by Robin Gianna
Hope followed her down a hallway until she was ushered into a small room. “Make yourself comfortable. The office manager, Sue Calloway, will be right with you.”
Trying to occupy herself and forget the possibility of seeing Aaron Cartwright, and what in the world she’d say if she did, she picked up literature invitingly placed in cardboard holders on a side table. She tried to flip through it, but couldn’t focus on the illustrations and information. And really didn’t need to, because after all she’d seen the amazing egg-retrieval procedure on that monitor today very clearly. Calmly and oh-so-skillfully done by Aaron, his dark eyes focused and intent on the monitor. Not a single hesitation in his movements throughout the entire thing, he was obviously supremely confident in his work.
Supremely confident as a lover, as well.
Sighing, Hope closed her eyes, and images of their evening together filled her mind. The carved planes of his handsome face, his brown eyes looking at her with humor and heat. The heart-stopping beauty of his muscular physique, lying over her, pressed against her.
The sensations, too. The deep, hot, mind-blowing kisses that nearly melted her to the floor. The shivery feel of his fingers stroking her skin. The masculine scent of him in her nostrils as she kissed and licked his strong jaw, his throat, his chest. She breathed through her nose, imagining it all, sinking into thoughts of him and what they’d done together until her heart was tripping as though he really were there.
The thought had her flinging her eyelids open and sitting bolt upright to stare at the door, then slumping back into the chair when she saw it was still closed. Lord, the memory of his scent had seemed so vivid, she’d been suddenly terrified he’d be standing right there. Asking what in the world she was doing there.
And why did it seem terrifying, anyway?
She stood and paced the small room. A one-night fling with a super-sexy man was just that. It had no impact or influence on the decision she’d made to have a baby now while she still could. She knew what she wanted and wasn’t ashamed of it. Hadn’t made the decision hastily. Her mother fully supported her. Which were the only things that mattered. Certainly not the briefest of relationships, so she shouldn’t have even the slightest funny feeling about it.
At the same time, it was a very private thing, wasn’t it? She didn’t want to share it with the world yet, especially since she had no idea whether things would go as she planned or not. Despite wanting to keep it to herself for now, she feared lying wouldn’t work if Aaron saw her there. It had never come easily to her and he’d probably see through it anyway. So what could be her excuse, then? Oh, I’m doing research on IVF just because I’m interested in it.
Not because I’m planning to get pregnant that way in just a couple of weeks.
She sighed again. At some point, he’d probably see her at work with her belly swollen. But by then, their amazing evening together would be a distant memory, wouldn’t it? It was the “right now,” just days after they’d made love, that must be making her feel so strange about him finding out her plans.
She tensed as the door opened, but it was a short, middle-aged woman, and not, thankfully, Aaron. Presumably the office manager she’d been told to expect.
“Hello!” The woman held out her hand. “I’m Sue Calloway. I run this place, and don’t let any of the doctors tell you otherwise.”
Hope liked her cheerful smile immediately. “My mother always says that women run the world and men take the credit for it.”
“True. Very true.” Sue nodded and chuckled, then her mirth faded and she gestured for Hope to sit down. “Part of running this place is giving patients unfortunate news. Which is that Dr. Devor has had to leave Cambridge to tend to a family emergency and won’t be back until probably next week, or possibly longer.”
“Oh no!” Hope stared at her, heart sinking. Next week? What a disappointing delay!
But the peculiar feeling that instantly rolled around in her gut at the news had her wondering about that thought. Because the feeling seemed just as much relief as dismay, and how could that be? Yes, she was a little scared. But from the time she was a teen, she’d pictured two things in her life. Becoming a certified midwife, and holding her own baby in her arms.
Anger joined the other confusing emotions churning in her chest. Why had she listened to her parents’ insistence that she couldn’t do both at the same time, just because they hadn’t been able to? Just because they’d gotten married too young because her mum was pregnant, and didn’t even like each other much?
Their battles eventually became a cold, distant silence between the two of them, and between her and her dad, too. Doubtless all that had scarred her in some way. She knew it must be part of the reason why she’d never been able to commit to a man. Never truly loved a man.
Never truly loved George, and hoped and prayed that he was wrong. That there wasn’t something utterly lacking inside her heart that would make it impossible to love anyone, including this baby she so wanted.
Her throat closed as fear clutched at her again, but she fiercely shook it off. She could love her child. She knew she could.
“You have several options, though,” Sue said.
“Options?”
“Obviously, you can simply wait until Dr. Devor returns, and we’ll put you at the top of his schedule then. Or you can see another of our IVF consultants to discuss the treatment options and get the necessary tests done. If you decide to go on with it, you could already be getting started on the course of hormones to stimulate your ovaries before Dr. Devor even returns.”
About the only thing Hope heard the woman say was “you can see another of our IVF consultants,” which sent a cold shiver down her spine, and not the good kind Aaron had sent through her whole body the other night. Imagining just running into him here was bad enough, but having him as her consultant? After they’d slept together?
Not only disturbing, but also highly unethical. What could she say to Sue, though? Oh, well, another doctor would be fine, except not sexy Dr. Cartwright because he’s already seen me completely and intimately naked.
Sue was regarding her a bit oddly, and she wondered what she looked like, other than very, very flushed at the embarrassing thought. She cleared her throat. “Thank you for giving me some options. Since it sounds like Dr. Devor will likely return fairly soon, I think I’ll just wait until then.”
“Fine. I’ll call you to schedule another appointment when he’s back.”
“That sounds perfect. Thank you.”
They both stood and Sue opened the door, gesturing for her to lead the way. Hope took a few tentative steps down a short hall and into the waiting room, her nerves jangling all over again as she furtively glanced around, then practically ran out of the door, not caring if Sue thought she was a nutcase or not.
She kept going until she was a good distance from the office before she finally slowed down, annoyed with herself that she was being such a Nervous Nellie, but unable to stop feeling that way. She pressed her hands to her hot cheeks, not paying much attention to where she was walking, until she realized she was outside the swinging doors to the hospital wing where Aaron would be fertilizing Mrs. Walters’s eggs at 1:00 p.m. The ICSI procedure.
It wasn’t the procedure she would be using, since traditional IVF was an easier method if the ICSI procedure wasn’t necessary for success. But she’d been fascinated to see the egg retrieval today, and knew getting to see firsthand this fairly new procedure would be too. Fascinating because she was a nurse and a midwife, and because she’d be having her own IVF procedure soon.
She stared at the door, feeling indecisive and uncomfortable all over again, which was completely unlike her. Aaron had suggested she join him there for educational reasons, right? It had nothing to do with the undeniable chemistry between them that zapped in the air every time their eyes met.
Right. She shook her head and forced herself to move on down the hall and out of the door. The last thing she should do was encourage the man to think she was interested in him. She had big plans, wonderful plans, and shoving aside and trying to forget about her ridiculous attraction to Aaron Cartwright was the only sensible choice.
* * *
Aaron grabbed his briefcase of patient files to study later and took a few steps down the office hallway, poking his head into Sue’s office. “My last patient canceled, so I’m heading home.”
“Early for you. Hot date tonight?”
He had to chuckle at Sue’s exaggerated eyebrow waggling as she asked. “Why do you want to know? Jealous?”
“I live for gossip. You know that.”
“Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I’m just going to take advantage of what’s left of the daylight to go for a run, then do some paperwork. Excitement is my middle name.”
“Hmm. Either you’re not telling me the truth, or you’ve decided you don’t want to break any more hearts right now and ruin a girl’s holiday.”
The truth? Truth was, the only woman he was interested in at the moment had clearly meant it when she’d said one night was all she could offer. He’d been disappointed when she hadn’t shown up to see the ICSI procedure she’d seemed so interested in, and while it was possible she’d just gotten stuck at whatever her appointment was, he had a feeling it was more that she’d decided to keep her distance.
Then the past few days, when he’d found reasons to stop into the labor and delivery ward and seen Hope at a distance, she’d given him a quick smile and wave of her fingers before practically tearing off in the other direction.
Which was a very clear message—keep your distance, buddy. A message that should have left him shrugging his shoulders and moving on. Problem was, he didn’t want to move on right then. He wanted to spend more time enjoying her lively mind and her beautiful body. He just had to figure out a way to charm her into it.
If he ever had a chance to be near her and spend time with her again, that was. Which was looking less promising by the day.
“I don’t know where you got this idea that I’m a heartbreaker,” he said. “The women I date don’t expect anything long-term.”
“Maybe don’t expect it, but definitely want it. And why you’re so determined to stay footloose and fancy-free, I don’t know.”
Didn’t take a rocket scientist, or a shrink, to figure it out. Abandonment in childhood created adults who didn’t want to risk that happening again. Moving from place to place and not getting too close to anyone or anything was the solution. Pathetic? Probably, but he’d been just fine living his life that way. “Why you’re so determined to see me tied down, I don’t know either. Probably so I can be as miserable as Paul is.”
She tossed a wadded-up ball of paper at his head and he laughed that he’d gotten the reaction he’d wanted, and a change of subject. “See you tomorrow.”
“After that insult, you’ll be lucky if I’m here.”
“You’ll be here. Not being able to bug me every day would drive you crazy.” Chuckling at the second ball of paper launched at his head and the faux outrage on her face, he ducked out of the office, only to practically knock down the receptionist.
“Sorry, Liz!” He grabbed her plump shoulders to steady her. “Sue’s in a bad mood, trying to hurt me, and I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
“Well, this will cheer her up, but probably not you,” Liz said, grinning broadly as she held up a newspaper. “She said there would be a photo of you with a woman at the gala, and she’ll be happy to be right.”
He sighed and put his briefcase by his feet to reach for the paper. Hopefully, the article concentrated mostly on the adoption foundation, and not on him. For whatever reason though, after the past few galas, the reporters had seemed to love to include tidbits about his background and his single status along with the important information. He didn’t care much for it, but could put up with undesirable attention if it helped get the foundation the attention he worked for.
“Let me see,” Sue said, practically chortling as she came to stand next to him.
“I have it folded to the photo. Page seven, on the other side.” Liz tapped the paper with her finger. “He’s dancing with a gorgeous blonde, and the picture practically looks like an advertisement for Valentine’s Day, the way they’re making eyes at one another.”
The only woman he’d danced with had been Hope, and gorgeous blonde was just a small part of the way he’d describe her. He frowned and turned the paper over. Sure enough, amid other photos of various attendees, there they were, dancing so closely their bodies were touching, and looking into one another’s eyes as if there weren’t another soul in the room.
Well, damn. Part of him felt a little embarrassed at what the photo revealed. But staring at the picture reminded him how stunning she’d looked that night. Her sweet smile. Her intelligent, amused eyes. The beautiful curve of her lips.
The memory of it all hit him almost as though she were in his arms again. The feel of the smooth skin of her back against his palm, the way her curves fit his body as they danced, the scent of her in his nose and the mesmerizing blue of her eyes as they met his.
His memories moved on to the incredible bliss they’d shared later that night in glorious Technicolor, and his damned mindless body actually started to physically react. He folded the paper with a snap. “I’ll read it later. Make a note, Sue, to get the newspaper reporter and photographer to the Christmas adoption party, so they can get more important photos of adoptable kids meeting potential parents.”
“I already have, and you know it. It’s not my fault they took this kind of pic, which I know you hate.” She tugged at the paper. “Might as well let me see it, because I get it at home anyway.”
“You live for gossip, all right. Especially when it involves me.” He grimaced at her and handed it over. If he didn’t, it would make it seem suspiciously an even bigger deal. He braced himself, knowing Sue would tease him about the way he and Hope were looking all starstruck at one another. How had she managed to make him forget everything in the room but her? “Fine. But I don’t want to hear anything more about it.”
“Oh, you two are making goo-goo eyes at one another! She—”
To his surprise, Sue stopped in mid-sentence, and the mirth in her face disappeared as she stared at the photo, then slowly moved her gaze up to Aaron. Her expression was so oddly, well, stunned was the word that came to mind, it was downright strange. “What? What’s with the weird face? You’re looking at me like it’s a picture of me dancing with the queen. Or the devil.”
“No. I just—she’s a midwife here at CRMU, right?”
“Right. She’s one of several that came to share a few adoption stories with donors, which I appreciated. Then we danced, and that photo is ridiculous, because we weren’t making goo-goo eyes at each other at all. So don’t act like there’s some big meaning behind it.” He wasn’t about to share anything else, or admit that the picture captured exactly how he’d been feeling at that moment.
Captivated and aroused.
“I won’t. Of course it’s just a meaningless picture of a brief moment. You don’t have any real interest in her, do you?”
She sounded almost hopeful, which was also very strange, since she was always nagging him about finding the right woman and settling down, despite him always responding that he had zero interest in that. “No. We were just dancing.” And that was a lie, but his interest in Hope wasn’t anyone’s business.
Sue put on a smile that seemed oddly forced as she folded the newspaper and gave it back to Liz. Which was one more bizarre thing, since in the past when things like this had happened she’d loved parading it around the office to show everyone. What in the world was making her act so strange?
Not
that he was unhappy about closing the newspaper and the subject. “I’m heading out. See you in the morning.”
The photo of him and Hope swam in his mind, and damned if part of him wanted to swing through Labor and Delivery again just to look at her in person. Maybe see if she’d be off work soon.
Then reminded himself about her not wanting any more contact between them. Since when had he wanted to be an annoyance to a woman? If she wasn’t interested, there were others who were. And yeah, maybe this strange preoccupation with her really was a sign he’d been in Cambridge too long.
He strode down the hall toward the parking garage and glanced at the weather report on his phone, glad to see it was warm enough outside that he could take his run wearing a single layer of clothes. Running hard and building up a sweat would both relax his tight muscles after doing procedures all day, and get his one-track mind off Hope Sanders.
“Help! I have an emergency!” a woman’s voice shouted. “I need a delivery doctor right away! Can anyone help?”
CHAPTER FIVE
AARON TURNED TOWARD the loud, anxious voice, astonished to see Hope Sanders literally running down the hall full steam, pushing a patient on a cart and craning her neck to look in various open doors as she shouted. A nurse followed just as fast, and he pivoted in their direction, then strode beside her as she kept up her fast pace.
“What’s wrong?” He glanced at the moaning woman on the cart. “What do you need?”
“I have a shoulder dystocia. Can’t move the baby into position. The doctors on call are busy with at-risk births and there’s no time to lose. I’m getting her to the OR now.”
“Why do you think it’s shoulder dystocia?” he asked, tossing his briefcase on a nurse’s desk as they hurried by.
“The head crowned, then turtled back against the perineum and the baby’s cheeks bulged out,” she continued in a tight, breathless voice as she swung the cart through the OR doors with remarkable precision, considering she’d barely slowed down.