The Marine's Baby. Deb Kastner

during sleep.

      His fingers tingled with the unfathomable urge to brush that lock of hair off her cheek and smooth the frown from her lips.

      Nate had told her it was fine for her to leave, now that the crisis with Gracie appeared to have passed, but Jess wouldn’t hear of it. Her chin, which gave the point to her heart-shaped face, had jutted out stubbornly at the mere suggestion.

      She was the sweetest, kindest woman he’d ever had the pleasure to know; yet it occurred to him that he might like her to have his back in a fight. Her strength of character, which Nate thought made her faith so vibrant, was remarkable.

      And, at the moment, much appreciated.

      Secretly, Nate had been glad of her stubborn insistence that she stay, though he’d never admit it out loud. Gracie might be out of immediate danger, but her temperature had spiked very quickly before. He didn’t want to go through that kind of a scare again.

      Ever.

      Not alone, at least. With Jess here, circumstances didn’t feel quite so black.

      He knew he should be taking the lead from Jess and rest while the baby was sleeping, but try as he might, he couldn’t shut off his brain. Usually he exercised his way to exhaustion, but that was impossible given the circumstances.

      What he wouldn’t give for a nice, long, head-clearing run. It sure would beat sitting here over-thinking everything.