Free Wanted: Parents for a Baby! by Laura Iding Page B

Friends, remember? They were friends.
    â€œI did, thanks,” he finally said. “I don’t have an update yet on Emma, but I’m sure I’ll hear from Matthew soon.”
    â€œYou read my mind,” she teased. “I was going to ask how she was doing.”
    â€œI’ll let you know as soon as I do,” he promised. “Do you have any plans for your day off?”
    No way was she going to confess that all she was doing was cleaning, which was nearly finished anyway. “Nothing special,” she said slowly.
    â€œI thought maybe we could head down to the park, see if we can find the woman we believe is connected to Emma. It’s possible she might live close by.”
    Ridiculous to be disappointed that he had an ulterior motive for getting together. Friends, she reminded herself. They were friends. “Sure, why not? Although you have to know the chances of us just stumbling across her are slim to none.”
    â€œMaybe, but I bet we’ll run into her sooner than later. How much time do you need?”
    â€œGive me an hour,” Cassie said, glancingat her kitchen. Surely finishing up in there wouldn’t take long. “Where do you want to meet?”
    â€œI’ll pick you up,” Ryan said.
    It was on the tip of her tongue to argue, but she reminded herself that this wasn’t a date. “Okay. I live in the apartments on Oakdale Drive. The third building. Apartment 302.”
    â€œAll right, I’ll see you in an hour.”
    Cassie set down her phone and rushed to finish cleaning her kitchen before jumping into the shower. She used the blow-dryer on her hair, even though she knew the humidity would eventually wreak havoc with it anyway.
    Still, she wanted to look nice for Ryan, even if her long sleek hair would only last for an hour.
    She pulled on a skirt, wincing a bit at her pale legs. One would think that with her dark hair she’d tan easily, but she didn’t. A minute after she finished applying a light coat of makeup, the sound of her door buzzer echoed through the apartment.
    Her heart stuttered and her stomach clenched with nerves, but she went over to the intercom to let him in.
    He knocked at her door barely a minute later and she looped her purse over her shoulder before walking over to open the door. “Good morning,” she greeted him. “I’m ready.”
    His blue eyes swept over her, glinting with approval. “You look amazing, Cassandra,” he murmured.
    She licked her suddenly dry lips. “Thanks,” she murmured. “So do you.” Oh, boy, what was wrong with her? She was acting like this was a date.
    His gaze held hers for a long second, as if remembering their brief kiss. Or maybe that was just her memory working overtime. He stepped back, giving her room to leave her apartment. She released her pent-up breath and wondered if she was crazy to spend her day off with Ryan.
    She already liked him too much already. And she couldn’t bear the thought of giving him the power to hurt her. After all, his last relationship hadn’t worked out, either.
    No, she couldn’t allow herself to become emotionally involved with Ryan. The nurses called him the Heartbreaker for a reason.
    She wasn’t sure she’d survive another emotional train wreck.
    * * *
    Ryan nearly swallowed his tongue when he saw Cassie standing there, looking breathtakingly beautiful.
    He was playing with fire, but at the moment he couldn’t seem to bring himself to care if he got burned.
    â€œSo, did Dr. Matthew call you back about Emma?”
    He nodded. “Yes, she’s doing pretty well. Her chest X-ray looks a little better, so I think the respiratory therapy treatments are working.” He held the door open for her as they headed outside. “As I said before, the next twenty-four hours are critical. If she can turn the corner, she’ll do great.”
    â€œI’m glad to hear that,” Cassie