Cindy's Doctor Charming (16 page)

And that's when she knew what she would do if directly confronted about who had fathered her baby.

The elevator arrived and she wheeled her cart through the opening, then pushed the button for the second floor, where it quickly stopped. She got out and headed for the NICU. Stopping in the hall outside, she stepped into the suit and snapped the buttons over her tummy. Her friend's warning had come none too soon. There was very little doubt about her condition.

Bracing herself as best she could, she went into the unit. Automatically looking for Nathan, she was disappointed that he wasn't there. His partner was. Annie was chatting with one of the nurses when she noticed Cindy. She smiled and waved and Cindy returned the greeting before starting her work.

She focused on her job and pushed everything else out of her mind as she picked up discarded packaging from medical supplies. Then she gathered the full bags lining all the generic trash containers, avoiding the ones marked “biohazard” or “contaminated.”

She scooped up used linens, then dusted, nearly home free when Barbara Kelly cornered her. To anyone looking on, they were two employees having a casual conversation, but Cindy could feel the vibes. None of them good.

“Hi, Cindy.”

“Barbara.” Here we go.

“How have you been?”

“Really good. Thanks for asking. You?” Deflect, Cindy thought.

“Not bad.” The nurse pointedly lowered her gaze. “What's new?”

And there it was. She was on the spot. To tell the truth
or dodge the issue for a little longer. But maybe this was a good time to get it out there with Nathan not present. He was a doctor, a neonatal specialist who existed on a different plane of existence. If by chance the subject came up some other time in his presence, he could reveal as much or as little as he wanted.

Cindy met the other woman's icy, blue-eyed stare. “I'm pregnant, Barbara.”

“Congratulations.” There was nothing positive in her tone. “Who's the father? Anyone I know?”

Way to be subtle, Cindy thought. “This may come as a shock to you, but that's none of your business. And it was a rude question.”

Barbara shrugged. “Everyone wants to know. But nobody had the nerve to ask.”

“How heartening that there are still some people with manners.”

Any pretense of civility disappeared and blatant hostility slithered into the other woman's gaze. “Do you really believe you can—”

Just then Nathan walked in. His jeans and white cotton shirt were a clue that he wasn't here for work. He scanned the unit, clearly looking for someone, and Cindy's heart started hammering. The blood rushed to her head, drowning out every other sound.

Finally he glanced in her direction and looked like a predator who just spied his prey. Without hesitation, he walked over and said, “I need to talk to you.”

Barbara smiled warmly. “Dr. Steele, what can I do for you?”

“If you'll excuse us, I'd like to speak with Cindy privately.”

“Really?” She sounded shocked and disapproving.

Nathan glared at her. “Yes, really.”

Cindy was pretty sure Nathan had just put his name at the top of the baby daddy list. Right now she couldn't think about the consequences of that. It was too wonderful just to see him.

“Hello,” she said when they were alone.

“Cindy, I know communication isn't one of my strengths. It's unfamiliar to me and I've made mistakes. I'll probably make more. So before I begin, you should be aware that my heart is in the right place.”

“I've never doubted that.”

“Actually, you have,” he pointed out.

“Okay. Maybe at first. Then I got to know you.” And love you. She looked at the earnest expression on his face and her heart went all soft and mushy and protective. “Here's the thing. The pregnancy just went public. Pretend you're chewing me out for something then run, do not walk, to the nearest exit. Then no one will know you're the father of my baby.”

“I want the whole world to know you're the mother of my child.” He stared at her as if she had two heads. “This is the last time I'm going to say this. I
will
be here for you. Always. Publicly. You're the only one who matters to me. If you'll give me another chance, I promise you won't regret it.” Then he waited for her to respond. When she didn't, he said, “I wish you'd tell me what you're thinking.”

Who could think? “Oh, Nathan—I don't know what to say.”

Intensity darkened in his eyes as he said, “Words are highly overrated anyway.”

Then he bent and scooped her easily into his arms. She sucked in a breath and threw her arms around his neck as he carried her through the silent NICU while everyone stared open-mouthed. Just before he walked out into the hall, she heard the sound of muffled clapping.

It was a moment.

More than that. It was the most romantic gesture ever.

He took her around the corner to the waiting area, which was empty. Then he set her on her feet and pulled her against him. Seconds later, he kissed her. His mouth was soft, warm, insistent, and her knees literally went weak. Her toes curled and trembles traveled everywhere until she tingled all over. He was so right. When he communicated like this, words were highly overrated.

She had no idea how much time had passed when he finally lifted his head and smiled down at her. She only knew that the emotion so clear in his eyes made her as breathless as his kiss.

“I love you, Cindy.”

She'd never expected to hear those words, and they rated really high in her heart. “You do?”

“Yes.”

“What changed your mind?”

“I had a talk with Shirley—”

“Your
mom,
” she said pointedly.

“Right.” He grinned and loosened his hold but didn't let her go. “Long story short, I've been an ass. And I've been wrong. Love
is
real. I see it and touch it every time I look at you and hold you in my arms. I can't see or touch my soul, but I know it's there. As surely as I know it will wither and die without you in my life.”

“Oh, Nathan. I love you, too.”

“I'm counting on that. Because I'm really hoping that you'll reconsider my marriage proposal what with me not being able to live without you and all.”

“Better wed than dead,” she whispered, quoting from the movie.

“Pretty much,” he agreed.

“Okay, I'll marry you.” She smiled up at him. “But only because it's the logical thing to do.”

“I
s he as beautiful as I think he is?” Cindy stared in awe at the baby in her arms.

“He's the most beautiful baby I've ever seen.” Nathan was sitting on the hospital bed beside her, his arm around her and their son, holding them both close. “But we have to find a manlier, more masculine way to say that.”

Alexander Elliott Steele.

Cindy hadn't thought she could be any happier than the day she and Nathan were married here in the chapel at Mercy Medical Center, but she'd been wrong. Having their baby made them a family and it was just perfect. She watched him watch the baby, and the love in his eyes was tangible.

He met her gaze and smiled. “I didn't think it was possible to love you more, but seeing what you went through to have our child was just…I don't even have the words.”

“I know exactly what you mean.” She leaned her head on his shoulder and he pulled her closer, kissing her temple.

She was still sore from giving birth the day before, but the joy of holding her son made the discomfort disappear. The experience was painful and scary but the most awesome thing she'd ever been through. She was strong and would have made it alone, but having Nathan there, encouraging and supporting her was the most beautiful thing. She would never again doubt that he was in it for the long haul. The fact that she knew how much he loved her was a gift beyond price.

She'd thought once that they did everything backward— sex, baby, attraction, love and marriage. But it had all happened in just the right order because they'd actually fallen in love at first sight.

“Hey—” It was a whisper from Shirley who stood in the doorway of the hospital room. “I was hoping Alex would be awake.”

“Not now, but it won't be long,” Nathan said. “The time will come when we'll treasure these quiet moments.”

“I treasure them all now,” Cindy said.

“Well, I have a surprise for you and you might want to wake the baby for this.”

“Hello, Steele family.”

Recognizing the familiar voice, Cindy dragged her gaze away from her son and saw her brother Harry. Her eyes filled with tears because she hadn't known he was coming. “How did you get here?”

“Airplane. Nathan arranged it. Shirley picked me up at McCarran.” His dark-blond hair was a little longer than when she'd seen him at her wedding, and he was more muscular than a year ago when he'd gone off to college. He was nearly as tall as Nathan and so handsome. Their parents would be extraordinarily proud.

“Hi, bro.” Nathan grinned. “Thanks, Mom.”

“Happy to help,” she said.

“Hey.” Harry walked over to the bed and leaned down to kiss Cindy's cheek. “Hi, sis.”

“I'd give you a big hug, but my arms are full.”

He grinned down at the baby. “My nephew is a good-lookin' dude.”

“He's not a dude,” she protested. “But he is beautiful. Would you like to hold him?”

Harry looked horrified. “I think I'll wait until he's a little bigger than a football.”

“Coward,” she teased. “You've got to man up.”

“Don't pick on your brother. Some of us are late bloomers.” Nathan had taken naturally to the role of big brother.

Together they'd visited Harry at school in California and he'd come to Las Vegas for long weekends. Her two favorite men had hit it off really well. Now there was a third precious man in her life.

“Well, I'd like to hold him.” Shirley moved to the other side of the bed and held out her arms. Her son passed over his son and the new grandmother's eyes went soft and exquisitely tender. “He looks just like you when you were born, Nathan.”

“How can you remember back that far, Mom?”

“A mother never forgets.”

“I can understand why.” Cindy wasn't sure when her husband had dropped the first name and started calling her mom, but that came naturally now, too.

She smiled at her brother. “Harry, wait till you see the mural Nathan's mother painted in the baby's room.”

“It's trains and planes and cars right now,” Shirley said to the sleeping baby, as she slowly moved from side to side. She tenderly kissed his forehead and said, “But when you
get older and we know what you like, I can change it. You can help with the design. We'll talk.”

And wasn't that a miracle? The woman who'd run from love had embraced the tender emotion along with her son. Together they'd learned to open up to each other and to her.

After the wedding, Shirley had moved into Cindy's place with their blessing. She and Nathan hoped that the spirit of love permeating the house where she grew up would work as well for his mother as it had for them. And at the astrology store she'd met a handsome, retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel who was definitely showing interest in Shirley Steele.

But, whatever happened, they were a family now. She and Nathan. Shirley. Harry. And now Alex. This precious baby boy had brought them all together. The sun, moon, planets and stars had aligned on the side of them falling in love.

Cindy and her Dr. Charming had found their fairy tale happy ending.