Worthy of Love by Carly Phillips Read Free Book Online Page A

warm and full of more hope than she’d had in awhile. She pressed a hand against her flat stomach.
    A child. Kevin’s child, yes, but it was her baby, her hope. Her future. Once the shock had worn off, she’d examined the difficulties that lay ahead and despite the fear and uncertainty, she acknowledged a flurry of nervous excitement as well.
    “Sorry, I had an emergency phone call.” The young female doctor entered the room, wheeling a small machine behind her.
    Nikki smiled. “That’s okay. You already gave me the news I was expecting… I mean the news I was expecting to hear.”
    The doctor laughed. “Either way, sounds about right to me. Your examination was fine. Nothing unusual. But I’d like to verify the due date and check some other things with an ultrasound.” Nikki wanted to tell her there was no need to worry about the accuracy of her due date. She’d been with one man, one time. And she’d never forget.
    “Ready?” the woman asked with a smile.
    Nikki was grateful for the doctor’s warm manner and youth. The sheer terror she’d felt upon entering the building for basic prenatal care had evaporated under this woman’s caring ministrations. Although she couldn’t say what she’d expected from a phone book-picked clinic, Nikki was thankful for what she’d found.
    The doctor shifted the white sheet until the opening fell to Nikki’s back. “Before I do an ultrasound, I want to remind you, we’ve already discussed your options and though you’ve made your feelings clear, you need to remember something.”
    “What’s that?” Nikki asked, although she could barely concentrate on anything except the thought of seeing her baby for the first time. Excitement and trepidation rippled in her stomach.
    The doctor angled the machine closer to the examining table. “You have a limited window of opportunity, should you decide to terminate the pregnancy. Now…” She glanced at Nikki and smiled. “You ready?”
    A loud knock sounded at the door. Nikki sat up straighter, grabbing for the sheet that covered too little.
    Dr. Molloy shot Nikki an apologetic glance. “Must be an emergency. Let me just check.” She rose from her seat and walked to the door, opening it enough for her to slip outside.
    Seconds later, the doctor returned. “There’s someone who insists on seeing you,” she said to Nikki.
    “Who…”
    “Nicole?” Kevin’s voice sounded in the hallway.
    Shock rippled through her. Nikki glanced down at the sheet and, seeing she was as decently covered as she could be under the circumstances, she nodded to the doctor. Kevin barged around the doctor and Nikki found herself facing an obviously upset man.
    Dr. Molloy placed herself between Nikki and Kevin, as though she believed Nikki needed protection. Given his flashing obsidian eyes, which would intimidate anyone, even on a good day, Nikki didn’t blame the other woman for her concern.
    “This is highly irregular,” she said.
    This whole situation was highly irregular, but her personal life wasn’t the doctor’s concern. “I realize that,” Nikki murmured.
    “Who is this man?”
    “He’s…” She sought for a diplomatic way to describe her relationship with Kevin. Somehow the term lover no longer fit, boyfriend was too immature for what they’d once shared, and future anything was out of the question… for many reasons.
    “The baby’s father.” Kevin supplied the answer Nikki had both sought and fought to avoid at the same time. His words were a painful reminder she would be tied to him forever, but never bonded in love or caring. Merely out of necessity.
    He took a step farther into the room.
    “That doesn’t give you the right to charge in here.” The pleasant doctor had taken on the role of guard and protector, a part Nikki sensed the woman played often in this place.
    Kevin drew a deep breath, searching for what Nikki believed was a semblance of control. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and turned that dark