Page 32 of Surgeon's Surprise Baby
“I’m not.But I’m also not opening myself up to that kind of relationship again.I need more now.I have a child to consider.”
“You just said you didn’t want more.Now you’re saying you need more.”He stared at her as anger suffused his face.“Oh, I get it now.You don’t want morewith me.”
“I didn’t say that.”She’d hurt him.She hadn’t intended to.Or maybe she had.God, was she that vindictive?
“You didn’t need to.You might scratch an itch with me but that’s all it would be.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.I… care about you.But I can’t afford to let you in again.Not really.When you left it really hurt me.Then I found out I was pregnant and I didn’t know what to do.It was never in doubt that I’d keep the baby.But telling you was in doubt.I decided not to tell you.I didn’t believe you’d care.”
“Which makes me wonder why the hell you brought Sophie to meet me.”
He was getting angrier but she’d only spoken the truth.“I told you why.I was able to think more clearly after I had her.You’re her father.I want her to have a father in her life.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn’t.I think she needs both of us, but that doesn’t mean we need to be together.”
“Other than sexually, right?”
She rubbed a hand over her eyes.“You’re making me sound horrible.Like I’d just be using you for sex.”
He laughed without humor.“I hate to tell you, darlin’, but that’s exactly what you’d be doing if I agreed to it.Apparently, you have no idea how insulting that is.”
“Why are you making everything so complicated?Why can’t we go back to what we had before?We had a nice, uncomplicated sexual relationship.We were both happy.”Except she hadn’t been.Not really.But things were different now.She was different now.
She had needs.So did Ryan.She knew they were compatible sexually.Actually, they’d been explosive in the past.As long as she didn’t allow herself to fall for him again, she thought, ignoring the fact that she’d never stopped.As long as they kept it casual she could be with him.
She could do that.Right?
“Maybe you can do this.Have sex but no deeper relationship.But I can’t.Not with you.I need more.”With that he walked out the door.
Chapter Twelve
The next dayRyan ran into Connor as they were both leaving the hospital.
“You look like your dog died,” Connor said.“What’s going on?”
“I don’t have a dog.”
“Maybe you should get one.Seriously, what’s wrong?”
“What are you, a girl?”
Connor snorted.“Let’s go get a beer at Grey’s.”
Grey’s was their go-to for beer and quick food.“Why, is Sierra working?”
“Yes.Which means I need food.Preferably food I don’t have to fix myself.”
Although he was fairly sure he didn’t want to talk, and that Connor would nag him until he did, he was hungry.Now that he’d talked to Connor about Afghanistan, his buddy obviously thought he’d want to talk more.Wrong.“I’ll meet you there.”
A short time later he walked into Grey’s to find Connor already there at a booth in the corner.The waitress came to take their order as he sat down.
Ryan had seen her before but she was somewhat new and he didn’t know her name.She was pretty, with short, blond hair and a bit of an attitude.She also looked quite young, but maybe he was just feeling old.
“What will you have?”
“What’s the special?”Connor asked.
