Assignment- Baby Read online

  Mandy's eyes practically popped out of her head. Hunter couldn't believe what he'd just seen, either. Mandy clapped her hands and did a little happy dance, which tickled Sophie and changed Mandy's confused and on-the-verge-of-tears look to something much more ecstatic.

  "She walked!" Mandy said, her eyes shining with excitement. Then her expression changed and her hand shot to her mouth. "I'm so sorry. I never expected her to walk. I didn't mean to…"

  He reached for her arm. "It's okay, Mandy. You haven't stolen anything from my sister. It will be her baby's first step when Jade sees it, too."

  Without any logical explanation, Mandy got teary-eyed, shrugged free from his grasp and briskly left the room.

  * * *

  Amanda threw herself onto her bed and let the tears roll. Damn she was going to miss them—her pretend family. If only things could be different.

  Hunter thought exactly the same way she did when it came to Jade and Sophie. He would no more dream of robbing Jade of witnessing any of her daughter's firsts than she would. His response just now had written volumes on her heart.

  That was one more reason why she'd started to fall in love with Hunter again.

  He tapped on her door. She quickly swiped away her tears and wiped her nose on a tissue. "Yes?"

  "Can we talk?"

  Oh, God. Could she handle this right now?

  Without waiting for her response, he tentatively entered her room, holding Sophie on his hip. She loved how he looked carrying the baby.

  With a solemn face, he edged closer. "I've been thinking how much living with you these past few weeks has meant to me, too. Sophie has blossomed under your care. And I'd almost forgotten how much I missed being around you."

  "No, Hunter, she's blossomed under your care. You're a natural-born father. You just won't admit it yet."

  He shook his head. "I seriously doubt that I'm father material. Somehow I just managed to get through this month without harming her." He grinned at Sophie and she swatted at his face. "But I couldn't have done it without you."

  "That's what parenting is all about—sharing the duties and care of your children. That's what families do—support each other." She wanted to tell him that even though she'd dodged him and fought her feelings every step of the way, she'd never felt more complete in her life than during these last few weeks. But she couldn't allow herself to be any more vulnerable right now. So she bit back her true feelings and made an appropriate response. "I'm grateful I had the opportunity to help out. It's been great."

  He came closer and reached for her. "It's been more than great." He hugged her with his free hand and kissed her cheek. She grazed his lips with her own, her lashes fluttering with overwhelming feelings.

  The baby squealed and lightened the mood. Thank heavens for Sophie. But Amanda couldn't hold back her tears. "I'm going to miss you so much, sweet pea."

  As though knowing the seriousness of the moment, Sophie grew quiet and reached for Amanda's face. Mimicking what she'd just seen between Hunter and Amanda, she gently pressed her moist and soft mouth against Amanda's.

  * * *

  On Sunday afternoon, long, toned and tanned legs in shorts jogged ahead of him. Beneath a fluorescent-yellow sports bra, modest breasts, perfectly fit for Hunter's palm, lifted and dropped with each stride. Mandy.

  Hunter had been to her house and found no one was home. He suspected Mandy had spent the morning working at her computer and needed to stretch her legs with a long run. That was what she'd used to do when they were together. Since he knew the route she always took, he'd gone out scouting. And here she was. She looked lonely. Hunter decided to keep her company.

  He'd driven to Serena Vista because now that he no longer had his niece to take care of, he didn't know what else to do. There was so much he wanted to tell her. Good thing he'd come prepared, bringing water and wearing his jogging shoes. He parked his car, set off in a sprint, and tried to catch up with her.

  "Hey!" he called. Mandy didn't respond. "Wait up!"

  This time she must have recognized his voice, because she glanced over her shoulder. Her eyes grew bright with surprise. "What are you doing here?"

  He finally reached her. "I just happened to be jogging in the neighborhood and happened to see you." He huffed out the bogus words, fighting back a giveaway grin. "Thought I'd keep you company."

  She sputtered a laugh. "Right." But she didn't seem to mind him joining her.

  Hunter settled in and matched Mandy's rhythm and pace, but as they strained side by side up a hill, his breathing soon grew ragged from the effort. He smelled fresh sweat, and something new—a hint of gardenia scent. Even jogging she smelled good.

  "You're killing me," he gasped.

  She smiled with lips outlined by minute beads of perspiration. "You invited yourself along, remember?"

  Mandy could still outrun him, but today she slowed down to allow him to catch up. He dug deep inside and followed. At the top of the hill, he bent over, rested his hands on his knees and sucked air in and out of his lungs. He'd been spending all his time with the Mending Hearts Club walkers, and now wished he'd pushed himself and accompanied the joggers more often.

  She ran in place while he recovered. "Lucky for you I have to cut it short today."

  Determined not to be a wimp, he joined Mandy jogging in place, his breathing almost back to normal.

  "Don't tell me you've got another shift at the Urgent Care?"

  "Nope. But I'm at a crucial point in my journal article."

  He took a swig from his water bottle. Mandy did the same.

  "Maybe I can help you with that," he said.

  "You ready?"

  He nodded.

  She flashed a mischievous smile his way before trotting downhill. The look had managed to take his breath away and left him longing for contact like a horny teenager. He tried to catch up with her and, mimicking an adolescent, took what was left in his water bottle and squirted it on her back. Mandy scrunched her shoulders and squealed.

  "Oh, you'll pay for that." She ran a wide loop around him, opened her bottle, ran to his side and poured the remaining water over his head. She giggled before breaking into a sprint.

  Hunter sprang ahead with renewed energy, grabbed a hold of her waist and yanked her off the sidewalk onto the grassy knoll. He lifted and whirled her around in a wide circle. She squawked and fought, lost her balance and fell into him. He held her tight against his chest in a damp embrace for one exhilarating moment.

  "You have no idea how turned on I am right now," he whispered roughly into her hair as he held her in a bear hug. Did I just say that? Damn right I did.

  Mandy threw her head back and laughed from her gut. Now he was glad he had said it. She squirmed and pushed with amazing strength on his chest, surprising him, and knocking him onto his ass on the grass.

  "Then you'll have to catch me!" she said, and she sprinted for home.

  Invigorated by hope, Hunter took off like an Olympian in the hundred-meter dash.

  * * *

  They raced home and barreled through her door. What else do you do after a run but shower? Together. With your ex-husband. Was she crazy?

  An hour or two later, Amanda woke up lying on her tummy, mildly disoriented. She opened her eyes to find Hunter on his side, resting on his elbow, studying her face. They'd started making love in the shower and finished off in her bed. Feeling exquisitely relaxed, she must have fallen off to sleep.

  "I had the most wonderful dream," she said with a smile. "You were in it."

  He smiled, too, and ran the flat of his hand across her back. "I want to be in all of your dreams, Mandy."

  His warm palm caused gooseflesh across her hips. She rose up on her elbows and searched for the clock. It was two in the afternoon.

  He stroked his hot hand over her bottom, grabbed another condom and slowly, purposefully, rolled on top of her.

  She felt the weight of him at the small of her back, hard and straight as he parted her legs and d
rew her up onto her knees. His breath warmed her ear, tickling chills down her neck. If she'd been capable of thinking, she might have questioned her sanity, but she was too far gone for that.

  Within seconds, she had surrendered to the pleasure, burrowing her face into the pillow to muffle her gasps and cries. Hunter's breath fanned across her neck and shoulders, enveloping her in heat. His intimate groans fueled the wildfire in her body, causing every nerve ending to ignite.

  Unrelenting, he pushed her over the threshold and into another long, luxurious free fall, only moments before he erupted with a growl.

  They stayed wrapped in each other's arms for the rest of the afternoon. Dappled in early-evening shadows, Hunter started to speak.

  "Yesterday I stayed up most of the night talking with Jade. She really seems to have her head straight now," Hunter said.

  "That's great to hear." Amanda wove her fingers through his thick dark hair.

  "She made me realize that I need to deal with my father's death. I guess I can't ignore it anymore."

  "She's right."

  He rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. "I've been thinking that as crazy as it sounds, even though I hated him all these years and never wanted to be like him, I still loved him. I just needed to know that he loved me, too."

  Excited by his discovery, she rose up on one elbow and looked into his face. "I always knew that, Hunter. I'm glad Jade forced you to admit it."

  His gaze shifted to her face. "After he died, my mother gave me a letter he'd written but never sent to me when I got accepted at med school. You'd think it would mean something to me, but I still can't bring myself to open it."

  "Because you're afraid you won't be able to keep thinking of him as a monster if you find out how he really felt?"

  "I've spent my whole life detesting him. Why change now?"

  "Because it's important, Hunter. Your attitude has made a hole inside you. It's holding you back emotionally and you'll never be complete until you deal with it."

  The expression on his face changed from tense to defensive. He rolled onto his side to face her straight on. "And how do you know all of this? You're still trying to impress your parents."

  Trying to keep things from escalating, she gave a gentle laugh. "I think I've moved beyond trying to impress them. Now I'm doing everything to impress the world."

  "Whatever." He backed off. "You've come a long way, and you're still the most impressive woman I've ever met. Maybe it's time you gave yourself some credit."

  He reached out to hug her, but before she could relax, she wanted to get the last and most important truth off her chest.

  "I have to be honest with you. Being around Sophie has made my desire to have babies stronger than ever." She drew her head back in order to look into his eyes. "If you can't give me a family, there's no point in us moving forward."

  His gaze didn't waver. "And I have to be honest with you, too. I owe you that. I'm scared witless I'll suck at being a dad and screw up some innocent little kid's life." He let go of her and shoved his hand through his hair. "I can't commit to that."

  "But you've already proved otherwise with Sophie." She reached for him and held him close, anchoring her head to his chest. "You're not your father, Hunter. You'll never be like him."

  He kissed her cheek with soft warm lips, and she prayed that, between she and Jade, someday they'd force him to see the truth.

  "No. I'm not my father," he whispered.

  "Read the letter, Hunter. Go home and read it with an open heart and mind." She lifted her head. "And one more thing…"

  His gaze took its time reaching hers, and disappointment colored the usual deep brown tint of his eyes. He'd tensed, and with all her heart she wished she could say something other than what needed to be said.

  "Until you've dealt with your true feelings about your father and mother, and can say you're open to being married with a family, there's no point in us seeing each other."

  He squinted, looking confused and wounded.

  "The sex is great, Hunter, but the price is too high."

  CHAPTER NINE

  HUNTER rolled off the bed and dressed before he looked at Amanda again. "Why is it that every time I start to trust you, you hit me with a curveball?"

  He searched her eyes. She jutted her chin and stood her ground, knowing how overwhelming her request had been.

  "I'm being honest, Hunt. We'd only wind up in the exact same situation again, and we know how that worked out."

  After several moments of strained silence, he made a thoughtful retreat, and although Amanda's heart felt like a rock and her legs like gelatin, she threw on her robe and showed him out.

  He stopped on the doorstep, reached for her and traced her jaw with his thumb, as if imprinting her face in his memory. She detected a slight tremor. God, would it come to that? They'd be nothing more than faint memories in the course of each other's lives?

  "Don't give up on me yet."

  The phrase lightened her love-wary heart and injected it with cautious hope.

  * * *

  The final week of the Mending Hearts Club thankfully whizzed by, though every day, when Amanda saw the pensive and reticent Hunter in the office or classroom, her heart squeezed in her chest. Would today be the day when he'd announce he'd come to his senses? But he never spoke about it, and every afternoon ended in disappointment, though she tried her best to keep her chin up.

  He'd reverted to following her original misguided rules of careful etiquette, yet he maintained a deep and caring attitude with their patients. They both made a point to avoid direct eye contact. She feared that all her personal dreams for them were finally lost, since he never broached the subject of where they stood again.

  At least she'd achieved her goal with her career. The class had proceeded without further incident, and everyone was set to graduate with a ceremony.

  Jack Howling made a special appearance. The group was thrilled to see him, and for someone who'd undergone heart surgery only weeks before he looked great.

  "Have I got stories to tell." He grinned and paced at the front of the class. "Anyone want to see my scar?"

  The group laughed, but he was serious. He quickly unbuttoned his loud Hawaiian shirt with pride, and displayed the long wide scar down the center of his chest. Amanda noticed a few Mending Hearts Club participants' eyes bulge. The scar was a sobering sight.

  "The thing is, I was in denial. I've always been a fit guy, and when I started feeling 'different,' I just chalked it up to aging. I thought if I pushed myself harder, I'd get past it. I came to Mending Hearts because I saw a flyer at my doctor's office. Yeah, my cholesterol was kind of high, but I was on medicine for that. And sometimes my blood pressure went up for no good reason. But I looked good, and for the most part felt great. Yet a little voice told me to join up. Nurse Dunlap and Dr. Phillips saved my life the morning I collapsed. And now, with three fresh veins feeding blood to my heart, I'm a new and improved man."

  He grinned at a particularly rapt listener in the front row. Wendy.

  "And the best part of all about coming to the Mending Hearts Club is I met my future wife."

  The attractive widow blushed and covered her face. Amanda noticed the huge rock on her hand. Wow.

  "I know it's quick, but when you almost die you realize you've got to grab life by the tail and hold on for a great ride."

  Why couldn't she and Hunter have that attitude?

  During Jack's amusing remarks, Amanda gazed around the room. The "suits" from Mercy Hospital were in attendance, and Dr. Hersh, the medical director, had arrived, along with some people from Hospital Administration.

  Though she'd told her parents about today's event, she hadn't officially invited them, and she wasn't surprised when she didn't see them. Amidst all that was going on, one important message about her parents had forced its way into her mind. We didn't know any better. How many times had they claimed that excuse? She hadn't minced words when she told them exactly what sh
e thought of their withholding her childhood heart condition from her. And they had reiterated by saying exactly how they had felt about Amanda's endorsement of the angiogram that had harmed Chloe's kidneys. How could they claim to love her if they kept secrets from her?

  The thought of withholding information made her think about Hunter as she walked to the podium.

  He still wasn't here.

  Her heart slid to her stomach.

  Amanda smoothed her skirt, cleared her throat, and had prepared to speak when the double doors of the auditorium swung wide. A colorful baby stroller was pushed through, and a striking and healthy-looking Jade Phillips was behind it. Sophie sat regally inside, emitting a squeal and beaming a smile. Amanda couldn't help but grin back. The backs of her eyes stung. Several heads turned and grinned, and Amanda realized she hadn't been the only one to miss the little Mending Hearts Club mascot.

  Hunter stepped from behind the doors, carefully closing them. He glanced up with a look of chagrin, realizing he'd disrupted the program. "I'm sorry," he said. "Don't mind us, Mandy. Please go on."

  Hunter stood dutifully at the back of the room, hands in pockets, looking more handsome than ever in brown pants and a tailored tan silk shirt outlining his fine physique. With his chin raised in pride, he seemed as glad as Amanda to see such a good turnout. Maybe it was well-earned pride at what they'd accomplished. Together.

  They'd maintained a pristine work veneer even over their resurrected rough-edged relationship. She'd reiterated her desire to be a mom and he was still leery. Some things never seemed to change. If nothing else, Amanda had learned she could survive anything where Hunter was concerned. At least she would always have her career.

  She glanced at him in the back of the room, and the tiny unhealed wound in her heart ached. It would take a lifetime to completely get over him.

  Amanda coughed and cleared her throat to get everyone's attention. Once the chatter had settled down, she worked to find her voice.