth.I want him to raise this child with me.I want us. Together.He wastes no time in kissing me, and I slide my hands down his chest, going right to his belt. His hands go around my back and unhooks my bra.And then the door opens.โMotherfucker,โ I blurt as Archer and I untangle. The dogs run in ahead of my parents, with Rufus at the rear, limping.โYou should really consider going in and having a specialist look at it,โ Archer
Chapter TwentyArcherThe bathroom door closes, and Iโm still standing there, looking at the white paint until my vision goes blurry. After I reassured her everything will be okay, she smiled and said she was going to take a shower. But I canโt move. Hell, I can hardly breathe.Quinn is pregnant with my baby.Iโm trying to let it sink in, but my defenses are up and I canโt think past the fact sheโs been feeling sick and itโs partly my fault. Or all my fault? I know it took both of us to create the baby, and itโs not like Quinn wasnโt willing. Butโฆfuck. How could I let this happen?Iโm a doctor. I know how the body works. And yet I had sex three times with Quinn within twenty-four hours and only used a condom once. Though itโs not like I brought any with me Friday night. I didnโt expect to hook up with anyone, and when it finally happened with Quinn, I wasnโt thinking straight.Rufus tips his head, listening to Mr. And Mrs. Dawson move around the kitchen. Knowing itโs time for breakfas