His Baby Surprise

He placed a kiss on the baby’s forehead and made a solemn promise to himself and his son. “You’re going to know I love you and that I’ll always be there for you.” He hugged the baby close. “And I’ll walk through hell before I let Fred Hatfield or your mother stand in my way.”

Lexi woke with a start, her heart pounding. She sat up and frantically searched the dimly lit room for the wicker bassinet Martha had placed Matthew in after he finished nursing.

It was nowhere in sight.

Panic tearing at her insides, Lexi reached for the call button, but her hands trembled so badly she couldn’t engage the switch. Tossing it aside, she threw back the sheet and tried to get out of bed.

Her sore body protested the rapid movement and her knees threatened to give way when she stood, but she ignored the warnings. She had to find her baby.

By the time she crossed the room and made it down the long corridor to the deserted reception area, her flagging strength was all but spent and she had to lean against the wall for support.

“Martha—”

“Lexi, what in the name of all that’s holy are you doin’ out of bed?” Martha sent her swivel chair skating backward as she rose and hurried to Lexi’s side. “I told you the first time you got up, I had to be there in case you needed help.”

The room began a sickening swirl and Lexi felt herself start to sag. “Where’s…my baby?”

“Doc, get out here,” Martha yelled when Lexi leaned heavily against her. “Now!”

Just before Lexi lost her battle with the dark curtain closing around her, strong arms scooped her up and lifted her to a wide chest. Her nostrils filled with the essence of the man holding her. He smelled of spice cologne and…baby powder.

He must have been holding the baby when Martha called for help. The thought instantly cleared her fog-filled head.

Strength flowed from Ty’s body to hers as he cradled her to him, and Lexi squeezed her eyes shut against the wave of emotion welling up inside her.

“Please, put me down.”

“No.”

“I can walk,” she insisted.

“Yeah, right.” Ty laughed, but the sound held little humor. “Trying to walk is what damned near had you kissing the floor.”

Without another word, he carried her down the corridor to her room and tucked her into bed. At the loss of contact, Lexi suddenly felt cold and abandoned. It was a ridiculous feeling, considering the circumstances, but it was still very real.

With calm efficiency, Ty wrapped a blood pressure cuff around her upper arm, pumped air into it, then slowly released the valve as he listened with his stethoscope. Apparently satisfied with the reading, he took her pulse, recorded the numbers on her chart, then folded his arms across his chest to stare down at her.

“It isn’t called labor for nothing, Alexis,” he said, his voice stern. “Your body had to work very hard and use a lot of energy in order for you to give birth. And although I don’t advise a patient staying in bed more than a few hours following a routine delivery, I do expect her to listen to orders.”

Lexi ground her teeth to keep from screaming that it was his fault she’d gotten up, that she’d had a terrible nightmare in which he’d taken her baby. But caution forced her to remain silent. In no way did she want to arouse Ty’s suspicions.

“As you recently found out, feeling faint is not uncommon the first time a woman tries to walk after giving birth,” Ty continued to lecture. “That’s why you were told to wait for Martha’s assistance.”

Lexi glared at him. “Are you quite finished, Dr. Braden?” When he gave her a slight nod, she asked the question foremost on her mind. “Where’s my son?”

“He’s right here,” Martha said, wheeling the bassinet to the side of Lexi’s bed. “He’s been visitin’ with Doc while you took a nap.” Turning to Ty, she asked, “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?”

“Go ahead, Martha,” Ty said, nodding. “I can handle things from here.”

“Doc Fletcher always wanted me to be here when we had an overnight patient,” she said, clearly miffed.

Ty shrugged. “Dr. Fletcher had a wife to go home to. I don’t. Besides, I’ll be here anyway. I have to get caught up on some paperwork and it’ll take most of the night to get it done.”

Hoping Martha proved to be as stubborn as always, Lexi’s heart sank when she saw Martha hesitate. “Are you sure?”

“I promise I’ll take good care of them,” Ty said, smiling. “Now go home and get some rest.”

Lexi watched with growing horror as Martha finally nodded and walked toward the door. “If you need me, you’ve got the number,” Martha said, waving goodbye.

The very last thing Lexi wanted was to be left alone with Ty. In fact, she didn’t want to be anywhere near him. The more time they spent together, the bigger the chance he’d realize he was Matthew’s father.

As if to draw attention to that very fact, the baby let loose with a lusty cry.

“It appears somebody wants his dinner,” Ty said. He picked the infant up, but seemed in no hurry to place him in Lexi’s outstretched arms. “You said his name is Matthew?”

“Yes.” Her apprehension intensified as Ty smiled fondly at the angry baby he continued to hold.

“Have you and Fred picked out a middle name?” he asked without looking at her.

Watching him stare down at the baby, Lexi frowned. “Did you meet Freddie this afternoon?”

“No.” Ty chuckled when Matthew tried to find nourishment from the tip of his little finger. “I was with a patient. Maybe Fred and I will have the chance to get acquainted when he comes to take you and the baby home.”

“Maybe,” Lexi agreed.

All she had to do was keep the two from meeting. It shouldn’t be hard, Lexi decided. She was quite confident that Freddie would be more than happy to wait outside the clinic.

“So, does this little guy have a middle name?” Ty asked again, interrupting Lexi’s thoughts.

She searched his face, but his expression gave no indication of what he might be thinking. “Scott,” she answered cautiously. “Why do you want to know?”

Ty finally handed the baby to her when Matthew found Ty’s finger to be less than satisfying. “I need his full name for the birth certificate.”

Relieved, Lexi managed a weak smile as she held her son close. “His name is Matthew Scott Hatfield.”

“Of course,” Ty agreed. Then, to her immense relief, he turned and left the room.

His son cradled to his chest, Ty sat in the darkened room, his eyes fixed on the sleeping woman in front of him. The months since she’d left Chicago had done nothing to lessen the effect she had on him. From the first time he’d laid eyes on her that day in the elevator, Alexis had taken his breath away with her beauty, had made his heart skip a beat when she spoke. She still did.

And earlier, when he’d carried her back to bed, the bittersweet memories of their night together had been overwhelming. The feel of her softness against him, the sweet smell of her honeysuckle-scented hair where it brushed his cheek, had made him feel as if he’d go up in flames.

But Alexis was off-limits now, married to another man. A man she was trying to pass off as Matthew’s father. His jaw tightened involuntarily. Ty didn’t think he’d ever forgive her for that.

He gazed down at the baby he held. Alexis may have replaced him with someone else, but Ty would never stand by and watch his son call another man “Daddy.”

He smiled as his tension eased. He fully intended to let Alexis know he was aware of the truth.

And Ty knew exactly how to go about telling her.