Baby in His Arms

by Elizabeth Otto

  Afton moved eggs around on her plate and took a sip of coffee. Her father was chewing hard. He’d barely controlled his annoyance when she’d agreed to his invite to breakfast before she started her shift. He’d called her six times last night and texted twice that. His voice had been hard, tight, and dripping with impatience when she’d finally called him back.

  And barely listened to an hour-long lecture about how she was screwing up her life. She couldn’t concentrate. Not after the bombshell Noah Crisler had turned out to be.

  Yet, here she was, subjecting herself to more of the same. Only in person this time, and with the baby to witness it her grandfather’s temper. At least she could use Kylie as an excuse to leave early. Honestly, not getting a job at her father’s hospital was a blessing. She wanted nothing more than to cut all ties, completely. It’s all she’d wanted for many years. His forceful attitude, constant disapproval, and the way he’d distanced himself after her mother’s illness, was more than she could shoulder.

  No, she and her dad could barely stand to be in each other’s company; how would a working relationship ever be comfortable?

  “I’ll get some experience behind me, then apply at all the local hospitals, just to see what’s out there.”

  “You don’t need to see what’s out there. Regions is the best. That’s where you should be, like I just said Afton.”

  “North was the only hospital willing to hire a brand-new nurse to the ER. Everyone else wanted three years’ experience.”

  He scoffed. “Just shows how sickeningly desperate they are. North is shady. There’s a lot going on under the surface that you don’t need to get wrapped up in.”

  Her father put down his fork and leveled her with a cool stare. His grey eyebrows bushed over the tops of his black frame glasses. She sat quietly, waiting. Her dad’s commanding presence was all consuming. And if you didn’t satisfactorily pay attention, he’d be sure you knew it.

  “Why didn’t you immediately tell me that you didn’t get hired at Regions? I’m sure there’s some degenerate that can be removed to make a place for you.”

  “I’m fine where I am.” Lie. It wasn’t fine. It wouldn’t be fine.

  Because Noah fucking Crisler was there, and her brain hadn’t even begun to grasp how this was going to impact her. She’d woken up several times last night in a cold sweat, her heart pounding. She’d thought maybe it was nerves, like a full-fledged anxiety attack. Or that the whole thing had been a nightmare. That Noah didn’t exist at all.

  But then Kylie had woken up to eat, and she took one look in her daughter’s eyes and knew it was real. From thousands of people on the beach in Cabo last May, she and Noah had found each other. Despite probability, here he was in Chicago, in the same hospital, the same unit.

  As the director of the ER. Which technically made him her boss. Didn’t it?

  “Are you listening to me?”

  No. “Yes?”

  He sighed and pushed his plate to the side of the table. Marieke, the housekeeper, rushed over to whisk it off to the kitchen. Steepling his fingers, he leaned back in his chair and leveled her with a stare.

  “Have you given any thought to what I suggested last week?”

  Afton’s nostrils flared. His suggestion had been such a ludicrous pile of shit that she’d not wasted a single minute considering it. Kylie stirred in her infant seat, her small arms punching out in front of her, little fists clenched tightly as she stretched. She’d be waking up any time, ready to eat, and that would be Afton’s cue to get the hell out of here.

  “There’s no way I’m doing that, dad.”

  “It’s in your best interest. It will allow you to get established in your career and get on with the next phase of your life.”

  A bitter taste rose in the back of her mouth. He’d push this until he got his way. Like everything, it was his way or fuck you. What kind of father tried to force his daughter into something like this? He wanted to throw his own grand daughter away.

  “I’m not interested.”

  Yeager banged a fist on the table. Afton’s plate rattled, her fork bouncing over the side and onto the floor. Marieke, always there, rushed to retrieve it but stopped as he pointed a finger at her. His face was a pale shade of red, the color bleeding into the snowy white of his hairline.

  Afton’s body tensed, her middle clenching with a blip of fear.

  “Why the hell won’t you do this? You’re going to medical school. You’ll need your space and free time to study.”

  She pushed away from the table and stood, grabbing the handle of the infant seat and pulling it against her body as if he might rip Kylie away from her. Her cheeks were hot, her forehead and arms itching with the anger trapped inside. If only her mother were here. None of this would be happening if she was alive to keep things in place.

  “I will not give up my child! There is nothing you could ever say to change my mind.”

  His upper body slammed against the back of the chair as he waved a hand in irritation. “You’re not giving up your child. For God’s sake. It’s temporary, unless you want it not to be.”

  Tears stung her eyes. The first time her father had suggested hiring a surrogate family for baby Kylie, she’d thought he’d been joking in a very unfunny way. Until he handed her the phone number and completed background check for a family in River North who apparently did this routinely. For a fee, they’d become a replacement family for your child while you did... whatever it was that negated getting rid of your child for a while. All she had to do was sign consent forms, pay the deposit and hand over her baby.

  “It’s temporary. Totally temporary.” His voice dropped and taken on a soothing, gently urging quality. “If you agree to a temporary arrangement, you’ll have the time and focus you need to complete your education and get a good job. At Regions.”

  Shallow, hard tremors coursed through her. She hoped he couldn’t see.

  He lifted one brow at her silence and leaned forward in his chair. “Besides, darling. It’s not like you can hunt down the father of your child and ask for some financial or physical support. You don’t even know his name.”

  The walls seemed to be pressing in around her. How did he know to press that fresh wound, to dig in it with a clawed twist? Anytime he could mention her transgression, he did it with venom. Noah’s image flashed in her mind. Oh, she did know him. And he was another problem she’d have to figure out how to deal with. Right now, enemy number one was getting on her last emotional nerve.

  A hot tear rolled down her cheek. Hugging the car seat tighter, she bent to grab the diaper bag. “I’m not interested.”

  “You will be, Afton. This is for the best. You’ll see.”

  The acrid taste rose higher in her throat. “You make it sound like this is happening whether or not I want it to. It won’t. Do you understand me? Kylie is mine and I decide what’s best for her. A replacement mother is not in her best interest.”

  Her own mother could never be replaced. How could he ever think she’d leave her own daughter?

  The chair grated across the stone floor as he stood. “It is what’s best for you. You had medical school ahead of you and now—”

  Yes, medical school. An unexpected baby stood in the way of Afton making him proud by earning the coveted M.D. after her name.

  She left the room, taking a right in the hall, expecting him to keep on with his lecture even as she left him. But he was remarkably silent. Marieke appeared, her small frame slightly hunched as she skittered ahead of Afton in the entry way to get the door. Clad in a beige skirt and cardigan, she looked like a butterscotch puddle. The lines on her face lied that she was years older than she probably was. Afton didn’t blame her for trying to be invisible. It was the best way to survive Yeager Henningsen.

  She opened the front door, with a wan smile at Kylie whose eyes were now wide open and taking everything in.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, Miss.”

  A hiccup
escaped Afton’s throat as she tried to swallow down her anguish. Taking two steps across the porch, she spun just as Marieke was closing the door.

  “Why do you stay here? My mother’s gone. Why the hell would you try to handle him by yourself?”

  God damn you, Mari, look at me. For once, just look me in the eye. But she never would. Making soulful contact required that she lose her invisibility.

  Afton turned away, figuring she’d get no response. But then Mari made a soft sound that pulled her back.

  “Understandably, miss... I’m all he has left.”

  With that, she closed the door, leaving Afton to breathe through the silence. Kylie squealed, a precursor to the laugh she was learning to manipulate. Those big, baby eyes looked deeply into Afton’s.

  If not for that inquisitive blue gaze, Afton might consider becoming invisible, too.

  ***

  “Here you are, Dr. Sexy.”

  Noah grinned and took the laptop from Rashida’s hands. She’d pulled up images of crystal turquoise water lined with an endless white sand beach, another measure of the bribery attempts she’d been so good at lately. He flipped through the pictures, already feeling the Bali sun on his skin. Beyond the beach, colorful block houses created an artistic backdrop that cried out to be explored. Goosebumps rose on his forearms. Maybe the bribes were starting to work.

  “If you weren’t considering my father’s offer before, I bet you are now.” Rashida rest her shapely ass on the edge of his desk and crossed her arms. A satisfied smile pulled up her lips. “You are thinking about it, aren’t you?”

  Noah studied the last image; children playing in the water as fishing boats dotted the distance. In the distance, a luxury yacht sat like a gleaming pearl on turquois satin. Her father, a physician in New York, was opening a practice in Bali. All American-trained medical doctors, treating a variety of specialties for eager tourists willing to pay for premium care.

  He had thought about it. He was being offered a beach house in an exotic locale, a medical position with a banker’s hours, all the benefits of living a tourist life with the perks of permanent residency. He’d pondered it with a passing curiosity at first, but lately, with thoughtful consideration. There was a strangely unsettling feeling in having the freedom to make a life change like this. His house was empty, his only son off to college. Aside from Rashida in his bed most nights, it was just him. And he was free to do whatever the hell he wanted.

  “Every millionaire tourist and wealthy local will trip over themselves for the care of a highly trained, American doctor. Your practice will thrive; you’ll make a ton of money. It’s Bali, baby. What’s there to say no to?”

  She took the laptop, laid it on the desk and slid between his hands. Noah cupped them around her hips. A gray pencil skirt conformed to her shape like a glove. Her white silk blouse was unbuttoned at the top, showing off the edges of a champagne colored, satiny bra. He wanted to cup her breasts in his hands. But as much as he liked a little spice, getting it on at work was a risk he wasn’t going to take.

  He’d been involved in a nightmare internet scandal thing that had died down some but surrounded his life like a bitter aftertaste. Damage to his reputation and peace of mind had already been done. His ex-girlfriend had made scathing accusations, never calling him by name exactly, but giving enough tidbits that people could sleuth and figure out it was him. The hospital had already put him on warning once because of it—keep his nose straight until this died away completely.

  Maybe in Bali he could fuck his casual, no-strings partner on his desk at work in the middle of the day. But here, he had rules to conform to.

  Noah pushed her a step away, creating space between them. “I won’t lie. I’m thinking about it.”

  “Really?”

  She pressed against him, pulling his hands around her again, until his palms rest on the curve of her ass. Her dark skin looked incredible against the lighter color of her shirt. He should have invited her over last night, gotten it out of his system then. They’d make up for it tonight, a couple of times. Or more.

  “Yes, really. It’s tempting, but Bali is a long way from Boston where Caleb is.”

  Her eyelids fluttered in a weak attempt to hide an eye-roll. He held back irritation. Rashida had made it perfectly clear how she felt about children when they’d first met. If his son had still been living at home, she’d never have agreed to a second date. Children were an obstacle to her, a responsibility that interfered with the freedom of her life.

  Noah had been on the other side of that freedom when he’d met her. Probably the only reason he’d pursued her as hard as he had. It was thrilling, invigorating, to go after a woman he’d otherwise not be able to have.

  “You don’t need to visit more than once a year, really.” She ran a finger beneath his jaw and down his throat. “He could always fly to us. We’ll put him up in a hotel and get him a tour guide. He’ll have a fabulous time.”

  Keep him out of her hair and out of her way, basically. The last vestiges of desire faded in him. Noah set her away from him and stepped to the side. Smoothing the front of his black scrub top, he kept his thoughts to himself as he looked at her.

  Damn, she was gorgeous. That body, those tits and the curve of her lush ass. It was sad that there wasn’t much more to her. She was a spoiled princess, carefully handled by her father with diamond-crusted gloves. Her every wish was his desire. Outside, she was perfect, but inside, she was... hollow. Honestly, aside from the sex, he didn’t know why he was with her. Their relationship was causal, non-exclusive and open for a reason. No way did he want any permanent attachment to a woman like this.

  Not after what happened the last time he tried commitment. It ended up smearing him on every social media channel possible.

  “Noah let’s worry about Caleb when the time comes.”

  “The time will come.”

  “Yes, I know.”

  She checked her watch and frowned. Her eyes caught his as she slowly cupped her breasts and adjusted them inside her bra. Christ, normally she’d have him going crazy with a move like that. Right now? Nothing. Something was up with him today. He seemed off balance and anxious, but he couldn’t put his finger on why.

  Rashida tiptoed up to him and placed a quick kiss on his lips.

  “I’m offering you a life of luxury and status. Of relaxation and comfort. And I don’t even expect you to marry me first.”

  With a wink, she spun on one foot, her high heels clicking across the floor as she left. With a glance over her shoulder at him, she opened the door and walked out.

  Noah let out a breath. Why had he been holding it?

  Reaching for his coffee, he took a drink and looked to the ceiling. He’d gone for a run at the crack of dawn, hoping to pound the uneasy sensation away. Seems it had just gotten worse. It was a nagging sensation, sometimes a throbbing inside his head, as if his body and mind were trying to tell him something, remind him of something, that hadn’t yet worked its way to the surface.

  He thought about what Rashida had said while he finished his coffee. A life of luxury, yada, yada. He loved to travel, but the posh life wasn’t for him. He’d rather pack up and head out for a week or two, then come home for a while before doing it again. Besides, he’d taken advantage of the luxury touristy stuff after Caleb had left.

  He’d gone to France, Egypt, and ended up in a beach-side hotel in Cabo during spring break. Despite being at least twenty years older than most of the people there at the time, he’d had a blast. Relived some of his youth. Noah smiled. 43 wasn’t dead, but hell, he’d felt like it after being surrounded by young men in their heavily muscled prime, and women with vibrant, tight bodies reminding him why he’d loved being twenty all those years ago.

  He’d never meant for it to go as far as it had that night. What was there to regret though? He’d had a mysterious encounter with a goddess of a woman, and the sex stuck with him even now, a year later. Her sleek body, silky red hair, and fuck, the soun
ds she’d made while he’d pounded her tight pussy. She’d been flirty, intelligent, vibrant. Sexy as hell.

  He’d longed for it again. All these months later, their entire encounter could be recalled at will. He thought about it. A lot.

  A sudden knock on his door proceeded it flying open.

  “Dr. Crisler, we need you in trauma two.”

  He turned to grab his stethoscope, suddenly glad the nurse at his door couldn’t see him full frontal.

  He was hard as a rock.

  Chapter Three

  “Afton, get the patient’s intravenous line started.”

  You’ve got to be kidding.

  The patient was flopping around on the bed as if he were being exorcised and the demon had a bad case of separation anxiety. She’d started a lot of IV’s but most of her patients had been resting quietly, not break dancing on the bed.

  “Afton?”

  “Ok.” She moved toward the IV cart and pulled open the top drawer. Catching a flash of silver from the corner of her eye, she leaned to the left just as something flew by her head and crashed into the cart. Afton jumped back with a gasp as the tray from the beside stand clanked onto the floor at her feet. The patient was sitting, reaching for anything else he could throw. Ripping the oxygen mask off his face, he eyed Afton as he launched that at her too.

  She ducked onto her haunches and covered her head in her hands. A beeping alarm penetrated the room; security ran in donning medical gloves and sour expressions.

  What the hell had she gotten herself into?

  “Are you okay?”

  She turned her gaze from the patient to look up at the voice. With a start, she fell off her haunches and onto her butt. Noah! Steadying herself with her hands, she was vaguely aware of how erratic her breathing was. How loud it was.

  He reached out a hand.

  “Let me help you up.”

  Her entire body was shaking but she couldn’t control it. Adrenaline coursed through her, driving her instinct to run the hell out of here. She couldn’t take his hand, again. The contact might make him remember her, silly, but who knows. Besides, his touch was something she’d never forgotten. It wouldn’t be wise to put herself through that sweet torture again.