The Doctor's Baby by Cindy Kirk Read Free Book Online Page A

done.”
    Her shoulders dropped and she felt some of the tension leave her body. “I love you, A.J.”
    “What are friends for?” he said in that cavalier tone he used to hide his true feelings from the world.
    He didn’t tell her he loved her back, but she hadn’t expected it. He was that favorite older brother that found it difficult to express his feelings even though you knew he cared. And July knew he cared. That was enough for her.

Chapter Six
    D avid turned onto the highway leading into Jackson, grateful the rain had finally stopped. While he didn’t mind helping out Mary Karen by picking up the twins from a birthday party in Wilson, he couldn’t wait to drop them off and head home.
    It had been a long, tiring week made more stressful by the fact that he’d temporarily lost track of July and Adam. When he’d stopped by the motel where July had been living, he’d discovered she’d moved out. Still, he was completely confident—well, fairly confident—they were in the area. After all, Adam had an appointment with the pediatrician next week and he’d heard rumors July was starting a new job. But he was annoyed she hadn’t given him her newaddress because now he was going to have to track her down.
    “I’m cold, Uncle David,” Conner called from the back seat of the Suburban.
    “More heat coming right up.” David pushed a button and the fan kicked on. Spring came late to this part of the country. While the jackets the boys wore had probably been adequate earlier in the day, they didn’t provide nearly enough warmth for the now thirty-degree temperature.
    “We have a new baby at our house,” Caleb said.
    “He’s really tiny,” Conner added.
    “That’s nice.” David smiled. It was just as he’d thought; their “fat” hamster had been more than just overweight. “Tell me about the party.”
    He kept the boys talking all the way into town. By the time he wheeled the SUV into Mary Karen’s driveway, he knew every gift that had been opened. He’d also heard all about the birthday boy eating five pieces of cake before throwing up on his mother’s shoes.
    “It was gross,” Caleb said.
    “Yeah, gross,” Conner agreed.
    David chuckled and pulled to a stop behind a Jeep 4x4. The sticker on the bumper told him the vehicle was a rental, but he didn’t recall Mary Karen mentioning she was having company this evening.
    “Let me out, Uncle David,” Conner called.
    “I want out, too,” Caleb echoed.
    Once unbuckled, the boys raced up the walk. Hissister opened the door just as the dynamic duo reached the front step.
    “Got ’em here safe and sound.” David took the door from her hands and held it open while the two rushed inside.
    “I’m so glad you’re here.”
    For the first time David noticed the worry furrowing Mary Karen’s brow. “What’s the matter?”
    “I want you to check Logan. He’s been clingy all evening. I thought he simply missed his brothers…until I saw his flushed cheeks and felt his forehead.”
    “What’s his temp?”
    “One hundred three.”
    “Let me get my bag.” Because of the rural nature of this part of the state, David kept a doctor’s bag in the car. He was back on the porch in seconds, shooting his sister a reassuring smile. “Probably just the start of an ear infection, although we have seen some strep.” David stepped into the house. “Until we determine what’s wrong, you best keep the twins away from him.”
    “What about Adam?” The feminine voice came from the living room. “Is it safe for him to be in the house?”
    He was still processing the voice when an auburn-haired beauty slipped into the foyer and met his gaze. For a second David thought he was hallucinating. He’d been thinking of July so much these past few days, it made sense that if he would conjure up anyone, it would be her.
    But this beautiful woman was no apparition. Dressed casually in a bulky Northwestern sweatshirt and jeans,she looked more like a college coed than