Page 50 of New Year, New Guy
‘Good, that’s settled.’ Laura twisted the corners of a paper napkin around her fingers, reducing it to shreds in the ensuing silence.
‘Little Amy’s a sweetheart.’
His kind tone unravelled her, and silent tears trickled down her cheeks. ‘Yes.’ Remembering the baby’s hot hands clutched around her neck when she lifted her from the crib increased her sobs. ‘It’s ridiculous. I know it is. I’m notthatold and—’ she gulped, ‘—not having kids isn’t the end of the world. I truly love my job and have a full life.’
‘You tryin’ to convince me, or you?’ Hunter’s loose hair fell around his face and she couldn’t resist stroking it away.
‘Me, you old devil.’
‘Hey, less of the old. Neither of us is past it yet.’
‘What you’re telling me is to take a deep breath and stop panicking.’
‘I don’t have a death wish.’ He toyed with her fingers. ‘Nashville sure is pretty in springtime.’
‘I could probably take time off in late April?’
‘Perfect.’ The single, soft word of agreement was all she needed.
‘I’ve changed my mind.’ His expression turned to stone and she could have kicked herself for speaking too fast. ‘I mean about the nonsense earlier about having an early night on my own.’ Laura pressed a hard kiss on Hunter’s mouth and teased her fingers through his thick hair. ‘In case I’m not being plain enough, I want you in my bed tonight.’
‘Oh you’re comin’ across loud and clear. An early night sounds pretty appealing right about now.’
Another thought slipped back in, one she had pushed aside during all of the wedding fuss and today’s trip to Cornwall.
‘You’re not doin’ the mind changin’ thing again I hope?’
‘Definitely not.’ Laura rushed to reassure him. ‘I remembered about Mike, that’s all. I need to talk to Kiki first before deciding anything else, don’t I?’
‘I reckon it’d be wise.’
‘And we know I’m always wise.’ Pulling him to her she focused every ounce of attention on him. ‘Tonight’s all about us.’
‘You won’t find any argument from me on that score.’
‘Us’ was an incredible word she never thought she’d enjoy using again that way.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Henry’s concern lingered in his dark eyes. ‘Are you sure you’re up for this?’
‘Seeing Ms Alford or getting Mike in trouble?’ Laura fought to steady her voice.
‘Either. Both.’
The hospital gossip machine would love all this but she suspected most people would be on her side. Mike was a brilliant surgeon but he’d sailed close to the wind on more than one occasion. After a patient complained about his rudeness following her surgery he’d received an official reprimand, but Laura was also aware of a couple of unofficial warnings given through the old-boy network.
‘Let’s get this over with and I’ll go from there.’ She tugged her ponytail tighter and straightened her tunic. After she took Henry into her confidence he’d offered to act as a go-between. Kiki was still in the hospital recovering, and he’d only managed to persuade the young woman to see her by promising to remain in the room during their meeting.
The sight of the fragile new mother propped up in the bed touched Laura. Kiki’s lank blonde hair hung around her thin face and made her huge blue eyes appear almost child-like. Barely stopping to say hello she was drawn to the plastic bassinette in the corner of the room as if by an invisible thread.
‘She looks like her father.’
The young woman’s defensive tone saddened Laura. She wasn’t the one disputing Mike’s parentage of the tiny baby girl, swaddled in a pink blanket and with a tuft of dark hair sticking out from under her soft knitted cap. ‘Yes, she does.’ Touching the baby’s soft cheek would cross an unbreakable line and she plastered her hands to her sides.
Kiki nodded at Henry. ‘This doctor says you want to get my Mike in trouble.’
Laura couldn’t lie. ‘I might, but I’m not doing this for personal reasons.’ She’d talked the whole thing through with Hunter for half the night until convincing herself she wasn’t acting out of revenge. That time had long since gone. ‘I’m sure Doctor Adebayo explained that it could be considered misconduct and not good medical practice for Mike to coerce you into having certain tests that might’ve endangered your baby.’
