Free McCallum Quintuplets by Kasey Michaels Page A

first anything. ” Then she turned to Madeline. “Will I be on bed rest for the entire pregnancy?”
    â€œI don’t think so, but that’s up to Dr. Beaumont. Let’s just take this one day at a time, all right? And now, considering that it’s nearly one in the morning, I’d say it’s time for Maggie to get some rest. You, too, Adam. Go home, get some sleep and be back here around ten tomorrow morning, when Dr. Beaumont makes his Sunday rounds.”
    â€œNo, that’s okay, Madeline,” Adam told her. “I’ve already made arrangements to stay here. Someone is bringing a cot in here for me.”
    â€œOh, yes, just one more service of the McCallum Multiple Birth Wing,” Madeline said, smiling. “Just remember, new unit or not, a cot is still just a cot, so don’t blame us if you wake up with a sore back. Adam, could I speak to you for just a moment? Outside?”
    â€œMadeline?” Maggie asked, pushing herself up against the pillows. “What are you going to say that I can’t hear? I thought you said everything’s fine.”
    Madeline looked from Adam to Maggie, then shrugged. “All right. I was planning to tell you separately, but there really isn’t any compelling reason for that, is there? Maggie, you do know how you got into this condition, don’t you?” she asked, gesturing toward Maggie McCallum’s still fairly flat belly.
    â€œCertainly,” she answered, frowning. “Testing, timing, fertility drugs…”
    â€œAnd?” Madeline prompted.
    â€œSex,” Adam said abruptly. “We made love.”
    Madeline grinned. “Give that man a cigar, and a cold shower, because sex is something you two are not going to be having for a while. Deal?”
    Madeline watched as Maggie’s cheeks colored prettily, as if she were a young bride. “Adam?” she asked, looking at her husband.
    â€œMaggie?” he said right back at her, then grinned. “So, how would you like me to teach you how to play gin rummy?”
    Laughing, Madeline left the expectant parents alone and headed into the hallway. Crisis averted. Maggie and Adam, totally onboard with the team for the duration. Madeline, exhausted. Completely and totally exhausted…until she looked down the hallway and saw Ian leaning against the wall, holding two cups of cafeteria coffee.
    She approached him slowly, taking in the way his slacks draped slightly over his brown loafers, the way he had his white shirt sleeves rolled up, the top button open, his tweed sports coat draped over one arm. One lock of his black hair fell forward over his forehead, and his bright blue eyes looked heavy-lidded, sleepy.
    She could put him on bread, butter him and have him for an early breakfast.
    â€œYou’re smiling,” he said as she stopped in front of him, and he handed her one of the paper cups. “I’ll take that as a good sign?”
    â€œA very good sign,” Madeline agreed, prying off the lid and taking a sip of the hot liquid. “Oh, this is good.”
    â€œGood? Delirious with fatigue, are you?” Ian teased.“This coffee, Maddie, tastes like it was run through an oil refinery. Twice.”
    â€œI know, but I think I’m used to it,” she told him as she pushed the button that would summon the elevator. “Ian? How unprofessional would it look if I took off these boots?”
    â€œYou’d have to roll up your slacks, remember,” he said as the doors opened and they stepped into the elevator. “How about I carry you to the car?”
    â€œYou and whose army? No way, Ian,” Madeline retorted. “Carrying my hundred and forty pounds all the way to the parking lot would have to qualify you for some Olympic sport.”
    â€œMaddie-carrying. It has a certain ring to it,” Ian said, leading her through the foyer, through the main doorway and toward the parking lot.