Wanted: Parents for a Baby! by Laura Iding Page B

mother’s medical history, we’d have a better chance of treating her.”
    â€œI know. Trust me, the next time I see her, I’ll get her name,” Cassie said. “She must be trying to find information about Emma, nothing else makes sense.”
    â€œProbably. Although I don’t like the way she’s latched onto you.”
    â€œI know,” Cassie said with a grimace. “I mean, there are lots of neonatal intensive care nurses—why would she assume I’m the one who might know something about Emma?”
    Ryan didn’t like the idea of this woman following Cassie, even if she didn’t pose a physical threat. He frowned, thinking back over the past two days. “Maybe she was in the ER when Emma’s mother dropped her off,” he theorized. “If she was there she would have seen us caring for Emma.”
    â€œCould be,” she agreed. “Or if she was looking through the window of the neonatal unit for a while, she might have watched me taking care of Emma.”
    Cassie turned around to head back to hercar, so Ryan fell into step beside her. The last thing he wanted to do was to go back to his empty house, which had actually never been a home. Too bad he hadn’t figured that out until it had been too late.
    He and Victoria had gotten married too young. Looking back, he knew he’d mistaken lust for love. But he’d tried to make their marriage work. Victoria’s death proved he hadn’t succeeded. More to feel guilty about. Had Victoria loved him in a way he hadn’t been able to love her?
    He shook his head to stop the endless round of useless questions. His steps slowed to a stop, and he knew he couldn’t bear to spend the rest of the evening alone. And he hadn’t been lying about his need to keep busy on his post-call day. Maybe Cassie was just the distraction he needed.
    â€œWould you be willing to join me for dinner?” he asked.
    She blinked, apparently caught off guard by his offer. “I don’t know. From what I hear, you don’t date nurses from the hospital.”
    He tried not to wince. “That’s true. But this isn’t a date, just two people sharing a friendly meal.”
    The way Cassie stared at him made himwonder if his nose was growing. Did she see right through his lie? And why was he breaking his cardinal rule now? After months of resisting her?
    â€œI suppose sharing a friendly meal wouldn’t hurt,” she said, although the way she avoided his direct gaze made him realize he could have handled that better.
    â€œPlease,” he added. “It’s too nice to spend the evening indoors. And there’s an outdoor café a few blocks from here.” He wanted to rush her over there before she could change her mind.
    Before he could change his mind.
    He knew only too well the power of gossip. Once the citizens of Cedar Bluff saw them together, there would be no stopping the rumors. Just that thought alone should send him running in the opposite direction.
    But he didn’t move. For some reason, he didn’t want to lose the tenuous connection he had with Cassie.
    A connection that made him feel alive again.
    â€œDo you think I can leave my car here?” She frowned, glancing around the mostly deserted parking lot. “Or will I get a ticket?”
    â€œYou can park here and I’ll walk you backwhen we’re finished,” he promised. He rested his hand on the small of her back, guiding her toward the Sunshine Café, located just a couple of blocks down from city hall. He groaned inwardly when he noticed how crowded the place was, but fate seemed to be working in his favor because when they stepped up to the hostess stand, a couple vacated their seat on the patio.
    â€œWe’d like to sit outside, please,” he said, gesturing to the now open table.
    She smiled. “Of course. Follow me.”
    The hostess led them over to the empty table and he