by Leanne Banks
Another moment later, Ryder opened his door. “Come in,” he said.
Wondering at his abrupt tone, she entered his office and watched as he closed the door behind her. “I was concerned when I didn’t hear back from you. Is everything okay with you and the twins?”
“No problem,” he said. “Suzanne returned to work and the boys seem to be fine.”
She frowned at how remote he seemed. “Are you sure you’re okay? You seem—”
“Busy,” he said in a firm voice.
“Well, I didn’t mean to bother you,” she said.
“I have another two or three minutes,” he said.
Her jaw dropped of its own volition. “Excuse me?”
“I said I have another two or three minutes. Then I need to go to a meeting.”
“Why are you acting this way?” she demanded.
“What way?”
“As if we’re strangers,” she said. “As if we’ve never shared a bed.”
His eyes suddenly darkened with turmoil. “We don’t have a committed relationship.”
Bridget’s heart twisted. She felt as if he’d slapped her. “Does that mean you have to act rude and uncaring?”
He paused. “No, but we both know this isn’t a long-term relationship. You have your reasons. I have mine. There’s no need to pretend anything different.”
If she felt he’d slapped her before, she now felt he’d stabbed her. “I wasn’t pretending. I was just caring,” she said. “Clearly a mistake,” she said and turned toward the door.
He grabbed her arm just before she reached the doorknob.
She turned, feeling more confused than she could remember in her life. “Why are you acting this way?”
“Our relationship isn’t normal,” he said.
“Well, you’re not normal and neither am I, so why should it be?”
“I have no right to comment on what men you spend time with,” he said
Realization swept over her. “Oh, for bloody sakes, is this about the D.A.?”
“Saw you on the news,” he said. “He was trying hard.”
“And got nowhere,” she said. “Do you really think I would hop into bed with him after I’d just been with you? Do you really think I would hop into bed with anyone? You must think I’m the most promiscuous woman ever born.”
“You get a lot of offers,” he said and she could see he was torn. He was accustomed to being in control and now he wasn’t.
“I get offers because I’m a princess, not because I’m me,” she said.
“Not—”
She shook her head. “Okay, we’ll have to agree to disagree. Again. The point is I haven’t engaged in a meaningless affair, well, ever,” she said. “It’s just not my nature. And my affair, I’m not sure I like that word. My relationship with you isn’t meaningless. I don’t exactly know what it means because you and I seem to be headed in different directions. But I’m incredibly drawn to you. I can’t explain it and I don’t particularly like it. It’s bloody well inconvenient, but damn it, you’re important to me.”
He stared at her for a long moment, then gave a short, humorless laugh. “Ditto.”
“What does that mean?”
“Exactly what you said. I’m willing to ride this horse to the end of this race if you are.”
Bridget had to digest his words. She wasn’t accustomed to such references.
“I mean we’ll take it till the end and then kiss each other good-bye,” he said.
The word good-bye bothered her, but she didn’t feel as if she had any other choice.
“Deal?” he asked, extending his hand.
She slowly placed her hand in his. “Deal.”
He pulled her against him. “Come over tonight,” he said.
Her heart slammed against her rib cage. “I’d like to, but I have a previous engagement.”
“Damn,” he said. “Just tell me it’s not with Aiden Corbin.”
She shook her head. “It’s with the head of Pediatrics.”
Ryder swore. “That’s better?”
“You told me if I bring medical experts to Chantaine to do temporary training, then I’ll have a better chance of attracting doctors.”
“Why can’t you choose old, married experts?” he grumbled.
She smiled. “Introduce me.”
He lowered his head and gave her a long kiss that made her head spin.
When he pulled back, they were both breathing hard. “What about tomorrow night?”
“I have an engagement,” she said. “But I’ll rearrange it.”
“Okay. Tomorrow night is another water class for the twins. I’ll order takeout for us.” He gave her a quick firm kiss. “You’d have more fun with me than the Pediatrics department head tonight.”
Ryder arrived home a few minutes late that night to find Marshall’s truck parked in front of his house. He opened his front door to find Marshall bouncing Tyler on his knee while Suzanne was changing Travis’s diaper.
Tyler squealed. Marshall grinned. “Looks like somebody’s glad to see you,” he said and immediately handed the baby to Ryder.
Ryder’s heart lifted at the baby’s obvious joy and he kissed him on his soft cheek. Travis also gave an earsplitting shriek.
Suzanne glanced up at him. “I’ve already fed them, but they’re a little worked up. That may be due to Marshall,” she said with a faintly accusing expression.
“Hey, I was just entertaining them until you got home,” Marshall said and picked up Travis. “I thought I’d try to give Suzanne a break from the heavy lifting.”
Uh-huh, Ryder thought. “It’s okay. I’m glad they’re in a good mood. Can you give me a quick minute to talk to Marshall?”
“Of course,” Suzanne said. “There’s no rush. And if you want to change clothes, I can wait for that, too.”
“Thanks,” he said and gave a sharp jerk of his head to go outside to Marshall.
Ryder carried Tyler in his arms and Marshall carried Travis. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Ryder demanded.
“Hey, I’m just helping out your nanny. You don’t want another one to quit because of these wild boys, do you?”
“Suzanne had no intention of quitting. She’s just recovering from her appendectomy,” Ryder said.
“All the more reason for me to stop by and help her. These boys are getting bigger every day.”
“She doesn’t need your help.”
“Says who?” Marshall challenged.
“Says me,” Ryder retorted. “You just want to get into her pants.”
Marshall shot him a quelling glare that would have worked with any other man.
Not Ryder. “Stay away from my nanny.”
“You’re just edgy because you’re not getting any,” Marshall said.
“That’s none of your damn business,” Ryder said.
“It is if it makes you act like a jerk,” Marshall said, then sucked in a quick breath. “Listen, I like Suzanne. I think she likes me. I wanna give this a try.”
“She’s not your kind of woman,” Ryder said.
“Well, maybe I’ve been going after the wrong kind of woman.”
Ryder groaned. “If you wreck my nanny, I’ll kill you.”
“Give me a chance,” Marshall said. “She is.”
Ryder swore under his breath. “Okay, but if you mess up her mind…”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Marshall said. “When are you supposed to see your princess again? For the sake of all of us, I hope it’s soon.”
Filled with misgivings, Ryder watched his nanny drive off in Marshall’s wake to a restaurant. Maybe he was just jealous, a voice inside him said, and he brushed it aside. The boys were rowdy and demanding and absorbed every ounce of his energy by the time they fell asleep.
When he awakened the following morning to the sound of Travis screaming at the top of his lungs, he could have sworn it was the middle of the night. Instead, it was 6:30 a.m.
Stumbling into the twin
s’ bedroom, he picked up the baby and held him against him. “Hey, bud, what’s up? You’re okay.”
Travis’s cry melted to a whimper, and Ryder sensed the baby was missing his real father and mother. The thought twisted his gut. Poor kid would never know his real dad and mom. He was stuck with Ryder, and Ryder knew he would never be the father his brother would have been.
Chapter Eight
Later that morning, Ryder joined the chief of staff with Dr. Hutt in a meeting to discuss the future of the adviser program.
“There’s been some debate over how we should continue this program in the future now that Dr. Walters is no longer with us,” the chief of staff said.
“It’s one of the things about our program that makes it distinctive and appealing to residents,” Ryder said. “I can’t imagine changing it.”
“I agree that the program should continue,” the chief said. “But Dr. Walters was one of a kind and we may need to make changes.”
“Not if those changes will negatively impact the residents,” Ryder countered.
“The residents needed to be toughened,” Hutt said. “They’ve chosen the medical profession. It’s a demanding field, so they need to be ready to take on their jobs. Long hours and dedication to excelling in their fields are critical.”
“They also need to deal with their patients as individuals. We enforce that teaching by treating them as individuals,” Ryder said, feeling his back get up, ready for a fight.
“You’re too soft on them,” Hutt said.
“You treat them like a machine because that’s how you treat your patients,” Ryder said.
“Gentlemen,” the chief of staff intervened. “There’s no need for insults.”
Ryder resisted the urge to glare at him and took a quick breath. “Forgive me,” he said. “But Dr. Walters was very important to me. It would be an insult to him if I didn’t present his point of view in this discussion.”
“And you think I’m not,” Hutt said. “Dr. Walters was my adviser, too. I worshipped the ground he walked on. What he taught me was the importance of discipline.”
Ryder couldn’t disagree. Discipline was critical to a doctor’s success. “I’ve never disagreed with the importance of discipline, but Dr. Walters also emphasized to me to remember the human element.”
“You’re both right,” the chief said. “And you’ve both clearly demonstrated your superior ability as medical doctors. The difficulty is that Dr. Walters spent an unbelievable amount of time counseling residents at the same time he managed his patient load. There was rarely a time he wasn’t here at the hospital. Neither of you can make that kind of time commitment.”
“I have a very understanding wife.”
“I have a perfect nanny.”
“Therefore,” the chief of staff said. “I am going to assign both of you as intern advisers.”
That sounded like a horrible idea to Ryder. “I can’t imagine that Dr. Walters would approve.”
“Unfortunately, Dr. Walters isn’t here to give his advice. I agree that the advisership is one of the unique features of our program, but I can’t in good conscience assign the total advisership to you, Dr. McCall, given your new family obligations.”
“The two of you will have to work together or I will find new advisers,” the chief continued. “The three of us will meet in two weeks.”
Ryder led the way out the door, barely resisting the urge to slam it shut behind him. “This is a joke,” he muttered.
“Hey, I don’t want to work with you either. Just because you were Gordon’s favorite doesn’t mean the rest of us didn’t see how great he was. And don’t try to deny it. How did you get the financial relief you needed when your mother was dying?” he challenged.
Ryder’s fingers itched to punch Hutt in his face. “He pointed me in the direction of several teaching opportunities. One of them worked out. It was that or wait tables. How did you get through med school?”
“You know how I got through. My parents paid for me. I started partying a little too much once I graduated and he told me I had to toe the line or go somewhere else. Rode my butt every time I walked into the hospital. I learned the hard way the importance of discipline.”
“I did, too. I just learned it about ten years earlier than you did because I had to,” he said and turned away.
Hutt caught his arm. “Just curious, what would it take for you to give up the advisership and let me take it over?”
“A miracle,” Ryder said.
“Too vague. I can’t shoot for that,” he said.
His colleague’s response took him by surprise. “You gotta understand the guys who don’t have parents who can pay their way. You gotta understand the guys who don’t get into school because their daddy knows somebody. I’m not sure you can get there. Ever.”
“You’re an ass,” Hutt said.
“So are you,” Ryder said.
“Maybe that’s why the chief is making us work together.”
“Unless he’s hoping we’ll kill each other,” Ryder muttered and went to his office.
That night, although Ryder physically did everything the teachers instructed them to do with the babies, Bridget could tell his mind was somewhere else. She tried not to focus on it as she watched Tyler put his face in the water and blow bubbles.
“Good boy,” she said, praising the baby. “Good for you. Such a brave, brilliant boy.”
Travis must have taken a competitive cue because he plunged his face in the water and lifted it, choking. Frightened, he began to cry.
“Oh no, that water went down the wrong way,” she said, passing Tyler to Ryder and holding out her hands for Travis. “Poor thing. No need to go diving,” she gently chastised him. “Watch,” she said and lowered her mouth to the water and blew bubbles.
Ryder followed her lead and blew bubbles, making a sound with his deeper voice.
Travis quickly dried up and stared.
“Do it again,” she said.
Ryder repeated and Travis let out a belly laugh.
Bridget couldn’t resist laughing, too. “What a brilliant sound,” she said. “Do it again.”
Ryder dipped his head and shot her a dark, mocking look. “Yes, Your Majesty.” He blew bubbles and this time, both Travis and Tyler laughed.
“Well done,” she said. “Just a couple more times.”
“Want to give it another go?” she asked Travis. “We can do it together.” She lowered her mouth to the water to blow bubbles. “Come on.”
Holding him securely, she dipped his chin in the water. He made a motorboat sound with his lips. Slowly, she lowered his mouth and he made the same sound. Just before he breathed in water, she pulled up his chin, and again he let out a belly laugh.
“Good boy,” she said. “Brilliant.”
“You never say that to me,” Ryder muttered.
“Perhaps you need to try harder,” she retorted.
He groaned and she felt his gaze sweep over her body with a flash of instant need before he hid it. ‘You could drive a man insane, Your Majesty,” he said.
“Your Majesty is incorrect. If you’re going to address me correctly, you should say Your Highness. Or if you want to irritate me, you could use the term my brother-in-law’s housekeeper uses. Your Highliness.”
“I like that,” he said. “Has a nice ring to it. Your Highliness.”
She scowled. “So what put you in a bad mood at work? Did one of your patients develop a secondary infection?”
“Hell no,” he said frowning. “How did you know something happened at work?”
She rolled her eyes. “Because you’re here and not here at the same time. You do everything the teachers say, but you’re not really here. Some women would be insulted.”
“It’s probably best if I’m not completely here because looking at you in that bathing suit could make things embarrassing for me when I step out of the pool. But because you asked, there are some complications with the resident advisory position. I ha
ve to deal with the equivalent of the M.D. devil.”
She winced. “That can’t be enjoyable. Then again, would he be easier to deal with than you?”
He shot her a deadly look. “If you don’t mind dealing with someone who will lie to your face.”
She frowned. “Bloody hell for both of us,” she muttered under her breath.
The teacher ended the class and Bridget and Ryder climbed out of the pool with the boys. Bridget changed Travis’s drenched diaper while Ryder changed Tyler’s. “You and your brother are the most brilliant, fabulous boys in the world. Never doubt it,” she said and rubbed her nose against Travis’s.
The baby laughed and grabbed at her. Her heart twisted in her chest. “So sweet.”
“You’re good with them,” Ryder said.
“Shocking, isn’t it?” she said.
“I think both of them have a crush on you,” he said, leaning toward her. “Or maybe all three of us.”
She smiled, feeling a surprising flood of warmth flow inside her. “You think they really like me? I’ve never thought of myself as good with babies.”
Travis pressed a wet, open-mouth kiss against her cheek.
“Yeah, they clearly hate you,” Ryder said.
She sighed. “I never thought I could adore babies this much.”
“Me either,” he said, drawing Tyler against him. The baby snuggled against him. “Not sure about this fatherhood thing. I didn’t have the best example.”
“Neither did I,” she said. “He couldn’t ever remember my name.”
“You’re joking,” he said, disturbed by the complacent expression on her face.
She shrugged. “My mother’s job was to reproduce. There were a bonus of girls. She stopped after the second son which was after Phillipa and me.”
“You weren’t close to your mom either, were you?” he guessed.
“Hers wasn’t a happy marriage. My mother had high hopes when she married my father, but she ended up terribly disappointed. So yes, I’m ill-prepared to be a loving mother. The only part of my background that gives me hope is my siblings. Stefan and Tina were more like parents to me.”
“I guess that’s another thing we have in common. We didn’t have the best parents in the world. We were just on opposite ends of the spectrum. Yours were royal. Mine were dirt-poor,” he said. “How did I get lucky enough to have a princess half-naked in a pool with me?”