Ryan’s heart was pounding in his chest, but he forced his feet to move.

He had stood frozen for too long.

Serena still hadn’t seen him. She was focused on breathing through her contractions, her hand gripping the railing as she took slow steps forward.

His throat was dry. His palms were sweaty.

But he couldn’t waste another second.

“Serena.”

The moment he spoke, she froze.

Her body tensed, her grip on the railing tightening.

Slowly—so slowly—she turned her head toward him.

Her ...