SINGLE DAD DILEMMA

After a disastrous relationship, Nurse Zady Moore just wants a family of her own and a guy with no baggage. With a young, vulnerable son, Dr. Nick Davis is exactly the kind of guy she should avoid. But his offer is too good—free rent in exchange for occasional babysitting. And it comes at the right time, just as Zady’s young goddaughter comes to stay with her. It’s only for six months—surely she can resist Nick’s charms.

Nick likes Zady, and he enjoys the camaraderie of chasing after two little kids with her. But she works for his hated cousin, and with a battle brewing between departments at Safe Harbor Medical, can Nick trust that Zady’s loyalties lie with him?

How could a house cast a spell over her?

Zady had dreamed of living in a place like this.

Aware that she’d never be able to afford one on her income, she associated having a house with finding Mr. Right, followed by Baby Right. Now Nick dangled the lure of living in this minipalace rent-free.

Nevertheless, the psychic price was too high. No sane woman would agree to a second job as nanny to Mr. So-Wrong-She-Couldn’t-Imagine-Anyone-Wronger-Unless-It-Was-Dwayne. Yet here Zady stood in the cold air of an early February night feeling utterly enchanted by the scent of jasmine and the twitter of night birds.

She kept picturing her goddaughter, Linda, toddling happily about with Nick’s son, Caleb, in the cheerful kitchen, clouting each other over the head with blocks, screaming and then cuddling with her while muffins in the oven perfumed the air. Exactly who would be baking those muffins, she had no idea.

She must be delirious. Or under a spell.

Standing close enough to shelter her against the chill breeze, Nick radiated persuasion.

“I’m only asking you for six months,” he said. “Will you agree to move in for that long?”

Dear Reader,

Nurse Zady Moore is struggling to move past a failed relationship and some spectacular misjudgments. The last thing she needs is an entanglement with Safe Harbor Medical’s newest obstetrician, Nick Davis.

Nick’s trying to sort out the best way to care for his three-year-old son, Caleb, born out of wedlock and living with maternal grandparents since his mother’s death six months earlier. Not only has Nick made mistakes, he has a look-alike cousin, the doctor who recently hired Zady as his nurse. She knows where her loyalty lies—with Marshall, not reputed playboy Nick. But fate, and love, have other plans.

I introduced Zady in The Baby Bonanza as the estranged twin of ultrasound technician Zora. Since the sisters reconciled and Zady moved to Safe Harbor, I decided to explore how she overcomes her muddled past and finds love. In the process, I discovered a complex relationship between cousins Nick and Marshall, who demanded that I write their stories, too.

There’s a complete listing of the series along with recipes from earlier books on my website, jacquelinediamond.com. Welcome to Safe Harbor!

Best,

Jacqueline Diamond

The Doctor’s

Accidental

Family

Jacqueline Diamond

www.millsandboon.co.uk

The daughter of a doctor and an artist, JACQUELINE DIAMOND has been drawn to medical themes for many of her more than ninety-five published novels, including her Safe Harbor Medical miniseries for Harlequin American Romance. She developed an interest in fertility issues after successfully undergoing treatment to have her two sons, now in their twenties. A former Associated Press reporter and columnist, Jackie lives with her husband of thirty-five years in Orange County, California, where she’s active in Romance Writers of America. You can learn more about her books at jacquelinediamond.com/books and say hello to Jackie on her Facebook page, JacquelineDiamondAuthor.

To Ari and Claire

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Any minute now, she’d saunter into sight along the walkway, her reddish-brown hair brightening the gloomy January evening and her smile outshining the leftover holiday lights still draping the roof of the extended-stay motel. Shrugging into his sports coat, Dr. Nick Davis peered out his window at the opposite row of units.

No sign of her yet. It was 5:20 p.m., almost time for him to leave.

He’d moved into the Harbor Suites a few days ago, just before starting his position as an obstetrician at Safe Harbor Medical Center, and he’d noticed the woman right away. Identifiable by her blue-flowered nurse’s uniform, she arrived home just as Nick was departing for his evening office hours, which were followed by overnight duties in Labor and Delivery.

Tonight, he planned to catch her eye and give her a friendly nod. Nothing too personal; just enough of an acknowledgment to pave the way for later conversation. Laying the groundwork, so to speak.

His cell rang. An emergency? A glance at the readout produced an irritated groan: Grandma Elaine. Elaine Carrigan wasn’t his grandmother, but the title fit her.

“Hello, Elaine,” he answered.

“Nick! You aren’t with a patient, are you?” Her voice had a thin, wavering quality. Maybe it was his imagination, but she sounded especially edgy.

“About to head to the office. Is Caleb okay?” Nick glanced at the large, framed photo of his three-year-old son on his coffee table. One of the few personal notes in the bare-bones apartment lined with his unopened boxes, it touched his heart afresh. Those innocent, eager brown eyes were much like Nick’s, and the nearly black tumble of hair was like Bethany’s.

Caleb had been an accidental blessing who’d transformed his father’s life. If Nick had had his choice, the boy would have moved in with him after Bethany had passed away six months ago. However, in view of Nick’s bachelor habits and the boy’s painful loss of his mother, Nick had agreed that he should stay, for now, in his familiar home with his grandparents an hour’s drive away.

Until this week, Nick had worked at a clinic half an hour from the Carrigans. Although he’d hated to move farther from his son and accept longer hours, the pay in his new job should enable him to achieve important goals: putting a big dent in his medical school loans and saving to provide a home for Caleb before the boy reached kindergarten age.

His arrangement with the elder Carrigans had gone smoothly until early last month, when they began occasionally postponing his weekly visits with vague excuses. Nick had always considered them reliable, unlike their daughter, but he was beginning to revise that opinion. Still, they’d celebrated Christmas together, a happy holiday for the child they all loved.

“He’s fine,” Elaine said. “I’m calling about Sunday.”

Nick’s jaw tightened. “There’s no problem, is there?” He had arranged an afternoon get-together with his son.

She gave a low cough. “His best friend from preschool is having a birthday party on Sunday. Caleb brought home an invitation yesterday and that’s all he talks about. We could insist he skip it, of course.”

Nick knew his son loved birthday parties, and he didn’t wish his visits to have unpleasant associations. Also, he’d witnessed a few meltdowns lately that in somebody else’s child might be described as temper tantrums. With the boy still in a fragile emotional state, it would be unwise to push too hard.

“When does it start?” He might be able to squeeze in a pancake brunch.

“Ten o’clock,” Elaine said.

“On a Sunday?”

“They attend church early, and that’s when they’re free. Why don’t you come Saturday morning instead?”

“As I explained, I don’t finish my shift until 8:00 a.m. on Saturdays and I’ll be exhausted.” Especially since this was his first week on the new job, and he hadn’t yet acclimated to his schedule. “How about Saturday afternoon?”

“My nephew and his wife from San Francisco will be here, and Caleb adores playing with their little girl. You could join us, I suppose, but mostly he’ll be busy with his little friend.”

Nick tried to contain his exasperation. Lately, negotiating arrangements for his weekend visits seemed almost as tricky as trying to establish peace in the Middle East. He didn’t recall Elaine acting this difficult in the past, but after the holidays she might be clinging extra hard to her grandson.

Through the window, he spotted the pretty red-haired nurse approaching on the walkway. Their encounter, which he’d been looking forward to, would have to be postponed or he’d be late. His evening patients, most of whom were referrals meeting him for the first time, deserved the assurance that Nick cared enough to stick to his schedule.

His son deserved to know he cared enough to maintain regular visits, too. Bethany had never been good at keeping to a routine, and as a result, Nick had been lucky to see his son a few times a month. Since her death, however, he’d resolved to provide a stable influence. Also, at three, his son had become old enough to enjoy longer outings.

“I can’t skip a whole weekend with Caleb.” Holding the phone to his ear, Nick stepped outside into the crisp air. “I’ll be there Sunday night even if it’s only for an hour.”

Elaine caught her breath. He could almost hear her thinking fast. “I’ll tell you what. Saturday evening, my nephew and his wife plan to take the children to a puppet show in north Orange County. Why don’t you go with them? It’s halfway between us. I can email you the details.”

“That’ll be fine.” Locking the door, Nick conceded that, while he preferred to be alone with his son, this was a reasonable compromise. It might be extra fun for Caleb, too. “Thanks, Elaine.”

“My pleasure.” She sounded relieved.

What was going on with the Carrigans? Next weekend, Nick resolved to ask her. They all had to work together for Caleb’s benefit.

Turning, he discovered that the nurse had paused to chat with a neighbor. The delay offered a second chance. Nick could afford to carry out his original plan as long as he didn’t stop for any lengthy flirting, which he hadn’t intended, anyway.

He cut across the sparse lawn between a couple of squatty palm trees intent on shedding as many fronds as possible. Pacing his steps, he reached his target just as the neighbor disappeared into a unit and the nurse took out her keys.

At close range, she was taller than he’d guessed, perhaps five foot six, and he caught an appealing whiff of flowers. Sharp, intelligent gray eyes fixed on him questioningly.

“Hi, there,” Nick said casually. That was her cue to nod or smile or both. Instead, she froze, keys in hand, blinking at him.

Some people didn’t react well to the unexpected. “We haven’t met before,” he said to bridge the silence, and extended his hand. “I’m Dr. Davis.” While using his title could seem pompous, it might reassure her that he, too, worked at the medical center.

Another blink. “The hell you are!” she snapped, ignoring his outstretched hand. “Now, if you don’t mind?”

He was blocking her path, he realized. “Sorry.” Too stunned to figure out how else to react, Nick moved aside at the same moment as the nurse. After an awkward shuffle on the sidewalk, he cut his losses and stomped across the grass toward the parking lot. Behind him, he heard her door open and slam shut.

Sliding into his old blue coupe, Nick replayed the conversation, baffled. He’d said hello and introduced himself, and she’d answered, “The hell you are.”

The hell he was what? A doctor? True, he hadn’t yet put on his white coat, since he’d rather not risk soiling it. And he sported a few days’ growth of stubble, but why should that have provoked her response? Nick liked the casual effect of the beard, and Dr. Mark Rayburn, the administrator, hadn’t objected during their interview.

Rayburn had initially chosen another doctor for this position, Nick conceded as he exited the parking lot. He’d landed the job after his rival discovered over the holidays that she was pregnant, and decided against taking on such crazy hours.

Still, he’d been the runner-up. He assumed plenty of OBs had applied to the prestigious facility, which over the past half-dozen years had been transformed from a community hospital into an internationally recognized fertility center.

Nope, he decided as he cruised along the quiet residential streets en route to the hospital. His rough jaw wasn’t enough to warrant a slammed door.

Maybe the woman simply hated doctors in general. In that case, why had she become a nurse? Or did her blue-flowered uniform indicate something else? Perhaps she worked at a strip joint whose themed attractions included nurse-doctor seductions.

Better idea: quit thinking about her and move on.

The medical complex came into view, dominated by the six-story hospital with its graceful curving wings. Beside it, along the circular driveway, stood the medical building where, during his early-evening hours, Nick shared office space with several fellow obstetricians.

Scaffolding and signs warned of construction at the third low-rise tower, a five-story former dental building recently purchased by the hospital to expand the men’s fertility program. It should also, Nick had heard, contain enough remodeled medical suites to liberate the younger obstetrical staff from their cramped quarters.

By the time he parked, it was still only a quarter to six. What a joy to live within a mile of his workplace, he mused as he got out.

Through the early-winter darkness, lights shone from the medical building. Nick entered to see the elevator doors sliding open. He quickened his pace.

Then he spotted its sole occupant, an all-too-familiar woman. The same woman who’d just snubbed him outside his apartment.

How had she zipped over here and gone upstairs? At second glance, he saw that she’d also done a quick change into slacks and a loose top.

Nick halted so fast he stumbled and nearly collided with her. “Excuse me,” he muttered.

“No problem.” She smiled, which gave her face a softer cast. On further inspection, Nick registered that her hair had grown several inches and her figure had gained a matronly heft.

Obviously, this wasn’t the same woman. Waving apologetically, he said, “You startled me. I think I just met your twin.”

“Zady?”

They really were twins? “She didn’t introduce herself.”

“Well, that’s who she is, Zady Moore. I’m Zora.” The young woman extended her hand, which he found firm and warm. “Zora Moore Mendez, to be precise.”

“I’m Dr. Nick Davis. I only started working here two days ago, so I haven’t met many people,” Nick explained. “I’m an OB.”

“Oh, your suite is on the third floor.” She appeared well informed. “You might have met my husband, Lucky Mendez. He’s Dr. Rattigan’s nurse, on the fourth floor.”

Joining a staff meant learning a lot of names and faces. Doctors had to be adept at memorization to master human anatomy and keep prescription medications straight, and fortunately, Nick had been blessed with an unusually good memory. He didn’t need it to identify Dr. Cole Rattigan, though. The renowned urologist headed the men’s fertility program here, and was overseeing the transformation of the new building.

“I don’t think I’ve met your husband, but I’m sure I will,” Nick said. “Do you work here, too?”

Nearby, a second elevator discharged more people. He ought to hurry, but he hoped for a clue that might account for Zady’s rude reaction.

“I’m an ultrasound tech on maternity leave,” Zora said. “We have two-month-old twins.”

“You must have amazing stamina,” Nick told her.

“Why do you say that?”

“No dark circles.” He wasn’t flattering her. Having stayed up for the past couple of nights, he appreciated how well rested she looked.

“Helpful housemates,” the woman said cheerfully. “They’re babysitting right now while I bring dinner for Lucky, since he and his doctor are working late.”

“I’m sure they’re busy these days.” It didn’t appear that Nick was going to find out anything more, and he had to go. “Nice meeting you, and your twin.”

Zora shared a conspiratorial smile. “I’d say you have a twin of sorts, too.”

A possible explanation? Nick went on high alert. “Who’s that?”

Her head tilted in surprise. “The other Dr. Davis.”

“The other...?” Then it hit him—the explanation for that cute nurse’s decidedly unattractive response to him.

Nick should have done a lot more research before he decided to come to Safe Harbor.

Chapter Two

Zady took a late lunch on Friday due to her doctor’s busy schedule. A brilliant urological reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Marshall Davis commanded respect bordering on adulation. Since he’d joined Safe Harbor Medical two months ago, patients had flocked to him, putting a heavy load on his office nurse—Zady—as well as his surgical staff.

Zady didn’t mind the challenges of the job; she was grateful for it. The man had chosen her from a long list of applicants, and consistently inspired her to do her best. This post might be more stressful than her previous position with a urologist in Santa Barbara, north of Los Angeles, but she took pride in it and it meant a lot to her.

In the cafeteria, she plopped a salad onto her tray and, while waiting in line to pay, surveyed the airy, chatter-filled room for friends. Not that she had many yet, but her twin, Zora, had introduced her to a few people. She’d met others when they greeted her in the hall by the wrong name, and she explained the mistake.

Mistakes. Her sister had phoned her last night to tell her about her encounter with the other Dr. Davis. Zady’s cheeks heated with embarrassment. Despite her initial shock at being approached by a man who strongly resembled her boss—and then hearing him claim the same name—she should have known better.

After all, she had an identical twin. Yet, having done a bit of internet research on her boss, Zady knew the doctor was an only child. And also unmarried, not that she pictured him in a romantic light. Marshall Davis was cool, remote and precise, as a surgeon should be.

According to Zora, the stranger was apparently Marshall’s cousin, which explained the strong resemblance. Zora had also heard from her husband—who kept an ear to the ground—that the men didn’t get along. Fortunately, they worked in different departments.

Speaking of her brother-in-law, there sat Lucky at a table across the room with his friend and landlady, Karen Wiggins Vintner, a financial counselor. The forty-something Karen, black hair clouding around her thin face, was talking animatedly.

After paying for her salad, Zady started forward, then paused as a lanky male figure crossed her path, her iced tea sloshing in her glass. Taller than his cousin, she registered.

“I didn’t mean to... Oh, it’s you.” Nick Davis broke stride, oblivious to having cut off a couple of lab technicians. They circled past, keeping their no-doubt unflattering responses to themselves. “Startling you seems to be a habit of mine.”

How had she ever confused him with her doctor? That casual air, the smile playing around the corners of his mouth, the way his gaze lingered on her...totally relaxed, but also unwelcome. She recalled what Marshall had said this morning when she mentioned running into his cousin.

“Nicholas is a playboy,” he’d commented briskly. “Got a girl pregnant a few years ago and didn’t bother to marry her or support their kid. You’re too smart to fall for a loser like him.”

“You bet I am,” she’d answered.

“What should I bet you are?” The object of her mental digression continued blocking her path.

Had she spoken out loud? Zady couldn’t believe she’d been so indiscreet, but she must have. Instead of answering—since he had no right to eavesdrop on her private thoughts, even if they had accidentally become audible—she countered with, “What are you doing here? You work nights.”

Nick favored her with what many women would consider a heart-stopping grin. “Apology accepted.”

“I didn’t...” But she had been embarrassed when she realized how bizarre her reaction must have sounded last night. “Okay, I was rude.”

“Twice.” Arms folded, he remained in place, ignoring the heads swiveling toward them. The cafeteria was gossip central, and Zady figured she’d better defuse the situation quickly.

“Sorry.” For good measure, she added, “Sorry for the second time, too,” and gauged the distance between him and the nearest table. Too narrow to squeeze through without spilling her tea.

“That’s it?” This guy couldn’t take a hint.

“Are you under the impression that I owe you something?” Zady wished she had the power to shift objects, specifically him. Telekinesis, that was the word. If she did, she’d move him across the room to the patio where a group of doctors were enjoying the sunshine that bathed Southern California even in January.

“Courtesy,” the man said. “Friendliness to a stranger in a strange land.”

“I prefer a more traditional approach to strangers,” Zady told him. “Like shooting them with an arrow. Or running in the opposite direction.”

“Is that an invitation to give chase?” The twinkle in his eye nearly melted her defenses.

But Zady refused to be played for a fool. A man who’d abandoned his pregnant girlfriend and their child really was a loser. Besides, she knew on which side of the cousinly divide her loyalties lay. A nurse’s duties to her doctor went beyond merely following orders.

Instead of dignifying his comment with a reply, she said, “You never answered my question about what you’re doing here in the middle of the day.”

Glancing toward the patio, Nick nodded to someone on the far side of the glass doors. “I was invited for informal introductions. Due to my last-minute arrival on staff, I gather I’m a little off the usual welcoming schedule.”

Outside, the hospital administrator, Dr. Mark Rayburn, waited with a rather strained smile, Zady noted. “Gee, I guess I’ll have to let you go. What a pity.”

“See you around, stranger.” With a teasing twist of the lips, Nick sauntered off.

Why did he enjoy ruffling her feathers? Zady wondered as she headed for Lucky’s table. Not that she hadn’t enjoyed it, in a perverse manner.

Aware that their interaction had been thoroughly observed, she struggled to smooth out her features.

Except for his nosiness, her brother-in-law was a great guy, she reflected, taking a seat between him and Karen. Not only was he handsome, with dark coloring she credited to his Hispanic heritage, he was also a terrific husband to her sister. Zady would be a happy woman if she could meet someone like him, although preferably minus the elaborate tattoos peeking out from beneath the sleeves of his navy nurse’s uniform.

“Enjoy your little chat with the new OB?” Judging by Lucky’s amused expression, he’d heard from his wife about Zora’s encounter with Nick last night. While Zady would hate to return to the days when she and her twin had barely been on speaking terms, she did not care to discuss her reactions to the annoying second Dr. Davis.

To her relief, Karen cut in. “I have you listed for setup for the party,” she said, consulting her phone. “We’ve invited the guests for 2:00 p.m., so you should arrive by noon. It’s a week from Saturday, you’ll recall.”

“It’s on my calendar.” Mentally, Zady placed the context: a dual-purpose party to be held at Karen’s large house. The celebration would serve as an informal reception for Karen and her anesthesiologist husband, Rod Vintner, who’d married in a small ceremony on New Year’s Eve. It would also be a joint thirtieth birthday party for Zora and Zady.

Karen’s five-bedroom house was home to quite a clan: in addition to Karen, Rod and his two school-age daughters, Lucky, Zora and their twin babies also rented rooms, as did an older nurse.

“Why isn’t Zady baking?” Lucky asked. “She’s famous for her apple pie.” He’d eaten several slices at Thanksgiving.

“I thought you hated anything to do with a kitchen.” Karen peered questioningly at Zady.

“I do, sort of.” Her forkful of salad hovered in the air. “I hate catering to people. My ex-boyfriend and his snotty kids treated me like a slave.” Since the recent breakup of her decade-long relationship, she’d avoided ovens and stoves, except when she had a chance to compete with Zora. They’d both baked pies for Thanksgiving—or rather, that had been the plan. Zady’s sense of victory over her superior crust had crumbled when she discovered her sister had sent Lucky to the supermarket to buy her pecan pie.

While her companions continued their party planning, Zady stole a peek at the handshaking ritual on the patio. Nick’s easy manner with her had changed to short nods and taut body language. Perhaps he was intimidated by the presence of bigwigs like the fertility chief and the head of the men’s program.

With the administrator at his side, Nick moved to the next table, where the slightly less exalted staff members rose to say hello. Perfunctory greetings faded as, across the table, his cousin uncoiled to face him.

Dr. Nick Davis and Dr. Marshall Davis had similar builds, tall and muscular. Zady noted a strong resemblance in other ways, too, from their brown hair and straight noses to their folded arms.

“You can almost smell the testosterone, can’t you?” Lucky murmured.

Zady grimaced. “I’m surprised Nick chose to work here, considering their antagonism.”

“I’m fairly sure neither of them was aware they both planned to join the staff,” Karen said.

“Where’d you hear that?” Lucky, usually the first with the gossip, sounded slightly miffed.

“My lips are sealed.”

“Pillow talk,” he said in disgust. “Rod heard people yakking in the operating room.”

Karen chuckled. “It kills you that my husband picks up scoops without even trying, doesn’t it?”

“It’s not fair,” Lucky replied. “He has nothing to do all day but stand there monitoring his equipment and eavesdropping.”

“Maybe he’ll move on.” When both companions frowned at her, Zady clarified, “I mean Nick. Now that he’s discovered his cousin’s here, he ought to leave.”

“Be careful what you wish for,” said her brother-in-law. “The obstetricians thanked their stars when he jumped into the job. They were taking turns delivering babies every night until he signed on.”

“Why do you dislike him?” Karen asked Zady.

“I don’t.” She searched for an honest response and discovered she wasn’t sure how she felt about the man, and that troubled her. “Marshall doesn’t care for him, and that’s good enough for me.”

“You have a lot in common, though,” Lucky said.

“Such as?”

“You both live at the Harbor Suites.” He grinned. “I’m sure you’ll be borrowing cups of sugar back and forth. Wait—no kitchen stuff. Okay, cups of laundry detergent. And who knows where that will lead.”

“To piles of dirty clothes, if borrowing his detergent is my only option,” Zady said. “Besides, I’m only staying at Harbor Suites until I find an apartment.”

Which wouldn’t be easy. Rentals in the area were too expensive for her to live alone. And although the nurse who rented a room in Karen’s house had offered to move out so Zady could join her family, she’d declined. Living there would bring too much intimacy between the sisters. Way too much.

“I’m sure he plans to rent a place, as well,” Karen said. “Once that happens, I doubt you’ll run into him much.”

“I guess not. But Safe Harbor’s a small town.” Even smaller than Costa Mesa, just down the freeway, where Zady had grown up.

“If it’s meant to be...” Lucky let the words trail off.

“Don’t stop there. Keep having fun at my expense.”

“I’m trying.” He sighed.

Zady checked her watch. Although she hadn’t been out of the office for an hour, she’d finished eating. She could see that Marshall wasn’t done his meal, but she wanted to prep his next patients so he’d waste no time on his return.

“Gotta go.” She finished her milk with a gulp. “Later, guys.” They chorused their farewells.

In the corridor, she was surprised to see Nick. How had he finished eating so quickly? Perhaps he hadn’t stayed for lunch, she reflected.

“You weren’t waiting for me, were you?” She braced for a flip response.

“Actually, yes.” Nick showed no trace of his usual humor. “You didn’t tell me you work for my cousin.”

“I didn’t even know you had a cousin.”

He moved aside to let an orderly push a gurney past them. “That was last night. During our conversation earlier today, you did.” With a wave of his hand, he dismissed his own comment. “Not your fault. As I’m sure you’ve gathered, Marshall and I aren’t on good terms. It would be unfair to put you in a position of conflicting loyalties.”

“Is that what I’m in?”

He ignored the question. “The two of us should keep our distance.”

But you’re the most interesting thing that’s happened since I got here. Now, where had that thought sprung from? True, Zady had lain awake last night reviewing their interaction in light of her sister’s revelation, and, a short while ago, she’d relished their verbal sparring. The guy had a quick wit and delightfully teasing manner, although until this moment, she’d considered Nick simply an attractive nuisance.

But if he took this divided-loyalties business seriously, there was no sense arguing. “Agreed.”

Despite the flat overhead lighting, shadows touched his eyes. He couldn’t have grabbed more than a few hours of sleep since his overnight shift. “It isn’t personal. I just prefer that we lay our cards on the table.”

“And give them the royal flush,” she finished.

“Apt image,” he said. “Well, see you around. Or not.” As he departed, Zady waited a few beats to avoid the awkwardness of exiting together.

That was that. No more Nick Davis to bump into, trip over and match wits with.

As she walked toward the staff entrance, she reluctantly acknowledged the unpleasant emotion stirring inside her.

Disappointment.

Chapter Three

“You don’t have to allow relatives in the delivery room if you’d rather be alone.” Nick regarded young Mr. and Mrs. Wang sympathetically.

The wife, seven months pregnant, sat on the examining table in a skimpy hospital gown, while her husband shifted uneasily from foot to foot. Nick would have preferred to have this discussion in a less sterile setting, but he could hardly invite them into his office, which was a former storage closet.

In the week since he’d arrived at Safe Harbor, he’d adjusted fairly well to the overnight schedule. It was harder to double as counselor and lifestyle coach during his two hours of evening consultations, but these appointments brought in extra income and helped him build a patient roster for the future.

“Do we have to let them into the waiting room, either?” asked the husband. “Her mother drives me crazy.”

“And his mother drives me crazy,” added his wife.

“I can issue orders to keep family members in the main lobby,” Nick suggested. “It would be simpler if you talked to them honestly, though.”

“They’d be horrified.” Mrs. Wang shook her head, brown hair tumbling around her shoulders. “I have a PhD in business administration, but around my mother and mother-in-law, I feel about five years old.”

“They always cite Chinese traditions,” said her husband. “I think they make them up just to torment us.”

“Outline your reasons for desiring privacy during the birth,” he said. “Then share them in writing so your parents have a chance to think them over before reacting. And don’t forget that family can be an important source of love and support for new parents.”

The couple thanked Nick for his advice, and he urged them to contact him with any further questions.

Although he struggled to look wise and fatherly, he felt like a phony.

When Bethany had delivered Caleb, she and her parents hadn’t allowed Nick anywhere near her. As for his mother, under the circumstances, there’d been no question of inviting her to the hospital, but he wouldn’t have done so, anyway. His mom could be charming, but also self-centered and unpredictable. Still, she’d adored her grandson, although she’d died of lung cancer a year after Caleb’s birth.

For all her flaws, at least his mom had stuck around during Nick’s childhood. His father, who experienced severe mood swings, had kept the household in turmoil until he left for good when Nick was ten. His later, sporadic attempts at reconciliation had ended in disappointment when he failed to appear as promised or talked nonstop, rambling from one topic to another. Yet he’d refused to accept treatment for bipolar disorder.

By the time the Wangs departed, it was nearly eight, and he had to report to the hospital next door. Nick checked the text messages in his phone. According to the charge nurse in L&D, three women had been admitted. All had been seen by obstetricians and labor was progressing normally, with none close to delivering.

He could afford a few minutes to relax. With the Wangs receiving follow-up instructions from evening nurse Lori Sellers, Nick finished entering his notes in the computer and went to drink what would be the first of many cups of coffee tonight. Caffeine kept him alert, but he’d become inured enough to it that he could fall asleep instantly whenever he had a chance to lie down.

In the break room, he found one of his suitemates, Dr. Jack Ryder, eating a slice of cake left by the daytime staff. “Surprised to see you here this late,” Nick said, eyeing the last piece set out on the counter.

“I had to perform emergency surgery this afternoon. It put me behind. I offered to let patients return this evening rather than reschedule for a later date, and some of them did.” Jack, a handsome fellow oblivious to his impact on the hospital’s female staff, indicated the remaining slice. “Help yourself. There’s no one else here. Adrienne hightailed it home to relieve her babysitter.”

Dr. Adrienne Cavill-Hunter, who’d formerly held down the overnight shift and still maintained evening hours, was married, with a six-year-old son. Nick appreciated sharing an office with fellow parents; Jack had a four-month-old daughter with his wife, a surgical nurse.

As he dug into the cake, Nick considered asking his colleague’s advice about his uneasy feelings regarding the Carrigans. The puppet show on Saturday had been fun, and Caleb had snuggled happily with his father at the ice-cream parlor they’d visited afterward. Elaine’s nephew and his wife, a couple in their late thirties, had proved likable, as had their little girl.

Yet, twice the couple had changed the subject when Caleb mentioned his grandparents. While Nick didn’t wish to act paranoid, his instincts told him the Carrigans were keeping him in the dark about something.

However, he decided against raising the subject with Jack. His fellow obstetrician didn’t know the people involved, nor did he necessarily have any relevant experience.

“I’ve been meaning to talk to you.” Jack’s statement broke into his thoughts.

“Shoot.”

“It’s about the office situation. Adrienne believes it’s too early, but if we wait, we may lose our chance.” Jack stuffed his paper plate into the trash.

“Too early for what?” Nick wasn’t keen on hospital politics. Still, he felt a natural affinity for the colleagues who, in some cases, had to work odd schedules and share inadequate office space due to overcrowding.

“The Porvamm.” At his blank reaction, Jack explained, “That’s our nickname for the Portia and Vince Adams Memorial Medical Building.”

That name rang a bell. “The dental building.”

His colleague perched on the arm of a couch. “It’s got five stories. You’d think there’d be plenty of room to go around, right?”

“Sure.” Nick peered into the staff refrigerator on the chance that there might be additional, overlooked treats. No such luck.

“The upper floors will house labs, operating suites and so on for the men’s fertility program,” Jack told him. “We all hope there’ll still be space for the rest of us, but we can’t assume. We’re forming a committee to encourage Dr. Rayburn to set aside a floor for ob-gyns, pediatricians and neonatologists. Are you in?”

“I’d like to know more about it.” Caution paid, especially for a guy who’d been on staff only a week.

“Okay.” Jack cleared his throat. “You aren’t close to your cousin, are you?”

“That would be an understatement. Why, is he involved?”

The other doctor nodded. “Considering that he just arrived in November, he’s already throwing his weight around plenty. Buzzing in Cole Rattigan and Mark Rayburn’s ears about making sure there’s room for future urology fellows.”

“He’d rather leave offices empty than fill them with current doctors who’re already overcrowded?” That sounded like Marshall. The spoiled product of a privileged upbringing, he looked down his nose at anyone who wasn’t part of his group or, in this case, his medical specialty.

“So you’re with us?”

Nick tapped his watch. “Listen, I’m interested, but if I don’t get moving, the L&D nurse is going to send out a search party.”

“Speaking of parties, you should get better acquainted with the rest of the staff.” Jack accompanied him toward the hall. “We’re having a get-together Saturday afternoon in honor of my uncle’s recent marriage. Anesthesiologist Rod Vintner. You’ve met him?”

A mental image formed of a slender man wearing a fedora, his short graying beard and mustache neatly trimmed. “Dr. Rayburn introduced us. He’s a funny guy.”

“Hilarious, mostly at my expense.” Jack smiled. “I’ll email you the details.”

“Thanks. I’d enjoy that.” Nick hadn’t yet promised to join their committee, but he hoped the invitation stemmed from more than simple politicking. And he was eager to widen his circle of acquaintances.

Although he’d grown up and lived until recently only a half hour’s drive from here, most of his old friends had marched down the aisle and now socialized as couples.

When it came to dating, Nick had learned caution from his disastrous relationship with Bethany. Since his move, the only woman who’d caught his eye was Zady. How frustrating to run into her not only at the Harbor Suites but also at the supermarket and around their residential motel, and he couldn’t do more than say hello.

Even at a distance, he noticed appealing quirks, like her habit of mumbling to herself and then halting with a guilty start. And the ironic slant of her mouth when she regarded him promised peppery rejoinders—if only she’d talk to him.

All the more irksome that he was avoiding her because of his cousin. Nick had learned from Adrienne about a rumor going around the hospital that he’d abandoned his pregnant girlfriend and their son. Only Marshall would spread such a dishonest tale. And although tempted to broadcast the fact that his cousin was a lying snob, Nick had simply told his suitemates the truth and left it at that.

Once people got to know Nick better, it should be easier to counter Marshall’s attempts to undermine him. Working nights made that difficult, so the invitation for Saturday was appealing. With his regular visit to Caleb scheduled for Sunday, Nick should have a pleasantly busy weekend.

His thoughts shifted to the evening ahead. Each time he held a newborn in his hands, a sense of wonder swept over him. What more could a man ask than to participate in miracles all night?

Humming tunelessly, he quickened his pace toward the elevator.

* * *

HAD THERE EVER BEEN a cuter baby boy in the history of the world? Zady wondered as she gazed down at her nephew, Orlando, snuggling in her arms and wrapped in a hand-crocheted blanket. Two months old and already he could yawn and gurgle with the best of them.

Guiltily, she glanced up at Karen, who was greeting guests. Although Zady had fulfilled her responsibility of setting up the dining room buffet table, she felt as if she should be doing more. Instead, she hadn’t been able to resist when her sister laid Orlando in her arms.

The landlady seemed oblivious to Zady’s guilty vibes. No one else glared at her, either. Lucky and Zora were welcoming friends, while Rod’s daughters, Tiffany and Amber, circulated with trays of appetizers. At thirteen, Tiffany showed signs of developing into a beauty, while eleven-year-old Amber retained a childish playfulness. As they passed their father, Rod helped himself to the treats, proclaiming it his duty to serve as official taster.

Standing in the den of Karen’s house, Zady reveled in the waves of love that surrounded her. Unfortunately, the joyous feeling faded at the memory of a blow she’d received this morning.

She’d figured she was completely over Dwayne, her faithless ex-boyfriend. Sure, he could be devilishly sexy, but she’d been a fool to stick around when he kept postponing marriage and children, pointing out that he already had three from his former marriage.

Then he’d cheated on her, impregnated his girlfriend and crowed about becoming a father again. Zady had finally found the strength to dump the guy and, along with him, the decade she’d invested in him.

But this morning, a mutual acquaintance had posted pictures of Dwayne’s newborn baby son online.

How could a kid with such rotten genes be so adorable? Not as cute as Orlando, of course, but still... Babies were deceptive. Men were deceptive. Hearts were the worst of all.

Tears stung Zady’s eyes. Here it was, her thirtieth birthday, and she had neither a husband nor a baby. Worse, her gut told her it was largely her fault for making really bad choices.

She could use a friend to pour out her troubles to, but everyone here really belonged to her sister, and despite their renewed closeness, Zady didn’t feel comfortable unloading her misery on Zora. As for Zady’s closest friend from up north, a fellow nurse named Alice Madison, she now lived with her husband and baby in the Los Angeles area, but responded to Zady’s communications with brief, impersonal messages.

Whatever the knack was for developing intimacy, it seemed to have bypassed Zady entirely. If only she could find a guy she related to easily, who didn’t try to take advantage of her. A guy something like Nick...but with better references.

Keeping her face averted to hide her distress, Zady slipped from the den into the kitchen. Mercifully, it was empty, but any minute someone might wander in, so she carried little Orlando into the pantry. If anyone spotted her, she’d pretend he’d been fussing and needed a spot of quiet.

Sorry for the slander, she mentally wafted to her nephew. Oh, heck, why bad-mouth an innocent child? She’d claim she’d come to fetch a can of olives.

As she’d anticipated, footsteps tromped into the kitchen. “Why shouldn’t I have invited him?” That might be Jack Ryder’s voice, Zady thought, and wondered who he was discussing. “It’s Rod’s wedding reception, and he doesn’t care.”

Care about what? She nearly asked the question aloud. Maybe she should reveal her presence before the conversation went any further.

However, a woman had begun speaking. “This gathering isn’t just for Rod and Karen.” That must be Jack’s wife, Anya. A bubbly surgical nurse, she had once shared an apartment with Zora. “It’s also Zora and Zady’s birthday party.”

What does this have to do with us? Despite the rudeness of listening from the pantry, curiosity held Zora in place.

“Fortunately, it’s a big house and people can socialize with whomever they like,” Jack retorted cheerfully. “Now, where’s that dip?”

“I’m guessing in the refrigerator.” The heavy door opened. “Here it is, just like Karen said. Now, I still don’t understand why you invited—”

“So we can get better acquainted.” Jack sighed. “Okay, truth is, I suggested he join our committee. We need someone who won’t be afraid to stand up to Marshall.”

What committee and how did this involve Marshall? Zady owed it to her doctor to discover what might be afoot. And her curiosity was growing by the minute.

“The sooner you present your case to the administration, the less chance of this whole business turning into some ridiculous feud,” Anya continued.

“If Marshall weren’t so greedy about office space, we wouldn’t have to fight him on it,” Jack grumbled. “Reserving two entire floors for urologists!”

Now Zady understood the issue. But the dental building had been acquired specifically to expand the men’s program. Aside from the fact that he was currently forced to share a suite with several other doctors, Marshall had every right to insist that the Porvamm be used as intended. She wouldn’t hesitate to tell Jack that, either, except that a nurse, especially a new one, would be unwise to wade into doctors’ politics.

In her self-absorption, Zady had almost forgotten the infant in her arms. With timing that bordered on sabotage, Orlando let out a squawk.

“Hey! Is someone in the pantry?” Male footsteps approached.

Elbowing open the door, which she’d left slightly ajar, Zady emerged. “I was in here fetching, um...” What had she planned to use as an alibi? Her brain refused to cooperate.

Anya paused in removing plastic wrap from a bowl of onion dip, her face a study in confusion. Her tall, handsome husband showed no such uncertainty. “You were spying!”

Zady’s mother had always said that the best defense was a good offense. “I needed a moment alone, that’s all. How should I know you guys would barrel in here and start discussing state secrets?”

Jack scowled but cast a guilty glance toward the dining room, from which drifted the hum of conversation. “I suppose I shouldn’t have brought it up with people around, but I never imagined Marshall’s nurse would be lurking with big ears.”

“What if Lucky had heard?” Zady retorted. “He works with Cole, and I’m sure they don’t keep secrets from each other. Or from Dr. Davis.”

“She’s right,” Anya chimed in.

Thank you. Zady decided she shared her sister’s high opinion of Anya.

“Will you rat on us when he gets here?” Jack demanded.

“Marshall’s coming today?” Zady hadn’t expected to run into her boss.

“I assume so. Surely Lucky invited him.” Zora’s husband, who’d recently earned a master’s degree in nursing administration, was helping Dr. Rattigan and Dr. Davis coordinate the growth of the men’s program. “You shouldn’t blab everything to him.”

“How would you like it if your nurse kept you in the dark?” she asked.

“He’d hate it.” Anya caught her husband’s wrist. “Why don’t we end this discussion before the whole world gets involved?”

“They soon will be anyway,” Jack muttered.

Great. Zady would rather not make enemies, she reflected as the couple exited with the dip. Perhaps she should ask Zora’s opinion before informing Marshall. But how unfair to lay that burden on her twin.

Also, Zady had vowed to forge her own path, and this struck her as the kind of tough choice she shouldn’t shrink from. Loyalty to Marshall mattered. Too bad it stood between her and his cousin, whom she’d run into twice this week, at the supermarket and in the laundry room.

Each time, her traitorous brain had reacted with a snap of admiration for his tousled good looks. It would be a relief when he or she, or both, found a better place to live.

Orlando, who’d been fussing softly, quit beating around the bush and let out a wail. Instantly, nursing supervisor Betsy Raditch appeared. “I’ll take him,” she volunteered, holding out her arms.

Since grandmotherly Betsy doted on babies, Zady relinquished her nephew without a qualm. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” Beaming, the older woman carried off her tiny charge.

In breezed Tiffany and Amber to refill their trays from an array of hors d’oeuvres on the table. With Orlando gone, Zady wished for a task to focus on, but the girls already had the serving job covered.

As if on cue—or perhaps due to the often-rumored psychic link between twins, which had never been much in evidence until now—Zora popped in. “Let’s open presents!”

“I love watching people open presents,” Amber enthused. The deaths of her mother and stepfather in a car crash last fall had left a mark, but she and her sister were adapting well to sharing a home with their father and his new wife.

“Your parents should go first.” Zora assumed the pile of wrapped packages in the living room was mostly for the newlyweds.

“Oh, they requested no more gifts. They already received a ton of stuff.” A grin lit Zora’s face. As usual these days, she radiated happiness. “Enjoy, sis! Those are for us.”

“Those are for us?” Zady asked simultaneously, unintentionally matching her twin’s phrasing.

“You guys are cute.” Tiffany gazed from Zady to Zora. “You’re like reflections in a mirror.”

“I’m chubbier these days,” Zora said cheerily. “Breastfeeding and all.”

“And you have more freckles,” Zady teased. That had been the subject of arguments between them during their teen years.

“She smiles more, too,” Amber noted.

“She deserves to.” Zady draped an arm around her sister’s shoulders. “Okay, let’s—” She flinched as the doorbell rang.

That must be Marshall. With an unpleasant jolt, she realized that telling him about the plot might spoil everyone’s mood. Best to get it over with quickly, like ripping off an adhesive bandage. “I’ll answer that.”

“Why you?” Zora inquired.

“Because I’m faster,” she retorted, and took off for the front of the house.

No one else had responded, probably because the front door stood partly open and most guests just walked in. But Marshall had a more formal personality. No wonder he remained on the porch, an appealing figure with his dark, brooding air.

Zady stopped short. She’d done it again. This wasn’t Marshall, it was Nick.

What was he doing here? And why did she experience a rush of warmth when his startled gaze met hers?

He cleared his throat when he saw her. “I didn’t realize you’d be here.”

“I had no idea you were coming, either.” Despite the many reasons why he was bad news, Zady nearly added, “I’m glad you came.”

She was saved—or thrown under the bus—by Jack’s sudden appearance at her side. “She knows about our plans,” he told Nick. “And she intends to spill it to Marshall, so don’t trust her.”

“That’s the last time I ever hide in a pantry,” Zady blurted, and marched off, leaving Jack to show Nick around. Not even the sight of her sister gesturing toward a pile of presents could restore her high spirits.

Well, not quite.

Chapter Four

At the sight of Zady, a thrill skittered along Nick’s nervous system, and he didn’t miss the welcoming glint in her eyes, either. As his fellow MD prattled on about the committee and Zady’s alleged spying, he experienced a surge of annoyance, not at her but at Jack for inserting a wedge between them.

Although not crazy about Zady’s allegiance to Marshall, Nick rather admired her initiative in hiding in the pantry. He disliked doing what people expected, possibly because while he was growing up people had often expected the worst of him. So he appreciated the same irreverent trait in others.

Still, the situation emphasized the gap between him and the lively nurse. He’d never intended for his lifelong one-upmanship with Marshall to turn into a Hatfields versus McCoys feud, even though it was unfair to deny Nick’s colleagues their share of office space.

“As to your committee, I haven’t agreed to anything until I learn more,” he reminded Jack when the man paused for breath.

“I figured I should warn you.”

“Consider me warned.” It was counterproductive to snap at the guy who’d invited him today, but because of Jack, Nick had lost his chance at a private conversation with Zady. She’d joined her sister in the center of a dozen or so well-wishers, beneath a banner reading, Happy 30th Birthday!

“Speaking of warnings,” Nick added, “you told me the party was for your uncle.”

“It is, among others. Does it matter?”

More than you can imagine. “Never mind.” Nick tried to smile, achieved a grimace and cleared his throat. “I can’t wait to meet your wife.”

“Anya’s right over here.”

While shaking hands with a charming woman who struck him as a sensible counterweight to her husband’s enthusiasms, Nick made a quick survey of the living room. The striped sofa, gleaming curio cabinet and formal raised dining room reinforced his impression of elegance. As he drove up, he’d admired the ocean view and the blue-trimmed white house that dominated the block.

Impulsively, he muttered, “Beautiful place. Must be nice to be rich.”

“Karen?” Anya said. “She’s not. She inherited the house in bad shape. To pay for refurbishing, she had to take in renters.”

Kicking himself for being judgmental, Nick said, “I shouldn’t leap to conclusions. But now that she’s married an anesthesiologist, surely they can afford to keep the place to themselves.”

“Rod’s practically broke.” Jack shrugged. “He spent years fighting for custody of his daughters, whom he lost to their billionaire stepfather. That would be the late Vince Adams, who endowed the Porvamm to the hospital.”

“And now, here we are.” A red-haired girl in her early teens presented a tray filled with stuffed mushrooms. “Is this the cute new doctor Zora’s been talking about? Hi, I’m Tiffany Adams.”

“I’m Nick Davis, and thanks for the compliment.” He’d have extended his hand, but hers were already occupied. Instead, he selected an hors d’oeuvre.

“Sorry for gossiping,” Jack said.

“I forgive you. Don’t do it again, cuz.” After a mock attempt to kick his ankle, the girl moved on.

What an interesting group, Nick mused. He’d heard that Tiffany and her younger sister, who must be the flame-haired kid also passing out treats, had inherited a fortune, but they didn’t act snobbish. There was nothing wrong with money as long as you didn’t let it inflate your ego or corrupt your values, as it seemed to have with Marshall and his parents.

A shout of laughter erupted around the gift table. Zady and Zora were performing an impromptu baton-twirling routine with a pair of canes, no doubt a gag gift implying they’d become decrepit with age. Karen, watching beside her husband, gazed anxiously at a nearby lamp.

The twins halted amid giggles. “You’d better keep these.” Zora handed both canes to Rod. “As you can see, we’re a menace.”

“Sorry, Karen,” Zady added.

“No harm done,” responded the bride.

Observing the sisters together, Nick was again struck by the similarities of coloring, height and mannerism, but also by the differences. Thinner, with reddish-brown hair a shade lighter than her twin’s, Zady had a more reserved manner and a trace of sadness around the eyes.

What was bothering her? Her gaze kept returning to the pink-blanket-wrapped baby girl nestled in Lucky’s arms. Longing to be a mother, too?

Ironically, Nick had had a son before he’d even thought about fatherhood. In the three years since then, Caleb had changed him. If only he could offer his son an ideal home, with two happily married parents, but that hadn’t been in the cards. Now Nick was determined to provide the boy with as much stability as possible, but it was proving an uphill battle.

Elaine Carrigan had led him through yet another song-and-dance routine about tomorrow’s meetup with Caleb. She’d seemed especially reluctant to have Nick visit their home. Only when Nick demanded straight out that she tell him what was wrong had she backed down and suggested he arrive after lunch for a play session.

The couple owned a large house in a semirural setting. Bethany had cited her desire to raise their son there as one of several reasons for rejecting Nick’s offer of marriage, and the Carrigans had emphasized how much Caleb loved the place when they’d urged Nick to let him stay with them after Bethany’s death.

But what was going on now? Had the house become unsafe, or were they trying to edge him out of the boy’s life? Worst-case scenario: they planned a bid for custody and, by reducing contact, aimed to portray him as an indifferent father.

Tomorrow, he’d find out.

Across the room, the twins were laughing again as they displayed the contents of an over-the-hill survival kit: fanglike teeth, bottle-thick glasses and Halloween-worthy black wigs. They called out thanks to the eminent Dr. Cole Rattigan.

When Nick had met him at the hospital, the man had inclined his head with royal coolness, leaving an impression of arrogance. Today, however, he beamed at everyone. No doubt both his attitude and the funny gift owed a lot to the elfin woman with him, also the object of the twins’ gratitude. That must be his wife, Stacy.

An older woman with graying dark hair brushed past Nick to scoop wrapping paper and ribbons into a trash bag. She was clearly the other housemate he’d heard about, a nurse. “Ready for cake?” she asked the birthday duo.

“You bet, Keely.” Thanking everyone again, Zora piled the gifts neatly, while Zady silently gathered the remaining wrappings. Struck by her reticence, Nick recalled that these were her sister’s friends. While everyone appeared to welcome her, he wondered if she, too, felt like an outsider.

Most of the residents and guests trooped into the den, where Nick had seen a cake on display. Only he and Zady lingered in the living room.

“I’d have brought a gift if I’d realized it was your birthday.” He bent to lift one end of the coffee table as she raised the other.

“Like we need more gag gifts?” She indicated a spot where the table legs fit into carpet indentations. “Don’t worry about it.”

Nick helped lower the piece gently. “You should go blow out candles and help cut the cake.”

“Those big-number three and zero candles? Zora can manage. As for cake-cutting, when my brother-in-law sees dessert, everybody better clear a path.”

“It’s your birthday,” he reminded her. “I’ll finish straightening here. Go eat.”

Zady’s wry gaze met his. “I’d rather wait till...”

When she broke off, Nick guessed the rest. “Till Marshall arrives?”

“Yes. I’d like to get that out of the way.”

“The tattling part?”

She blew a strand of hair sideways off her cheek. “Yeah. The part where I metaphorically stab you in your evil heart. Does that sum it up?”

“I haven’t yet thrown in my lot with the conspiracy,” Nick responded mildly. “Although I do agree that space should be allotted to other doctors.”

“That’s not my problem.” Zady planted hands on hips. “Anything else?”

Nick had trouble organizing his thoughts with her standing there, her face animated and her knit top stretching over her breasts. “Yeah. You look really cute.”

“How condescending!”

“Have trouble accepting compliments, do you?”

“Only from the devil’s minions.” She laughed.

“Hey, I’m a good guy. Mostly.” Judging by the noises from the den, everyone had dug into the cake. Nick was too busy enjoying the conversation to care about dessert. “I deliver babies night and day. Well, night and sometimes day if we’re busy.” He’d stayed until 10:00 a.m. once this week.

Zady studied him. “Why do you work such long hours? It must interfere with your swinging-bachelor life.”

“Is my cousin trotting out that old ‘He’s a playboy’ crap?” In all honesty, Nick was partly to blame for the image. At a family gathering years ago, he’d called Marshall a stuffed shirt and bragged about his own playboy antics—mostly invented—while sailing to the top of his medical school class at UCLA.

He’d been aware that his successes, which resulted as much from a top-notch memory as from hard work, had been a sore spot with his cousin. A year older and proud of his admission to Harvard Medical School, Marshall had assumed he should be superior at everything. Instead, he’d struggled with his studies until he hit on his true talent as a surgeon.

“Let me guess. Your goal is to get rich enough to buy your own hospital,” Zady said.

“Don’t forget the private fleet of jets.” Okay, enough teasing. Nick could see from her dubious expression that she half believed him. “I don’t come from wealthy parents like my cousin. I’m paying off med school and supporting a son. I have a three-year-old—no doubt he mentioned that.”

“In passing.”

“What did he say, exactly?”

“That you weren’t involved with raising your child.” Her guarded tone implied she was softening his cousin’s comments.

“I’m as involved as I can arrange.” No more light tone. “Caleb’s mother died six months ago in a boating accident. I let him stay with his grandparents, but I visit every week. However, during the last month, they’ve become—”

Although he wasn’t sure why he’d started to confide in her, he felt a flash of irritation when the doorbell interrupted. If that was Marshall, Nick doubted he’d get a further chance to explain. Still, he appreciated being able to correct a few of Zady’s false impressions.

In fairness, Marshall had no doubt only repeated what he’d heard from his mother, who must have drawn what she considered a logical conclusion from the fact that Nick didn’t marry the woman carrying his child. Neither his cousin nor his aunt was likely to give Nick the benefit of any doubt.

“I’d like to hear more, if you’re still speaking to me,” Zady said before hurrying to answer the door.

How much more should he share? Well, Nick could use feedback about his current concerns. He’d hate to misinterpret the Carrigans’ behavior and antagonize them needlessly. However, once Zady told Marshall about the forces allied against him, he would raise the drawbridge and release crocodiles into the moat.

Luckily, I know how to swim and dodge at the same time. Nick only regretted that the barrier between him and Zady, which had lifted briefly today, would once again slam into place.

* * *

DESPITE HER PLAN to share what she’d learned, Zady found that difficult as she welcomed her doctor into the house. His expression guarded, Marshall squared his already straight shoulders beneath his dark blue jacket and handed her two gifts decorated with satiny paper and elaborate bows.

“Happy birthday.”

“Thanks.” Zady cast an uneasy glance toward the living room, but Nick had vanished. “Come in.”

Now what should she say? She could hardly blurt, “By the way, while I was lurking in the pantry sulking about my ex-boyfriend’s baby, I eavesdropped on a plot.” How melodramatic.

Also, what Nick had said about his son gave her pause. While she doubted Marshall had been deliberately untruthful, he’d gotten his facts wrong. That was unrelated to the conspiracy, but was it wise to choose sides?

“Everybody’s in here.” The gifts in her arms, she led him to the den.

The sight of Dr. Rattigan drew a smile from Marshall. Pleased to see him unwind a little, Zady introduced her boss to a few people en route to joining his supervisor. After he seemed settled, she and Zora opened his gifts.

The boxes contained expensive skin-care products. “Ooh, this smells wonderful!” Zora exclaimed. “Zady and I can have a beauty day.”

“These are fabulous,” Zady agreed.

Marshall ducked his head. “The department store clerk recommended them. I’m afraid I’m no expert on gifts for ladies.”

“You did great.” Lucky approached carrying slices of red-velvet cake with cream-cheese frosting. “Here you go, Dr. Davis. Zady, you, too.”

There was plenty of cake left, she noticed, and remembered that Nick hadn’t had any. Where was he?

Ah, there, hanging back near the kitchen. One of the Adams girls, trying to squeeze past, bumped him and giggled loudly, drawing everyone’s attention.

If someone had whacked Marshall with a rod, he couldn’t have reacted more strongly. At the sight of his cousin, every muscle in his body stiffened.

Zady might have responded pretty much the same had she run into Zora unexpectedly before they reconciled last fall. Their dysfunctional mother had pitted them against each other their entire lives, but once Zady moved back to the area, she and her sister had quickly seen through the lies. Whatever misunderstandings—or well-grounded enmities—lay between these cousins probably had deeper roots.

The men nodded in mute acknowledgment. Zora broke the tension by declaring that the wrappings were too lovely to throw away. “You never know when they’ll come in handy. Maybe for a craft project.”

Zady joined her in folding them. “I’m sure we’ll reuse them.”

Leaving his untouched plate on a side table, Marshall hurried to pick up a bow that had dropped to the carpet. “I’d hate to leave a mess,” he explained, handing it to her.

“Thanks,” she said. “But you should take it easy. You’re a guest.”

“If something needs doing, I’d rather take care of it immediately,” he replied.

The doctor was uncomfortable at social gatherings, Zora reflected. Perhaps that explained why, according to hospital gossip, he didn’t have much of a private life. Which is none of my business. “Enjoy your cake. Unless you haven’t eaten any real food yet?”

“Oh, there’s food?” He glanced around.

Zady was directing him to the dining room, when the usually bashful Dr. Rattigan cleared his throat loudly. “While everybody’s here, I have an announcement.”

The conversations died down. Amber and Tiffany stopped joking with their father, and Jack froze, as if fearing Cole might hand out the office suites willy-nilly.

“This won’t be officially announced until tomorrow, but I believe that Luke’s family and friends ought to hear it first.” Cole was the only person Zady knew who referred to Lucky by his formal name. “He’s being promoted to director of nursing for the men’s fertility program.”

Cheers broke out. “Way to go!” and “Well deserved!” flew through the air. Zora rushed to hug her husband, and Betsy—director of nursing for the hospital staff—called congratulations to her newly elevated colleague.

Lucky started to speak but had to try several times before the words flowed. “I can’t tell you how much this honor means to me. It’s been a long haul for a guy who started his career as a security guard and an ambulance driver. To have Cole Rattigan believe in me is a dream come true.”

“We all believe in you,” Karen called.

“Don’t overdo it,” Rod declared. “He still has to wash dishes later.”

Encouraged by his friends, Lucky clasped his hands in a victory salute. On his right arm, a tattooed dragon wriggled menacingly. On the left, a cartoon woman whose armor emphasized her physical bounty waved her sword at the beast.

“Dare we hope he’ll get those ugly tats removed?” Marshall muttered so low that Zady doubted anyone else heard.

Don’t you realize he’s my brother-in-law? Although she wasn’t crazy about the tattoos, either, the remark struck her as inappropriate at a moment when they were celebrating Lucky’s achievement.

She recalled Nick’s comment about Marshall’s privileged upbringing. Much as she admired her doctor, it must be hard for him to understand what an achievement it was for a guy from a poor neighborhood in LA to earn his RN and then his master’s degree in administration, studying at night while working days.

When the crowd around Lucky thinned, Marshall moved forward to shake his hand. He did have good manners, she mused, but that insight into his thinking had left a sour taste. Zady decided that whatever confidence she wished to impart to her boss could wait—or she might stay out of this altogether. Since Marshall was already guaranteed a large suite in the remodeled building, he wouldn’t be directly affected by the administration’s decision.

The grumbling in her stomach reminded her that it was nearly four o’clock. Having skipped lunch, she wandered through the kitchen into the dining room, where, despite earlier depletions, there were still plenty of cold cuts and side dishes.

The only person in the room, Nick, stood filling a pita pocket with hummus. As she watched, he tucked in thin-sliced ham and several pickle chips, finishing it all off with a squirt of mustard.

“I hope your medicine cabinet’s stocked with antacids.” She took a paper plate off the stack.

“It’s fun trying new food combinations,” he responded, and added sliced black olives to the mix. “Speaking of food, have you spilled the beans yet?”

“Excuse me?” Zady spread mayonnaise on whole wheat bread before layering on corned beef and Swiss cheese.

“Have you told my cousin about the big conspiracy? I’ve been waiting for him to glower in that winning fashion of his.” Edging alongside her, Nick smelled of coffee and spicy mustard. “Try that stinky cheese over there.” As he spoke, he plopped a hunk of it into his already stuffed pita.

“Can you wait a minute? I’ll have to leave the room once you start eating that,” Zady said.

“I’m not the person who bought it,” he remarked cheerily. “What did you stock for Marshall’s palate? I don’t see escargots. How about some pâté de foie gras? I can hardly pronounce it.”

“There’s nothing wrong with French cuisine unless you’re a reverse snob.” She sliced her sandwich diagonally in half. “Well, maybe that pâté.” She’d read that its manufacture involved cruelty to geese.

“You pegged me right, I’m a reverse snob.” A sexy chuckle tickled her ear. “I’m low class and proud of it.”

She added potato salad to her plate. “To answer your question, I’ve decided to stay out of office politics.”

“Sensible of you.” Following her example, Nick went for a serving of potato salad, then topped it with chives and salsa.

“You doctors should bring your issues into the open and discuss them like adults.”

“That assumes we are adults.” He hesitated. “Listen, I have a favor to ask.”

“Does it involve eating stinky cheese?”

He shook his head. “It involves driving across the county with me tomorrow to visit my son.” His tone had lost its teasing lilt.

What a strange request. “Why?”

“I need an objective observer for a tricky situation.” Nick had switched gears so abruptly that Zady found herself bracing for a punch line. Instead, he explained, “Caleb’s grandparents have been stalling me whenever I try to visit, and I’m not sure what’s behind it. His grandmother has become, well, unpredictable.”

She was no expert on kids, nor was she eager to be on closer terms with the second Dr. Davis. Still, the request sounded genuine. Like her, he had few friends in Safe Harbor, and it showed that he placed a lot of trust in her. How could she say no if it meant helping him to see his little boy more?

“I suppose I could ride along,” Zady said.

“And possibly distract the little guy if I need a minute alone with Mr. and Mrs. Carrigan?”

“Sure. I like kids.” Zady hadn’t meant to volunteer for babysitting duty, but she wanted to find out more about Nick’s son.

“It would mean a lot to me.” Reaching across the table, Nick plucked a radish from a bowl and added it to her plate. “A token of my esteem, madam.”

“I’m overwhelmed.”

They were grinning when Marshall emerged from the kitchen. He broke his stride, his high cheekbones coloring.

Oh, great. He probably assumed they were flirting, which they weren’t—exactly. Zady nearly rushed in with an explanation, but they’d been discussing Nick’s private business. Also, what she did on her days off didn’t concern Marshall.

“See you around,” she told Nick, and, with a smile for her boss, carried her food away to eat in peace.

Chapter Five

Keenly aware of the proximity of other people, Nick kept his voice low as he faced his cousin across the dining room. “Don’t take it out on her.”

“Don’t take what out on her?” Marshall frowned at a cabinet full of showy china, then—with an expression of distaste—plucked a paper plate off the stack. Funny how easily Nick tracked his cousin’s reactions, even though they’d avoided contact these past few years. “You mean I shouldn’t blame her because she’s on good terms with my cousin? As always, you assume I’m an ogre.”

As always, I’m probably right. That would sound childish, Nick conceded. “I had no idea you’d joined the staff.”

“Same here.” With surgical precision, Marshall formulated a sandwich, trimming off edges of meat and cheese that lapped over the crust. “I’ve admired Cole Rattigan for years. Anyone would leap at the opportunity to join his program and play a role in its growth.”

Leaning against a wall, Nick started to bite into his pita, but he’d overfilled it. To avoid smearing his face, he returned it to his plate. “My motives were less noble. I applied for the overnight labor-and-delivery shift, plus evening hours, to pay for my student loans.” He paused, unsure whether to reveal more.

“Is that a slam?” Marshall asked, measuring a small, rounded serving of carrot salad.

“How would that be a slam?”

“You resent my financial advantages,” his cousin said.

“I’d love to be debt-free,” Nick conceded. “I’d also love to have had a father like yours who supported his family instead of abandoning them. That doesn’t mean I resent you for either.”

Marshall’s eyes narrowed. Had Nick unwittingly stepped on his toes with such a plain statement of fact?

“I hadn’t considered your perspective.” Marshall gazed distractedly through the window toward the wetlands that bordered Karen’s property.

Above the brown-and-green expanse, a pelican took flight, and Nick recalled reading that the estuary was a bird sanctuary. Its decomposing vegetation was also the source of a rotten-egg smell he’d noticed outside. Mercifully, it either didn’t penetrate the house or he’d quickly grown accustomed to it.

His cousin continued, “But you haven’t considered my perspective, either.”

“Enlighten me.”

“My dad may have paid the bills, but he spent almost every waking minute running his company.” The late Upton Davis had founded a medical-device firm to market his designs. “I wish he’d spent more time with me. But you’re right. I was lucky I didn’t have an alcoholic father.”

“Dad’s primary problem wasn’t alcoholism, it was being bipolar.” Nick didn’t mean to defend the man. “Not that that’s an excuse. He failed in his obligations and I’m still picking up the pieces.”

Marshall shrugged. “The bottom line being, we’re colleagues now.”

“And since we are, let me clear up a misconception.” No sense allowing ignorance to fester. “Whatever you may have heard, I did not abandon my son. I’ve helped support Caleb for the past three years and visited as often as his mother and my schedule would allow. Now that she’s dead, I have legal custody, although at present he’s staying with his grandparents.”

“You have custody of your son? I apologize for misinforming Zady.” Marshall’s face revealed an unexpected glint of longing. “And you named him Caleb after our grandfather? That’s excellent.”

When Nick had suggested it before the birth, Bethany had merely added it to her list of possible names. He was grateful she’d chosen it. “Too bad Grandpa didn’t live to meet his namesake.”

His cousin swallowed. “You’re a lucky guy.”

“Yes, I am.” It had never occurred to Nick that Marshall might envy him for being a father. Perhaps the man’s steely surface and superior attitude didn’t tell the whole story.

The drift of people into the adjacent living room discouraged further conversation. Jack Ryder quirked an eyebrow at Nick as if to ask what he and Marshall had been discussing.

Did this dispute about the dental building have to spark armed us-against-them camps? Well, perhaps where he and his cousin were concerned, a certain amount of antagonism was inevitable.

Taking his leave, he carried his bulging pita into the kitchen to eat over the sink and dispose of the mess.

Zady had had a point, he reflected, and not only about fixing smaller sandwiches. Staying out of office politics was a prudent policy, not that he would necessarily adopt it.

He hoped for more of her good advice tomorrow. Six months ago, allowing the Carrigans to keep his son had been the best course for the boy’s well-being, but that had changed.

* * *

WHAT DID YOU WEAR on a not-date with an attractive man while avoiding a wrong impression, especially when you weren’t sure what the right impression was?

Zady laid out several pairs of pants, then removed the jeans because the little boy’s grandparents might disapprove. Then again, no matter how strongly Nick assured them Zady was merely a friend, they’d undoubtedly compare her to their daughter’s sainted memory. They must still be grieving deeply.

She studied her remaining choices. Navy slacks and a print blouse struck her as too much like a uniform. What about tan slacks and a red, blue and tan–striped shirt? Should she pair it with a red sweater or a tan one?

She could use feedback—not Zora’s, since Zady wasn’t about to spread the word that she’d be accompanying Nick. She missed the easy exchanges of opinion she’d had with her friend Alice Madison. They used to consult each other about all sorts of issues when they worked in the same medical building in Santa Barbara.

Zady picked up the phone. It ought to be possible to reestablish ties, since Alice’s new address in Culver City was less than an hour’s drive from here. They might even meet for lunch occasionally on weekends.

Several buzzes later, her friend’s voice responded with a puzzled “Hello?”

Hadn’t she recognized Zady’s number? “It’s me, Zady.”

A pause, then a lackluster “Hi.”

Judging by her friend’s uncharacteristic lack of energy, all was not well. Zady felt foolish for calling about such a trivial matter. Her heart squeezed at the possibility that anything might be wrong with Alice’s little girl, Linda, who was Zady’s godchild. A health problem would also explain why she’d received only a perfunctory email thanking her for the doll playhouse she’d sent at Christmas.

“How are things?” Zady asked.

“Not good.” Alice took a shaky breath. “Bill and I may be splitting.”

“You can’t!” Great response. “I mean, he seems like such a nice guy.”

In her late thirties, Alice had recovered from an early divorce and become a radiant bride, marrying a physiotherapist who shared her goals and showered her with affection. Pooling their medical expertise and interest in health, they’d launched a company that put on lifestyle seminars and sold health supplements and portable exercise equipment.

“We thought moving to Southern California would be fantastic for business, and it has been,” Alice said. “What we didn’t count on was the amount of work it would be. Add a toddler to the mix and we hardly ever have a free moment. When we do, we argue.”

Tucking the phone against her shoulder, Zady changed into the tan pants. “This is a temporary glitch. You can work through it.”

“Bill set up a month’s worth of seminars around the Western states without consulting me.” Alice sighed. “He says he can handle it by himself, but if I’m not there, things will fall apart. This tour is too much for one person to coordinate. I told him to cancel it until Linda’s older, but he insists we have to strike while the iron is hot.”

“That’s hardly a reason to divorce him.” Discovering that she’d buttoned her shirt crooked, Zady started over. She’d promised to meet Nick in less than fifteen minutes.

“He’s high-handed and condescending,” Alice burst out. “I assumed we’d be true partners. Instead, he acts as if he’s the boss and I’m the employee.”

Zady could hardly suggest Alice learn to tolerate such a situation. Still, she couldn’t encourage her friend to abandon her marriage, either. “Sit down with him and figure out a compromise. Your little girl needs both her parents.”

“You really love her, don’t you?”

“Of course!” Zady said. “I just wish I could spend more time with her.”

“You wouldn’t...do anything, would you?”

“Do anything?” Then it hit Zady what she meant. “Of course not!”

Nearly four years ago, after Alice had learned that her body was no longer producing viable eggs, she’d wept on Zady’s shoulder. She’d have been content to adopt and Bill had agreed, but as the only child of high-achieving parents, he’d longed for a baby to carry on his family’s genetic heritage. And Alice wanted to provide one.

As an obstetrical nurse, Alice had colleagues who had been willing to waive their usual fees for the in vitro procedure, but she and Bill would have had to go into debt to pay for an egg donor. Without hesitation, Zady had volunteered, and the process had brought the women even closer.

When their baby girl was born, Zady had been thrilled to be chosen as godmother. Alice and Bill had considered her part of the family, welcoming her offers to babysit Linda.

After they moved to the Los Angeles area, she’d driven down from Santa Barbara occasionally to babysit on weekends when they were tied up with seminars. But these past few months they’d grown distant. Zady had assumed her move to Orange County would help, but now she understood why Alice had been reluctant to confide in her.

“I know you counted on us to raise Linda as a married couple.” Alice’s voice trembled. “But this is beyond my control.”

“I would never interfere.” Zady had signed legal papers surrendering her rights. And much as she loved her goddaughter, she was in no position to raise a child unless there was no other option.

“I’m glad you called. It’s been hard for me to get any perspective on the situation.” Alice broke off as a toddler’s voice squawked in the background. “Oh dear, she’s finished her nap already.”

The girl’s cry of, “Mommy, I need you!” cut straight to Zady’s heart. When she’d last seen Linda, the child had just begun stringing two words together, and now she’d spoken a whole sentence. She was growing up fast.

Without me. But that had been the arrangement, and she had no intention of trying to change that. “Will you consider having a serious discussion with Bill?” Zady asked. “Or is it too late for that?”

“No. I was just letting off steam. I haven’t consulted a lawyer or anything.” Alice sounded less frazzled. “You’re a terrific friend. I should have remembered that sooner.”

“Please stay in touch. I care about you.”

“I’ll call with an update when I have one.”

“You can count on me.”

After they said goodbye, Zady finished dressing and applied makeup, her mind whirling. Would Linda really have to grow up in a single-parent home? Surely a five-minute conversation with her hadn’t resolved Alice’s problems.

Zady had believed she was doing the right thing by donating her eggs and entrusting her daughter to two loving parents. Surely interfering now would be selfish, and possibly harmful. Or was she rationalizing?

It would be hard to focus on Nick’s issues with his son while her thoughts were buzzing with what she’d learned. But she’d promised to be there for him and his little boy, and Zady meant to keep her word.

* * *

NICK WISHED HE’D done more than muck out the empty fast-food sacks and grocery receipts littering his blue coupe before Zady climbed in. As he steered onto the freeway with Zady belted into the seat beside him, her soft floral fragrance sensitized him to the messy accumulation of lint, fingerprints and window streaks that a bachelor took for granted.

But surely there was another cause for her remote attitude than his messy car. Since she hadn’t brought it up, he risked a guess. “In case you’re worried, Marshall didn’t seem concerned about you and me having a friendly chat yesterday.”

“Did you mention today’s trip?” Zady asked.

“It never came up.”

“I’ll tell him tomorrow, unless you’d rather I didn’t talk about your son.”

“No, that’s fine. I corrected his erroneous impression about my relationship with Caleb.”

“How’d he take it?”

“Oddly enough, with a touch of envy.”

Zady didn’t respond. She continued gazing out the window at a cluster of low-rise buildings.

It wasn’t an inspiring landscape. Far from the beach and harbor from which the town’s name derived, the view included stretches of modest houses punctuated by big-box stores and light-industrial buildings.

Zady’s silence left room for Nick to ponder what lay ahead. He’d concentrated on paying off his debts and saving for a down payment on a house, equating economic security with providing a loving home. But I’m his father. Having grown up largely without one, Nick, of all people, understood what a painful hole it left in a child’s heart to live apart from his father.

He’d considered his cousin incredibly lucky to have a dad who stuck around. But judging by Marshall’s comments yesterday, Upton Davis’s occasional presence hadn’t been enough.

“I’ve been thinking,” he said aloud. “Maybe I owe it to my son to bring him to live with me.”

Zady swiveled toward him. “I realize these are his grandparents, but to a little kid, they’re like parents. He must have bonded with them. You can’t just yank a kid out of a happy home because you love him.”

What did she know about it? “My goal is to keep him safe and happy,” Nick protested. “I’m questioning whether I’ve been fair about that.”

She folded her arms. “You brought me along for my feedback, right?”

“Yes. And?”

“And I have the impression that you’ve been willing to stay on the fringes of his life if that’s what’s best,” she returned. “If he’s happy with his grandparents, why change now?”

“I haven’t committed to changing anything.” Nick didn’t understand why she spoke with such fervor. “I’m afraid the Carrigans may plan to sue for custody, and they’re building a case that I’m a neglectful dad.”

“And you’ll fight them for all you’re worth, no matter what’s best for your son?”

He was growing more confused by the minute. “I assumed you’d be objective.”

“I am!”

“Then where is this coming from?”

Her mouth opened, and quickly clamped shut. Busy transitioning onto another freeway, Nick allowed her space to reflect.

“I suppose it would help if I knew more about the circumstances of Caleb’s birth and your relationship with his mother,” Zady said more mildly.

“Good idea.” Nick recalled telling her that Bethany had died in a boating accident, but that left a lot of ground to cover. “About four years ago, I’d just finished my residency at UC Irvine and was working at a clinic in Fullerton, near where I grew up. When I met Bethany at a party, we clicked right off. Mutual attraction and all that.”

“Hot sex,” she summarized.

No point in dwelling on that obvious truth. “She was fun to be around.” Bethany had had thick dark hair, a merry laugh and, he’d discovered, a flawed sense of responsibility. “We dated for a few months. She told me she was on the pill, and I used a condom, too. Hey, I’m a doctor, not an idiot.”

“The pill failed and the condom leaked?” Zady rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right. In case you forgot, I’m a nurse.”

“It turned out that Bethany only took the pill sporadically. But I’ll admit, I got careless, too. We were both responsible.”

Even on a Sunday, there was a steady stream of cars and trucks on the road, but having a passenger enabled Nick to use the carpool lane. He accelerated onto a soaring single-lane overpass, swooping above regular traffic.

“Having fun?” Zady asked.

Taking the hint, he eased off the gas. “Too fast?”

“I left my stomach back on the 55,” Zady said. “However, I appreciate the illustration of how you approach relationships—full speed ahead.”

“Unfair,” he protested.

“Finish the story.”

Blending into the carpool lane on Interstate 5, Nick dredged up more memories from that difficult period. “When Bethany told me she was pregnant, I did what I figured was the right thing. I asked her to marry me.”

Zady regarded him skeptically. “A romantic proposal with flowers, a ring and so forth?”

“More of a ‘we should get married’ proposal,” Nick admitted.

“And to your astonishment, she declined.”

“She insisted on placing the baby for adoption.”

“You didn’t object?”

“I had no right to pressure her,” he said. “How could I insist Bethany do what I wasn’t prepared for—raise a child alone?”

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