Expecting the Doctor's Baby Read Free Page A

focus. Sometimes even all of that’s not enough.”
    She swallowed. “You cheat death.”
    â€œEvery damn day. Every chance I get.” He couldn’t believe she got it.
    â€œBut you’re here to talk about what happens when the trauma’s over,” she reminded him.
    â€œYou wait for the next one. You hold your breath for the next person who comes in because of something stupid. The car accident involving multiple vehicles because someone was text messaging. Or changing the radio. Spilled hot coffee—” He stopped, clenching his jaw. “Then the shift is over.”
    â€œI can see there’s a lot of room for discussion. But speaking of over…” She looked at her watch. “Time’s up, doctor—Mitch.”
    â€œIt flies when you’re having fun.”
    And he had. Mostly. Which was the surprise of the century. In his experience good surprises were few and far between. “So when can we do this again?”
    â€œStop at the front desk on your way out to make an appointment. Darlyn should be back in the office in a day or so. You can schedule your next meeting with her.”
    â€œWhat if I don’t want to?”
    She leaned forward and folded her hands on her desk. “You don’t have a choice, Mitch. It’s either executive coaching or administrative leave followed by door hitting hiney.”
    â€œSo there is a choice.”
    â€œHave it your way.”
    â€œI usually do,” he said.
    She looked at him and her eyes widened as if she was on his wavelength. “In the unlikely event you’re implying what I think you are, I need to make my position clear. Now that we’ve talked one on one, I’m absolutely certain that we wouldn’t be a good professional fit.”
    He stood and rested a hip on the desk, satisfaction settling in when she leaned backward in the chair. It was a subtle movement, but definitely away from him without actually running for the hills.
    â€œI couldn’t disagree more, Sam. It’s my professional opinion as a doctor, but more importantly as a man, that you and I would be an exceptionally good fit. I think I should have some say in who my coach is.”
    â€œThat decision has already been made.”
    â€œNot by me.” He had a pretty good idea what she saw in his face and didn’t care. “You’re the one I want.”

Chapter Two
    â€œW hat did you do wrong, Samantha?”
    Sam fidgeted from one spiked heel to the other as she stood in front of her father’s desk. She’d been summoned to his office at Mercy Medical Center to defend herself. It didn’t matter that she was a grown woman, she felt like that motherless six-year-old again.
    â€œI promise you I did nothing to undermine the relationship, Dad.”
    Unless she’d violated some unwritten Arnold Ryan moral code because she wasn’t woman enough to make her fiancé want her more than that woman she’d caught him boinking. Unlike Mitch Tenney, who had said out loud and with great determination and conviction that he did want her.
    The memory sent a shiver of lust skidding through her, which was worse than stupid because he’d meant he wanted her to be his relationship coach. And he only said that because he thought she was an inexperienced pushover who would give him credit for the time without making him do any of the work. Because he was too close to the mark for comfort, she’d stubborned up and refused his request. He hadn’t been a happy client when he’d left her office yesterday.
    Her father cleared his throat. Loudly. “Samantha? Are you paying attention to me?”
    Sam started. “Of course, Dad.”
    Arnold Ryan was the hospital’s administrator and chief executive officer. In his late fifties, he was still strikingly handsome, tall and fit, with ice-blue eyes and silver-streaked black hair. The man who’d run out on her mother before