Free Cindy's Doctor Charming by Teresa Southwick Page A

you’re so sure something is.”
    She tilted her head and gave him an “oh, please” look, then sighed with resignation. “For one thing, you look just like you did when things between you and Felicia were going downhill.”
    Ironic. Before the baby, there hadn’t been anything between him and Cindy except lust, but it felt like more than he’d ever had in his marriage. Felicia was a wonderful woman—pretty, funny, sweet and smart. They’d been friends and got along great. With his career on track, he’dfigured it was time to get married. There was no lightning strike, but everything had pointed to them being a good match.
    Only when it was too late did he realize that the logic was badly flawed and Felicia had left because he didn’t love her. That was the last thing she ever said to him.
    â€œIt was a car accident, Nathan.” Sympathy swirled in Annie’s light-blue eyes. “Some idiot had been drinking and was going too fast. He didn’t stop for the red light. That’s why she died. It had nothing to do with the fact that the two of you didn’t work as a couple.”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œThat’s not what the look on your face says.” Annie sighed. “But I didn’t bring you here to rehash the past. I want to know why you’re hovering over that baby in the unit.”
    â€œI always hover.”
    â€œNot like this. Usually you’re cool and clinical. That’s not what I just saw.” She must have noticed his protest forming because she held up a hand and said, “Don’t even waste your breath.”
    â€œOkay. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
    â€œYou didn’t.” She grinned.
    He took a deep breath and said, “Cindy Elliott is pregnant with my child.”
    â€œWhat?” Annie blinked. “Who?”
    â€œShe works in housekeeping here at the hospital.”
    â€œI didn’t know you were seeing anyone.”
    If just seeing her was all he’d done there wouldn’t be a baby. Seeing her had only made him want her. Wanting her had made him determined to have her. He couldn’t even say he’d been irresponsible. After seeing her earlier, he could say that having her once had definitely not madethe wanting disappear. If anything, his hunger for her was stronger.
    Nathan took a sip of coffee, then set the cup back on the saucer. “I met her at the hospital fundraiser.”
    â€œBut you said she works here.”
    â€œRight.” He dragged his fingers through his hair. “I didn’t recognize her in a different environment.”
    â€œYou mean all dressed up.” Annie’s look oozed pity. “Bet that didn’t go over well.”
    â€œYou’d win that bet.” He laughed, remembering their verbal sparring that night and how clueless he’d been. It wouldn’t add anything to this story if he shared that the smell of Cindy’s perfume gave away her identity. “I asked for her phone number, but she refused to give it up.”
    â€œAh.” Annie held the coffee cup and her eyes sparkled with amusement that escaped him.
    â€œWhat does that mean?”
    â€œSo many things, so little time.” Turning serious, she said, “You obviously got together in spite of not being able to call her.”
    â€œBecause I saw her here, there was no need for the number. I asked her out and we went to dinner.”
    There was also no need to share that Cindy had agreed to see him in order to get him to back off. Now he knew that was about the jerk who used her. He wondered if having that information would have cooled his jets, then he figured probably not.
    â€œAnd you’re sure the baby is yours?”
    â€œThe condom broke,” he said.
    Perplexed, Annie shook her head. “Isn’t it amazing? We can build a space station and put people on it, but no one can manufacture glitch-free birth