Winning Back His Doctor Bride (10 page)

BOOK: Winning Back His Doctor Bride
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But was that really true? He didn't care about the money. At all. But he didn't want to be a father. It wasn't in his plans. Not now. Not ever.

And yet...

No. Do not go there, James.

Too late. His mind had dredged up the image of Mila holding Leo in the back of the car as they'd made their way to the clinic. His eyes strayed to the baby monitor.

Mila shrugged, bringing his attention back to her. “Like I said, it's okay. Let's not make it into a national tragedy before there's a reason to.”

It sure looked like there was a reason to from where he was standing. What kind of birth control had she used with her firefighter?

Not a question he was going to ask. Neither did he want to picture Mila with anyone else, doing what they'd just done. Or wonder if she'd ever gotten so carried away that she'd forgotten all about birth control.

Like he had?

Screw this.

Before he could say anything else she hefted herself onto the side of the pool with one graceful push of her arms. And damn if the dress wasn't just as transparent as it had been earlier.

And double damn if his libido wasn't already waking up.

“Let's just forget this ever happened,” she said.

He put his hands on the side of the pool and glared up at her. “You think it's going to be that easy? I don't think so, and I bet you don't either.”

She stared right back down at him, water dripping from her dress and pooling around her feet.

“You're wrong. I can, and I will.” She started to walk away and then stopped. Turned back around to face him. Squatted in front of him. “And just to prove it I'm going to do what the clinic wants and ride on your boat for the regatta.”

“I thought that was already decided. And I think you're forgetting something.”

“What's that?”

“I have something that belongs to you. Aren't you going to ask for it back?”

She cocked her head. “Ask for what back?”

James reached in his pocket and pulled out her baby blue thong. “This. Unless you want me to run it up the mast as my own personal trophy.”

Mila's face turned crimson and she snatched the underwear and got back to her feet. “I bet you think every woman is your personal trophy. Well, guess what, James Rothsberg. Not me. I'm no man's trophy. And especially not yours.”

* * *

Dropping Leo off at preschool was one of the hardest things she'd ever done. But one of the agreements she'd made with the judge was that she'd enroll him within the week. The rationale was that he needed to start learning English as soon as possible.

She knew they were right, but she'd still put it off until the very last second. The week was now over and here they both were, in front of the redbrick building that held Leo's well-being in its hands.

Would someone make fun of him? Bully him?

Her throat clenched so hard she thought she might suffocate. She understood that he needed to be in school, but why so soon? Why not wait until after his surgery?

Part of her misgivings had to do with James and what they'd done in the pool a week ago. She'd avoided him as much as she could, concentrating on her LA office, rather than the spiffy new one in The Hollywood Hills Clinic, even though she still needed to paint that damned mural. She figured that by staying away she could just forget he existed.

Not very likely. As much as she'd assured him she could put what they'd done out of her head, it was still there. Right at the surface, ready to rise from its watery grave to taunt her all over again.

How could she have let him have sex with her without protection? She was right in that her cycle wasn't at the optimal time for conception, but stranger things had happened.

Tyler had always taken care of that when they'd been together. And maybe she'd let him because she hadn't been as invested in their relationship as she should have been.

But she certainly would have realized it if he'd made love to her without a condom.

With James, it hadn't even crossed her mind that they hadn't used anything. Until he'd freaked out.

And he had freaked.

All over her. All over her afterglow.

All over any possible child they might have. He'd made his thoughts perfectly clear. Having a baby with her was the end of the world. It should be for her as well.

And yet it wasn't. She'd bought the morning after pill and had sat it on the table in front of her along with a glass of water. She stared at it for the longest time. But she couldn't bring herself to take it.

Shaking herself back to the present, she drummed up her courage to let Leo walk up the path. The school had promised they had a staff member who knew Spanish who would step in if there were any problems.

And she was supposed to place this child in their hands? Yes. Just like every other parent did with their child.

Leo's not yours, Mila.

But he could be.

The whisper was there. Just like it had been for the last two weeks. She tried to suppress it. Chastise it. Curse it. But it was still there.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to smile down at the boy, who stood beside her in his brand-new school clothes.

Only he didn't have shoes on. Just thick socks with protective rubber pads over his damaged feet.

“¿Estás listo?”

“Sí. Listo.”
He grinned back up at her, showing he was indeed ready to go.

How could he be so cheerful? He'd taken everything in his stride, and the boy had such a wonderful attitude that it brought tears to her eyes at times. He should be furious at the hand he'd been dealt. Terrified at being left alone in a strange place with strange people. Instead, he was fascinated by every new thing that crossed his path.

Like red grapes. And broccoli spears (which he called trees).

A mother and her son walked past them, the mother glancing down at Leo as they strolled by. The woman smiled at her. A genuine smile. And the boy waved at Leo with a mischievous grin.

“Estoy listo.”
Leo tugged her hand.

He really was ready. Even if Mila was not.

So she trudged up the walkway, following the path that hundreds of other parents had walked at one time or another.

And prayed she was doing the right thing. For her. For James. And most of all for Leo.

CHAPTER EIGHT

J
AMES
 
HANDED
 
HER
 
the oversized scissors. She took them, careful not to touch his skin as she did. But she was very aware of his warm scent as it surrounded her. A mixture of aftershave and the ocean. He must have been on his boat the last week, because she hadn't seen him coming or going from his house. Which should have made her sick with relief.

Instead...it just made her sick. Because she'd missed him.

A ridiculous sentiment. Sure, they'd had a quick sexual encounter, but thousands of exes hooked up at least once after their separation.

Well, that had been their once. And now it was over. She didn't have to worry about that kind of tension surrounding them anymore.

Except she still felt it strumming through her like the low throb of the engine on James's boat.

Like now, when he leaned down to murmur in her ear, “Are you going to cut that ribbon or just stare at it all day?”

“Oh. Right.” Her mind swung back to the present and the reporters and people grouped around a wide yellow ribbon that covered the main entrance of Bright Hope. Her head tilted when she noticed Avery standing next to Tyler, chatting with him like they were best friends. Was that why the other woman had asked if it was truly over between Mila and the firefighter yesterday? Avery deserved someone like Tyler—and he deserved a woman who could love him unconditionally. And there was no better time than this for new beginnings.

Today was the official opening of the clinic, although they didn't have any patients waiting yet.

There would be, though. Leo was going to be the poster child for the collaboration between the two medical centers. They already had a gorgeous picture that James had snapped of him on the boat, life vest firmly fastened as he stared over the side at the water below. The caption read, “Bright Hope was his life jacket. It can be yours too.”

James had come up with the slogan, and Mila had to admit she loved it. The clinic gave the less fortunate members of LA hope and a place to go when no one else cared.

Well,
she
cared. Fiercely.

And she was going to make this work. Even if it meant working with James every day for the rest of her life.

Opening the scissors, she slid them over the ribbon and snapped them back together, severing it in two. The ends fell apart, metaphorically removing the barrier that stood between people and their access to this medical center.

Then people were surrounding her, shaking her hand, sticking microphones in her face and asking her to say a few words.

Maybe James saw the beginnings of panic on her face because he smoothly stepped between her and the throng of reporters and held up his hands. She had no idea what he said as her mind was completely numb, but it must have been enough to satisfy the journalists. They scribbled and filmed and talked to their cameras. And then they were packing up all their gear and heading back to the parking lot, moving on to the next big story.

And this was evidently a big one. There were still some fringe reporters—members of the paparazzi—hovering around the perimeter, hoping to get a shot of something unexpected.

“Come with me.” The man she was hoping would leave along with everyone else was still here, holding his hand out for the scissors, which he in turn handed to someone else. A pretty blonde, who hovered nearby and seemed to know him well enough. Maybe a little too well. His assistant? His...what...lover?

He'd had enough of them over the years, according to the tabloids.

Maybe that's why the paparazzi were still here, hoping James would forget himself and give them a hint as to who his current love interest was.

She swallowed hard, trying not to let that thought sink in. It was none of her business. He could sleep with everyone in the western hemisphere and it should mean nothing to her.

Only it did. And she wasn't sure why. Maybe because of what they'd done.

Well, it didn't matter. They'd been over and done for six years. She'd be stupid to let anything start back up. Ha! Anything. Like sleeping with him?

She kept expecting him to check in about her period, to which she would respond that he should mind his own damn business. But he didn't. Nor did he ask her if she'd taken steps to protect them both afterward.

He never said a word about what had happened.

Which was good.

She thought.

Avery and Tyler came over, her assistant giving her a hug and congratulating her, while the firefighter shook James's hand. Her assistant had agreed to work at the new clinic, and Mila would be hiring someone else to take her place at the downtown location. The pair headed toward the parking lot with Avery throwing her a quick wink. Mila smiled back, hoping that meant what she thought it did.

James held the door, letting the blonde from the press conference go in ahead of him. Mila was tempted to just slink away—after all maybe that “Come with me” had been directed at the other woman and not her. Except James threw a glance over his shoulder that told her otherwise. He wasn't really her boss. She could just leave. But his clinic was helping her fulfill a huge dream: to bring the care she'd given in poorer countries to the poor of her own country.

Which meant she needed to suck it up and do whatever it took.

Including sleeping with the man who was instrumental in helping Bright Hope procure a premier spot in his clinic?

Of course not. The pool situation had nothing to do with business and everything to do with hormones and memories. Unfortunately the two had collided at just the wrong moment. Thank heavens she'd been able to separate the guilty duo and put them back in their individual corners. Which meant no more sleeping with this man.

Although the sex had been pretty damned amazing. And she didn't seem to have any real scars that she could see.

Maybe...

Absolutely not!

James was still holding the door, only now one brow was quirked in a silent challenge.

She breezed past him as if she hadn't a care in the world, only to run into Freya just inside. “Hey, I've been looking all over for you two.”

The blonde was now nowhere to be seen.

“You have?” Mila had a bad feeling. Her friend had been so busy being in love with Zack that she hadn't seen nearly as much of her as she'd used to. “Why?”

James stopped beside her and tilted his head at his sister. “You could have just called me.”

“I texted, but you didn't answer.” An impish smile appeared.

“My phone was on silent for the ribbon cutting.”

“Mmm-hmm. Sure it was.”

What was going on? Freya was acting like there was some kind of inside joke. One that James didn't find particularly amusing.

Mila ignored him. “So you wanted...?”

“Zack and I would like you to be the twins' godmother. We've asked James to be the godfather, but since he'll already be their uncle... Unless, of course, you'd like to make that
aunt
and uncle.”

A weird gurgling sound came out before she could stop it. She cleared her throat to cover it. What was Freya talking about? She couldn't be the babies' aunt unless she... Oh, Lord. Unless she married James.

Not going to happen. She'd already tried that once before only to have him back out at the last second.

But she hadn't completely gotten over him. The pool proved that. It also made her realize that what had gone wrong between her and Tyler had probably had a lot to do with James.

In fact, every man she'd ever dated had seemed to fall short, damn them all.

“Mila, are you okay?”

She realized that both James and Freya were staring at her, James with an inscrutable look that made her swallow. He seemed just as unhappy with the prospect of her being involved with his sister's children as she was. As a godparent, she would be invited to all the major events of their lives. Family functions. Baptisms. Special occasions.

Weddings.

Mila cringed at the thought. What if James eventually got married? Would she be forced to attend?

It was on the tip of her tongue to say no, and yet as Freya stood there, blooming with health and happiness, Mila couldn't find it in her heart to refuse her friend's request. She came forward and caught Freya up in a hug, kissing her on the cheek. “Of course I'll be their godmother. I'd be honored.”

Freya gave her a tight squeeze and released her. “I'm so relieved. You can't even imagine. Why don't you and James come over for dinner sometime soon so we can start planning?” She rubbed her belly in tiny circles. “Before I explode would be preferable.”

“Oh, I...” She searched her brain for some reason to refuse but came up blank.

James tweaked his sister's chin. “Of course we will. Let us figure out our schedules and get back to you with a date.”

“Soon,” his sister insisted. Then her face went serious. “Bring Leo as well. When is his surgery, by the way?”

“In a little over a week.” How had the time gone by so quickly? The child had been in preschool almost a week and his English vocabulary was already beginning to grow by leaps and bounds.

“Have you taken him sailing yet?” This time the question was directed at James. Why Freya thought her brother was responsible for Leo's care was beyond her. Maybe because they were living on James's property.

“Not yet.” His voice had cooled a bit. But why? They'd taken Leo on the boat once already, although it hadn't left its mooring. But that had been to tell her about the regatta. It had been business.

Well, maybe they could make Leo's sailing expedition business as well. They could practice the route they would take for the regatta, getting the timing down. It was now only a week away.

She was already dreading having to get dressed up just to rub shoulders with people she had nothing in common with. But it was all part and parcel of what she'd agreed to. Leo would have his surgery just days after the gala.

She decided to broach the subject of doing something special with the child, not because she wanted to go sailing with James but because it would do Leo good. And it would help her get over having sex with James.

Exactly how was it going to do that?

By giving her a chance to be with him under ordinary circumstances. Besides, Leo would act as a chaperon of sorts. Nothing could happen if they had a child with them.

Ha! Leo had been less than fifty yards away the last time.

“I think maybe we should take him. We could run the regatta route and see how long it takes. Besides, he won't be able to come to the actual event.”

They'd decided to ask Rosa to watch him for the fundraiser. Mila didn't want to make any more of a spectacle of him than necessary. The advertising posters were bad enough, she didn't want him exposed to people who might be less than sensitive about his condition.

Thoughts that a mother would have.

Freya laughed. “Exactly. It would be great.”

Said by a pregnant woman who would no more board a boat than she would scale a mountain.

“Again, I'll have to check my schedule. I have a medical practice to run,” James said, the chill in his voice unmistakable this time.

She decided to ignore it. “I have to check mine as well, but surely we can both juggle some things in order to make this happen for him.” She couldn't stop herself from touching his arm. “Nothing in this life is certain. Especially surgery. Please?”

She wasn't sure whether it was the “please” or the comment about the surgery, but the chill left and his face softened. “We'll work something out.”

“Okay, my mission is complete. Let me know about dinner.” Freya started to turn away and then pivoted around again. “By the way, the mural looks great. When did you have time to finish it?”

Mila glanced behind the reception desk where the painting that matched the one at the LA location graced an entire wall. When? When she'd been avoiding James—that was when. But she couldn't tell Freya that. “I just worked on it a little at a time.”

“Well, it looks great. I may have to have you come and do something in the babies' room.”

“Anytime,” she told her friend.

Freya put her hand on the door. “Did you find a dress?”

Mila blinked. “Excuse me?”

“For the gala, silly.”

“Not yet. How about you?”

“You don't want to know.” Freya glanced at her midsection. “Not that I'll be able to disguise this.”

Mila went over and kissed her on the cheek. “You look beautiful, honey. I bet Zack tells you the same thing every chance he gets.”

Her face went pink. “He doesn't exactly—um—
tell
me.”

The inference made Mila laugh. “Okay, let's not head into TMI territory.”

A muscle in James's cheek jumped. “Too late for that. And on that note I need to head back to my office.” He paused to look at Mila. “Let me know your schedule.”

Freya cut in again. “Don't forget you have to open the gala with a dance. Together.” She threw them a wink and ducked back through the door before anyone could object. And Mila had a whole lot of objecting she wanted to do.

As soon as she was gone, James took a step closer, leaning his head close to her ear. The warmth of his breath sent a shiver through her. “Any more news?”

“News?” The shiver died.

“Yes. On our situation.” He stared at a spot just past her shoulder. The fact that he wouldn't quite meet her eyes told her he wasn't talking about the regatta or dances but something else entirely. Still, the word “our” caught her right in the chest.

“Not yet. But, like I said, you're off the hook.”

“I don't think so, Mila. I'm very much on the hook. And I plan on staying there until we know something one way or the other.”

BOOK: Winning Back His Doctor Bride
11.48Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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