The Brooding Surgeon's Baby Bombshell

by Susan Carlisle

  Gabe hadn’t even suggested marriage as a convenient means of helping her with the responsibilities and mounting expenses of being pregnant by him. Oh, he was being noble, very nice, and even willing to “pay his share” of the expenses of her pregnancy, but nothing more. From what she’d learned about Gabe, he would have done the same for any other woman he’d accidentally impregnated. Even if he had asked, she wouldn’t have accepted. What if he left her when he felt his obligation was over? She wouldn’t survive. Nothing but a commitment born of love was enough for her.

  Her breath had caught when he’d pulled off his shirt. She’d seen him shirtless before but the light had been dim. This time she could make out every nuance of his wide, muscular shoulders. She’d not missed the flex of his arm muscles as he’d applied the bandage or the light dusting of hair in the center of his chest narrowing into a line leading beneath the waist of his jeans. Large enough to carry heavy loads, both physically and metaphorically, it would be so easy to let him share her burdens without that all-important commitment of love.

  Gabe smelled of male heat and his own special musk. His scent surrounded her. She was tempted to inhale deeply, memorize it, only to realize she already had. His tender touch had undone her as his finger had traveled over her palm. She wanted more of his kisses. Longed for his lips to cover hers again. All her vows to herself had evaporated like water on a hot day the second his mouth had found hers. There had been no thinking, only feeling. Only Gabe for that one eternal moment.

  Thankfully the pizza guy had arrived, snapping her back to reality.

  “Food’s in the kitchen if you want any,” Gabe called.

  She was hungry and had to face him sometime. Also, she’d made her reasons for rejecting him crystal clear. There was no purpose in avoiding him with the ground rules of their relationship established. The aroma of cheese and tomato sauce drew her to the kitchen.

  Gabe had pulled on another shirt and now sat at the table with the pizza box open and a slice in his hand. A canned drink sat in front of him.

  “I haven’t had time to go to the grocery. Help yourself to a soda. If you’d rather have water, the glasses are to the right of the sink.”

  Apparently, Gabe had recovered from their moment in the bathroom. He was treating her like the roommate she’d asked him to. So why wasn’t she more pleased about it? “Thanks.”

  Gabe didn’t even look her direction while she filled her glass with water and took her chair. He pushed the box toward her. She selected a slice. “We haven’t talked about any house rules.”

  He gave her an incredulous look. “There are no house rules. You’re free to do as you please. Treat it as yours. There don’t have to be rules for everything.”

  His aggravation rang clear in his tone. Had she pushed him too far? Her common sense kicked in. All she’d done was hold to her vow, hold her ground about what their relationship would be while she lived here. His ego was no doubt bruised, but what was he really after? The best she could tell was sex while he waited for his child to be born.

  “Thanks. It would be nice to use the kitchen. I like to cook healthily, especially for the baby.”

  “Then cook to your heart’s content.” He took another bite of his pizza. After swallowing, he asked, “Do you mind if I ask you a question?”

  What was he after now? Was he going to put her on the spot about what had happened a few minutes ago? Her feelings about him? “No. Ask away.”

  “Why did you pick the room you did?”

  That particular question was totally unexpected. Why would he care? “Because of the view. I like the trees and the yard.”

  He nodded thoughtfully.

  Gabe had her curiosity up now. “Why do you want to know?”

  “I just wondered if you saw the front room as a nursery and chose the other for that reason.” He watched her.

  “Truthfully, I didn’t, but it would make a lovely one with all the natural light.”

  “Then that’s what I’ll make it. I need to do something with this place. I was thinking of hiring an interior decorator to help. Unless you would like to do the room. After all, you’ll be here for a little while after the baby is born.”

  “I’ll think about it.” Could she stand to see her dream nursery become reality and then leave it? Yet the thought of bringing the baby home to a pretty little world excited her.

  Gabe didn’t offer any more conversation. And she couldn’t find a comfortable way to initiate one. She didn’t like this stilted silence between them. He must be angrier about her rejection than she’d first thought.

  “Do you want another slice?” he finally asked.

  She shook her head.

  Closing the box, he stood. “Well, I’m going to call it a night. I need to be at the hospital early on my first day.” He walked to the refrigerator, opened it and put the box inside. “I’ll see what I can do about Mr. Luther as soon as I can. It may not be tomorrow. Night.” With that he went down the hall toward his room.

  Zoe sat looking out at the dark patio, feeling deflated. Something was missing. Something she hadn’t known was special until it had gone. Zoe glanced in the direction Gabe had gone. She wanted it back.

  “Hey, I forgot to give you this.”

  Zoe jumped at Gabe’s voice. She hadn’t heard him returning. He was barefooted and bare-chested with only a pair of sports shorts riding his slim hips.

  He slid a key across the table toward her. “You’ll need that.”

  “Uh...thanks.”

  “I’ll see about getting you a garage door opener as soon as possible so you can park in the carport.”

  “Okay.”

  “Night, Zoe.”

  “Good night.” She watched him leave, wishing she was going with him.

  After putting her glass in the dishwasher, she straightened the kitchen and put the chairs back into place before going to her room. Stepping into her bathroom brought back memories of Gabe’s kiss. Would it be like that every time she went in? She feared it would.

  Moving in with Gabe had been a calculated risk. One she’d believed she could handle, but it was proving more difficult than she had anticipated. Yet her mother now had the quality care she needed, deserved, so the risk Zoe was taking with her heart was worth it. At least living with Gabe was temporary. Knowing there was a time limit on the intense temptation did help.

  Tonight was an example of why she needed to strengthen her resolve to keep their relationship on a business basis. There would be no more moments of weakness on her part if she could prevent it.

  After a hot bath she crawled under the covers. She’d never felt more alone in her life. Gabe was only steps away, but she wouldn’t go to him. What would it be like to sleep with her head on his shoulder? Heaven. Yet she couldn’t allow herself even the pleasure of that fantasy because it would weaken her self-control.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  GABE HAD FORGOTTEN what it was like to start a new job. The stress, anxiety and the feeling of always being one step behind. He didn’t like that. Knowing what was happening in his sphere of influence was important to him. Indirectly Zoe had accused him of being controlling. In her case and with his patients, he believed it was more about caring. Either way, he was determined he would be placed on the surgery schedule sooner rather than later. The more surgery he did, the faster his career would grow.

  Even in the OR there was an adjustment period. It would take time to put a staff together that would interact smoothly with each other. For now it would be trial and error. Yet this was the position he’d been working toward his entire professional life. What he hadn’t planned for was becoming a father while trying to create the finest liver-transplant program in the world.

  Worse was his growing desire for his “roommate.”

  It had been three days since he’d seen Zoe and he didn’t anticipate slowing down l
ong enough to see her anytime soon. If she’d been worried they’d have too much time together, these past few days had proved her concern groundless. As far as he could tell, she was asleep when he came home and getting her morning shower when he left. He’d known his job would be demanding and had accepted it. That was just one of a number of reasons why he wouldn’t make a long-term commitment to a woman.

  Since he’d not seen Zoe after giving her a house key, he’d left his garage door opener on the kitchen counter because he had not had time to get another. He wrote her a note.

  This is for you. Sorry I didn’t think to give it to you the other night. Been busy. Call me if you need something.

  When he pulled into the drive late that night, Zoe’s car wasn’t parked in her usual spot, just to the right past the front door. A light burned in the kitchen. She must have taken him up on his offer to park in the carport now she had a door opener.

  He studied the glow in the window. At least Zoe had thought about him. He’d been living with his mother the last time he’d come home to a light left on for him. There was something about it that said, I care about you.

  As he entered the front door, a wonderful smell filled the air. Making his way to the kitchen, he discovered a plate of cookies with a note beside them. He dropped his keys and picked up the piece of paper.

  Made some for the guys. Thought you might like a few.

  Gabe took a bite of a peanut-butter cookie. “Mmm.” His grandmother used to bake them. His mother never had much time for that sort of thing. Most of her efforts revolved around her job. Her actions had taught him that success was only gained through hard work and personal sacrifice. Picking up the plate, he flipped off the light and headed for his bedroom with a smile. He would eat the rest before he went to bed.

  The next morning he left another note.

  Thanks for the cookies. They hit the spot.

  Note-passing wasn’t as satisfying as seeing Zoe, but at least they weren’t ignoring each other.

  How good her cookies were was on his mind as he started his rounds just after noon. The first patient he planned to see was Mr. Luther. Gabe had contacted Mr. Luther’s physician, Dr. Patel, and they had agreed that he should be transferred to Gabe’s care. Mr. Luther’s health had deteriorated to the point where a transplant was the only option. The hepatitis C had taken its toll. Following Dr. Patel’s instructions, Mr. Luther was admitted to National Hospital for an evaluation before being placed on the liver transplant list.

  Gabe rapped his knuckles on the door.

  A gruff voice called, “Come in.”

  Gabe pushed the door open. “Mr. Luther, I’m...” He stopped short. Zoe stood at the bedside of a grizzly man who obviously hadn’t shaved in a number of days.

  “Gab—uh... Dr. Marks, hello.” Zoe’s smile was cautious.

  His heart gave a little extra beat. “I hadn’t expected to see you.”

  “I wasn’t sure if I’d see you either.” She looked at him shyly.

  “Thanks for the cookies. They were great.”

  She glanced toward their patient, who was looking from one of them to the other with curiosity, and said to Gabe, “It’s part of my job to keep tabs on Mr. Luther.”

  The older man pointed first at Gabe then at her and back again. “I’m guessing you two know each other, him eating your cookies and all.”

  Gabe nodded, stepping forward and extending his hand. “I’m Dr. Marks. Dr. Patel has thoroughly reviewed your case with me.”

  “So you’re why I’m in one of these dang uncomfortable beds again.” He didn’t sound happy but shook Gabe’s hand.

  Zoe placed her hand on the man’s other arm. “Mr. Luther, Dr. Marks is going to help you. If you want to blame someone, it should be me. I asked him to see you.”

  Gabe couldn’t believe how big a heart Zoe had. She was emotionally invested in her patient far more than was required by her job. Was Mr. Luther an exception to her rule or did she, as Gabe suspected, care deeply about all her patients, and Mr. Luther in particular? What would it be like to be under her umbrella of loving concern? Focus on your patient, Gabe sternly ordered himself. “She did ask me, and the first thing I need to do is examine you. Then we’ll run some tests.”

  “More of them, you mean,” the man grunted.

  Gabe shrugged and removed his stethoscope from around his neck. “Now, would you lean forward for me?”

  The man did as he asked and Gabe listened to his heart. He then had him breathe deeply as he checked out his lungs. “I’m going to turn this overhead light on. I need to look at your eyes.”

  The switch was on Zoe’s side of the bed and she flipped it on.

  “I’ve not spoken to his nurse yet, so I don’t know his vitals, Zoe. Would you mind getting his BP for me? Check his pulse points?” Gabe placed his stethoscope around his neck and removed a penlight from his pocket.

  She laid the folder in her hand on a chair and went to work.

  Gabe looked at the man. “I understand you were diagnosed with hepatitis a number of years ago.”

  “Yeah.” Mr. Luther nodded.

  “When did you first seek help for it?” Gabe looked into his eyes.

  “Maybe six months ago.”

  “He was referred to the Liver Alliance by Dr. Patel three months ago,” Zoe said, as she placed the cuff on the patient’s arm. She pumped the cuff then listened through her stethoscope for his pulse. Done, she looked at him. “One-thirty over ninety.”

  Gabe nodded. “Not perfect but not as bad as I expected. Mr. Luther, have you been a heavy drinker in the past?”

  The man glared at him. “I’ve drunk.”

  Gabe gave him a pointed look in return. “You do understand that there can be no drinking again if you have a transplant.”

  “I’m not even sure I want a transplant,” the man grumbled.

  Zoe looked up from where she was checking Mr. Luther’s pulses on his feet. “Mr. Luther, you need to think hard about that. Without it you’ll die.”

  “Gonna die one day anyway.”

  Gabe slipped his penlight back into his pocket. “That’s true, but without a new liver you have at best a couple of years and you’ll get increasingly sicker. There won’t be much quality to your life. We’re going to do the workup on you to consider listing you for a transplant, but you need to know that your attitude will affect the decision-making. New livers are hard to come by. If you’re not going to do your part to keep a new liver healthy, you’ll not be listed.”

  “Yeah.” The man picked up the TV remote. “I’ll think about it.” He nodded toward Zoe. “I’d better not hear that you’ve been giving Avery here a hard time or you’ll answer to me.”

  “Noted.” Gabe made eye contact with Zoe and nodded toward the door. She gave the man a concerned look and followed him out.

  Zoe closed the door behind her and looked at him with such hope. “So what do you think?”

  Gabe shook his head slightly. “I’m really concerned about his compliance. He’s a gruff bear, I know, but to be listed, the committee must know he’ll do what he’s supposed to do.”

  “I’ll talk to him. Make it clear.”

  “He has to want this,” Gabe stated emphatically. “You have done all you can do for him by bringing him to my attention.”

  Zoe glared at him. “I know that.”

  “Even if he does agree to cooperate, I can’t guarantee he’ll be a candidate. I’m just one person on a committee of eight.”

  She touched his arm. “I appreciate you trying.”

  Gabe nodded. He hated that he couldn’t give her more encouragement. “I have to go. I have other patients to visit.”

  * * *

  That evening, Gabe found a note from Zoe waiting on the counter.

  There’s supper in the refrigerator if you’re interested. Thanks for a
ll you’re doing for Mr. Luther.

  He felt himself smiling, unable to contain his satisfaction. Why was this particular patient so important to her? Even though he’d not given Zoe much reassurance on Mr. Luther’s prognosis, she was expressing her gratitude by cooking for him.

  He’d not eaten since lunch, so he was tickled to have a home-cooked meal. His day had been so exhausting he’d not even bothered to get drive-through. Zoe’s cooking, even though it would be rewarmed, was heaven sent. He could get used to this treatment.

  Gabe had just sat down at the table when the patter of feet drew his attention. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Zoe. He smiled, glad to see her. Her appearance, on top of her meal, was totally unexpected.

  She wore a short fleece robe tied above the rise of her belly. His gut clenched with pride. That bump was his child. Had he ever seen a more beautiful sight? Zoe’s hair was mussed as if she had been running her fingers through it in angst. Was she nervous about approaching him? Why should she be? She’d recovered her self-control the moment the doorbell had interrupted their bathroom interlude.

  “Hey,” Gabe said. “Thanks for the meal.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Sorry if I woke you.” He picked up his fork, ready to take a bite.

  Zoe said softly, “I’ve been waiting up for you.”

  She had? Hope, warm as a fire, welled in his chest. “Really?”

  “I wanted to talk to you about my rent.”

  Disappointment smothered his anticipation. She wanted to talk about that now? Shaking his head in refusal, he turned back to the food. “I’ve had a long day. Make that a week. I’m in no mood to talk business now.”

  Zoe moved around the table, facing him. “I have to pay for my mother’s housing, so I need to know what my budget will be.”

  That made perfect sense, but it didn’t give him the energy to hash out her rent right this minute. “Then make it a dollar for this month. When I get time, I’ll figure something out.”

  She leaned toward him slightly, giving him an amazing view of cleavage. Her breasts were larger than he remembered. Pregnancy had changed her there as well.