“Yet you feel the need to leave? To just forget about us?”
She couldn’t stand anymore. “Don’t you get it, Blake? There has never been an us.” She put her palms against his chest. “All we had was one weekend of pretense.”
“Is that what you believe?”
“Tell me I’m wrong.”
“You’re wrong.” As if to prove his point, he lowered his mouth to hers, kissed her so thoroughly her knees wobbled. “Tell me you don’t feel that, Darby. Tell me you don’t want me even now.”
“That’s only sexual attraction.” Tell me I’m wrong. Please, Blake, tell me you feel more for me than sexual attraction.
“Don’t knock chemistry. It’s what makes the world go around.”
“Not my world,” she admitted softly.
Knowing she had to go while she still could, Darby pulled free from his loose hold.
She’d hoped he’d stop her, that he’d hold on to her and tell her what he felt for her was so much more than sexual attraction.
“If you stay, I’ll marry you.”
“Why?” Tell me you love me. I’ll go anywhere with you, Blake. Just love me.
“For the baby.”
A part of Darby died. The part that had been holding out hope that maybe, just maybe, he cared for her. But when push came to shove Blake wouldn’t fight for her. Why would he? He didn’t love her, and had never given her reason to think he did. In the long run, her leaving made things easier for him.
Darby touched his cheek, loving the feel of the light razor stubble that had popped up since he’d shaved that morning, wishing she could touch him forever.
“Don’t make doing the right thing more difficult than it already is, Blake.” She stood on her tiptoes, pressed a kiss to his lips, and stepped away. Her gaze landed on the one thing she hadn’t yet packed. The one thing she hadn’t been able to place inside a packing crate. Her heart.
Picking up the plastic model at its base, she felt memories assail her. Memories all made with Blake. She turned, smiled through her tears, and held out the heart.
“Here,” she whispered. “Take this. It seems my heart won’t be making the move with me. It’s always belonged to you, anyway.”
“What happened to that pretty female doctor?”
Blake frowned at Mr. Hill, and not because of the ulcer on his leg. Fortunately, the ulcer on Mr. Hill’s leg now had pink granulation tissue forming and was slowly healing.
“She left.”
The man cracked his arthritic neck, frowning right back at Blake. “To be a doctor, she wasn’t too bad. Easy on the eye, too. Where’d she go?”
He didn’t need a man in his seventies telling him Darby was easy on the eye. Blake knew she was easy on the eye. Good thing too, because whether his eyes were open or closed Darby was always what he saw.
“She moved back to where she came from.” Did he sound bitter? Likely. He felt bitter. Darby had found out she was pregnant and immediately left him. Sure, he didn’t know much about being a family, but she hadn’t even given him a chance.
“Where’s that?” Mr. Hill asked.
“Alabama.” Blake answered.
Mr. Hill’s bushy white brow quirked. “You don’t like Alabama?”
“It’s a state.”
“And misery is a state of mind.” Mr. Hill waved his hand in dismissal. “Why are you still here? You should go after her.”
“No one asked for your opinion.”
“You should have asked. I’ve been around awhile, learned from life experiences. You should try it sometime.”
“I’ve learned from life experiences.” He’d learned that he shouldn’t rely on anyone except himself. He’d learned that he’d been a fool to stay in Knoxville following graduation. He should have left, joined a traveling medical group where he could change locales every few months. Wasn’t that what he knew best? How not to get close to people because they came and went from your life?
“You ain’t learned jack, or you’d be rubbing her leg instead of mine.”
Blake dropped his hand away from Mr. Hill’s calf. He’d say the older man had a point—except his rubbing had been covering the wet dressing with an elastic wrap to protect Mr. Hill’s clothes from getting stained.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know if I had a pretty young woman’s heart I’d be with her.”
He didn’t have Darby’s heart.
Well, actually, he did, but that was just plastic.
Blake froze. Darby’s words hit him, pinging through his thick skull and sinking home.
Darby had given him her heart, had said her heart belonged to him.
After a lifetime of abstinence, she had given him her virginity.
She loved him.
He’d been too blind to realize.
Too blind to see.
But how could he have seen when he’d been too blind to even see his own feelings for Darby?
While in Alabama, pretending to love her, he’d realized he wanted her, that he’d always wanted her, but instead of acting upon that realization he’d run scared, wanting to hold on to the safe rather than risk getting hurt. To hang on to the tried and true rather than venture into unknown territories. In the process he’d lost her.
Blake set down his stethoscope, stared at Mr. Hill, and gave credit where credit was due. “You’re a wise man, Nathan Hill.”
The man smiled his toothless smile. “Looks like you’re wisening up, too.”
“That I am. Let’s hope I’m not too late.”
“I just can’t believe you’re really home.” Rosy waved her paintbrush, droplets of paint splattering onto the plastic lining the floor. Her gaze lowered to the paint. “Oops.”
Darby wiped the back of her hand across her sweaty brow, a smile on her paint-dappled face. Part of her couldn’t believe she was home either.
“I can’t believe you didn’t bring that scrumptious doctor with you,” Mandy said, glancing up from where she’d taped off a corner of the room they were painting.
The room where Darby would soon be seeing patients.
In Alabama.
In her own practice.
Far away from the scrumptious doctor in question.
“Blake is busy finding someone to replace me in Knoxville.”
Mandy’s gaze met Darby’s, then lowered to the painter’s tape. Darby hated her friend’s sympathy. They’d all commiserated when she’d told them she and Blake had broken up. If not for her pregnancy, she would have told them the entire weekend had been nothing more than a pretense.
“In the office or in his bed?” Rosy eyed Darby curiously. “Because, as much as I want you home, I want you to be happy, too, and he made you happy.” She gave a considering look. “Understandably so. Just looking at him made me happy, too.”
“Whatever.” Darby shook her head at Rosy. Her sister-in-law was as in love with her husband as the day they’d exchanged vows. Still, Rosy had a point. “I am happy.”
Mandy glanced up at her, eyeing her even more curiously than Rosy had. “You’re sure?”
Did her friends think she was depressed? Was that why they visited so often? Mandy had even fussed over Darby’s lack of kempt hair and make-up that morning. What did her appearance matter for painting? But she appreciated their concern, so she forced a smile to her face. “I’m sure.”
It was the truth. Mostly.
Sure, she cried herself to sleep at night, missing Blake, but she was happy, was confident she’d made the right decision to move home and raise her baby surrounded by her family’s love.
She hadn’t told anyone of her pregnancy yet. As she was only a little over three months along, she had a while before she had to tell anyone. She wasn’t ready. She’d shared enough changes with her family over the past few weeks.
No doubt they would be disappointed that she’d be a single mother. But they’d love her and support her in the months leading up to and following the baby’s a
rrival.
Other than missing Blake, her biggest concern regarding her pregnancy and the move was that the closest OB/GYN was thirty miles away. Still, that shouldn’t present a problem, since most first deliveries didn’t go quickly, and if it did there was always the calving barn.
As far as Blake replacing her, in the office and in his bed, well, she did her best not to think about that, as the thought of him with another woman hurt deeper than she wanted to admit.
So she’d focused on her new life. All she had to do was finish up the repairs and she’d be ready to open on October first, as planned.
She glanced out the window, catching sight of her brothers, Mark the vet, and Trey, down near the lake. Over the past few weeks, as their time had allowed, while she, Mandy and her sisters-in-law had worked on the inside of the house, the men had cleaned the yard, replaced the roof’s shingles, and painted the outside of the house. Now they were building her a new dock.
Just as Darby and Mandy were slowly rebuilding their friendship, Mandy and Trey were rekindling old flames. Darby couldn’t be happier for them.
“Hey, is that Blake with the guys?”
At Rosy’s question, Darby’s heart slammed into her throat and tried to pound its way out. Surely she was hallucinating. No way was Blake walking toward the house with Trey, Mark, and her brothers. No way.
But he was.
“Apparently, he’s not so busy in Knoxville that he can’t drop by for a visit,” Rosy snickered, giving Darby a knowing smile. “After all, it’s only six hours’ drive out of his way.”
Darby barely glanced her sister-in-law’s way, barely took in Mandy’s silence and inability to meet her eyes—had her friend known Blake was here? She reached up to check her appearance, realized she’d probably only managed to smear paint into her hair.
What was he doing here?
Why hadn’t he called first? Surely he should have called prior to making that drive? What if she hadn’t been home? What if she’d decided to go to Knoxville? Maybe Mandy really had known he’d be stopping by today.
Which would explain why her friend had fussed about her appearance earlier.
Darby felt light-headed and not from the non-toxic paint fumes or her pregnancy. All oxygen had disappeared the moment Blake stepped into the room.
His black gaze met hers, drank in the sight of her, and she had a flashback to how it had been between them the last time they’d been in Alabama. He’d held her, touched her, kissed her, loved her.
Only he’d been faking. So why was he here now?
Why was he looking at her as if he’d missed her?
As if he wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her until they were both breathless?
Blake wanted to take Darby into his arms and kiss her until they were both breathless, until they could only cling to each other and never let go.
Because he didn’t want to let her go. Not ever.
He was probably a fool, but here he was all the same.
In Alabama. His new home.
Not that he technically had a home. Not anymore.
Land, yes—thanks to the real estate Mandy had helped him purchase. Home, no.
But, looking at Darby, he knew he was a hell of a lot closer to home than he’d be anywhere else in the world.
“Blake?” She stepped toward him, realized every eye in the room was watching them, and paused. “What are you doing here?”
“You told me I could visit any time I was in the neighborhood.” Was she upset he was here?
“You were in the neighborhood?”
“Actually…” he began, wondering how she was going to react to his news, wondering if she’d think he’d overstepped. Maybe he had overstepped? His mother had certainly thought he was crazy when he’d told her of his plans. She’d also wished him luck and been excited at the prospect of being a grandmother, which had surprised him. “Actually, I’m your closest neighbor.”
Darby’s mouth opened, and she gawked at him as if he were crazy, too. “You are?”
The whole Phillips clan and her friends glared at him. Apparently Darby’s less than enthusiastic greeting had clued them in that all was not well in paradise.
“I bought the place next to yours. The land was originally part of this place, but was subdivided into a separate parcel when you bought the house.”
Why was he telling her that? Of course she knew the land had been subdivided. God, he was nervous.
“You bought the rest of my land?”
He nodded, noting she’d called the land hers, hoping before all was said and done she’d call him hers, too.
Her eyes shone blue as the cloudless sky, piercing him with regrets that he’d let her walk away from him. “Why?”
“Um, I think it’s time for us to head home,” Rosy said, linking her elbow with her husband’s and giving the others in the room a look that said for them to leave, too.
Darby turned, stared blankly at her sister-in-law and the others in the room. Clearly she’d forgotten they weren’t alone.
“Me, too,” Mandy said, walking over and giving Darby a quick hug. “Call me later to let me know what time you want me to come over and help finish this up. Bye, Blake. Trey, you ready?”
Mandy and Trey left. But, despite their womenfolk tugging on their arms, Darby’s brothers didn’t budge—just glared at Blake.
Did they know Darby was pregnant with his baby?
They’d been friendly enough outside, but that had been before Darby’s obvious surprise at seeing him. They’d thought she’d been expecting him. What had she told her family?
Did they all know what an idiot he’d been? That he’d let her leave Knoxville without telling her how he felt? That he’d let her leave without fighting for her—even after she’d given him her heart?
Literally.
Darby didn’t move, and neither did her brothers.
Blake met each of her brothers’ gazes, then hers. “Is there somewhere we can talk in private?”
Glaring, Jim crossed his arms. “Nothing you have to say to my sister that you can’t say to us.”
“It’s okay, guys,” Darby said, stepping forward and waving them off. “Y’all go on home. I’ll be by Mom and Dad’s later for dinner. I’ll see you there.”
“We finished the deck—was just coming in to get you to inspect it,” Ralph said, his gaze not leaving Blake.
Darby nodded. “I’ll walk out with you guys and take a quick look before y’all leave.” She glanced toward Blake, her expression unreadable. “Blake can wait here.”
He watched through the large window as she walked to the boat dock with her family, noting that her brothers glanced back toward the house repeatedly, and that Rosy kept a tight hold on her husband’s arm.
When the group finally left, Darby didn’t come back inside. Instead she sat down on the dock. With her arms wrapped around her legs, her chin resting on her knees, she stared out at the lake as if the weight of the world was upon her.
Blake figured he was that weight.
What was Blake doing here? What did it mean that he’d bought the rest of the Donahue estate? She’d known he had some family money, but surely not enough to afford all that property connected to the lake and her place? The price had been astronomical.
What did she want his buying the rest of her land to mean?
Ha, that was a trick question.
She wanted it to mean he loved her and had come to sweep her off her feet and marry her.
But if he proposed, did that really mean he loved her? Or just that he’d been hit by a wave of guilt, or responsibility or whatever, and wanted to give their baby a home? A family?
Even if he looked at her with love, she wouldn’t really know. After all, she’d seen what a great actor he was on the weekend of the reunion.
If Blake wanted her to believe he loved her, that was what she’d believe.
But would she really?
Did she really want to be with a man when she wasn’t sure
why he was with her? A man she loved whole-heartedly but who didn’t love her in return? But what about their baby? Didn’t she owe it to their baby to give him the benefit of the doubt?
Oh, this was crazy. If she wanted to know why Blake was here, what was she doing outside? Why wasn’t she inside, asking him why he was here? Why he’d bought the rest of her dream property?
She started to push herself up from the dock, but realized Blake stood behind her. How long had he been there?
“You didn’t come back inside,” he said softly, moving onto the deck and sitting down beside her. He sat close enough that she felt his body heat, close enough that she could breathe in his musky scent. Close enough that she wanted to lean against his shoulder, feel his arms around her, and stay there forever.
Instead, she continued to look out at the lake, pretending to be mesmerized by the sunshine bouncing off the water.
“I needed a few minutes to digest that you’re here.” She could feel his gaze on her, wanted to turn and look at him, but refused.
“Is my being here a bad thing?” he asked.
“Just unexpected. You’re always welcome, Blake. I told you that. I won’t try to keep you away from the baby.” Unable not to, she glanced toward him. “Is that why you bought the land next to mine? So you could build a place to stay when you come to visit our child?”
He blew out a long breath and shook his head. “I sold everything in Knoxville.”
Her head jerked up. “You did what?”
“I sold the practice to Dr. Kingston, my house to an out-of-state couple. I’m moving to Armadillo Lake permanently.”
“But…but what will you do?”
“I’ve applied for an Alabama medical license. I plan to practice here.”
“But…but why?”
“Simple.” His gaze met hers, held. “You’re here.”
“And the baby?”
“Yes, and our baby.” He glanced toward her flat belly. “How are you feeling? Any morning sickness?”
“Mild nausea, but that’s it.” She studied him, wondering if she’d inhaled too many paint fumes and was imagining that he was really here. Maybe she’d fainted and was lying on the floor of her future examination room. “You really sold out in Knoxville?”
The Surgeon's Miracle / Dr Di Angelo's Baby Bombshell Page 30