Now they had closed the door and were in a huge movie studio lot, Brandon unlinked his hand from Eva's and turned toward her. A piece of her brown hair was stuck in her eyelashes, so he brushed it away as he said, "Eva, I'll see you soon."
She reached for his waist and held him close, despite the fact they were in a movie studio and everyone there technically worked for him. He never wanted to leave her side. "Where are you going?"
The trust in her eyes was back, and earlier this morning, the wall around his heart had crumbled. Eva deserved far better than he could offer her, and so did her daughter. He told her the truth, "To talk to the director. I want him to know, in person, I approved the changes."
She let go of his waist and it felt like he went adrift at sea. "Okay, I have to go into blocking out a scene with Jennifer. We're supposed to film it as my first scene for the movie today."
He reached for her wrist to keep her close. "Wait. You didn't tell me."
"I didn't?" she said while she came back toward him. Without delay, he closed his eyes and claimed her lips as his own.
She kissed him, wrapping her arms around him; he felt like he could conquer anything. Once the kiss ended, she said, "We were preoccupied last night."
"True." Again, he brushed his hand against her soft cheek. "I'll watch with the director."
"Okay." She looked at the ground, and then left.
The way her hips swayed captivated him. Once she’d left, he went in search of the director. Again, he was with a camera man, discussing angles—at least from what he could see with the hand gestures. When he approached, the camera man stepped away. "Dimitri, we have to talk."
He crossed his arms. "Normally, producers are not on set every day."
Dimitri Patrov had a reputation for making quality movies, and this was his hope to win an Oscar. However, he was also known to be temperamental. "I wanted to tell you the script is great, and I already sent it up for approval, so you can start shooting."
A huge smile grew on his face as he reached out to shake his hand. "Normally, producers are not so agreeable to changes. Glad you're here."
Right. Now it was time to confess and talk. Dimitri was no longer on the suspect list, and would be the best ally on this movie set. "I also need to talk to you about the budget."
He stood taller. "We cannot cut production back and make this good."
Every director would say that. Brandon took out a copy of a spreadsheet and handed it to Dimitri. "Are you ordering special effects that add up to this?"
He reached up and massaged his glasses, like that might somehow make him focus. "What is this?"
Brandon pointed to today's date and the continuation of those costs. "How much your movie will go over budget with special effects."
Dimitri stared at the art department doors. "Let me investigate."
No one was better suited.
A loud thud echoed from behind him. He turned around as the studio ricocheted with screams.
Dimitri’s eyes went wide.
Eva. Brandon couldn’t breathe. He asked, "What was that?"
"I don't know." Dimitri answered, and they both took off running.
His heart sped up while he thought about Eva in any sort of danger. He slowed down when he saw the circle of people, and she wasn't one of them. He tapped people's shoulders and said, "Let me through."
For a split second, his heart almost stopped and he felt his body grow cold. Eva lay unconscious in Jennifer's lap. He dove down beside her and took Eva's hand while he asked, "Jennifer, what happened?"
Jennifer shivered but continued to hold Eva's head. "She tripped. We need a doctor."
"She's unconscious." Brandon stated the obvious. He gently brushed Eva's skin. She grew warmer, so he massaged her shoulder while he said, "Eva, sweetie."
"Brandon?" Her eyes blinked and slowly focused on his while she sat up. "What happened?"
Jennifer pointed to a spot a few feet away. "There was a hole in the floor. Neither of us saw it."
"That's the hole I ordered cut and filled with pillows so nothing happened to Eva's baby," Dimitri answered fast. "I don't know where the sign is, it’s supposed to be there."
Once the hole was filled with pillows for the fight scene her baby would be safe, but for now, all that mattered was Eva was okay. He helped her stand while she said, "Thanks Jen. I think you caught me."
Jen put her hand on her hip. "Despite the rumors, I'm not all bad." She helped Eva straighten her shirt. "Now get to the doctors and then get back here. We have a scene to film."
Eva nodded her head. "Brandon..."
Everyone stared at him. He took her hand, and she said, "Let's go."
The crowd parted to let them through. When he made it to his car, he opened the door for her and asked, "To the Transformer doctor?"
She made a sound his mother would have made at one of his jokes. He ran around and let himself into the driver's side. "I don't have another, and just because his name is Bentley, doesn't relate him to a car."
"You seem okay," he said, starting the engine.
They drove down the street while she said, "I'm worried about the baby."
Jennifer had seemed like she jumped in there to catch Eva as best she could. She'd get a Christmas bonus if Eva was okay.
A few minutes later, he parked the car and helped her inside. Once the doors closed to the office, he said, "We're here. Sit down, and I'll check us in."
The nurse looked at both of them and asked, "Is this your wife's first visit with us?"
Right. Doctors usually worked on appointments. He leaned forward on the table to make eye contact with the woman. "We need to see someone today. Eva hasn't steadily seen a doctor, and she fell today on set."
"Let me talk to the doctor about fitting her in. Give me one minute and fill out these forms." She stood and went to talk to someone while he filled out self-pay. Eva wasn't on any insurance yet as her paperwork for the movie would take a week. His debit card could handle it, but it would be good for him to speed up the papers if he could.
When the nurse came back, she nodded and took the paperwork while he said, "Thank you."
She typed everything in, ran his debit card, and a moment later pointed to the door. "Please go through. The nurse will see you now."
He turned and saw she was already standing up. "Eva, you're ready."
As she neared the door, she stared at him and held out her hand. "Please come."
He refused to budge a muscle. "Are you sure?"
"Yes." She waved her hand for him to hold it, and he went to go with her.
A few minutes later, they were in the ultrasound room with a tech, and they’d put jelly on her belly. She waved her wand and said, "Here is your baby. She looks healthy."
He stared at the television screen. Nothing he produced ever made him feel like this. It felt like he saw his future.
Eva asked the nurse. "So, my fall didn't hurt her?"
The nurse shook her head. "The doctor will talk to you more, but the best thing you can do is stay calm. Many times, it's stress that hurts far more than the actual fall. Let's get her measurements and the doctor will want all the files from your last one, so we have a few forms to fill out before you see Dr. Bentley."
They handed him the papers, but he couldn't stop staring at the television screen with the baby girl inside Eva on it. The nurse said, "Daddy, your girl is going to be great." He didn't have the energy to even blink away, though he heard her tell Eva, "Your boyfriend is already in love with his daughter."
She turned the screen to a picture of her baby, and left. He clutched the papers in his hand and eventually turned to Eva when she said, "Brandon?"
"Yeah?" He took her hand.
She used his arm to help her stand. "I'm glad you're here. I have to get dressed."
Right. She went behind a screen and he began to fill out the forms. "What was the name of your last doctor?"
She pointed to her pocketbook from behind the screen. "Dr. Wei. Take my phone and find her."
He opened it and realized she didn't have a password set up. Anyone could steal her information, but Eva wasn't thinking about crime. He found the doctor without comment and copied the information.
A few minutes later, he filled out the rest of the form and she walked out from behind the screen, fully dressed. He was about to slip her phone into her bag when it rang. He looked at it and said, "Chris is calling you again."
"Ignore," she said, and hit 'decline' as she took it from him.
He stood up with the papers. "Does he always call you this often?"
She looped her arm around his. "I told you. He never acknowledged me at all until I was out to dinner with you and Calliope."
Ice cold penetrated his spine while he thought about Eva being prey to Chris. His sister had had a narrow escape, and he couldn't let anything happen to Eva or her baby. He opened the door and said, "Eva, I want you to think about marrying me."
"What?" A blush stained her cheeks.
He led her down the hall. "As my wife, I can protect you as my own."
She refused to look at him when she asked, "Do you want to marry me or protect me?"
"Both." He'd not lie to her. Perhaps that wasn't what she wanted to hear as she dropped her head even lower.
She squeezed his hand at the next door. "Let's see the doctor and go back to the set and talk tonight."
Right. Now had not been the best time.
The doctor stood when they entered. "Hello, Dr. Bentley." He said.
"Now, you both look relieved," he said with a smile.
The doctor was their age and clearly worked out.
Eva plopped in her seat and said, "The nurse said my baby was okay."
"Yes."
Brandon took the seat next to her. The doctor went to his desk and asked her, "What prenatal vitamins are you on? You left it blank."
She fished out a bottle in her bag and said, "I bought these."
He looked at it and shrugged. "I'll write a prescription for the ones I recommend." He typed in his computer and a second later stared at them both. "So, do you have any questions for me?"
Brandon had to ask. "Now she's your patient, can she come in any time she wants to see a nurse?"
He said, "For a fall, absolutely, but try to avoid those." The doctor handed her the prescription. "Next time you visit, it will be less paperwork. Do you know what hospital you want to deliver at?"
She shook her head. Most of his friends’ babies were born at Mt. Sinai but that was years ago. Brandon asked, "Where do you work?"
The doctor handed him a paper with three hospital addresses. "These are the three I'm affiliated with. Take the tours and let me know."
Tours. Eva really was having a baby. Life was so clear at the moment.
Without a blink, the doctor told her, "Your girl is doing great, and at our scheduled appointment next week, we'll do a full workup."
"Thanks again," she said, standing.
He followed her out the door. Once they made it closer to his car and the bright light of day, he said, "Eva, I've never asked a woman to marry me—"
She pressed her lips together and opened her own car door. "I said we'd talk tonight."
"Right." He opened the driver’s seat. Even with Grace, he had never asked. She bought herself a ring and told him they were engaged. With Eva, he felt like he was in uncharted territory. The only thing he knew for sure was that he wanted to keep her and her baby safe.