Dr. Desirable

“Nick’s a decent guy, Shelly. A great dad, too. You might want to give him a chance.”

“I’ve got enough going on with mom and dad, my job—”

“Admit it. You’re afraid to get too close to anyone.”

And with good reason, Michelle decided. “Don’t you dare try your hand at matchmaking again. If you recall, you did that already and it was a disaster.”

“You’re not going to let me forget that, are you? I didn’t know Brett was married when I introduced you two.”

“Neither did he. At least he didn’t act like it.” And neither had Michelle until it had been too late. Until she had invested a lot of time and emotions in a relationship that could never be.

“Point taken,” Brooke said. “But does one bad experience have to spoil everything? Take me, for instance. If I hadn’t opened myself up again, I wouldn’t be married to Jared now. You were the one who encouraged me to go for it. I honestly believe there’s someone out there for you, too. Someone who’s your type and can make you happy.”

Michelle couldn’t find it in her heart to believe it. “Maybe I don’t have a type, Brooke.”

Brooke sighed. “Maybe you’re not looking in the right place.”

Michelle was basically tired of looking. Besides, her current celibate lifestyle held certain advantages, the least of which was not having to sort through the man pile to find that gem of a guy. She doubted he existed, at least for her.

“I don’t want anything serious, Brooke.”

“Who says you have to consider anything serious? What about living for the moment? Why don’t you try Nick out, see where it goes?”

“I can’t have just a fling.” Michelle didn’t relish the thought of keeping emotions totally out of it. It seemed to work for men—Brett included, and more than likely Nick—but she wasn’t sure it would ever work for her.

“Admit it,” Brooke said, “you’re scared to have fun, and you know that Nick Kempner would probably be lots of fun.”

Michelle was scared to get involved at the risk of getting her heart trampled. “Nick Kempner’s as fast as a race-car driver and he would probably lose me in the first turn.”

“I honestly believe you could hold your own with him.”

Oh, brother, or sister in this case. “Enough, Brooke.”

Brooke released a sigh of defeat. “Okay, I’ll lay off. I need to get to bed, anyway. Jared’s waiting for me.”

“That doesn’t sound conducive to rest.”

“Maybe not, but what a way to lose sleep. The man is insatiable. But then, so am I. Pregnancy does crazy things to a woman’s hormones, let me tell you.”

This time Michelle’s face burned. “I don’t want all the torrid details, so go to bed.”

“One more thing. Did you change your mind about going to the gala?”

First Nick, now Brooke. “I’m not in the mood for dancing.”

“Then do you mind baby-sitting at our house? We’re planning to go with a few friends, and we could use someone to stay with the kids. We can have everyone meet over here, since our place is bigger than your apartment.”

What a relief that Brooke hadn’t lit into another lecture on how Michelle needed to get out more. “How many are you expecting to be there?”

The way Brooke paused to clear her throat, Michelle expected an army of feisty two-year-olds. Instead Brooke said, “Only one right now, but there could be more. It will give you some practice playing aunt.”

Michelle didn’t need any practice. Five years Brooke’s senior, she’d diapered and changed Brooke, cared for her like the “little mother” for as long as she could remember. Still, she did love kids and wouldn’t mind spending her Saturday evening with a few. Much less complicated than spending time trying to second-guess a man. “Okay. Sounds like fun. I’ll be over around six.”

“Great. You’re the best.”

“And don’t you forget it,” Michelle teased.

“I gather I’m forgiven for not telling you about the baby.”

“Of course. I’ll always forgive you no matter what you do.”

Three

“Brooke Lewis Granger, I may never forgive you for this,” Michelle muttered as she peeked through her sister’s living room curtain.

Striding up Brooke and Jared’s walkway was none other than Nick Kempner, dressed in black tie and accompanied by his daughter, obviously Michelle’s charge for the evening. She adored Kelsey and didn’t mind one bit baby-sitting the little girl. However, she did mind the fact that she would have to face the girl’s father, especially since he looked like a young version of James Bond with his tanned face contrasting the white tuxedo shirt, his dark hair primed to perfection. At the moment the doctor was definitely shaking and stirring her belly.

Kelsey stood by his side, jerking his arm up and down like an old-fashioned well pump handle. Without regard for his neatly combed hair and perfectly pressed tuxedo, he grabbed her up and hoisted her onto his shoulders. She patted his head as if to say, Good boy.

Michelle backed away from the window and paced the room, letting go a string of mild curses aimed at her sister’s continued secrecy.

When the doorbell rang, Michelle simply stared at the entrance. It rang once again but before she spurred herself into action, Brooke appeared wearing a robe.

“Are you going to get it, Shelly?”

“Are you going to explain why you didn’t tell me I was sitting for Nick Kempner’s daughter?”

Brooke had the gall to play innocent. “You didn’t ask.”

“Where are the rest of the kids?”

Brooke’s gaze slid away. “Uh, actually, everyone else has sitters, so it’s just Kelsey. Nick was the only one in a bind.”

Nick wasn’t the only one, Michelle thought. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. And she got the distinct feeling this was another one of Brooke’s subtle attempts at more matchmaking.

Without further comment Brooke opened the door to allow Nick entry while Michelle hung back right behind the opening to the den. She moved inside the room to where she could still see Nick, but Nick couldn’t see her. Enough distance to allow her the opportunity to get a good look at him without him knowing it. And what a view it was.

Whomever he’d decided to escort tonight, she was one lucky girl. Michelle battled the sudden jealousy, knowing she had no right to feel that way. After all, she had turned Nick down.

Kelsey rushed in like a tempest and grabbed Brooke around the knees.

“Whoa, Cisco,” Nick said. “Be careful with Aunt Brooke. She’s going to have a baby, remember?”

Kelsey looked up at her dad and stuck out a defiant chin. “I’m Kelsey not Cisco.”

Nick reached down and ruffled her curls. “I don’t care if your name is mud, you still need to be careful.”

With an awe-filled expression, Kelsey stood on tiptoes and patted Brooke’s belly. “Hi, baby!”