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

Ryder left the office early, determined not to leave Bridget totally in the lurch with the boys. Stepping inside the front door, he found Bridget, mussed in the most alluring way, asleep on his couch.

She blinked, then her eyes widened. “Oh, excuse me. Just a second,” she said, then raced down the hallway.

He listened carefully, automatically these days. A CD played over the baby monitor, but there were no other sounds. A double check never hurt, he thought, and strode upstairs to listen outside the nursery door.

Nothing. He opened the doorknob in slow motion and pushed the door open. Carefully stepping inside, he peeked into the cribs. Both boys were totally zoned out. He almost wondered if they were snoring but refused to check.

Backing out of the room, he returned downstairs to the den. Bridget was sipping from a glass of water.

“Are they still asleep?” she asked.

He nodded.

She grimaced. “I hate to say this. You have no idea how much I hate to say this, but we need to wake them or they’ll be up all night. And I’m not staying tonight.”

“Yeah,” he said, but he was in no rush.

“I hired a nanny. She can start Monday. I’ve also ordered a baby/nannycam for your peace of mind. The next step is hiring a relief nanny because the twins are especially demanding at this age. Well, maybe they will be demanding at every age, but we have to deal with the present and the immediate future.”

Ryder stared at her in disbelief. “How did you do that?”

She smiled. “I’m a fairy princess. I waved my magic wand,” she said. “Actually I got into the best nanny agency in Dallas, used my title, interviewed four highly qualified women in between changing diapers, selected one applicant, received references, blah, blah, blah and it’s done.” She lifted her shoulders. “And now I’m done.”

“I’m sure you are. In any other circumstance, I would invite you out to dinner for the evening.”

“Lovely thought,” she said. “But I feel extremely grungy. The opposite of glamorous. I’m going to my sister’s ranch for the weekend. You can call me next week about all the doctors you want to send to Chantaine.”

His lips twitched. “You don’t really think I’m going to sell out one of my residents for this, do you?”

“Sell out is such a harsh term,” she said with a scowl. “I believe it’s more accurate that you’re giving them an opportunity for hands-on experience in a beautiful environment with a compensation that allows them to concentrate on treatment rather than their debt.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “Pretty good.”

She shrugged. “It’s the truth. My security is waiting to drive me to my sister’s house. Can you take it from here?”

“Yes, I can. Do I have your number?” he asked. “For that dinner I promised.”

She looked at him for a long, sexy moment that made him want to find a way to make her stay. “Some would say I’m more trouble than I’m worth,” she said.

“They haven’t seen you with twins,” he said.

She smiled slightly and went to the kitchen. Out of curiosity, he followed and watched her scratch a number across the calendar tacked on the fridge. “Good enough?” she asked.

“Good enough,” he said.

“Don’t wait too long to call me, cowboy doctor,” she said and walked toward the front door.

“I won’t,” he said, his gaze fixed on the sight of her amazing backside. “G’night, gorgeous.”

She tossed a smile over her shoulder. “Same to you.”

Bridget felt Valentina search her face. “Twin boys? Dr. Ryder? What does any of this have to do with you?”

It was Saturday morning. Noon, actually, as she sipped her tea and entered the world of the waking. “I didn’t mean to get involved, but I didn’t have a choice. I mean, the boys were orphaned. Ryder is grieving at the same time he’s trying to take care of the babies. Trying to take on someone else’s job because he’s medically unable.”

Tina stared at her in disbelief. “Are you sure you’re okay? Maybe you need more rest.”

Bridget laughed. “I’m sure I’ll take another nap, but the story won’t change tomorrow. It was something I had to do.” She paused. “You understand that, don’t you? When you have to fix it if you can?”

Tina’s face softened and she covered Bridget’s hand with hers. “Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry,” she said, shaking her head.

“For what?”

“The Devereaux fixing gene has kicked in,” she said. “It’s a gift and a plague.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, you finally understand what it means to be a Devereaux Royal,” she said, her expression solemn. “If you see a need, you try to fill it. If you see a pain, you try to heal it. It’s your purpose. It’s our purpose.”

“So, I’m going to be doing stuff like this the rest of my life?” Bridget asked, appalled.

Tina nodded and Katiana banged on the tray of her high chair, clearly wanting more food.

“Oh, I hope not.” Bridget didn’t want to feel that much. She didn’t want to get that emotionally involved. Surely, she could get this out of her system once and for all with Ryder and the babies and then get back to her true self in Italy.

Bridget sighed. “What I really want to do is wrap up this doctor thing as soon as possible. I’m concerned it may not happen as quickly as I like.”

“Why not?” Tina asked as she gave Katiana slices of peaches.

“I don’t understand it all, but the way Ryder talks about it, going to Chantaine would be death for a physician’s career. Sounds a bit overdramatic to me, but I need to get further information. In the meantime, Stefan has asked me to make some more official appearances, so I’ll be traveling and spending more time in Dallas.”

Tina frowned. “I don’t like that,” she said. “I thought you were going to spend most of your time here with me.”

“I’ll still be coming to the ranch as often as possible, but you know how Stefan is. He likes to maximize our efforts.”

“How well I remember,” Tina said with a groan. She dampened a clean cloth and wiped off Katiana’s face and hands.

Katiana shook her adorable head and lifted her hands. “Up,” she said.

“Of course, Your Highness,” Tina said and gave her daughter a kiss as she lifted her from the chair.

Katiana immediately pointed at the floor. “Down.”

“Please,” Tina said.

Katiana paused.

“Please,” Tina repeated. “Can you say that?”