Page 21 of Surgeon's Surprise Baby
“You didn’t have to.”
*
Ryan stewed abouthis conversation with Aria for the rest of the day.She’d been harsh but he had to admit she had reason for her beliefs.They’d agreed to no strings when they’d gotten together but he knew there had been more between them than just sex.Obviously, she’d known it too.
But the sex had been incendiary.And Aria was unforgettable.He sure as hell hadn’t been able to forget her.Now that she was here with his child he wanted… more.For the first time since Afghanistan, he wondered if he could have more after all.
If he really wanted more, he needed to convince her that he was serious, that he wanted her for herself and not just because of Sophie, and the real kicker—that she could trust him.Trust him to be there for both herself and the baby.
About a week later Aria was well, Sophie hadn’t gotten the flu, and Ryan had a weekend off.He called her and asked if she had something planned for dinner.
“Are you kidding?”she asked with a laugh.“I’ll be lucky to make a sandwich, and I couldn’t do that if you hadn’t brought me bread.”
“Good.I’ll make dinner.Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to bring all the ingredients.How about I come early and take care of Sophie while you do whatever you need to do.I know it’s hard when you have to take her everywhere.”
“All right.Thanks.”
Aria met him at the door when he arrived.He usually knocked and walked in knowing she was likely to be busy.
“I meant to ask you,” she said, “they’re supposed to start on the floors next week.Could Sophie and I stay with you for a couple of days?I know it’s a lot to ask but you said you have a second bedroom and—”
“Of course you can.”
“I appreciate it.”
“I’m happy to have you both.”He followed her into the kitchen and put away the groceries that had to be refrigerated.When he finished, he looked at her as she stood at the counter, tapping her fingers on it.
“You’re staring at me,” she said after a moment.“Why?”
“Why am I staring at you?Because you’re so beautiful,” Ryan said, crossing the room to her.
She laughed.“Right.”
Clearly, she didn’t believe him.“I’ve always thought you were beautiful but since you’ve had the baby it’s like you have a special glow.It’s stunning.”
“Ryan, I have no makeup on, I’m wearing my oldest cutoffs, and I’m pretty sure I have dirt all over my face.I’d hardly call that stunning.”
“That’s because you don’t see yourself the way I see you.”A hunk of her hair had escaped her ponytail.He tucked it behind her ear.“I see a strong, smart, beautiful woman who knows what she wants and works hard for it until she gets it.”
“Uh-huh.What’s going on?”
He put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her.Her lips were soft and giving, and parted under his.He touched his tongue to hers and she met it with her own.God, he’d wanted to kiss her for so long.It was now several weeks since she’d moved here but he felt as if it had been longer.Because it had been months since he’d kissed her.And it was every bit as good as he remembered.
He wanted to pull her close, put his hands on her breasts, feel her nipples harden, stroke her soft skin.He wanted to bury himself inside her until they didn’t know where one of them began and the other ended.He left her lips to trail his own down her neck to the pulse that beat there.
Sophie cried out.He let go as soon as he heard her.“Saved by the baby.”
“Something like that.”She left the room to see to Sophie.
Ryan didn’t hear Sophie cry again and shortly Aria returned.“She’s okay now.She went right back to sleep.I’m not sure what was wrong.”
“I guess there’s no question of taking up where we left off?”
She shook her head decisively.“If Sophie hadn’t stopped us, I would have.”
“Why?You have to know I want you.And I think you want me too, if you’d just allow yourself to.You remember how good we are together, don’t you?”
“It was good.But not as fabulous as you’re implying.”
