A Magical Christmas: Daddy by Christmas / Greek Doctor: One Magical Christmas / The Christmas Baby Bump

“No. Not unless the properties have been neglected like this one.”

He looked at her with those dark, piercing eyes. “In the first place, I wasn’t the one who allowed this property to fall apart. Secondly, most of my other holdings are commercial buildings. I’ve spent a lot of money renovating run-down properties. You can’t ask for top rent without a quality product.”

Why couldn’t he do the same here? “Have you ever considered putting money into this place? You have a whole other section that’s vacant. That’s twenty-four units that are empty.” She shrugged. “Like you said yourself, this town doesn’t have enough rental properties. With some remodeling you could sell them as townhomes.”

He studied her for a while. “Sounds like you’ve put some thought into this.”

“When we heard that the owner was selling, the tenants tried to buy the complex themselves. They didn’t have enough money, or the expertise to do the repairs.”

“I doubt if anyone can keep up with the repairs of this old place. No one would want to sink the time and effort into it, without knowing if they could recoup their money. The real estate market has been unpredictable.”

He sounded like her father. “Does it always have to be about money?”

He arched an eyebrow. “It does or I go broke.”

She’d been both, and she was definitely happier like this. “I can’t believe you’d lose everything. You still have family and a home. You might lose a little money, but you’ll survive. A lot of these people won’t. They can’t afford to move and pay double the rent elsewhere.”

He frowned. “What are you going to do when the lease is up?”

She blinked, fighting her anger. “Is your conscience suddenly bothering you about evicting a single mother?”

He straightened. “I’m not happy about evicting anyone. But I don’t have a choice. This deal has been in the works for months.”

“Like I said, it’s all about the almighty dollar.”

“What about the jobs this factory will create for the town? The economy isn’t that great to turn this opportunity away.”

“Does a factory have to be built on land that drives people from their homes?”

“I will find them other places to live. I’m not that cruel—I won’t put seniors and single mothers out on the street.”

“Well, you can stop worrying about me. I don’t want your charity.”

“Fine. Let’s see where your stubbornness gets you.”

“I’ve been able to take care of myself so far.”

“Then feel free to continue.” He stood and started to leave.

She tried not to let him see her fear. She raised her chin. “I will.”

Suddenly she felt her stomach tighten and she automatically covered it with her hands.

He must have seen it, too. “Are you okay?”

She nodded as she moved her hand over her belly and rubbed it, but it didn’t help. Then her back began to hurt, too. She tried to shift in the chair, but it didn’t help.

“Mia, what’s wrong?” Jarrett asked.

She shook her head. “Nothing.”

He knelt down beside her chair. “The hell it’s nothing.”

She shook her head, looking around the empty room. There wasn’t anyone else there.

His expression softened. “Mia, let me help you.”

A sharp pain grabbed her around the middle. “Oh, no,” she gasped and then looked at him. “I think the baby’s coming.”

Fifteen minutes later Jarrett pulled up at the emergency-room doors. He threw the car into Park, got out and ran around to the passenger side. He jerked open the door. Mia was taking slow measured breaths. Not good.

“Hang on, we’re almost there.”

She couldn’t hide her worried look. “It’s too early for me to go into labor. I can’t lose this baby, Jarrett.”

“And you won’t,” he promised. He had no idea what was going on, or even if the doctors could stop the contractions. “Let’s get you inside and find some help.” He slid his arms around her shoulders and under her legs, then lifted her into his arms.

“I’m too heavy,” she said.

“Are you kidding?” He smiled, taking long strides across the parking lot. “During roundup, I used to have to hoist calves a lot heavier than you.”

“You used to work on your brother’s ranch?”

“Back when I played cowboy, it was our dad’s place. That was a long time ago.”

She studied him. “I can see you as a rancher.”

His mouth twitched. “There’s the big difference, darlin’. I never did,” he drawled as he carried her through the automatic doors.

On the drive over, Mia had phoned her doctor and been told to go to the nearest emergency room, then she’d given Nola a quick call so her friends wouldn’t worry if they noticed she was gone.

Winchester Ridge Medical Center was the closest. Once inside, they were met by a nurse who led them into an exam room. Jarrett set Mia down on the bed and stepped back out of the way. Nurses immediately took her blood pressure, asking questions about due dates and the timing of the contractions. All the while, she kept looking at him.

Jarrett tried to give her some reassurance, but he didn’t know what to say.

“Excuse me,” a nurse said, getting his attention. “Are you the father?”

He shook his head, but hesitated with the answer. “No.” Mia didn’t have any family.

“Then you’ll have to leave while we examine her.”

“I’ll be right outside,” he told Mia. “Just holler if you need me.”

Jarrett stepped back behind the curtain and found a row of chairs against the wall. That was as far as he was going.

For the next few hours, Jarrett watched medical personal go in and out of Mia’s cubicle.

But no one told him a thing.