Renegade Millionaire by Kristi Gold Read Free Book Online Page B

hospital.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œWell, she’s still on probation at her new job, so she has no insurance, and she can’t really afford the hospital bill.”
    â€œWhat about the baby’s father?”
    â€œShe told me he’s out of the picture.”
    â€œThe same thing she told me.” His thoughts about Allison began to falter when he homed in on Joanna’s mouth. Why the hell couldn’t he keep his eyes off her?
    Glancing away, he said, “I’m sure the hospital would be willing to work something out financially. I’d be willing to do the same.”
    Joanna frowned. “That’s for her to decide, don’t you agree?”
    â€œWe’ll see,” he said, thinking he sounded like a jerk. He wasn’t necessarily opposed to what Joanna Blake did for a living. He even understood the need in some cases. But he still couldn’t get past his concern for babies being born off hospital premises, although he had to admit the place wasn’t anything at all like what he’d expected.
    He shot a glance at the open door to his right and noticed a whirlpool centered in a large bathroom.
    He strolled around the room and stopped at the bed, testing its firmness with a push of his palm. “What are the rates for this honeymoon suite?”
    â€œFor your information, it’s the Rose Room, one of our birthing facilities,” she said, impatience evident in her voice, her rigid frame. “And our rates are about one-third the cost of standard hospital rooms.”
    Her defensive tone made Rio all the more determined to play with her a little, in a figurative sense, at least at the moment. “Nice bed. Nice place. No stirrups?”
    â€œNo stirrups. We don’t need them. But we do have ultrasound equipment and fetal monitors, many of those other little medical marvels you find at a hospital.”
    He inclined his head toward the bathroom. “What’s the whirlpool for?” As if he didn’t know.
    â€œWater births.”
    He rubbed his chin. “Oh. I thought maybe this doubled as a conception room, too.”
    A smile began to form on her lips but soon faded. “That usually happens before the patient comes to us.”
    â€œUsually? Ah, so someone has used this room for a little extracurricular activity.” He had no trouble picturing that happening—with him and Joanna Blake.
    She rolled her eyes to the vaulted ceiling. “No one’s committed any hanky-panky in this room. Not that I’m aware of. At least not me.”
    Rio was more than relieved over that admission. He moved to the bathroom’s open doorway and stared inside, one hip cocked against the frame. “I think this room would be better put to use with a bottle of champagne, some candles, and a man and a woman intent on making a baby, not having one.”
    â€œVery amusing, Doctor.”
    He faced her again and grinned. “Do you have something against romance, Ms. Blake?”
    â€œI don’t have time for romance. I do have several patients to see, so what do you need?”
    Rio sent another pointed look at the bed. When he brought his attention back to her, he noticed she was looking at the same spot, maybe even imagining them on that bed, or some bed, tangled together in sheets, sweat and great sex. Or maybe he was caught in the wishful-thinking trap.
    Clearing his throat to gain her attention, he said, “I don’t have a lot of time, either, so I’ll get to the point.”
    â€œHallelujah.”
    He ignored her sarcasm and continued. “I’m here to find out if you’ve come to a decision yet about moving in with me.”
    Her eyes widened, looked panicked. She rushed to thedoor and closed it before facing him again. “Keep your voice down, please. I don’t want the staff to think that I’m moving in moving in with you.”
    â€œThen you are going to move in with me?”
    â€œI