Christmas Babies Read Free

it aside
but she took it from him. “I had enough.”
    He fixed a puzzled look on her
hand. The container was still almost full. “You haven’t had much?”
    “I’m good,” she said, covering
her beer with her hand. He didn’t insist.
    One by one, their friends wished him
the best with a hug or a clap on the back.
    “Nicky, sweetheart.” More than
half-drunk, Dr. Kathy Raynes swayed toward him and glued her lips to his. Her
heavy perfume and the smell of beer nauseated him. He’d dated her in the past.
Now he cursed her public display and disentangled himself. Over her shoulder,
he met Madelyn’s gaze. Instead of the disapproving high eyebrows that had
previously condemned him without trial, she faced him with a sober look.
    “Goodnight, Kathy. Goodnight
Greg.” He pushed them away, and whispered in his friend’s ear to make sure
Kathy arrived home safely. Greg nodded. They finally left and he breathed
better.
    “Our friends are gone, but then
they came earlier than me.” Madelyn didn’t seem in a rush to leave. Nothing
could please him more than to stay and chat with her for hours. She considered
him for a moment and smiled. What a gorgeous smile. His heart somersaulted. He
covered her hand and immediately withdrew. Having received the cold shoulder
way too often, he waited for her to give him a lead on how to act around her
new persona.
    “Another beer,” he asked and
could have punched himself at the stupidity of his question. She’d hardly
touched the first one.
    “Nick, tonight we celebrate your
promotion,” she said with a resolute tone that got his full attention. “How
about going to Las Olas Boulevard? There’s music at the European Bar.”
    Music and dancing. “Sure.
Let’s go,” he answered right away.
    “We’ll continue our celebration
there.”
    He pinched his side to make sure
he’d heard correctly. What exactly did she have in mind? He paid his bill.
“Ready?”
    She pushed her chair and stood.
That little white dress could send a monk into damnation, and he’d never
competed for sainthood. She passed in front of him, heading for the door. His
gaze skated over her legs, elongated by high heeled sandals, and wandered to
her swaying backside. He shook his head and focused higher up on the light
brown curls he itched to wrap around his fingers.
    They reached hisBMWand he opened
the door for her. She sat on the low bucket seat, buckled her seatbelt, and
pulled at the hiking hem of her dress. He averted his eyes and slipped into his
driver seat. To clear his mind, he put on some soft music.
    She punched two other buttons on
the car radio until rock music blared. “Do you mind?”
    “Not at all.” He grinned at her
cheerfulness, pleased he’d finally connected with her on a more personal level
than work.
    She hummed with the radio and
tapped her fingers on the dashboard. He gave her a sideway glance, and scowled.
    Something didn’t add up. He’d
known her for five years. They had worked in the delivery room side by side
every day, he delivering the mothers, she resuscitating babies. She’d always
been serious, reserved, poised, a bright doctor, but certainly not a fun-loving
person. He wasn’t vain enough to think she’d developed an interest in him
overnight and he couldn’t believe she’d put on this act just to celebrate his
promotion—a promotion she should resent.
    And then it hit him. Yes, it was
an act to cover her disappointment. To make him believe she didn’t care about
the fact he’d snatched the position she had dreamed of. A tender feeling mixed
with guilt overwhelmed him. He promised himself he’d make it up to her.
    “Having fun?” He asked as her
voice covered the radio.
    “A lot. Although I’m sure I’m
spoiling the song.”
    “Not at all. I don’t know the
words but I can do the accompaniment. ”
    She burst out laughing and he
whistled the tune. He’d never seen her so friendly or so comfortable while
wasting time. Not that he’d call having a