“There’s just you and your sister, right?” Tony said.
She nodded. “You mentioned a brother?”
“Leo. He’s the middle child, second son. Tough position.” He dried his hands with a paper towel. “He got attention by stirring up trouble. Cutting school, sneaking cigarettes, ditching homework. Drove Dad crazy.”
“Any serious trouble?”
“Nope. In fact, he’s now an officer with the Safe Harbor Police Department,” Tony said. “I wish we were closer, since he’s my only relative, but we don’t have much in common.”
“What about holidays?” Kate asked. “Surely you don’t spend those alone.”
He leaned against the counter. “We used to go to Esther’s parents’ house. This will be my first season by myself. I haven’t made any plans yet.”
“You should join us for Thanksgiving at my sister’s house,” Kate said on impulse. “My family puts on a big spread.” She’d enjoy sharing it with Tony, especially since he obviously loved good food.
“That’s very kind, but I couldn’t intrude.” From his crisp tone, she realized he probably didn’t want to get too involved with a family he’d soon have to leave behind.
“I understand.” Besides, she’d spoken out of turn. Since the event was held at Mary Beth’s, Kate shouldn’t have invited anyone without checking with her sister first. Especially since her sister disapproved of the surrogacy arrangement. “You might want to think about creating your own holiday traditions when Tara gets older. Like taking her to Disneyland for the day.” The Anaheim theme park lay a half hour’s drive inland.
“Or we could adopt a turkey instead of cooking it, and raise eggs in the backyard,” he joked.
Kate laughed. “That’ll go over great with your neighbors.”
“I wonder why you never hear of anyone eating turkey eggs.”
“I’ll bet they make really huge omelets,” she said. “Now you’ve made me hungry. Hang on.” From the pantry, she fetched a package of pretzels. “Want some?”
“They aren’t chocolate-covered, by any chance?” he asked wistfully.
“I’m afraid not.”
“I guess I can forgive you, this time. What do you say to eating in front of the TV?” Tony must have caught her perplexed look, because he added, “We ought to catch the news to see if the hospital’s on it.”
“Oh!” She’d almost forgotten the evening’s excitement. “Sure.”
Kate cleared a newspaper on the couch to make room. The two of them settled comfortably side by side, feet propped on the coffee table, glasses of orange juice ready to wash down the salty pretzels.
Tony flicked across several channels. Once he found a news broadcast, they waited through national and international events.
During a commercial, both of them reached into the pretzel bag at the same time. Hands touched, and stayed there. Her skin prickling deliciously, Kate leaned closer and felt Tony’s breath tingle across her cheek.
“We have to be careful not to break the bag,” he murmured. “How about I pull out first?”
“Taking all the pretzels?” Kate teased. “I should go first.”
“Stubborn, aren’t you?”
“I know my rights.”
Inches separated their faces. Less than inches. His mouth skimmed hers, bringing a flood of longing. She missed being held, kissed, stroked. Wanted all those things from Tony. And judging by the way he turned toward her, his thumb grazing her jawline, he wanted them, too.
Around them, the room shimmered with possibilities. Brady was sleeping and they had their privacy.
Kate relaxed into his arms and kissed him again.
Chapter Seven
From the TV, a man’s voice boomed, “Here was the scene tonight at Safe Harbor Medical Center, where hordes of young mothers-to-be showed up expecting free beauty makeovers.”
“Damn!” Tony snapped to attention.
Kate sank back. Why did the newscast have to switch to local news now?
On screen, the hospital’s lobby churned with visitors. The camera zeroed in on a figure in a white coat. “There’s Samantha!” he said.
Tony turned up the volume as the doctor scolded her audience. “You’re about to become mothers, all of you. Are these your values? Gimme gimme gimme? Now line up.”
Tony winced. “Out of context, that doesn’t sound good.”
Gimme gimme gimme. She’d been acting greedy herself a minute ago, hadn’t she? Kate thought. Taking what didn’t belong to her…
…even if it had been freely shared.
On TV, the anchorwoman said, “Guess those young moms have to wait for their free makeup and hairdos. By the way, this same hospital saw an influx of surrendered babies last month.”
Her associate nodded. “I understand they specialize in fertility and maternity care. Guess if you can’t keep your baby, that’s the place to take it.”
“And you may get a beauty makeover in the bargain.” The anchorwoman pasted on an even broader smile. “After the break, video of a dog that loves to jump off the high diving board! Don’t go away.”
Kate buried her face in her hands. “Now we’re on a par with diving dogs?”
Tony clicked off the TV. “What’s worse is they repeated all that nonsense. Now we’ll be jammed with babies, moms seeking makeovers, babies seeking makeovers and moms seeking babies with or without makeovers.” He shook his head.
She recalled her promise to help Eve in the morning. “I hope that doesn’t mean I can’t start peer counseling.”
“No reason why not. As long as you don’t mind seeing the administrative staff snapping at each other,” he warned. “Mark’s been patient with Samantha, but I can tell that’s wearing thin.”
“She does have a gift for putting her foot in her mouth,” Kate observed. “On the other hand, she gets credit for steering me to you.” Afraid he might misunderstand, she added, “And Esther.” How humiliating if he thought she was assuming anything on the basis of one kiss.
As the silence lengthened, she could feel Tony thinking. Unlike Dr. Forrest, he tended to think carefully before he spoke. Perhaps a bit too carefully for her.
“I should apologize for what happened before we were interrupted,” he began.
“No, you shouldn’t.”
“If I’ve given you the impression that I expect more than…” He did think she was jumping to conclusions. “You haven’t given me any impression. I’m a sex-starved widow, that’s all.”
“Kate!” He looked startled.
“Tony, things happen,” she persisted. “You’re a good-looking man, I’m a single woman and my hormones are running amok. It doesn’t mean anything.” I wish.
He didn’t seem convinced. “All the same, my suggestion that you come over and advise me about the nursery was unwise. I’m not saying we’re too impulsive to be alone together, but I didn’t take into account your babysitting issues. It’s unfair to you.”
“And we should probably avoid being alone together,” she conceded.
Tony stretched. “It’s getting late.”’
Kate tried to ignore the stiffness in her legs as she rose. “Thanks again for my car.”
“No problem.” As he ambled out, he said, “See you in the morning.”
“By the way, nice haircut.” She restrained the urge to fluff his hair as he went by.
“I have a talented hairdresser,” he responded lightly.
“Anyone can trim a man’s hair.”
“If my wife tried, I’d be minus part of an ear,” he corrected. “Possibly on purpose.”
“You have nice ears.” Kate bit her lip. “I didn’t mean… I just see a lot of ears, in my business.”
“And resist trimming them.”
“Mostly.”
He lingered on the porch, studying her. At last, he said a simple good-night and walked away.
What was wrong with her? Kate wondered as she closed the door behind him. Earlier, she’d practically propositioned
the man, and then she’d started flirting again.
Okay, so she longed, for the first time in years, to feel a man’s arms around her that weren’t Quinn’s.
Well, she couldn’t go on acting like a teenager. From now on, she intended to behave herself around Tony.
No matter how hard that might be.
HOW COULD ONE KISS wreak such havoc on his emotions? Tony had trouble falling asleep, and woke from a dream that—well, if there were a way to capture that kind of dream for replay, he’d be in all kinds of trouble.
He had to get past this. Even if he weren’t still married, he couldn’t ignore the fact that he’d contracted with Kate to bear his child. Before entering into the agreement, Tony had researched cases involving surrogacy, so he knew the pitfalls if the woman didn’t fully accept her obligation to relinquish all rights. Moreover, at his previous job with a family-law firm, he’d seen ugly child-custody battles between spouses that dragged on for years. They benefited no one except the law partners, who earned enough to buy yachts and vacation homes.
No matter how strongly Tony might be tempted to get closer to Kate, he would never risk landing in that kind of mess. And much as he’d like Tara to have a relationship with her mother, this situation required clear boundaries.
Giving up on sleep, he swam laps in his pool, then worked out in his home gym to release his excess energy. A shower and fresh clothes helped him get into the right mindset for what was sure to be a difficult day.
He arrived at the medical center early, but not early enough to beat the press. Several reporters and a camera crew clustered in the lobby, talking to a dark-haired young woman whose professional demeanor failed to mask her aura of happiness.
Public relations director Jennifer Serra excused herself and took Tony aside. “The news traveled all the way to Hawaii. Ian and I decided to come back early.”
“Too bad about your honeymoon, but I have to admit, it’s great to see you,” he said. “How’s it going so far this morning?”
“Two babies came in during the last hour,” she told him. “Samantha’s meeting with the moms upstairs in the clinic.”
“I’m on it.”
The new clinic certainly was being pressed into service, Tony mused as he reached the fifth floor and found the young women filling out their forms. Ironic, considering that the place didn’t have any staff, permanent furniture or an official opening date yet.
Scarcely had those young moms departed when three more mothers and infants arrived. A camera crew sneaked onto the fifth floor via a rear entrance, and Mark—who’d ducked in from seeing patients at the medical building next door—had to draw Samantha out of camera range to make sure she didn’t accidentally stir up another hornet’s nest.
Mercifully, by nine o’clock, the crew had been banished, the babies entrusted to a social worker and both doctors freed to see patients. Peace returned to the clinic.
That lasted about five minutes.
Tony was straightening the folding chairs when Jennifer Serra popped in. Her strained expression warned of trouble, and sure enough, behind her trailed a half a dozen pregnant teenagers he recognized from the previous night. “Makeovers,” she mouthed.
One girl addressed Tony. “We lined up and left our names the way you told us. Nobody called.”
“Since last night?” he asked, astonished by her impatience. “Some of us sleep, you know.”
The publicity director took him aside. “For the instant-messaging generation, patience isn’t a long suit.” As he shook his head in disbelief, she added, “I’ve got the press salivating downstairs, and if we don’t come up with something fast, these girls are threatening to stage their own reality show in the lobby.”
Despite Jennifer’s attempt to keep her voice down, the leader of the pack stuck her nose into the conversation. “Yeah. You better make us beautiful or we’ll tell those TV guys what a rip-off this is.”
“I disagree about who’s getting ripped off here,” Tony responded. “As for your threats…” Damn. It wasn’t like him to go off half-cocked. He took a deep breath. “I’m sure we can find a reasonable solution.”
“Yeah, maybe.” The girl retreated, her expression smoldering.
“I leave it to you, counselor. You have my sympathy.” Jennifer caught sight of Jared in the hallway. “Oh, good, here’s Dr. Sellers. I’ll steer him downstairs to tell the press what’s involved in treating babies born without proper medical care. That’ll hold them for a while.” And off she went, snagging the neonatologist and leaving Tony alone with a roomful of surly teenagers.
He bristled as yet another pregnant woman sauntered through the door. Then her golden-brown gaze met his. Kate! Relief and a spark of hope replaced his irritation.
The girls regarded her as if unsure what to make of this new, older arrival with an abdomen to match theirs. “Hey,” Kate greeted the group, then made her way around to Tony. “What gives?”
“I seem to be stuck with the makeover madonnas,” he grumbled. “Any ideas?”
She turned to study the girls. “What exactly do you have in mind?” she asked them.
“Hair!” The frizzy girl extended her locks, mirroring her actions of the previous night.
“Makeup!” declared a chubby teen without bothering to remove a licorice stick from her mouth.
“Somebody to fix me up so I can get a job after the baby’s born,” said a pretty African-American girl who’d dyed her hair orange.
“I’ll see what I can do.” Kate pressed a key on her cell phone. “Good thing I work at a salon, isn’t it?”
Tony could have hugged her, but the idea reawakened a host of impulses and a tantalizing memory of last night’s dream. To hide his reaction, he concentrated on scowling at the madonnas.
“Hi, it’s Kate,” she said into the phone. “Are you guys busy this morning? How’d you like to do some makeovers and get tons of press coverage?”
Now why hadn’t he considered the publicity angle? Not only was Kate relieving the hospital of the young moms, she might distract the ravening reporters, as well.
“Half a dozen,” Kate continued, apparently answering a question about the number of girls. “Mostly cuts and highlights, a color correction, some curl relaxing. Makeup to wear on job interviews. Sure, nails would be great if someone’s available. Wonderful. I’ll send them right over.” She clicked off.
“Did I ever mention that you’re a genius?” Tony asked.
“It’s a win-win for everybody.” Kate produced a sheaf of business cards, which she distributed among the girls. While she provided driving directions, Tony phoned Jennifer so she could tip off the press.
“I’ll go, too,” the PR director said. “We have to be careful not to give the impression we’ll do this for everyone. I’ll point out that this is a goodwill gesture by the salon.”
“Perfect.”
Faster than Tony would have believed possible, the clinic emptied out. All that remained of the girls were the scents of bubble gum and licorice.
“What a relief,” he said. “Thank you.”
Kate chuckled. “That was fun.”
“Fun?”
“Did you see how thrilled they were? My colleagues will get a kick out of this. Not to mention the free publicity. It’s good for the salon, and don’t forget, I’ll be working there again part-time after the baby’s born.” Kate dropped her purse on a chair. “Those girls are cute, aren’t they?”
“When they’re not threatening to embarrass the hospital.” Tony plucked a piece of cereal from her sleeve. “Cornflakes?”
She squinched her nose in embarrassment. “I don’t know how Brady manages to get them stuck all over himself and me.”
“You walked him to school okay?”
A nod. “I should do that more often. Kids spend too much time riding in cars.”
That reminded him of a call he’d received earlier. “My mechanic confirmed that he’ll have your ignition switch fixed later this morning.”
“What’s next, boss?” Kate murmured.
“I’m not your boss.”
“You’re the only one here,” she pointed out. “I can’t run the clinic myself.”
“The clinic isn’t open.” He wished Samantha would finish with her patients.
“Coulda fooled me.” As Kate studied the bare walls and empty inner offices, Tony could almost see her mentally furnishing it. “This place has possibilities. I’m not sure if Eve’s going to make it this morning or not, but I could stick around in case other moms show up.”
“That would be terrific, if it isn’t too much work.” He didn’t want to overstress her. “Have you had any training?”
“Doctor Forrest was going to work with me this morning. But at least I can listen and sympathize.” She reached into her large purse. “Besides, I brought an anatomy book to study.”
“You mean we have homework from childbirth class?” Tony reached for the hefty blue volume. “May I see that?”
“Sure. And don’t worry. I’m just getting a head start on college.”
He thumbed through the book, noting the small type and detailed medical illustrations. “You take your nursing career seriously.”
“I’m not entirely a nitwit.”
Startled, he looked up. “Who said you were?”
She waved a hand. “Nobody.”
“I don’t assume you lack intellect because you’re a hairdresser.” He hadn’t meant to imply any such thing.
“I don’t even have a B.A.”
“Neither did Shakespeare.”
“I never thought of it that way.” She accepted the book back. “Just imagine what he could have accomplished if he’d had an education.”
They both laughed. “Anyway, if you’re going to be doing some counseling it’s a given that studying alone can’t make anyone an expert,” Tony mused. “A good therapist draws on life experience. So does a good lawyer or doctor.”
His Hired Baby Page 7
