Read Online To Have the Doctor's Baby by Teresa Southwick - Free Book Online Page A

Because you’re home now. I mean you said you would be, but stuff happens. After all, you’re a doctor and if I remember right fall is a busy time for a pediatric pulmonologist. Kids go back to school and share every virus in the universe with friends and family. And allergies kick up triggering asthma. Not to mention sports—”
    He touched a finger to her lips, stopping the verbal dump. “Take a breath. If you need it I’ve got oxygen in the car.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œNo.” His gaze skipped over her face, studying her intently. Looking for symptoms maybe? For a diagnosis? “You’re nervous.”
    Diagnosis right on. “What gave me away?”
    â€œAside from your monologue? All of which you remembered correctly, by the way.” One corner of his mouth turned up before he was completely serious again. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
    â€œYes.” Then she read between the lines of his question. “Have you changed your mind?”
    â€œI notified my answering service that I’m unavailableand instructed them to call Dr. Gallagher if there’s an emergency.” A dark, delicious heat burned in his eyes. “I’ll take care of the wine. You handle the appetizers. We’ll sit and…just talk.”
    â€œSounds like a plan.”
    Nick expertly opened the bottle and popped out the cork. While she arranged mozzarella sticks, fried zucchini and calamari on a plate, he carried two glasses of cabernet into the family room and set them on the table. Then he turned on the gas log in the fireplace before making a circuit of the room to shut off most of the lights. It was romantic.
    But that was just Nick, she told herself. A goal-oriented overachiever. She was making this way more complicated than the situation called for. That’s what was causing the nerves. She needed to separate feelings from the physical.
    Act like a man.
    Carrying the plate to the other room she whispered to herself, “Food, wine, talk.”
    After setting it on the table, she took a glass then settled on the sofa, tucking her legs up beside her. Nick sat on her other side, close enough so that she could feel the warmth from his body. At some point he’d taken his jacket off, but the cotton shirt was an effectively manly look, too.
    â€œSo,” she said, taking a generous sip of wine. “How was your day, really?”
    â€œBusy. And for all the reasons you mentioned.” He laughed. “Kids do get sick this time of year. They’re playing soccer and football. There’s pollen and dust. Not to mention smoke coming into the valley from the wildfires in California. That kicks up all kinds of respiratory distress in kids.”
    Ryleigh drank her wine as he talked. Concern forchildren showed in his eyes and she’d had firsthand experience with his dedication. When he got a call about a child in crisis, he was always available. “It’s a good thing you’ve got Dr. Gallagher to take some of the load off.”
    â€œIf he works out. That’s not a done deal yet.”
    â€œBut he’s a good doctor.” It wasn’t a question. Nick wouldn’t have instructed his service that he wasn’t available if there was no trust in the other man.
    â€œHe’ll do.”
    Nick got up and went to the kitchen, bringing back the wine bottle to fill her glass. He took a cheese stick from the plate, then sat beside her, this time close enough that their thighs brushed. Her breathing kicked up a notch, especially when the scent of his skin filled her head.
    â€œNow tell me about your day. Did you get the businesses to cough stuff up till they screamed and cried uncle?” He took a bite of the appetizer.
    She laughed. “The meeting went well. They were very generous. Most were familiar with the work Children’s Medical Charities does.”
    As she talked and drank her wine, relaxation kicked in. The fire,