Page 4 of Tempted By the Handsome Doctor

"And they don't have phones at this hospital?" She arches an eyebrow. "You couldn't have left a note? Sent a text?"

"I meant to call you later, but the day got away from me, and then—" I stop myself.

There's no excuse that doesn't make me sound like an ass. Because the truth is, after that initial crazy shift, I could have called. I should have called. But I didn't, because calling meant acknowledging what happened between us was more than just a one-night stand. That the connection I felt wasn't just physical. And that terrified me.

Maya waits for me to finish, but when I don't, she just shakes her head. "It doesn't matter now. What matters is this." She gestures to the pregnancy test between us.

"Are you... I mean, have you decided what you want to do?" I ask carefully.

Her eyes flash. "I don't know yet. I just found out this morning. I haven't had time to process any of this."

"Of course. I'm sorry." I scrub a hand over my face, stubble rough against my palm. "Whatever you decide, I'll support you. Financially, I mean. And... otherwise, if you want."

"How generous," she says flatly.

I wince. "That came out wrong. I just meant—"

"I know what you meant." Maya takes a deep breath, adjusting her glasses. "Look, I didn't come here to trap you or make demands. I came because you deserved to know, and because I needed to confirm you weren't some pathological liar who gave me a fake name."

"I'm not," I say softly. "I'm just a regular idiot who didn't call when he should have."

The corner of her mouth twitches, almost a smile, before she suppresses it. She looks at me for a long moment, and I force myself to meet her gaze. She's beautiful, even now—especially now—with her dark eyes full of fire and her chin lifted in defiance. She's nothing like the women I usually go for. Nothing like the casual, no-strings-attached relationships I've had over the years.

Maybe that's why I ran.

"I need time to think," she says finally, gathering her purse. "To figure out what I want to do."

"Of course." I stand, reaching into my pocket for my phone. "Can I at least get your number again? So we can... talk. When you're ready."

She hesitates, then recites her number as I type it in.

"I'll call you," I promise, and this time I mean it. "Whenever you want to talk. Day or night."

Maya nods, avoiding my eyes. "I have to go. My lunch break is almost over."

"You work at the library, right?" I remember her telling me that night, her face animated as she described her favorite sections, the reading programs she'd started.

She looks surprised that I remember. "Yes. Cedar Falls Public."

"I'll call you," I repeat, because I need her to believe me. "And Maya?"

She pauses at the door, looking back at me over her shoulder.

"I really am sorry. About not calling."

Something flickers across her face—not forgiveness, but maybe the seed of it. "Goodbye, Daniel."

And then she's gone, leaving me alone with a cold cup of coffee and the knowledge that my life has just irrevocably changed.

I collapse back into the chair, running both hands through my hair. A baby. Maya is pregnant with my baby. The thought is so enormous, so life-altering, that my mind keeps sliding away from it, unable to fully grasp its weight.

My pager beeps, jolting me out of my stupor. Another emergency. Because of course the universe won't even give me five minutes to process the fact that I'm going to be a father.

Father. The word sits heavy in my chest, dredging up memories I've spent years trying to suppress. My own father walking out the door when I was ten, duffel bag in hand, promising to call soon. The calls that never came. The birthdays that passed without a word.

I stand up, shoving the thoughts away. I can't think about this now. I have a job to do, lives to save, and a reputation to uphold. Later, when I'm home, when I've slept, I'll figure out what to do about Maya and the baby.

Our baby.

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