Baby Experts 02 by The Midwife’s Glass Slipper Read Free Book Online

no-one-has-said-that-in-a-while kiss. But as soon as their lips met, the sensual pleasure of kissing him again kicked up Emily’s pulse. The kiss must have done the same to him. He wrapped his arms around her and brought her tight against him. His T-shirt and her blouse were thin barriers to all the heat they were generating. So much heat, so much desire, so much pent-up longing.
    When he broke the kiss, he shook his head. “I never intended for that to happen again, but the chemistry between us seems more powerful than good intentions. I’ll understand if you want to work under another doctor in the practice rather than me.”
    “I don’t want to work for anyone else, Jared.”
    He looked relieved for a moment. Then the creases along his eyes deepened. “You have to understand something, Emily. The last thing I want to do is get involved with anyone.”
    Had his marriage been so rocky that he didn’t want to consider marrying again? Had his divorce been so painful? Had he still loved his wife but she hadn’t wanted to be married to a doctor?
    Emily had her own doubts about the way she was starting to feel about Jared. Was it too soon after her divorce? Was she seeing qualities in him that weren’t really there? How could she trust her judgment after Richard?
    “You have a lot on your plate,” she responded. “Your daughters, your mom, your profession. I’m trying to get my life back in order. I’ve only begun to build it again here. So we’ll deal with this—” she waved her hand “—chemistry. We’re adults. We hardly see each other in the office, except to go over patient charts.”
    “So all I have to do is go back to looking at you as a colleague again.” His mouth quirked up at the corners.
    “Right, and I’ll just see you as my boss.”
    After a long studying appraisal, he broke eye contact and checked his watch. “I’d better get going so you can go home at a decent time.”
    Crossing to the counter, he picked up his car keys. “My cell number’s on the refrigerator. Don’t hesitate to use it if something happens. Courtney doesn’t usually wake up more than once in a night.”
    “I’ll just handle her like you did if she does.”
    He nodded and went to the door. After a last, prolonged look at her, he left.
    Emily knew they were both deluding themselves. Chemistry wasn’t easily kept under wraps.
    Unless Jared wasn’t feeling the intensity she was. If that was the case, then there was nothing to worry about at all.
     
    Midafternoon the next day, Emily was escorting a patient to the desk to make a follow-up appointment when the door to the reception area opened. Jared’s daughters came running in, followed by a striking blond woman who looked to be in her forties.
    “Emily!” they cried when the twins saw her.
    She stooped down to greet them. “What are you doing here?”
    “See Daddy,” Amy said with certainty.
    Chloie extended her hand. “You must be Emily Diaz. I’m Chloie Madison, Jared’s cousin. He asked me to bring the girls in because he might not get home until after they’re in bed tonight.”
    Jared came out of his office and saw them standing in the hall. “Way past their bedtime,” he said, and crouched down to tickle them both and give them a hug.
    After he straightened, he explained to Emily, “My mother’s having surgery this afternoon and I’m going over to the hospital for the rest of the day.” He took the girls’ hands and led them to his office. “You can tell me all about what you did this morning with Chloie. About fifteen minutes,” he mouthed to Chloie.
    She nodded.
    Then he disappeared to spend some time with his daughters.
    Chloie and Emily moved to an alcove in the hall. “Am I keeping you?” Chloie asked.
    “No, I had a cancellation.”
    “I hear you witnessed one of Courtney’s night terrors. Scary, isn’t it?”
    “Yes, it was. But Jared handled it so calmly.”
    “I’ve watched him a couple of times myself, so I thinkI’d