To Have the Doctor's Baby by Teresa Southwick Page A

stepbrother for one.
    The two of them had bonded over their disapproval when his father married Todd’s mother and couldn’t have been more different. Nick played football and basketball while cystic fibrosis made Todd frail and sickly. But he was smart and had a sharp wit and keen sense of humor. That made Nick’s part in losing him so much worse.
    Todd was just home from the hospital and recovering from a lung infection. He said he was fine and Nick should go when the girl he’d been trying to hook up with finally agreed. While alone his brother had trouble breathing. Bythe time he got help, his heart gave out from the strain. CF got the blame, not Nick. But he would never forgive himself any more than he would lose control of his feelings.
    â€œHere you go.”
    Ryleigh put a bowl of strawberries and a plate holding a buttered English muffin in front of him. She spooned oatmeal for herself from the pot on the stove, then sat on a stool at the overhanging bar of the island. It took him a moment to pull himself back from the dark thoughts. If she noticed, she didn’t say anything.
    He took the bar stool beside hers, then bit into the circle of toasted muffin. “Good.”
    â€œIt’s whole wheat.” She took a spoonful of her hot cereal and studied him for a reaction.
    â€œStill good.”
    â€œAnd good for you.”
    He narrowed his gaze on her. “When did you turn into the nutrition police?”
    â€œIt was a Wednesday,” she said, looking completely serious. “I think it was raining.”
    â€œYou’re mocking me.”
    â€œYes. And it’s for your own good. Keeps you humble. Someone needs to remind you you’re human.”
    He was all too aware of that, but had to ask, “Why?”
    â€œBecause.” She scraped her bowl and ate the last of the cereal. “You’re a doctor. A pediatric pulmonologist. By definition you save sick children from serious lung diseases. Grateful parents bow and scrape. Don’t get me wrong. What you do is pretty darn awesome. But that kind of reverence day in and day out can tend to make you forget you put your pants on one leg at a time.”
    His lips twitched, but he managed a serious tone when he asked, “And you’ve made it your mission to remind me?”
    â€œA dirty job, but someone has to do it.”
    He noted the arch of her brow, the gleam in her brown eyes, an amused curve to her full lips. This sassy side was new. He liked it.
    â€œYou used to have more respect,” he said.
    For just a second, shadows blocked out the gleam in her eyes. When it disappeared, she tilted her head to the side and sent him a saucy look. “I still do. But now I’m not trying to impress you.”
    â€œClearly.” He finished the muffin while admiring looking her over. “But you’re trying to make an impression on someone. Nice power suit.”
    â€œThanks.” She smoothed a hand over the skirt on her thighs. “I’ve got a lunch meeting with a local business group to make a pitch for Children’s Medical Charities. Keep your fingers crossed.”
    â€œThey won’t be able to resist you, Ry.”
    He should know. She was the only woman who’d ever made him want to lose control, but years of practice had enabled him to resist the urge to go all in. He’d watched his rock of a father implode after his mother walked out. Nick would never allow himself to feel something so strong that it could fundamentally change him if it was yanked away. He was definitely a product of his formative years. No one would get through his defenses and he wouldn’t let down somebody who was counting on him.
    With Ryleigh, he’d messed up on both counts. And she was here now, so he could make it up to her.
    â€œI hope you’re right.” She crossed her middle and index fingers for luck. “Because it takes money to make it. I’m going to hit them up