Page 30 of Surgeon's Surprise Baby
“Not yet.”She wasn’t ready.Wasn’t sure when she would be.“What?”she asked him, seeing his grin.
“Nothing.”
“You think I need to do it now, don’t you?”
“I think you should do it when you think it’s time.But tell me when you do so I can move the furniture for you.”
*
Putting Sophie tobed had been a lot less traumatic than Ryan had feared.Getting her into her jammies was easy.He suspected once she could roll over more easily it wouldn’t be so struggle-free.First, he’d read to her.Then she’d taken her bottle, been burped, her diaper checked, and then he laid her down on her back.He remembered Aria saying she slept with a pacifier so he found it and put it in her mouth.She snuggled in and fell asleep in seconds.
He walked into the kitchen feeling a little proud of himself.“She’s asleep,” he told Aria.
“That was quick.”
“Does she always do that?”
“Most of the time.”
Aria had set the table with what he recognized as her nice dishes and silverware.Not too fancy but nicer than the stuff she used every day.He couldn’t figure her out.She’d basically told him nothing was going to happen between them.Yet here she was helping him bathe Sophie, fixing dinner for them, and making sure the baby was asleep before serving dinner.If she was anyone else he’d think she was giving him the go-ahead to at least explore options.
With Aria he had no idea what it meant.
He knew what he hoped.That she’d changed her mind and was ready to take things further with him.As much as he wanted the sex, he also wanted more.
He wanted her to love him.
Ryan opened the wine and poured them each a glass.Aria had mentioned she wanted one since she was no longer nursing.They sat at the table and tapped their glasses together.Dinner was nice and the lasagna terrific.Eating together reminded him of when they’d been together before they’d really gotten to know each other.When they’d asked each other questions about their lives, their work, and whatever happened during their day.
“How is the greenhouse coming along?”
“Great.I can’t believe how fast it’s going.Paul said it should be finished next week.”
“Need some help moving your plants in?”
He knew she had a number of them on her back porch.“I’d love some but first I have to make sure all the systems work.Heating, cooling, drip irrigation.Probably other things I’m forgetting.”
“Are you planning to hire an assistant?”He thought she’d have to considering the baby needing attention throughout the day.
“Yes.At first just part-time, probably a college student, since they usually have time during the day they can work me in.At least until I figure out exactly what I’ll need.At some point I’ll need full-time help, but I’m not sure when that will be.”
“Aren’t you going to need help with the baby?”
“Yes.I’m thinking of hiring a housekeeper who can also look after the baby.Even though I’ll have my baby monitor and camera, I don’t feel comfortable leaving her alone in her crib for more than a few minutes.Not to mention, there will be times I can’t have her with me at all.Such as when I spray.Chemicals and babies don’t mix.But I can bring her with me sometimes.”
“How?”
“I have a baby sling and when she gets a little older, I can get a backpack carrier.I won’t have customers for a while.At least until I open to the public.I’ve got to get everything set up, buy more plants, propagate some, and just get ready in general.Customers are pretty far down the road.”
“I can help when I’m not working.”He didn’t know of a way to ask her how she was fixed for money without insulting her, but even part-time help, not to mention a housekeeper, was bound to be expensive.Still, knowing Aria, she’d accounted for that before she ever moved.
“Ryan, I don’t expect you to spend every spare moment with Sophie.You have a life beyond the hospital and the baby.”
Actually, he didn’t.And oddly enough, he was content for it to be that way.“I like to be with her.And with you,” he added.Was that alarm he saw in her eyes?If so, why had she asked him to dinner?Maybe she was conflicted and couldn’t decide what she wanted.
He sure as hell knew what he wanted.Aria.In his arms, in bed, anywhere he could have her.
“Nothing needs to be decided yet.Do you want dessert now or would you rather wait?”
