The Doctor Takes a Princess / Pregnant with the Prince's Child: The Doctor Takes a Princess / Pregnant with the Prince's Child

“I keep forgetting you’re a princess,” he said.

“Maybe it’s the baby formula on my dress,” she said drily.

“Maybe,” he said, meeting her gaze. The moment swelled between them.

Bridget felt her chest grow tight and took a breath to alleviate the sensation.

“I’m sure you’re tired. You could stay here if you want,” he offered. “I have a guest room and bath.”

Bridget blinked. She was tired, but staying here? “I don’t have a change of clothes.”

He shrugged. “I can give you a shirt to sleep in.”

The prospect of sleeping in Ryder’s shirt was wickedly seductive. Plus, she was tired. “I’d like to get your nanny situation in order for you.”

“That would be a dream come true,” he said. “Everything I’ve done so far hasn’t worked.”

“There may be a fee for an agency,” she said. “I’m not sure how it works here. I’ll have to ask my sister.”

“I took the first and second suggestions that were given to me and they didn’t pan out. It’s imperative that I have excellent care for the boys.”

“I can see that,” she said. “But do you also realize that you will have to make some adjustments as time goes on? Later, there will be sports and school activities where parents are expected to attend.” Bridget remembered that neither of her parents had attended her school activities. Occasionally a nanny had shown up, but never her parents. “Have you figured out how you’ll address that?”

He frowned thoughtfully. “I haven’t figured out much. I haven’t had custody very long. It’s still a shock to all of us. I know the boys miss their mother and father, but they can’t express it. I hate the loss for them. And I’m not sure I’m such a great choice as a parent. I’ve been totally dedicated to my career since I entered med school. Add to that how I’ve been filling in for Dr. Walters and it’s tough. I don’t want to let down my residents or the twins.”

Bridget studied Ryder for a long moment. “Are you sure you want to step in as their father? There are other options. There are people who would love to welcome the boys into their—”

“The boys are mine,” he said, his jaw locking in resolution. “It may take me some time, but I’ll figure it out. The boys are important to me. I held them minutes after they were born. I would do anything for them. We’ve just all been thrown a loop. We’re all dealing with the loss of my brother and sister-in-law. I will be there for them. I will be.”

She nodded slowly. “Okay. I’ll try to help you with your nanny situation.”

He paused and the electricity and emotion that flowed between them snapped and crackled. “Thank you.”

She nodded. “It’s late. I may need to borrow one of your shirts and I should talk to my security.”

“No problem,” he said, but the way he looked at her made her feel as if he’d much prefer she share his bed instead of taking the guest bed alone.

Bridget took a quick shower and brushed her teeth with the toothbrush Ryder supplied. Pushing her hands through the sleeves of the shirt he left in the guest bedroom for her, she drank in the fresh scent of the shirt. She climbed into bed, wondering what had possessed her to get involved in Ryder’s situation and she remembered all the things she couldn’t control or influence. Maybe, just maybe she could wave a magic wand in this one and help just a little.

It seemed only seconds after she fell asleep that she heard a knock at the door. She awakened, confused and disoriented. “Hello?”

“Bridget,” a male voice said from the other side of the door. “It’s me, Ryder.”

The door opened a crack. “I just wanted you to know I’m leaving.”

Her brain moved slowly. She was not at the hotel. She was at Ryder’s townhome. “Um.”

“The boys are still asleep.”

She paused. “The boys?” She blinked. “Oh, the boys.”

He came to the side of her bed. “Are you okay?”

“What time is it?”

“Five a.m.”

“Is this when you usually leave for work?”

“Pretty much,” he said.

“Okay,” she said and tried to make her brain work. “What time do they usually get up?”

“Six or seven,” he said. “I can try and call someone if—”

“No, I can do it,” she said. “Just leave my door open so I can hear them.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Check in at lunchtime,” she said.

“I can do that,” he said and paused. “Did anyone ever tell you how beautiful you are when you’re half-asleep?”

Unconsciously, her mouth lifted in a half smile. “I can’t recall such a compliment.”

“Nice to know I’m the first,” he said, bending toward her and pressing his mouth against hers. Before she could say a word, he left.

Bridget wondered if she’d dreamed the kiss.

She fell back asleep for what must have been 30 seconds and she heard the sound of a baby’s cry. It awakened her like cold water on her face. She sat upright, climbed out of bed and walked to the boys’ room. She swung open the door to find Travis and Tyler sitting in their cribs and wailing.

“Hi, darlings,” she said and went to Travis. “Good morning. It’s a wonderful day to be a baby, isn’t it?” She saw a twisty thing on the side of the crib and cranked it around. The mobile turned and music played. “Well, look at that,” she said and touched the mobile.

Travis gave a few more sobs, but as soon as he looked upward, he quieted as the mobile turned.

Bridget felt a sliver of relief. “Good boy,” she said and went to Tyler’s bed and cranked up the mobile. Tyler looked upward and gave up his halfhearted cry, staring at the mobile.

Diaper change, she thought and took care of Travis. Then she took care of Tyler and hoisted both boys on her hips and went downstairs. She fed them, changed them again and propped them on a blanket in the den while she called her sister’s friend for a reference for the best nanny agency in Dallas. Three hours later, she interviewed four nannies in between feeding the twins and changing more diapers and putting them down for a nap. When they fussed at nap time, she played a CD more repetitious than her brother’s top-adviser’s speech on a royal’s duty. She’d heard that lecture too many times to count. The huge advantage to the babies’ CD was that it included singing. Bridget wondered if she might have been more receptive to the lecture if the adviser had sung it.

The second prospective nanny was her favorite. She received letters of reference on her cell phone within an hour and sent a generous offer that was immediately accepted. After she checked on the boys, she ordered a nanny/babycam. Next in line, she would hire a relief nanny, but right now she needed a little relief of her own.

Bridget sank onto the couch and wondered when her day had felt so full. Even at this moment, she needed to use the bathroom, but she didn’t have the energy to go. She glanced at herself, in her crumpled dress from yesterday with baby formula, baby food and liquid baby burp. That didn’t include the drool.

Crazy, but the drool was sweet to her. How sick was that? But she knew the twins had drooled when they’d relaxed and trusted her.

She laughed quietly, a little hysterically. Anyone in their right mind would ask why she was working so hard to find a nanny for a doctor with two baby boys. Maybe a shrink could explain it, but these days, Bridget had a hard time turning down a cause of the heart. And Ryder and the boys had struck her straight in the heart with a deadly aim. She hoped, now, that she would feel some sort of relief.

Leaning back against the sofa with her bladder a little too full, she closed her eyes. Heaven help her, this baby stuff was exhausting.