Page 4 of Surgeon's Surprise Baby
“It mattered.But I went into our relationship with my eyes open.And they were still open when it ended.”
He started to say he’d never meant to hurt her.But that would be pointless.He had hurt her.Badly.And he’d been stupidly oblivious to it.Before he could think of what to say he heard the baby fussing over the monitor.
Aria stood.“I need to check on her.If you want to wait, you can sit in the living room.The chairs are more comfortable.I’ll introduce you after she wakes up.”
While he waited Ryan thought about his and Aria’s time together.Why had he left her?Because he’d been scared.Scared he’d fall in love with her and that was the one thing he couldn’t do.Except if he was honest, he had already fallen for her.So he left before he could get any more involved.He was too screwed up to have a lasting relationship.He didn’t deserve it.
He was a chickenshit, but he’d had a good reason for the way he felt.The last time he’d fallen in love she’d been his buddy Connor’s girl.Until she told Ryan he was the one she wanted.Unwilling to break Connor’s trust, he’d told her no.You didn’t do that to a friend.It didn’t matter that Ryan had loved her too.It didn’t matter that she’d sworn she and Connor were over.
Aria came into the room holding her baby.The baby was beautiful.Absolutely perfect.He could hardly believe he’d had a part in creating her.She smiled at her mother and made cooing sounds.“I didn’t know they smiled this young.”
“I don’t know about other babies, but Sophie definitely smiles.She’s a happy baby.Would you like to hold her?”
“Yes.But I’m a little surprised you’d let me.”
“You’re her father,” she said, as if that explained it.
Maybe it did for her, but he still felt as if he was on probation.Fortunately, he’d been around babies before.Not a lot but enough not to feel completely at sea.
“Why don’t you sit?”Aria said.
He sat in one of the canvas chairs he’d been sitting in before she came in.There was very little furniture in the living room.A couple of fold-up chairs and TV tables.He wondered if her furniture was coming later.Hopefully it was.
Once he sat, she put the baby in his arms, saying: “Sophie, this is Ryan.He’s your father.”
Sophie stared at him with big blue eyes.Dark blue like they hadn’t yet made up their mind what color they were going to be.“Hi, Sophie,” he said quietly.“I’m your dad.”
She smiled at him.His heart squeezed and love came over him in a rush.A love he’d never felt before.Awed.Protective.He looked at Aria.“She’s beautiful.”
Chapter Three
Aria tried notto let it affect her.That was a joke.Because seeing Ryan with Sophie, seeing how carefully he held her, how he looked at her with wonder, as though she was the most precious thing in the world made her heart turn over.
“Can I kiss her?”he asked huskily.
“Of course.You’re her father.”Maybe if she repeated that enough they’d both believe it.Right now, it just seemed weird.
He kissed Sophie’s forehead and continued talking to her quietly.
Oh, it wasn’t fair.Why couldn’t he have acted as if it was no big deal?That seeing his baby for the first time didn’t affect him as much as it obviously had.
She didn’t know what had happened while Ryan was in the army, but a field surgeon had to have seen terrible things.But he hadn’t talked about it.Ever.Even so, she knew it had affected him deeply.Something had made him unable to stay in one place.Unable to commit to one woman.Although, while they were together Ryan had been committed to her.She’d even wondered if he regretted leaving her, but if he had, why hadn’t he gotten in touch with her?
No, Ryan was over her.She wished she was over him.She wasn’t.But she was damned if he was going to know that.No, this was about Sophie—and Sophie’ father.She was doing the right thing, no matter how painful it was to her.Aria knew what it was like growing up without a father.She wouldn’t do that to Sophie if she could help it.
Being in hospital administration meant that Aria had met a lot of doctors.She’d dated a number of them too.None of them for as long as she had dated Ryan.She’d even started to hope that he’d changed.That they could have a lasting relationship.She’d hoped until the day he’d walked in and told her he was moving to Marietta.
Sophie began to fuss.Aria waited to see what Ryan would do.He put her up on his shoulder and patted her back gently.Damn manwouldbe a natural.Of course, the baby quit fussing and began making cooing sounds.Another female falling for his charms.
Aria had put a baby gym on the floor earlier.Sophie loved the colorful toys that hung down and made different sounds when touched.There were also toys she could play with when put on her tummy, but right now she was stuck in whatever position Aria put her down in.
“Do you want me to lay her down so she can play?”
“Sure.Put her on her back for now.”
He did so and stood looking down at her.“Is she always happy?”
“Most of the time.”Sophie started waving her arms and legs while looking at the toys.
