Maitland Maternity: Triplets, Quads and Quints. Kasey Michaels
himself out pacing. She didn’t care!
She finished her Twinkie, and he offered another.
“No. You didn’t eat one.”
“Not yet. I’m sure I will before the evening’s over. My dinner was good. I had steak.”
Again Briana thought of her conference. They’d served steak at the banquet tonight. “What conference were you attending?”
“It was a conference about multiple births. I specialize in obstetrics, particularly at-risk pregnancies.”
“Oh.” The same conference. It was a wonder she hadn’t met him already. But she’d been interested in the administrative side of multiple births. Not the medical procedures being discussed.
“Not interested, even though you’re a multiple? Especially when any pregnancy you might have could be multiple?”
“No.”
“Have you had a pregnancy already?”
“No, I haven’t. Have you?”
“I assume you mean as a father, not as a mother.”
She rolled her eyes. The man thought he had a sense of humor. Ha!
“No. Me, neither. I hope to, someday.”
“I don’t want to be rude, but aren’t you getting a little old for a first-time dad?”
“I’m under forty, by two years. Men aren’t as affected by the biological clock as women. How about you? Is your clock ticking?”
“I’m thirty-one if that’s what you’re asking,” she said, irritation in her voice. She’d thought a lot about having a baby, but she’d promised herself, no baby until she found a father, one she could love and trust. She’d been betrayed once, and she was determined that wasn’t going to happen again.
He must’ve realized he’d upset her. With a soothing voice, he said, “You still have plenty of time.”
She ducked her head. She’d been rude, and he was trying to comfort her. “I’m sorry. That conversation was my fault, and I was rude.”
“Don’t worry about it. Have another Twinkie. It will sweeten you up.” He presented it to her with a flourish.
She took his offering. She didn’t want to be rude again. Slowly she unwrapped it and took a bite.
At the same time, he said, “What kind of conference were you attending?”
She choked. She should’ve been prepared, but his charm had distracted her. He came to her side and pounded on her back.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Fine. Please, that’s enough,” she added as he continued to slap her back.
“Sorry. Choking is dangerous. Maybe I should’ve tried the Heimlich maneuver.”
“No, it just went down the wrong way. I’m fine now,” she added. She hoped he’d move away from her. His distinctive male scent was enticing.
“Okay. What conference are you attending?”
She finally mumbled, “The same one.”
He frowned and took a step closer instead of backing off. “What did you say?”
“I’m attending the same conference,” she admitted, speaking clearly.
“You’re a medical professional?”
“Not exactly.”
“What do you mean by not exactly?” he demanded, his hands on his hips.
“I’m in medical administration.”
“Oh. I guess that explains why I didn’t meet you. The joint sessions were pretty big.”
“Yes.”
HUNTER CALLAGHAN stared at the beauty sitting on the old stool. She was dressed in jeans and a sweater, her light brown hair framing her delicate features and curving under as it reached her shoulders. It was the hazel eyes, however, that drew him the most.
“Suddenly you don’t want to talk?” he asked, distracted by her strange attitude.
She shrugged but said nothing.
“Did you enjoy the conference?”
She shrugged again. Then she added, “Look, I came to learn all I could. I’m not very experienced.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared at her. Something was going on here, and he wanted to know what it was.
“I’m tired,” she muttered, in an obvious attempt to change the subject.
“No wonder, it’s almost two o’clock in the morning.”
She slid down from the stool. “I think it’s your turn to sit down. We should probably change every half hour.”
“I don’t need to sit. You go ahead.”
“No, I insist. I appreciate your gentlemanly behavior, but I don’t want to take advantage.” Standing, she came to his shoulder. Good. He hated short women who made him feel awkward. Not that it mattered. In a few hours he wouldn’t see her again.
Since she insisted, he took a seat on the stool, hooking the heels of his dress shoes over the lower rung. “Uh, Briana,” he said, trying to figure out if he was going to freak her out with what he had to say. But he had to warn her.
“Yes?”
“If you walk around, stay away from that back corner,” he said as casually as he could. He was hoping she wouldn’t ask why.
But of course she did.
“Why?”
“Well, I think that’s a rat trap. And I wouldn’t want you to get caught in it. I’m not sure I could free you.”
She paled and took a step closer to him, unusual on her part. He’d noticed she was more comfortable if he didn’t come close.
“A—a rat trap?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“Yeah.”
“That’s why you examined the Twinkie box? But it’s on a high shelf. Surely a rat couldn’t get to it way up there?”
“It’s my understanding they can climb well.”
She took another step closer to him. “That’s why you wouldn’t lean against the shelves?” Horror had her shaking all over.
“Briana, they’re not going to attack us. I just wanted you to be careful.”
His words didn’t calm her. She pressed against his side, her gaze swerving around the room. “Have you seen any?”
“No. Probably the trap has been efficient and we won’t see any at all. I’m probably being an alarmist.” In spite of the noises he’d heard. She’d heard them, too, when they’d first entered the room, and thought someone was in the store. He looped his arm around her, liking the feel of her, the smell of her.
Great. That’s all he needed, to become uncomfortably aroused in addition to everything else. He was a little surprised by his response. The last few years, he’d found himself less and less attracted to the women who pursued doctors.
She broke from his hold. “I’m sorry. I’m being silly. There probably aren’t any rats in here, right? I’ll just stay away from that corner,” she promised, her lips trembling as she stepped away from him.
For several minutes she paced around the room and he had the pleasure of watching her. Her figure was worth looking at, especially in the snug-fitting jeans. He finally closed his eyes, trying to distract his mind with thoughts of