A Match Made by Baby

However, she didn’t push further. She didn’t want to get more involved than she already was. “So your dad didn’t know Tina was pregnant?”

“No. I called and left a message for him yesterday after Tina left Erica with me. We’re a pair, the two of us.”

“But not alike. You haven’t been married four times.”

Adam gave her a penetrating stare. “No, I haven’t been married four times. But I also haven’t had a serious relationship with a woman for more than a couple of months. Make that one month. I guess I come from a gene pool that can’t commit.”

“You think it’s in the genes?”

“I think it’s in the genes, and I think you have to grow up in the right atmosphere. I batted zilch on both.”

“I don’t agree.”

When he studied her at her remark, she knew he’d never expected her to contradict him.

“Just what don’t you agree with?” he asked. “You don’t know what my childhood was like.”

“No, I don’t. But I do know we do what we want to do—when we’re kids and when we’re adults. Granted, it’s easier if someone teaches us how to get along with other people. But basically, I think if we want a friend, we make a friend. If we want a mate, we look for the possibilities—which could be anything from a one-night stand to a lasting commitment. But we have to want it, Adam.”

“How do you know what I want? Seems to me, you didn’t stick around to find out.” He sounded regretful about that and she wondered why. After all, he’d just admitted he didn’t date anyone longer than a month!

“I knew what you wanted that night, just as you knew what you wanted. But I—”

“You chickened out, and I’d like to know why.”

Oh, there it was. The conversation that she didn’t want to have.

Taking the bottle away from the baby, she said calmly, “I have to burp her. Do you want to learn how?”

“Kaitlyn, you’re cutting it off again.”

“I’m not here to discuss what happened a year ago. I’m here to figure out what’s best for this baby. Do you want to learn to burp her?”

Adam’s brow furrowed, his jaw set, and she saw the storms in his eyes. He was used to being in control. He was used to being in charge. And right now, he wasn’t.

“Show me what to do, and you won’t have to show me how to do it again.”

Well, those lines were drawn.

Kaitlyn lifted Erica and took her over to Adam. She said, “Sit up straight. You can burp a baby on your shoulder, but you said that wasn’t working for you. So we’ll try something else. I’m going to sit her on your knee.”

Kaitlyn knelt down beside Adam so she could more easily help. “Support her back like I’m doing.”

When Adam transferred his hand to Erica’s back, Kaitlyn’s was still there. She slipped hers away, but not without feeling the warmth of his long fingers.

“Now you’re going to put your other hand in front of Erica and let her weight rest against your palm.” Kaitlyn was almost between Adam’s knees now, and it was uncomfortable and awkward, yet also an exciting place to be, if she was honest with herself.

If he brushed his cheek against hers from this vantage point, she’d feel his stubble. She could remember the feel of his lips on hers, the tempting mastery of his tongue, the passion he’d evoked that had almost swept her away.

Inhaling a deep breath, and along with it his musky scent, she believed this was the worst assignment she’d ever had from The Mommy Club. When she’d learned the person who needed help was Adam Preston, she should have called one of the other docs to help.

Crazy, but she was feeling a little crazy right now. So close to Adam, yet emotionally removed. At least she was trying to be.

“Let her lean into your palm, and just rub her back. That’s all you have to do. You can pat it a little, too, but—”

Erica gave a loud burp, and the formula stayed down.

Kaitlyn gave a little smile then moved away, now that she felt Adam was more confident in what he was doing.

They were still too close. She realized the best thing she could do was leave.

She rose to her feet. “I’d better be going. I have to check on a patient at the hospital in Sacramento.”

“Leave?” he asked with a pointed look. He nodded toward the boxed swing and the crib. “I suppose I could put those together while she sleeps, if she sleeps. What have you decided about the situation here? Can you send somebody out to help?”

Actually, The Mommy Club was shorthanded right now. There were several members of the community who needed help. One young mother had had surgery. Another was undergoing chemo for breast cancer, and several women were helping take care of her children and bring in food. Sometimes it seemed like The Mommy Club had a score of volunteers. But when it came down to the nitty-gritty, daily help was hard to find.

Adam must have seen something in her face. “What? No one’s available? Or are you just going to call a social worker and say I’m not fit to take care of Erica?”

“That wouldn’t be the truth. But I really don’t know the answer yet. I’ll check back with you tomorrow. You’ll be fine. I know you will.”

“I’ll be fine,” he agreed. “But I don’t think you’re fine, Kaitlyn, because you’re running. I don’t know why, and you obviously don’t want to tell me, but you’re running. Think about that while you’re driving to Sacramento.”

Kaitlyn knew she’d think about nothing else.

Chapter Three (#ulink_cab69074-27f8-55ac-859a-fdd60a58825d)

In the Sacramento hospital, Kaitlyn kept her attention focused on her four-year-old patient who was doing much better. She was grateful for that. The little girl had been mighty sick, and Kaitlyn hadn’t let that worry show to the parents.

But now as she read Mary Lou’s chart on her electronic tablet, she was hopeful her patient would be going home soon.

She’d just turned away from the nurses’ desk when she heard her name called. Valerie Tremont waved from the sitting area. She had a cup of coffee beside her and Kaitlyn guessed she was taking a break. A nurse here, Val had been keeping to herself lately, and Kaitlyn suspected why. A divorce. Kaitlyn knew firsthand how that could tear up a person’s life.

Glad for any distraction from Adam and his niece, Kaitlyn approached Val with a smile. “How are you?”

“Surviving,” she said with an attempt at cheerfulness.

“Are Chrissy and Craig okay?”

“We’re all adjusting. It’s not as if David had been home the past few years.”

Her husband, David, had been a medic in the marines and deployed several times. Over a year ago, he’d decided to walk away from his marriage. Although Val lived in Fawn Grove, she worked at the hospital in Sacramento because the pay and benefits were better than anything she could find locally.

“Do you see David?”

Val shook her head. “After that last deployment, his discharge and the divorce, he said he just needed time for himself. The last I heard, he was taking a hostel trip through Spain. I think he just saw too much in his service, and he’s trying to escape the memories.”

Kaitlyn sat down beside her. “How’s the apartment working out?”