The Fertility Factor

“They’ve both gained another pound. Devin is a half inch bigger than Ian.”

“He’s the oldest, isn’t he?” Lara said.

“Born one minute and fifty-five seconds before his brother.”

“He’ll probably never let him forget that,” Derek said, coming up behind them in the outer office.

“I expect that’s true,” the mother said.

“You’re going on vacation, aren’t you?” Lara asked her as Derek left them to return to his office.

“Yes.” She checked on her babies in the blue-plaid baby carriage. “It’s a family holiday at Martha’s Vineyard. Dr. Cross said he vacationed there as a child.”

“I’m sure it’s nice.”

And a place for the affluent. Unlike his family, hers originally resided in New York’s Little Italy.

Lara saw the woman out to the waiting room, then wandered into the staff lounge. It was late. She knew security had escorted the woman and her babies to a taxi. Thunder rumbled angrily and lightning flashed, casting the offices in an eerie glow.

Uneasy about the lateness more than the weather, she moved quickly. With another flash of lightning, she hurried to her locker and snatched up her umbrella, then grabbed her shoulder bag. Her footsteps echoed on the floor before she hit the carpeted hallway. From a distance, she heard the elevator doors open and ran the rest of the way. A few lab technicians were still in the building. She’d rather ride down with them than be alone. Nearing the elevator, she saw the doors stood open, waiting for her.

Just inside, Derek grinned. “Want to ride down together?”

Winded, her heart pounding, Lara pressed a hand to her chest. “Yes.” She stood only inches from him. With his lengthy look, she struggled for conversation. “I always liked storms.” Since coming in this morning, neither of them had said anything about their meeting in the park. She’d felt closer to him there. But except for this brief conversation, they were back to all business. Of course, they’d been busy all day. But he’d acted as if those moments had never happened.

Nervous in the quiet elevator with him, she went into her survival mode. She talked. Talked about the patients, about lunch at the exquisite restaurant, about his son. “He’s really cute, Dr. Cross.”

“Lara, away from the office, don’t you think you should call me Derek?”

Okeydokey. “Derek.” She took a deep breath. “Wasn’t there a doctors’ staff meeting this morning? Have you heard more about the feud between Eloise and the mayor?” She wondered if he knew more than the rest of the staff about the situation between Eloise and the mayor. “Do you think Manhattan Multiples might close?”

“If Bill Harper is serious about stopping funding, that could happen.”

Lara frowned. “Some of the staff are concerned they might lose their jobs.”

“You shouldn’t worry. You’re an excellent nurse. You’d never have a problem finding a new job.”

He looked down at his watch, frowned. He had somewhere to go, someone waiting for him. She wasn’t surprised. He was considered quite a catch by co-workers. Because she was taken with him, Lara always kept her thoughts about him to herself, not wanting to reveal the crush she had on him.

“I’m going to be in trouble tonight.”

Someone special was waiting for him. I don’t want to hear this, she thought.

“I promised to cook sloppy joes.”

“You eat sloppy joe sandwiches?” she asked about the messy hamburger mix on a bun. She couldn’t visualize a butler serving that.

He laughed. “I brush my teeth, too.”

She felt heat sweep over her face.

“I’m sorry.” He flashed a smile that nearly buckled her knees. “I couldn’t resist teasing.”

“I’m just surprised that you cook.” Especially something appropriate for eating on a TV tray. The man came from money. Wasn’t he accustomed to servants?

“Only sloppy joes. Dorothy cooks the rest of our meals. You know who I mean. You’ve talked to her.”

“Yes.” She’d had brief conversations with his housekeeper-nanny. While he withdrew his cell phone, she stepped back to give him privacy, but it wasn’t difficult to hear.

“Dorothy, I’m leaving now and—what the…” The elevator jerked, then stopped. He caught Lara’s wrist to steady her. “Are you okay?”

Sensation stirred deep within her. He had to be kidding? He was touching her. She couldn’t think about anything else.

“Dorothy, I’m going to be a little late, I think.” Repeatedly he pushed at the alarm button. Nothing happened. “Damn. No medical emergency….” he explained to Dorothy. “A sick elevator. It stalled. I’ll call you back.”

As he swung a look at Lara, she gave him a faint smile. She was stuck in an elevator with him. They could be there for hours. Overnight. What should she talk about? Maybe she shouldn’t say anything. Lord, she didn’t want to act like a ninny.

“Are you claustrophobic?”

No, that wasn’t her problem. “No.”

He grinned at her. “Fearless, aren’t you?”

Lara wasn’t sure what he meant.

“You like storms, don’t panic being stuck in an elevator. Fearless.”

“I don’t think about where we are. Being stuck in an elevator between floors could be unnerving, but it won’t be if you don’t think about it.” How simple she made that sound, how calm she appeared. Far from it. She drew a deep breath. It was insane to be so uneasy. She talked to him every day. So what if they were in a closet-size space? So what if there was no one around to act as a buffer?

“You did a good job with Mrs. Benson. She was stressing until you reassured her. I’m glad you were here for her this evening. You seem to know the right thing to say,” Derek said.

Business. Okay, that would be best. They’d discuss business. “Thank you.”

He gave her a look of compassion. “Lara, could you use a sympathetic shoulder?”

“Why would you think that?” She hadn’t thought anyone had noticed her blue mood, especially him.

He stared long and hard at her as if trying to see inside her. “You didn’t bubble today.”

“Bubble?” He thought she bubbled? Her laugh slipped out.

“You usually bubble. You’re the sunniest, most smiley person I’ve ever met. But you looked as if you were working at those smiles today.”

Deliberately she feigned a bright one.

“It’s not working.”

Lara heard the teasing lilt in his voice and found herself smiling. “It’s not?”