Dr Di Angelo's Baby Bombshell Read Free Page B

them.” He stuck another fry in his mouth, assuring himself the five miles he ran each morning would clear out the excessive cholesterol. “I’ve never heard you mention anyone you went to school with.”
    â€œThat doesn’t mean I don’t like them. I had some good friends back in school.”
    â€œSo good that you’re bringing a fake date to impress them?”
    She didn’t meet his eyes, took a sip of her water. “Youshould be flattered, since you get to be the impressive fake date.”
    â€œThere is that,” he mused, studying her, trying to get a feel for whatever it was she was hiding.
    And Darby was hiding something.
    He couldn’t put his finger on what, but something had her buzzing about the prospect of returning to Armadillo Lake.
    â€œTell me about your hometown.”
    Her face pinched into a scowl. “Not much to tell.”
    Right.
    â€œI’m going to your reunion this weekend. Don’t you think I should know a little about your past?”
    â€œNot really.” Her nose curled, as if she’d taken a sniff of something vile. “We’ve known each other for what—four years? What you don’t already know, you don’t need to know.”
    â€œI disagree.” What did he know about her past? Not much. Just that she’d grown up in a small town in Alabama, gone to medical school in Knoxville, on full scholarship, and had decided to stay in Tennessee after he’d jokingly suggested opening a practice together. Surprisingly, since he hadn’t made up his mind on where he’d end up, when Darby had said yes, he’d known practicing with her was exactly what he wanted to do. Not once had he regretted that decision, and for the first time since his grandfather’s death he had roots.
    â€œOh?” She might have meant the word to be nonchalant, but the slight squeak gave away her anxiety.
    A good person might have let the subject go, not put her on the spot, but Blake had never claimed to be good. Not in that sense, at any rate.
    He zeroed in on the one name she’d let slip on the day the invitation had arrived. “I want to know more about Mandy Coulson.”
    Darby sighed, rolling her eyes toward the hospital cafeteria’s ceiling. “You would want to know more about her, wouldn’t you?”
    He shrugged. “She’s the only non-related person from your hometown I’ve ever heard you mention by name.”
    Her eyes flashed blue fire and her chin lifted. “Trey Nix.”
    Blake paused, fry midway to his mouth, dangling from his fingers. Trey Nix? “Who’s he?”
    Why did he instantly dislike him?
    Face full-bloom pink, Darby pretended fascination with her chicken salad, raking her fork through the half-eaten entree. “No one.”
    Clearly she regretted having mentioned the name.
    â€œNo one?” He wasn’t buying that. “Then why bring him up?”
    â€œYou insisted upon another name, and I knew you wouldn’t quit until I gave you one.”
    â€œAnd Trey Nix—” what kind of name was Trey Nix, anyway? “—was the person who popped into your head?”
    â€œIt’s just a name.”
    Uh-huh.
    â€œInteresting.”
    Her gaze lifted to his. “What’s so interesting?”
    â€œThat you mention a sworn enemy and then a guy.” Pink blotches spread across her throat and Blake’s suspicions rose. “Were you in a love triangle with Mandy and what’s-his-name?”
    â€œA love triangle ?” She laughed. “You’re crazy.”
    But the half-strangled way she said the words hinted that he’d hit the nail over the head.
    â€œBesides I never said Mandy was my sworn enemy.”
    â€œNo?” Good thing Darby had wanted to go into medicine and not acting. Not even the most gullible bloke would buy the bull she was attempting to feed him. Not liking how his fries weighed heavily in