Page 9 of Surgeon's Surprise Baby
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Aria saw Ryancoming out of the store next to Big Z.Damn, why did he have to look so good?She tried to tell herself she wasn’t still attracted to him, but she knew that was a lie.He was wearing scrubs, so obviously he was either coming from the hospital or going to it.
“Ryan,” she called through the open window.
He looked surprised for a moment but then waved and walked over to her.“Hi.Are you having trouble with the truck?”He must have realized what she was doing right after he said that.“Aren’t you hot with that shawl around you?”
“A little but I’m almost finished.”She took Sophie out from beneath the shawl and started to burp her when it dawned on her that Ryan might like to do that.“Would you like to burp her?”
“Sure.I just put her on my shoulder and pat her back, right?”
“Right.”She handed him the baby and a cloth to put over his shoulder and watched as he burped her.He looked… well, if her hormones hadn’t already been in an uproar they sure would be now.Something about a big strong man holding a tiny baby—his tiny baby—just turned her heart to mush.But she couldn’t afford to fall for him again, no matter how he affected her.
Again?When did you stop?
Shut up,she told herself.
“Whoa, I think she’s good,” Ryan said after Sophie let out a loud burp.“Did you just come from the hardware store?”He shifted the baby to hold her in the crook of his arm.He was talking to Aria but looking at Sophie with a smile of wonder.
Maybe she was projecting.She looked at Ryan again.No, he definitely looked a little awed.“Yes, there are a lot of things I need to do to the house.Paul is going to give me a bid, and I’ll see what I can afford to have his construction team do and what I’ll need to do myself.”
“I didn’t know you could remodel things.”
“Remember my apartment in Dallas?”He nodded.“I put in the floors in the kitchen and bath, repaired some of the sheetrock and painted.All cosmetic.It’s not like I can move walls or anything.”
“You did a good job.But wouldn’t it be hard to do and take care of the baby?”
“Yes, which is why I’m getting a bid on someone else doing it.”
“Let me know if you need me to take care of her.”He looked at Sophie again and back to her.“Are you going to let her come to my place?”
“I don’t know.Probably.But let’s play it by ear.”
“I kind of need to know what I should get.Like do I need a crib and whatever else you think I’ll need.”
“Oh.I guess you do if you’re going to keep her even just during the day.She’ll need naps for some time.I’m not comfortable with her staying overnight somewhere else yet.”And honestly, didn’t know if or when she would be.“There’s a thing called a pack and play—it’s like a playpen.You can use it instead of a crib.It would work for a while.You’ll probably have to go to Bozeman to find one.Or ordering it would be even easier.”
“I’ll check into it.But I want your approval before I buy it.I know nothing about this kind of thing.”
Aria laughed.“I’m new to this too.”
“Yes, but you’re the mom.You’re bound to know more than I do.”
“I’d better,” she said with a smile.
Chapter Five
Ryan came overthe next day and invited her to meet his friend Connor McFarland and his wife Sierra and have dinner with them.She wondered why he hadn’t simply called but since he’d asked about seeing Sophie, she decided that was why.
“Dinner will be takeout, thank God, since neither of them cooks worth a damn.”
“That sounds like a date.”Aria was adamantly against dating Ryan.Though he hadn’t known about the baby, he’d still left her without a backward glance.“I’m not dating you.”
He sighed.“It’s not a date.I wasn’t sure how many people you’d met and thought you might like to meet Sierra.Connor is my best friend.We served together in Afghanistan.”
It would be nice to meet another woman.“What about Sophie?I haven’t ever left her and don’t have a babysitter anyway.”
“Sophie’s invited too.I’m pretty sure they’re thinking about having one of their own.Sierra said be sure to bring her.”
