Starting Now (Blossom Street #9)(21)

Libby frowned. Perhaps something had shown up on her volunteer application, but that seemed unlikely because she had already been approved.

“It’ll only take a few minutes.”

She hesitated.

“It’s important.”

“All right,” she agreed, with some reluctance. “I finish at three.”

“That’s what Sharon said.”

She realized she was staring, and that he was waiting for her reply.

“Three,” she repeated. “The cafeteria.”

Without another word he left. As soon as the nursery door closed, Libby released a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. Phillip Stone was abrupt and demanding. What irritated her most was the fact that she’d let him intimidate her. Just because he was some hotshot doctor didn’t make him any better than anyone else. Yet she couldn’t help wondering what he found so important that he had to talk to her privately about it.

Sharon returned a few minutes later. “Was that Dr. Stone I saw in here?” she asked. The smile that curved up the edges of her mouth said she couldn’t be more pleased by this unexpected turn of events. She all but rubbed her hands together with glee.

“Yeah, he stopped by.” Libby tried hard to hide how uncomfortable the physician made her.

“Well?” Sharon continued, her dark brown eyes wide and expectant as she eagerly awaited the details of their short meeting. “Are you going to make me torture it out of you? What did he want?”

“He said he had something private to discuss with me,” Libby said, thinking Sharon might know what this was all about.

Sharon’s look of surprise told her the nurse was in the dark as much as she was. Then gradually a smile came into play. “I thought he might be romantically interested in you and I was right.”

“I don’t think so.” Libby didn’t know where Sharon had come up with that idea, but she sincerely doubted Dr. Stone was in any way attracted to her.

Sharon’s smile didn’t waver. “Mark my words.”

Libby rolled her eyes. “Oh, please,” she said, “I don’t think you should make more out of this than necessary. I’m sure he probably has some innocuous question or something he wants to ask.”

“Think what you like, dearie.”

At three, Libby removed the hospital gown, and then spent the next few minutes repairing her makeup and combing her hair. If she was going to confront the devil then she wanted to look her best. The fact that she cared irritated her all the more.

Grabbing her cell on the way to the elevator, Libby waited until she was in the lobby and texted Robin. DR. STONE ASKED TO SPEAK TO ME PRIVATELY. DON’T KNOW WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

After pushing the “send” button Robin’s message came back within seconds. DR. HEART OF STONE?

Libby texted back. FROM THE GYM.

HOT STUFF.

Libby scowled back at the text message. She didn’t know what women saw in Phillip Stone. Oh, sure, he was easy on the eyes, but he had the personality of a snapping turtle.

Walking into the cafeteria, she dropped her cell into her purse and then paused in the doorway, drew in a calming breath, and looked for Phillip.

He sat in the back of the room in an area that would grant them privacy. Libby started toward him with all the energy and enthusiasm of a condemned prisoner heading toward the hangman. Her one optimistic thought was that he was probably on his break and didn’t have long. She noticed the two cups of coffee on the table.

She managed a half smile as she pulled out a chair and sat down. No way was she going to let him know how badly he intimidated her.

“I wasn’t sure how you took your coffee,” he said, and handed her a mug.

“This is fine. Now what’s this about?” Libby gripped the mug with both hands.

He glanced at his wrist as if to say he didn’t have much time, which was great by her.

“Mainly I wanted to know about the baby.”

“The baby?” she repeated. “The one I was holding when you were in the nursery?” She couldn’t imagine what she could tell him other than the sex of the child and his parents’ surname.

“No, no.” He frowned and shook his head as if irritated with her for not being a mind reader. “When is the baby due, or do you even know?”

Did he seriously think she was pregnant? It wasn’t humanly possible for her to be pregnant at this point. She hadn’t been with a man since … well, there was no need to drag up that frustrating subject.

“No way am I pregnant,” she said, speaking distinctly and clearly. “And if I were, let me assure you that it wouldn’t be any of your business.”

His eyes flared and he stretched out his arms and gripped the mug. Neither of them had even tasted their coffee. “I’m not talking about you.”

Libby stared at him blankly. Frankly, he wasn’t making any sense, but nothing about him had from the beginning, so she wasn’t surprised.

“You’re right … this isn’t my business and I hesitated to say anything, but then felt I should. I realize I might well be out of line even bringing this up.”

She raised her right hand, at a complete loss. “I’m sorry, but I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”

“Your daughter,” he snapped.