The Billionaire's Bedside Manner by Robyn Grady Read Free Book Online Page B

happy. They had it all.
    â€œHe likes your bracelet.” Natalie touched the dangling charms that Reece was fingering too. “So do I. Did you get it overseas?”
    â€œIt was a gift.” And then Bailey admitted what she hadn’t in a very long while. “A gift from my mother.”
    â€œThen it’s doubly precious. Do your parents live in Sydney?”
    â€œMy father does. My mother passed away.”
    Natalie’s beautiful face fell. “Oh…I’m so sorry, Bailey.”
    â€œIt was a long time ago.”
    The sudden lump in Bailey’s throat made speaking a little difficult. Over a decade had passed since her mother’s death. Not everyone would understand why her grief hadn’t faded. But something about Natalie made Bailey feel as if she would. As if the two of them could be more than acquaintances. That, maybe, they could be friends.
    Still, she didn’t want to mire down the conversation, not when Reece was mumbling adorable things she couldn’t quite understand and hiccuping in such a cute way.
    But Natalie’s expression had grown alarmed. Slanting her head, she held out her arms.
    â€œI think you’d better give him back.”
    Bailey’s heart sank. “Did I do something wrong?”
    â€œNo, no. It’s just I think he’s about to—”
    Natalie didn’t move quickly enough. Reece gave another hiccup. Heaved a little. Then a lot. Next his dinner came up.
    All over the front of Bailey’s dress.

Five
    W hen Natalie barged into the room, Mateo and Alex had been discussing the state’s current public hospital concerns. Mateo immediately dropped the conversation and peered past Natalie’s shoulder. Bailey wasn’t in tow and Natalie’s hands were clasped tight before her. Seemed unlikely—Natalie was one of the sweetest people he knew. But Bailey was a relatively unknown quantity. Had the women had a disagreement?
    Natalie pulled up in front of her husband. “Can you ring and let the restaurant know we’ll be late?”
    Standing, Alex caught her arm. “Is the baby all right?”
    â€œToo much milk after dinner, I’m afraid.”
    Alex lowered his hand. “Another accident?”
    â€œAll over poor Bailey.”
    Mateo was no stranger to babies’ assortment of surprises. He not only cared for pregnant women before and during delivery, he looked after their concerns postpartum. Many days, his practice was filled with the sights, sounds and smellsof children of all ages. He’d been chucked up on more often than some people brushed their teeth. Part of the job. He wasn’t sure Bailey would be quite so cool with it, particularly given the trying day she’d had.
    Setting down his glass, Mateo rose too. “I’ll take her home.”
    â€œNo need. Bailey’s fine,” Natalie said. “Other than needing a quick shower and a fresh change of clothes, and I have a stack of outfits in my pre-baby wardrobe she can wear.” She ran her hand down her husband’s sleeve. “Tammy’s settling the baby now. I’ll go see how Bailey’s doing.”
    As she sailed away, Alex fell back into his chair. The grin on his face said it all. “She’s an amazing woman, isn’t she?”
    â€œYou’re a lucky man.”
    Alex leaned closer and lowered his voice. “So, now we know they’ll be occupied for a while yet, tell me about it.”
    â€œTell you what?”
    â€œAbout your date.”
    â€œShe’s not a date. ”
    â€œShe’s an attractive female accompanying you to dinner. If she’s not a date, what is she?”
    â€œDifficult to work out,” Mateo admitted. “Like I said on the phone, she appeared on my doorstep yesterday morning.” He went into more about the engagement and her dramatic flight from Italy, the loan and Bailey’s search for a job to pay it back. “When I phoned Mama