Doctor's Surprise Delivery: A Secret Baby Romance

by K. C. Crowne

  “And that’s a hell of a good start,” she said with an assertive nod. “You’re going to be fine. In fact, it was for the best.”

  “How do you figure?”

  “The thing with you and Gavin, it was an old wound – one that needed to be taken care of. Having him come back into your life wasn’t fun, but it was necessary. You have closure now, and that means you can finally start the healing process.”

  “That…that actually makes a lot of sense.”

  “Sure it does. When you have a bad memory, something you can’t get over, it’s like a piece of your soul is trapped in the past. And you have to let it free or it’ll always seem fresh and painful. So that’s just what you did. Gavin screwed you over, and now you got the chance to tell him to stay out of your life forever. Done and done.” She swiped her hands together.

  “When the hell did you get so wise?” I asked with a sly smile.

  She grinned at me. “I’ve always been wise. Thing is that my wisdom is usually reserved for event planning, not my boss’s love life.”

  I sat back, something else occurring to me.

  “And now you’re wondering whether or not you’ve made the right call.”

  “Damn, that obvious?”

  “I mean, you looked thoughtful all of a sudden and it was the best guess I had.” She got up. “Here, let me make some coffee. Everything’s better with caffeine.”

  “Good call.”

  She headed over to the kitchen, pulling open the fridge and pouring out the red-and-white jug of creamer, then started with the coffee maker.

  “Go ahead,” she said, calling over her shoulder. “I’m listening.”

  “Just…I told him to leave me alone forever. We happened to come back in our lives because of Annie having her kid.”

  “Oh, how is Annie? And her little girl?”

  I smiled. “Doing great. Annie’s relaxing at home, and Madeline’s about as happy and healthy as they could hope. Not to mention cute as a button.”

  Kenna flashed me a grin as she poured the coffee, filled the maker with water, and hit start. Moments later, the smell of freshly brewed coffee drifted through the air.

  “Not to mention you’ve been pulling double duty being the recipient of my venting over the last few weeks. Figured Annie’s got more important stuff going on than hearing about my dude issues.”

  “Happy to do it,” she told me. “And as far as the cutting him out of your life forever, well, best I can say about that is everything works out in its own way. If you told Gavin to screw off and he does and you never see him again, then so be it. But if he somehow ends up back in your life again…”

  “Ugh.” I spat out the word. “I can’t even imagine being within ten feet of the guy without wanting to puke.”

  It was a strange choice of words. As soon as I spoke them, a wave of nausea flowed through me, only lasting a second.

  “You alright?” Kenna asked, frowning at me. “For a second you looked like you got the taste of throw up in your mouth.”

  “That’s more or less what happened. Got a little nauseous, too. But it’s fine. Go ahead.”

  “Anyway, just be positive and focus on the good. For example, right now you’ve got the job of the century just waiting for you.” She shook her head as she poured us some coffee and added cream. “Seriously – if we knock this out of the park, then we’re set. Our reputations will be made as some of the best event planners in the state. And that’s if Second Chance doesn’t just go ahead and decide to make us their go-to coordinators.”

  Kenna was the best damn assistant I could ask for. And part of her being the best damn assistant anyone could ask for was how unrelentingly positive she never failed to be. The event was causing some stress, and the Gavin situation didn’t help matters. But a quick talk with her and I was feeling better.

  “Okay,” I said. “Let’s not put the cart before the horse – we still need to plan and pull this off.”

  She smiled, as if pleased to see I was in better spirits. “Right.” She set the coffee mugs down on our worktable. “So, we’ve got a casino theme going.”

  “Old-school casino theme. And I still can’t believe that’s what they wanted to go with. It’s like I can’t get away from the whole Vegas vibe.”

  Her eyes flashed, as if she saw just as much wry humor in the situation as I did. “Think of it as working past Vegas. Now you’re calling the shots.”

  “I like that,” I said with a smirk. I raised the mug to my face, the steam curling up and into the air above my hands. But the moment the coffee was close to my face, another wave of nausea ran through me.

  “You alright?”

  “Fine. So, what’ve we got?”

  She gave me a brief glance, as if not entirely certain I was being on-the-level with her, then spoke. “So, old-school Vegas-themed. Every guest gets a buy-in of five hundred in chips when they arrive – it’s all part of their per-plate cost. We’ll have all sorts of games set up, and they can play to their heart’s content.”

  I nodded, ideas running through my head. “Right. And whichever three make the most have their winnings donated to the charity.”

  “We’re still getting the actual prizes lined up, right? I’m thinking some fancy dinners, photo-ops. These are rich types, and they’ll value looking good in front of their rich friends more than walking home with cash.”

  “Good call.” I raised the coffee to my lips. But this time, the nausea was overwhelming. My face screwed up, and it took all the control I had not to drop my coffee, instead setting it down before rushing to the bathroom.

  “Gia?” Kenna called after me.

  I dropped to my knees and gripped the toilet rim, letting fly the contents of my stomach. I’d only had some toast for breakfast, so it wasn’t much. When I was done, I sat back, resting my head against the wall in a daze.

  “What the hell was that?” Kenna asked from the door of the bathroom. “Are you okay?”

  “Fine now,” I said. “It’s that cream – must be expired or something.”

  Kenna vanished, returning with the bottle. Just the sight of it made me ill. She read the label and frowned. “Goes bad in two weeks. You sure you’re not coming down with something?” She grinned. “Or maybe you’re pregnant and having morning sickness. Or afternoon sickness.”

  Another wave of nausea hit me, my eyes widening. Her eyes narrowed, and she said, “It was just a joke.”

  I almost wanted to throw up again.

  Pregnant?

  No fucking way. I couldn’t be. But I needed to find out.

  Gavin

  When you’re a doctor, you can’t afford to be distracted. But since the last time I saw Gia, when she’d told me to stay out of her life forever, that’s all I’d been.

  Seated in my office in downtown Nickle Creek, the late afternoon light pouring into the sleek space, I tried to focus on the tasks at hand. It was lunch, but the burrito bowl I’d had my assistant bring sat untouched on the desk next to me.

  All I could think about was her.

  I’d texted and called over the last few weeks, but Gia hadn’t sent me a word of reply. It made sense – she told me she didn’t want to talk to me again, so what could I expect? But instead of her clear rejection giving me the mental go-ahead to start moving past her, it only make me think about her more, want her more.

  I’d scolded myself repeatedly about how I’d handled myself with her at the hospital. She’d extended the olive branch, offered to be friends. Instead of taking it, I’d pushed for more.

  That was the scariest thing about it – I couldn’t help myself. Gia made my rational mind cease to function, my affection and lust for her blasting through me in equal measures when I was lucky enough to be around her.

  It was so fucking strange. Women came so easily to me, and I never had problems playing it cool when one caught my eye. Not with Gia. I turned into a fucking caveman with her.

  I picked up the black, plastic fork and stabbed it
into my bowl, a couple pieces of chicken on the end. Thoughtlessly, I popped them into my mouth. The food was tasteless.

  Come on – you’re running on nothing. What are you, some heart-broken teenager whining about your girl leaving you?

  It was meant as some kind of mental pep talk, but the scenario only made me more keenly aware of what actually had happened. I’d broken Gia’s heart back in high school and never come clean to her why.

  I needed to focus. I tossed the fork onto my desk and turned my attention to work. The afternoon ahead wasn’t too bad. I had a couple of consultations – one for some bigshot local attorney who pulled his shoulder on the slopes, and another for a rookie the Denver Nuggets had just signed.

  My reputation meant I was the go-to orthopedic surgeon in the area, which meant I didn’t have the luxury of slipping. I’d fought hard to be on top, but I was barely able to focus on the career I’d built because of a woman I couldn’t get over.

  Love was dangerous. But I’d always been the dangerous one. Now, I was finding out how rough it was to be on the other end.

  My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I quickly slipped it out and checked the screen. The worst part about my heartsickness was the hope, the silly hope I had when someone called or texted that it would be her, that Gia’d had a change of heart and decided to give me another shot.

  “Yo!” I said, answering and putting on my best chipper impression. “What’s up with the proud papa?”

  “The proud papa is about ten seconds away from collapsing into an exhausted heap. How about you?” I heard Annie in the background speaking in a sweet voice to Madeline, followed by the baby quieting down.

  “The same.”

  He chuckled. “That’s what I thought. Which is why I wanted to invite you to come over later tonight.”

  “Come over later? You’ve got time for that?”

  “Bud, I’ve got nothing but time. Annie asked me to take a month off for the holidays so I could help with the kids. Glad to be here with the family, of course, but I’m starting to get a little antsy. Not to mention she and I want to give you a little something for helping when Maddie was born.”

  “Oh, you don’t have to do that. Glad to help, man.”

  “I know you were. But we want to give you something all the same. And I’ll give you a hint – it’s something good to drink.”

  I chuckled. I was preoccupied but hanging out with Duncan meant I’d have a chance to get out of my own head. Sure beat the hell out of a night at home endlessly thinking about Gia.

  “Alright, let’s do it.”

  “Come on over after you’re done with work. We’ll have a little happy hour, then do some dinner. Sound good?”

  “I’ll be there.” My mood was better as soon as I hung up the phone.

  The rest of the day flew by, and my appointments managed to be engaging enough that I had a nice reprieve from thinking about Gia. At a little after five, when I was finished for the day, I headed out of the office and hopped into my car, sending a text to Duncan before I drove off to let him know I was on my way.

  Twenty minutes later, I arrived at the mansion where he and Annie lived. They greeted me at the door, Madeline in Annie’s arms.

  “Well, well, well,” I said, approaching the happy little family. “If it isn’t the cutest little girl in Colorado.”

  And I wasn’t bullshitting. Madeline was as adorable as any baby I’d ever seen, and I couldn’t resist pinching her tiny red cheek once I was up the steps. She opened her eyes, a baby-sized smile on her face. Madeline waved her little arms toward me, and I gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

  The sight of Madeline did something to me, made me wish I had a child.

  “Look at that!” Annie cried, her voice elevated. “First emotion out of her other than red-faced screaming all afternoon.”

  “Everyone’s happy to see Gavin,” Duncan said, reaching over and slapping me on the shoulder. “Maybe we can talk you into babysitting duty?”

  Annie, with her free hand, gestured for us to come into the house. “Come on in out of the cold.”

  “I think you’ve about seen the limits of my expertise with kids,” I joked.

  “I don’t know about that,” Annie commented with a smile. “I bet you’re better with them than you think you are.”

  I glanced around curiously. “Where’s Oliver?”

  “He’s over at a neighbor’s,” Duncan explained. “So we can have a little peace and quiet before dinner.”

  “I hope delivery Italian’s good for you,” Annie said. “We’re both running on about five hours of sleep between us and I don’t think we could manage more than a Pop Tart.”

  I laughed at her dramatic statement, not for once doubting the validity. “Sounds perfect. But you guys should’ve said something – I could’ve ordered it and picked it up on the way over.”

  “No way,” Duncan said. “Tonight’s our way of saying thanks. We’re treating you.”

  “Speaking of which…” Annie murmured before handing Madeline to Duncan. “Got a little something.”

  Duncan wiggled his eyebrows in expectation as Annie vanished down the hall. She returned a few moments later with a bottle of something dark and brown, a red bow stuck on the side. Before I even saw the label, I knew what it was, recognizing the little horse on the top of the cap.

  “You got me a bottle of Blanton’s?” I asked, smiling broadly. “Guys, seriously – you didn’t have to.”

  “Bud, you stepped up without a second of hesitation when Maddie decided to make her entrance into the world. You’re a hell of a friend, and we both want to make sure you know it.”

  The slightest hint of a lump in my throat formed, but with a quick throat-clearing, it was gone. “Thanks, guys.” Annie handed over the bottle and gave it a long look. “Just…doing the right thing.”

  “You always do,” Annie said, gripping my arm for a moment and squeezing.

  Then, out of nowhere, invading my thoughts as always, appeared Gia in my mind’s eye. I always do the right thing? Not with her, I didn’t.

  “Anyway,” Annie said, checking her phone. “Grubhub says the food’ll be here in thirty. I’ll get Maddie asleep and set the table.”

  “Let me help,” Duncan offered, putting his hand on her arm as she turned to leave.

  “Not a chance. You two give that booze a spin.” She flashed a warm smile over her shoulder as she left the entrance hall.

  The whole exchange, watching a husband and wife who loved the hell out of one another, put a longing in my heart that I hadn’t been prepared for. What the hell was wrong with me?

  “Come on, bud,” Duncan said, putting his hand on my shoulder and leading me out of the room. “Got just the place to crack this open.”

  We went upstairs to Duncan’s grand, impressive study. He led me to the far end, where he opened a set of doors, revealing a small, enclosed balcony. The view was killer, looking out onto the mountains.

  He reached past me and flicked a switch. “It’s heated but give it a second to get going. I’ll crack this bad boy open and pour us a couple.”

  “Perfect.”

  I dropped into one of the chairs and let my vision blur, the landscape stretching out in front of me. I was in a damn daze, no idea how to begin processing how I felt.

  And as if he could read my mind, Duncan returned and spoke. “Now,” he said, handing me a glass. “I want to hear about your Vegas trip. You’ve been cagey about the whole thing, and I want to hear about it.”

  “I haven’t been cagey,” I immediately denied.

  “Sure you have. And I could tell there was something going on between you and Gia when I showed up at the hospital.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “Not at all. And believe me, if it was so obvious that even a man running late to see the birth of his own daughter noticed, you’d better believe you’re not hiding it as well as you think.” He raised his glass. “But first, let’s toast.”

  I laugh
ed, raising my glass. “After that pre-amble, let’s make it about something other than my inability to mask what’s on my mind.”

  “Sounds good to me. To…good friends. And always staying that way.”

  “Perfect.”

  We tapped rims and sipped. The booze was perfect – velvety smooth with just the right bite. I felt better the moment it began to pool in my belly.

  “Alright,” Duncan said, reaching over and giving my leg a friendly smack. “Now let’s hear about this Gia situation.”

  “Fucking hell. Where to even begin?”

  “Start with Vegas and we’ll go from there.”

  “Then you ought to grab that bottle – I’m gonna need it.”

  He laughed, getting up and returning with the bottle. Duncan topped me off and I began my story. Talking about my personal business wasn’t easy. I’d always been more of a kiss and tell type than a spilling my guts about my personal business kind of guy, but damn, did I need to let off some steam.

  “Wait, so you guys got drunk and hooked up?” He interrupted me after I glossed past that part of the story.

  “That’s the thing,” I countered. “It’s not like we got black-out drunk and woke up in bed together. I was buzzed, and so was she. It was the sort of situation where we were both tipsy enough to do what we wanted to do sober but wouldn’t act on.”

  “Got it,” he said, nodding. “And let me guess – she didn’t wake up too thrilled about it.”

  “Not even a little. For a minute there, I worried she might pitch me out the damn window.”

  He laughed. “And what happened after that? I mean, after she decided she didn’t want to splatter you on the Strip.”

  “She left. As in, without me. She booked her own flight back to Colorado and left. Told me she never wanted to see me again. Really chapped my ass, too – got me worried about her.”

  “But that wasn’t the last time you saw her.”

  “Of course not. I went to her place after I got in. And she told me never to talk to her again.”

  Duncan lifted his glass to his lips. But before taking a sip, a thoughtful expression took hold. “Hmm. Okay, go on.”