Surprise Delivery(68)

So, she does apparently know that Alexis and I slept together that night. At least one of my assumptions wasn’t wildly off the mark. And knowing that Alexis feels the way about me that I feel about her – it’s an amazing feeling. Completely unexpected, but amazing, all the same. Not to mention, a massive relief.

“Are you sure about that?” I ask.

Sabrina nods. “Of course, I am. I know her better than anybody else on the planet and I’m telling you, that girl is totally smitten with you, Duncan,” she insists. “The real question is – how do you feel about her?”

I chuckle ruefully. “Why do you think I decided to not re-up with Physicians Worldwide? I wanted to get home – get back to her.”

Sabrina smiles wide. “Really?”

“Yes, really. The entire time I was over there, I couldn’t keep my mind off her. I came back because I wanted to explore what we started the night of the gala. So, when I thought she was with Brad – well, let’s just say, I actually thought about heading back to Syria.”

“Do you even know how happy that will make her to hear?” she asks, practically bouncing in place. “You don’t even know.”

“I think I might have an idea,” I start to chuckle.

“Just so you know, she’s at home right now,” Sabrina informs me. “And I’m just coming on rotation, so I’m going to be here most of the night…”

She lets her voice trail off, but she doesn’t need to say anything else. Her meaning is clear and all I can do is laugh and shake my head.

“Why, Nurse Thompson, are you insinuating what I think you’re insinuating?”

She shrugs. “Maybe,” she says. “If what you think I’m insinuating is that you should go over there, plant a big, fat kiss on her, and make her yours, then yes. That’s what I’m insinuating.”

I laugh heartily. “That is exactly what I’ve was hoping you were insinuating.”

“Well, you better get on it then,” she says, laughing. “Just don’t tell her I told you that she’s into you. She’d kill me.”

“You have my word.”

She looks at me for a long moment, her attitude suddenly seeming to take a turn for the tougher. Her jaw clenches and her eyes narrow as she stands there in front of me.

“I think it goes without saying – or at least, it should,” she starts, “that if you hurt my best friend, I’m going to hurt you, Duncan. I’m a nurse and I know how to kill you in a thousand different ways.”

She stares at me a moment longer, then laughs. It’s a bit of an uneasy laugh, which tells me there’s some small kernel of truth in her words. I join in her laughter, though, because the only thing I want is to make her happy. Blissfully fucking happy.

“I promise you, Sabrina,” I vow. “My only goal is to make her happy.”

She smiles at me. “Good answer. Now go and take care of my girl.”

Sabrina leaves the lounge and I suddenly want to finish my rounds quickly as an idea forms in my head.





Holding Aurora to my chest, I walk her around the apartment, singing softly to her. I’m trying to get her to go down for a nap for a little while, so I can make some phone calls and start being a bit more proactive about my situation. I know it’s only going to get worse the longer I wait, so I need to start getting my house in order. Maternity leave isn’t going to last forever, so I need to have a plan.

I mutter to myself when there’s a knock at the door. It seems like everything is conspiring against me today, as I try to start getting myself together. Figures. That’s just the way things go.

Carrying Aurora with me, I open the door and feel my heart jump straight up into my throat when I see who’s standing there on the other side. I’m not sure how he got past the security door without me buzzing him up. He probably followed somebody in. It happens enough around here that it defeats the purpose of even having a security door.

I do my best to stuff everything inside of me down and keep myself under control. After the last time we spoke, I have no idea what’s going through his head – or what’s brought him to my door.

“Making house calls?” I ask.

Duncan shrugs and holds up a large paper sack. “If house calls include Chinese food from the Golden Palace, then yes.”

I cock my head and look at him. “I love that place,” I say. “How did you know that?”

“I’m a good listener.”

“I don’t recall ever telling you that.”

He laughs softly. “You did, actually,” he tells me. “The night of the gala.”

I study him closely for a moment, not sure what he’s up to or what this is about. For him to just drop by unannounced like this is – odd. To say the least. I can’t deny that my heart is fluttering in my chest a little bit seeing him standing there, but I’m also on guard. With everything going on and him not yet knowing Aurora is his daughter – I can’t afford to take any chances.

The fact that he remembered such an innocuous bit of trivia like my favorite Chinese food place – what must have been a random comment more than nine months ago – throws me for a bit of a loop. I can’t believe he would remember something like that. It’s actually kind of – sweet. And flattering.