“Incredible,” Kit replied, staring at Suzie. But the little child on the exam table before him started to whimper, and soon she would be crying. “You know you are the center of my world…” Kit gave Suzie his best, most winning smile; his bedside manner was famous throughout the hospital. And he would certainly like to give Suzie firsthand experience, but it would have to wait.
“But this young lady needs to our full attention,” Suzie finished.
“She does indeed.” He let go of Suzie’s hand and reluctantly let it drop. Then he picked up his stethoscope and put it back in his ears. Funny, he hadn’t even remembered taking it out. “I was just checking her over. Usually, I would insist she stay in the hospital, but since the weather has taken a turn for the worse, and I’m afraid the hospital will be short-staffed, I’ve decided to take her home with me tonight.”
Suzie cleared her throat. “Normally, I would insist an abandoned baby stayed here, but I agree since you are a doctor.”
“There, we are in agreement,” Kit said. “A good start to our relationship.”
“Our relationship…” Suzie set her briefcase down on the counter to her left. “Where this little beauty is concerned, our relationship must remain businesslike.” She paused as she moved to pull out a sheaf of papers. “In fact, I wonder if the bond…” Suzie hesitated and Kit got the feeling she was thinking that pinching herself might be a good idea.
“It’s OK, this is a shock.” He took his stethoscope from his ears and placed it down on the bed next to the baby. “But if you are going to say we should put our relationship on hold...” He shook his head. “I can’t.”
“Even if it’s best for the baby?” Suzie asked.
“Suzie, I’m a professional. And this is not my first baby,” Kit reassured her.
Suzie let out a tense breath. “It’s my first baby. My first shifter baby.”
“Ahh, you have taken over from the indomitable Fiona.” Kit nodded in understanding. “She is a hard act to follow. But I’m sure you will do just fine, in your own way.”
Suzie let her eyes flit to the baby and then to Kit. “I’m her supervisor at Social Services. I’ve known about shifter children for a while now… So when she went on maternity leave, everyone thought I would be a good fit to take over their placement in the system.”
“You don’t have to be a shifter to do your best for these children. They need love and security, just like any other.” Kit smiled at her kindly.
“I just worry I don’t understand anything at all, that I’m a fraud.”
Kit wrapped the small baby in a blanket and scooped her up in his arms. His protective instinct kicked in, as it always did around children, big or small, and he hugged her to him. Giving himself a moment to collect his senses, which were completely rocked by the nearness of his mate, he closed his eyes, centering himself.
When he was in control, he opened his eyes, and turned to Suzie, taking a step toward her. “Here. Hold her. She’s no different to any other baby. And since we don’t know who left her, she might not be a shifter. It can be difficult to tell at such a young age. But whether she is a shifter or not, she needs love and protection, just the same as any newborn.”
Suzie took the baby from Kit and cradled her gently in her arms, tears misting her eyes. “It’s been a long time since I held a newborn baby. A very long time.”
“Hey, are you OK?” Kit asked as a tear rolled down Suzie’s cheek.
“Yes, just a little overwhelmed.” She stroked the little girl's cheek. “You are right, she’s perfect. Just perfect.”
“And it’s our job to see that she has a happy life, with people who love her.” He allowed himself a moment to breathe, to take in the scene before him of his mate holding a child in her arms. Kit wished it was their child. But that would come in time. He was going to have to be patient a while longer. Because Suzie was right, they were going to have to take things slow: this small child truly was the most important thing in both of their worlds right now.
“How do you know she’s a shifter?” Suzie asked, looking up at Kit.
“We can’t be a hundred percent sure, but after she was found, we searched the grounds. One of the nurses said there were big cat paw prints in the snow. I think she thought this little one was in danger of being eaten.”
“So you assume the paw prints were from the mother?” Suzie asked, with a frown.
“Yes. Or father. We can’t say for sure, although I did go out and take a photograph of them before the snow covered them completely.” Kit took his cell phone from his pocket and showed the image to Suzie.
“Are we going to try to track the mother?” Suzie asked.
“I like it when you say we,” Kit said softly.
She blushed at his words and then corrected herself. “I meant the hospital and Social Services.”
“Oh, that we,” Kit replied with a grin. “The sheriff is swamped right now, with the storm coming in. But he’s made a statement to the local news. It may help us find the mother.” Kit stroked the little girl's cheek and shook his head. “Whoever she is, she might need medical treatment. We need to know she’s OK, and the circumstances of why she abandoned her baby.”
“Because this little one deserves a chance to be with her real mom,” Suzie said, her voice cracking.
“Yes. But not all moms make good mothers,” Kit told her. “And maybe this mom knew that.”
“But we at Social Services could help her.” Then Suzie turned away, brushing a tear from her eye. “You are right. We need to know the circumstances before we jump to any conclusions.”
“We do indeed. Open minds, and for now, we take care of what we can. Which means we take care of this little girl. Who is going to need a name.”
“What if the mother has already named her?” Suzie asked.
“We can give her a temporary name. I refuse to call her baby.”
“How about Storm?” Suzie suggested.
Kit looked out of the window, where the snow was falling fast, the wind buffeting it against the glass in hard gusts. “Storm is perfect.”
Suzie, baby still cradled in her arms, walked to the window and looked out. “I don’t think we are going anywhere in this.”
Kit picked up his stethoscope and hooked it around his neck. “I can get us home.”
“Home? I live thirty miles away.”
“My home.” His eyes darkened as he watched her face and saw the uncertainty there. “I promise to be chivalrous.”
“Chivalrous?” Suzie blushed beautifully.
“I have a guest room, you are welcome to make use of it.” He joined her in looking out of the window. “I live in Bear Creek, it’s a ten-minute drive. My SUV has snow chains already fitted, and I’ve driven in worse weather conditions. I’m part of the mountain rescue team.”
Suzie looked up at him. “I’m impressed.”
“The things a man does to fill his life while he’s waiting for the right woman to come along.” His longing filled his expression, but this time Suzie didn’t turn away, she allowed herself to bathe in the glow. “I won’t ever hurt you. I can’t. We share a bond, and I aim to make you happy.”
“I’m going to have to call my mom first,” Suzie replied. “I live with her. She’ll be worried.”
“Of course. Make sure you tell her you are safer coming home with me. This snowstorm is going to get treacherous really fast.”
Storm gurgled and wriggled in Suzie’s arms as she passed the baby back to Kit. “I’m going to go out in the corridor and call her.”
“We’ll be waiting,” Kit replied. Forever.
Forever turned out to be a five-minute conversation, which he tried not to listen to. His enhanced shifter hearing made it difficult, even when he walked to the far side of the room. Suzie’s mom sounded concerned, and Kit wanted to know why. Was there a problem with his mate he should know about?
“OK. Let’s go.” Suzie came back into the room, looking flustered.
“Everyt
hing OK?” Kit asked.
“Yes.” Suzie looked at her phone. “She was worried about the weather, and me staying with a strange man.”
He grinned. His mate was putting her trust in him. “I just have to grab some formula, and then I’ll be ready.”
“Do you have everything else we need?” Suzie asked as he headed for the door.
“Yes, I’m always prepared, including some formula, but if this snow gets worse, we might not get out for days,” Kit said.
“Days?” Suzie sounded less sure about her decision. “Are you are sure you want to risk going home? We could stay here.”
Kit bent down, gazing at Storm. “I don’t want her to feel abandoned.” He lifted his eyes to Suzie’s. “She’ll be warm and safe, and feel loved at home with us.”
“Us?” Suzie repeated. “I’m not sure Storm should get used to there being an us.”
“There is nothing like the comfort of safe arms,” Kit said. “And don’t worry, I know she’s not mine, or ours. I’ve done this enough times to know that this a fleeting moment in Storm’s life, and will soon be forgotten. But I won’t forget.”
“Dr. Malvern, I swear you are going to make me cry again,” Suzie confessed.
Kit laughed. “Some tears are good tears.”
“I hope those are the only kind of tears Storm cries.” Suzie shrugged. “At least for the first couple of years of her life.”
“True. We have to experience some of life’s lows, to truly appreciate the highs.” Kit opened the door and they walked together along the corridor.
Kit had known some lows. In his job, he’d seen the best and the worst in people. Kit had watched families make the best of truly terrible experiences. He’d seen them rise above the crap life aimed their way. This was the rule he tried to live by.
But today, today Kit Malvern was about as high as a man could get.
Chapter Three – Suzie
Suzie held the baby tight to her chest, her arms protective but not too restricting, as Kit unlocked a storage cupboard and gathered up some baby formula and newborn bottles. He wrote it down in the supply book, and signed for it, before locking the storage cupboard once more and rejoining Suzie in the corridor.
“We are good to go,” Kit announced. “All I have left to do is go out through the main entrance and tell Cindy I’m leaving. My shift ended three hours ago, but I stayed on to make sure enough doctors made it in to cover the night shift.”
“Hey, you two are you leaving?” Beth’s voice reached them along the corridor.
“We are,” Kit said, turning around. “You have everything under control, I see.” Kit walked back to meet Beth, who was helping a child, with his leg in a cast, practice walking on his crutches.
“I have,” Beth said. “We’re going to look at the snow.”
“I was asking Callum.” Kit winked at Beth’s patient. “I know I can count on you to make sure Nurse Beth does her job.”
“Are you implying I don’t?” Beth asked hotly.
Kit kissed Beth on the cheek. “I’ve heard how you like to spoil my patients. But snowball fights are strictly out of the question.”
“I can always wrap my leg in a plastic sheet,” Callum said hopefully, gazing out of the long window that ran along the corridor.
“Hey, we can’t risk you breaking the other leg,” Kit said.
Callum groaned. “I can’t wait to get this thing off.”
“A couple of months and you will be mended.” Kit took in the sorrowful face of Callum. “Come on, cheer up! I hear wheelchair snowball fights are great fun.”
“You mean it?” Callum asked his face brightening.
“I’ll be back in the hospital in two days’ time. If there is still snow on the ground, and I think there will be, then I promise you, I will take you out there myself.”
“Dr. Malvern is such a bad influence,” Beth said theatrically.
“I love the snow. Do you promise?” Callum asked happily, his eyes bright as he stared at the snow outside.
“We all heard him, Callum, and I know for a fact that Dr. Malvern always keeps his promises.” Beth turned her full attention on Suzie. “As Ms. McLeish will soon find out.”
“You are Dr. Malvern’s mate?” Callum asked, fixing his attention on Suzie.
Suzie didn’t know what to say. She had only just met Kit, was it too soon to be introduced as anything other than a friend?
Kit obviously didn't think so. “She is my mate, Callum. As of half an hour ago.”
“Then how come you already have a baby?” Callum asked.
“Someone left baby Storm inside the hospital,” Kit said, humor leaving his voice. “We are going to take good care of her until we either find her mom, or find a family to adopt her.”
“They just left her?” Callum asked, shocked.
“And Dr. Malvern is going to take her home and take good care of her,” Beth said. “While we get you back to bed.”
“See you later, Callum. Have a good night, Beth,” Kit said.
“Bye,” Suzie called.
“I hope you get some sleep,” Beth said, with a wink.
“Why wouldn’t they sleep?” Callum asked as Beth escorted him back toward the ward.
“Babies like to cry,” Beth told him, casting a knowing look over her shoulder.
“Come on,” Kit said, putting a protective arm around Suzie’s shoulders. “Let’s get out of here before the snow does get too deep.”
“You do have a good bedside manner,” Suzie commented as they waited for the elevator. She also couldn’t help wondering what Kit’s inside-bed manner was like either. Her cheeks, already flushed from being outside in the cold wind, and then coming into the warm hospital, glowed even redder.
“Saved by the elevator,” Kit said as the doors opened, and they stepped inside. He pressed the button to take them to the ground floor. When the doors had closed securely, leaving them in a small cube of metal that seemed to lack air, he spoke again, “I’m not going to rush you into anything, Suzie. It’s different for me. It’s different for other shifters.”
“I’ve never been a jump-into-bed-with-a-stranger kind of a girl,” Suzie admitted.
“I’m glad about that.” He looked at her sideways, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “And I want you to know I’ve never been a jump-into-bed-with-a-stranger kind of a guy.”
“You surprise me,” Suzie said, returning his mischievous look. “I would have thought with your perfectly handsome face, and your toned body, you would have been fighting the women off.”
“I didn’t say I haven’t been tempted. Or propositioned more times than I like to remember. But I knew there was only ever going to be one woman for me. And that is you.” He let the words settled between them before he grinned, and added, “So you think I’m perfect?”
“Don’t let it go to your head,” Suzie warned him.
“Never.” He smiled at her and leaned in close, looking at Storm, who lay with her eyes closed in Suzie’s arms. “Having children around means that will never happen. They know exactly how to ground you.”
“This little one hasn’t learned that trick yet,” Suzie said, gazing at the peaceful face of Storm.
“She will. They all do,” Kit said easily.
“I wish we knew who her mommy was.” The elevator doors opened and they stepped out into the reception area. The place where less than an hour ago, she had entered the hospital as a single woman intent on finding a home for an abandoned baby. Now she was leaving with a man. Yes, she was still technically single, but if what she knew about shifters was true, the mating bond that existed between her and Kit was more important than any marriage certificate.
The mating bond joined their souls, and nothing could break that. Nothing. Forever.
“Hey, I lost you there for a moment,” Kit said, frowning. “Are you OK? You didn’t catch a chill when you came through the snow?”
“I am fine. And it will take a lot more than a few inches of snow to
slow me down,” Suzie told him.
“A few feet, that’s what it will be by the morning,” Cindy said. “Oh, you have that precious little baby with you.” Cindy pushed a clipboard toward Kit, and while he signed himself out, she came around her desk to coo at Storm, who didn’t seem to even notice.
“Is she OK?” Suzie asked worriedly as Storm lay peacefully in her arms.
“Yes,” Kit said. “She’s got a full tummy and wants to sleep it off.”
“Probably not a bad thing if you two…sorry, three, are venturing out into the cold. You should stay here. I’m sure there are some beds to spare.” Cindy cocked her head on one side and stroked Storm’s tiny hand. “She is so precious, I would hate for anything to happen to her.”
“Nothing is going to happen to her,” Kit said firmly. “I’ve driven in worse. Much worse.”
“It isn’t your driving that worries me, it’s all the others on the road. All those people who want to get home before they get stranded. Silly season,” Cindy warned.
“I’ll take extra care,” Kit said, giving Cindy a reassuring smile. “Now, you take care of yourself, Cindy. Don’t take any risks getting yourself home. Take your own advice and stay here if you have to.”
“I will, Dr. Malvern,” Cindy promised.
“I’m not in tomorrow, but I will try to make it the day after. But, if you need me, call me.”
“And make you come back here with this little girl?” Cindy asked.
“No, Suzie is going to be staying with me. I’m sure she can look after Storm if you need me.”
“Even so, I am not having you coming back and forth over those treacherous roads,” Cindy said firmly.
“You know some of us have other ways to travel,” Kit said, giving her a look that made it clear what he meant. At least it was clear if you knew about shifters; if not, you would think he had been drinking.
Cindy patted his arm. “I will call you only in an absolute emergency. You need your time off, and you need to get this little one settled.” Cindy looked up at Suzie. “And this big one settled too. You are a lucky man, Dr. Malvern.” The receptionist's words confirmed Suzie’s suspicions. Cindy must know about shifters. Maybe she was one herself, but Suzie was not going to ask, it seemed too personal.
Doctor Daddy Bear (Return to Bear Creek Book 8) Page 2
