Wanted: Parents for a Baby! by Laura Iding

she was single? What if they thought her apartment was too small to be an appropriate home for Emma? She planned on buying a small house, but needed to save some more money first.
    â€œCassandra, is something wrong?”
    She jerked her head around at the sound of Ryan’s voice. For a moment she blinked, wondering if she was losing it. But, no, there he was, sexier than ever, wearing casual jeans and a well-worn ocean-blue T-shirt that brightened his already mesmerizing blue eyes. And she was suddenly relieved she’d changed out of her scrubs.
    Had he really come there just for her?
    â€œUm, no. Of course not.” She smiled, shoving her irrational doubts away. “But I’m surprised to see you. Is there something you need? Did I forget to document something in Emma’s chart?”
    The corner of his mouth kicked up in a wry smile. “No, you didn’t forget anything. I’mthrilled she’s doing so well.” He hesitated and then shrugged. “It’s always better if I keep busy the day after I’m on call, otherwise I’m not able to sleep at night. I thought I’d meet you here in case you needed help.”
    She was humbled by the idea that Ryan had come there for nothing more than to offer his support. Was it possible that little Emma had captured his heart, the same way she’d captured hers? She’d assumed that he didn’t date because he didn’t want a family. But after seeing the way he’d been with Emma, she knew that couldn’t be right. “That’s so nice of you.”
    For a moment their gazes clung and the air sizzled with tension, but then he turned his head and gestured to the paperwork in her hand. “Do you need to finish up any of that paperwork before we go inside?”
    It took her a minute for the synapses in her brain to fire on all cylinders. “Oh, no, I have it completed,” she assured him, pushing aside the temptation to have him go through everything as a double check. “But thanks.”
    â€œNo problem.”
    The low timbre of his voice sent shivers down her spine, causing her to blush. Again. Seriously, she really needed to stop feelinglike a young teenager around him. She’d been married, for heavens’ sake. And divorced.
    The memory was sobering. Could she really trust another man not to hurt her the way Evan had? Her stomach clenched. A handsome, aloof doctor was not the best candidate.
    But somehow Ryan didn’t seem as aloof around her.
    â€œAre you ready?” Ryan asked, interrupting her tumultuous thoughts by placing his hand beneath her elbow.
    â€œOf course.” She pulled herself together with an effort, taking the necessary steps to reach the front door of the building. Before she could open the door, Ryan was reaching around her to open it for her.
    If anything, her blush deepened. “Thanks,” she said, entering the building and hoping the blessedly cool air-conditioning would help make the redness fade from her skin.
    There were a couple of people ahead of her, so she took her place in line to wait her turn. Ryan stood right beside her, making her more conscious of his intimidating height and the breadth of his shoulders. Did he work out in a gym in his spare time? Feeling insecure, shesucked in her stomach, making a mental note to go for a run later that evening.
    When it was her turn, she walked up to the counter and spread out her application, along with the documents she’d brought from home, for the woman to review.
    But she was disappointed when the clerk simply gathered them together into a pile, without reading a word. “Thanks. We’ll get this processed and be in touch.”
    Crestfallen, Cassie turned away, but Ryan didn’t.
    â€œGood afternoon. I’m Dr. Ryan Murphy from Cedar Bluff Hospital and Cassie needs to know if there is anything she can do to speed up the process of becoming a foster parent. There’s a baby in my