The Surgeon's Surprise Twins by Jacqueline Diamond Read Free Book Online Page A

how much good she’d done, the woman did seem more cheerful.
    While Renée strolled off, Bailey greeted Nora and went inside to sign out. She emerged to find the doctor lingering in the sunshine.
    â€œI thought you’d left. Is Leo picking you up?” Even on a Saturday, he might be working across the street at the police station. Since his promotion to detective a few months ago, he’d been putting in long hours.
    â€œYes. He’s running a few minutes late.” Nora cleared her throat. “I was on call at the hospital this morning and heard some startling news.”
    â€œOh?”
    â€œAre you really sharing a house with Owen Tartikoff?”
    Where had that information come from? Had Alec yakked to his colleagues? Her unwanted roomie was sure to blame the whole thing on Bailey. “Who told you that?”
    â€œRod Vintner, who was assisting at one of Owen’s surgeries,” she said. “Apparently the great Dr. T. made no bones about it.”
    â€œHe told people?” What a hypocrite! “He practically bit my head off when he found out I’d discussed it with Patty.”
    â€œHe’s a control freak,” Nora said. “As soon as he realizedword was bound to get out, he must have decided to manage the message.”
    Although there was still no sign of Leo, they headed down the gentle slope to the parking lot. They’d soon be rotund enough to roll rather than walk, Bailey mused.
    â€œWhat exactly did you hear?” she asked.
    â€œThat he co-owns the house where your sister’s letting you stay.” Nora adjusted the shoulder strap of her purse. “And that Boone’s his brother.”
    â€œHalf brother,” Bailey corrected.
    â€œWere you aware of that? Before yesterday, I mean?”
    â€œI had no idea.”
    Nora gazed wistfully toward the parking lot entrance. You could tell she and Leo were newlyweds, the way they missed each other when they were apart for more than five minutes. They hadn’t been able to spare more than a weekend for a honeymoon because Leo needed to get up to speed on his new position. However, they’d be taking a ten-day trip to Hawaii in early August, which meant a bit of a break for Bailey, too.
    â€œSo Owen is your baby’s uncle.” Nora’s voice broke into her reverie.
    â€œYeah. How about that?”
    Nora clicked her tongue. “You don’t have to put up with that man’s bullying. Bailey, your sister had no business letting him move in without your consent. You didn’t agree, did you?”
    â€œTotally blindsided.” Usually, Bailey enjoyed talking to Nora, but today she felt an urge to get away before anything awkward hit the fan. Anything more awkward.
    â€œTell Phyllis to put you up somewhere else,” Nora said. “She’s not paying you to be her surrogate. The least she can do is make sure you have decent living quarters.”
    â€œShe can’t afford it.” Bailey clamped her mouth shuttoo late. Why, oh, why hadn’t she developed the habit of controlling her tongue?
    Nora studied her with concern. “You told me your sister and brother-in-law were doing well financially.”
    â€œThey are!” Bailey hurried to explain. “They’ve got a piece of a big construction project, a wonderful investment opportunity in New Zealand, and they’re pouring everything into it.”
    â€œYou sound like you’re quoting someone,” Nora said skeptically.
    Bailey hesitated, only for an instant, but the doctor must know her well enough to note the significance. After all, they’d worked together for five years. “That’s what Phyllis said. But so what?”
    â€œYou’re concerned and so am I.” Beneath the pink top, something rippled. Was that the baby moving? At five months, it was possible—or Nora might just be breathing heavily. “Bailey, how much of your savings is invested with their