Maitland Maternity: Triplets, Quads and Quints. Kasey Michaels
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them. After telling himself he didn’t ever want to see her again, he’d jumped at the chance to work with her. The job was a good one, but Briana had been the deciding factor.
When Helen appeared at his door after he called her name, he asked her to fetch him lunch. She gave him a succinct summation of what they offered, and he chose randomly and sent her on her way.
Now he was really alone.
No one watching, no one talking, no one guessing about him.
Now he could replay his meeting with a very pregnant Briana McCallum. Pregnant with his children. He was going to be a father of three identical little girls. At least he thought so. He’d dreamed of having a family—one day. When he’d found Briana seven months ago, he’d dreamed of the family they would have. But then reality had slapped him in the face. He wasn’t married, making a future.
Reality. What would she expect of him? Now that she knew how to find him, would she insist on marriage?
His heart sped up as he again remembered the sensations he’d felt when he’d held her in his arms. Sensations he’d dismissed for seven months. They weren’t so easily dismissed now.
But he didn’t dare give in to those thoughts. He still had no proof that Briana was anything but a rich uncaring woman. She probably had no intention of raising her children. Maybe she was like her father, not interested in babies.
Even he couldn’t believe that fantasy. She might have left him high and dry. She might not have been interested in a future with him. But he’d seen nothing in their brief time together that said she would ignore her—their daughters.
And he intended to play a role in his daughters’ lives, so if she insisted on marriage, then he’d marry her. He didn’t want anyone calling his daughters illegitimate. He’d punch their lights out if they dared.
So, a marriage of convenience?
That was probably what she’d want. He could handle that. Of course he could. He began massaging his temples at the thought of living in the same house with Briana and never touching her. Never.
“Dr. Callaghan? Do you have a headache?” Helen asked. She’d entered his office quietly while his eyes were closed.
“No! No, not at all. I was thinking. That was fast, Helen. I promise I won’t ask you to wait on me all the time. I just needed a little time to myself.”
“I don’t mind at all.”
“Have you eaten?”
“I picked myself up some lunch while I was there.”
“Why don’t you bring it in here and we can talk while we eat. Unless you would be uncomfortable?”
“Not at all.”
Hunter wondered how long it would take him to lead the conversation to Briana McCallum without being obvious. Because she was the only part of the hospital he was interested in right now.
AT FIVE UNTIL TWO, Briana touched up her makeup, determined not to look washed out, combed her hair, smoothed any wrinkles out of her navy blue two-piece maternity suit, and started out of her office for the welcoming party in the cafeteria.
“Are you ready to go, Bri?” Lisa asked, jumping up from her desk. “Dr. Abby said I was to go with you, in case you felt faint.”
Bri sighed. She was paying a heavy price for her silly fainting spell. But it wouldn’t happen again. Because she wasn’t going to be surprised again. “Fine, Lisa.” She waited patiently for Lisa to reach her side.
“The new doctor sure is a looker. Everyone’s talking about how handsome he is. You should hear all the nurses.”
Bri sank her teeth into her bottom lip. It shouldn’t bother her. She already knew he was handsome. But she also knew he was one of those men who took his pleasure and avoided the consequences. He was a jerk, plain and simple.
“Really? I guess I didn’t notice his appearance all that much.”
Lisa giggled. “I guess not. You were too busy fainting.” Then she covered her lips with her free hand. “Oops, sorry, Bri.”
“Nothing to be sorry about. That about sums it up. So, did you think he was that handsome?”
“Wow, yeah! I mean, I guess he’s too old for me, but he’s very handsome. And he has just a few grey hairs at his temples. They blend in with his blond hair, but still, they make him look distinguished. I’d trust him with my life,” she added, a dreamy expression on her face.
“Good looks aren’t a lot of help in a medical emergency, Lisa,” Bri pointed out, sarcasm in her voice.
“I know, but what I meant is he looks trustworthy.”
“Even jerks can look trustworthy. That’s why they get the opportunity to be a jerk. No one trusts an ugly man.”
“That’s not true. I trust Benny, and he’s not handsome.”
“I trust Benny, too, and I think he’s kind of cute.”
Lisa giggled. “Yeah, so do I.”
Benny was a paramedic who made deliveries to the hospital. Sometimes he and his partner would go to the cafeteria and have a cup of coffee. His nose looked as if it had been broken, and he could use a good dentist, but he had a heart of gold.
They’d arrived at the cafeteria, and Briana immediately began checking to see if everything had been done as she’d asked. The cafeteria supervisor appeared at her side to see if there was anything else to be done.
“It looks wonderful, Mrs. C.,” Bri said at once.
Joanna Carpenter beamed at her. “Oh, thanks, Bri. I think I did everything you asked. Come have a look at the cake. Sam did a great job decorating it. He’s getting very good.”
Bri looked at the cake and offered praise for Sam, the baker in their cafeteria. It hadn’t been an easy task writing Welcome Dr. Callaghan on the cake.
Members of the staff began filling the cafeteria, many of them checking on Bri before they drifted off to chat with friends.
When the new arrival entered with R. J. Maitland, a cheer went up from everyone gathered, and helium balloons were released from bags in several corners of the room. Of course, they didn’t have far to go but soon the strings tied on them were hanging down, allowing those present to take one of them as a souvenir. And they did add a lot of color.
R. J. Maitland raised one hand for silence and again welcomed Hunter Callaghan, obstetrician extraordinaire to the staff, adding an impressive list of qualifications. Everyone cheered again when he’d finished and began shouting for Dr. Callaghan to speak.
Hunter nodded, smiled and held his hand up in appreciation for their welcome. When they quieted, he made a gracious speech about how much he was looking forward to working with them and how much he appreciated the warmth of their welcome.
Bri tried to ignore the warm tendrils of remembrance that curled around her heart as she listened to his voice. How calming that voice had been when they were stuck in the storeroom. How exciting it had been when he’d held her in his arms and made love to her.
Now it meant nothing to her, she assured herself. Nothing at all. But she didn’t approach him at once to excuse herself. She had to have time to regain control, because touching him could be even worse than hearing his voice.
Finally, she approached the table where he was eating his piece of cake and assuring Sam it was the best cake he’d ever had. Sam, beaming, backed away from the table and Bri just barely managed to sidestep him in time.
“Oh, Bri! I’m so sorry! I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“No, Sam, not at all.”
“Did you get a piece of cake?”
“I’d love one, but my doctor said I had