Babies in the Bargain (12 page)

“Bug off, Marc. I have work to do.”

“And I have a son to hug. Listen, I need your help to buy a crib, stroller, car seat, and all the stuff Paulito will need. I assume you’re going to return the things the nurses have lent you. If you’re not on call tonight, can you come with me?”

“This evening?”

“The sooner the better. I’ll do everything in my power to take good care of Paulito. I don’t want to have to send him to San Juan.”

“Sure, I’ll help you.” Anything to keep the baby in Washington. “By the way, last night you mentioned you had a solution. Care to elaborate?”

“Sure. Come back to your room with me. I’ll tell you about it. I want to see Paulito.”

“I don’t have time.”

“Five minutes?”

She sighed. “Fine.” Marc was so stubborn sometimes, but she really wanted to know what he’d come up with. As they entered her room, she said, “Well, make it snappy.”

He turned to Stacey, an appealing smile on his lips. “If you have other duties, please feel free to go. I’ll stay with my son for a while. I missed him so much.”

“Of course, Dr. Suarez.” The nurse handed him the baby and left the room.

“Are you going to tell me what your wonderful solution is?” Holly sat on the edge of her bed, trying to control the nervous tapping of her feet on the carpet.

“I chose one of Abuelita’s candidates.” Her mouth fell open. “What? To marry? But you said—”

“No, no. Not the young ones. An older woman.” He seemed to suppress a chuckle and dropped his gaze to the baby in his arms. “I think Paulito wants his bottle.”

She scowled at him. The jerk. Was he deliberately dragging out the suspense? She quickly fixed a bottle, took the baby, and settled in the rocking chair.

“You were saying?”

“I hired a Puerto Rican nanny. One recommended by Abuelita. And I filed a work permit application for her. She’ll be able to come as soon as she gets the clearance.”

“And when will that be?”

“In two or three months.”

The elation Holly felt at the mention of an older nanny flew away.

“What are we going to do meanwhile?”

We
?

Too late Holly realized she’d included herself in the dilemma. But
then she cared too much about Paulito not to worry.

“I’ve been making some inquiries while you were gone. There’s a daycare center attached to the main hospital, right across from WCH. It’s expensive but they take them as young as one month.”

“Money isn’t an issue. I want the best for Paulito. A daycare so close by seems ideal. We’ll be able to check on him during the day.”

“What about during your night shifts?” She’d shoo away anyone who’d dare claim it wasn’t her problem. Paulito needed reliable care twenty-four hours a day.

“Maybe I can find a nurse who’d be willing to baby-sit. These ladies are wonderful,” Marc said, with a contented sigh.

“It doesn’t surprise me. They all love you.
Anything for Dr. Suarez,
” Holly crooned, imitating Jenna’s suave voice.

Marc’s eyebrows gathered into a dangerous line. His eyes narrowed. Then he burst out laughing. “You’re one of a kind, Holly.”

Holly frowned, knowing damn well that Jenna had mentioned she’d offer her babysitting services whenever she wasn’t on call. Had she talked to Marc already? “Do you have someone in mind for the night shift?”

“Jenna, for one,” he answered.

Yep, the redhead had approached him.

Head bent, Holly concentrated on keeping the nipple of the bottle between the baby’s lips. Frustration rippled through her. She wasn’t the jealous type. Not one bit jealous. She didn’t care about Jenna, her auburn hair or her fabulous breasts.

CHAPTER NINE

Marc stared at the infant suckling and the gorgeous woman feeding him as if he was her own child. A perfect picture of maternal love. For a moment, he imagined her in a silk dishabille, baring a breast to a hungry child, while his knuckles caressed the baby’s cheek and the mother’s flesh in the same loving gesture.

Blonde and lovely Holly
.

Mesmerized, he sucked in a deep breath and squatted beside the rocking chair, clenching its arm with itching fingers.

Paulito needed a loving mother, but even with imaginative effort Marc couldn’t picture himself married. At least not yet.

Holly could be the closest thing Paulito would ever have to a mother, if...

“Move in with me,” Marc whispered.

“What?” The bottle dropped from her hand. Her gaze shot to him, incredulous and bewildered. “What did you say?” Her voice lowered to a rough murmur.

“Come live in my condo,” he said, with a firm tone to convince himself his request wasn’t completely crazy.

His eyes strayed over her blushing cheeks, her parted lips. He inched closer, unable to resist the sweet temptation...then jerked backward.

Conflicting feelings twitched his insides. His baby needed Holly, the best mother in the world. If she agreed to live under his roof,
he swore he’d
never take advantage of their proximity in the same house. He’d behave like a gentleman—even like a monk—to make her forget his playboy reputation. And he’d battle his attraction to Holly every step of the way, so as not to scare her away.

“Are you crazy?” Her jaw sagged and her eyes rounded, two beautiful turquoise pools shimmering with uncertainty.

“I’ve never been more serious in my life.” He stroked the baby’s scalp. “Paulito needs you and you love him.” It was the only possible way he could give his son a loving mother...and protect himself from a noose around his neck and his Abuelita’s nagging.  

She exhaled, her gaze following his fingers’ gentle motion on Paulito’s head. “Of course I love him, but I have my work. I’m as busy as you, if not more.” Her lips pinched as she narrowed her eyes.

“If you move in with me, we could dovetail our shifts and share his care.”

Please, Holly, say yes
.

“You and me, living together? Just like that?” She flipped her hand open. “How could you even think about it?”

“Oh, I didn’t mean to imply any...hmm.”

Never
.

He blinked. The thought had filtered through his mind, but to his credit, he’d discarded it right away. “It’s just a roommate arrangement. Consider it a business proposal, cross my heart.”
With all due respect and no hanky-panky, so help me God.

Marc gazed at her with deep longing. This arrangement would torture him for sure, but to have Holly caring for Paulito, Marc would squeeze every bit of lust out of his system. He silently vowed to maintain his part of the bargain if she agreed.

“Really?” Pink spots blossomed on her cheeks. She shook her head. “You forget I have to study when I’m not on duty.”

“I’ll make sure you have time for yourself. My apartment is in a residential building. It’s quiet and the view is gorgeous. An excellent atmosphere for concentration. And I’ll be available if you need help reviewing for your exams.”“It’ll never work.” She exhaled and shook her head.

His breath caught in his throat. “Why not? Please Holly, think about it.”

Marc had never asked anyone for anything in his life. But at the moment, he was ready to beg her to say yes. Every one of her gestures spoke of motherly love for Paulito.

“Stacey will come back soon.” Holly glanced right and left. “Will you please get up?” Frustration underscored her hushed tone.

Disappointed, Marc straightened up and stepped back.

He hadn’t convinced her. Poor Paulito, he’d miss her loving care.

“I want to do the right thing for Paulito, but I can’t do it alone. Guess I’ll have to send him to San Juan.”

Holly held the baby against her chest. “To San Juan?”

“What else can I do?” He dropped his arms. Would he have to travel back home in a month and admit defeat? “Oh, Holly, you should see yourself holding him. You love him like a real mommy.”

“
Please!
Stop the emotional blackmail.”

“You’re the only one I can trust implicitly. It’s only for two months.”

“You said three.”

“Only in case of unforeseen delays. Hopefully the work permit will come on time.”

She didn’t answer as she raised the baby on her shoulder and patted him gently on the back until he burped. Marc moved aside to allow her to place Paulito in his crib.

“Holly, I need your help.” He turned her toward him, held her at arm’s length and captured her gaze. “Unfortunately, I don’t have many choices. I can’t keep him in a daycare at night or get a reliable baby-sitter at such short notice. And I’d prefer not to use Jenna’s services.”

He paused to let his alternatives sink into her mind, and then repeated slowly, “Please, move in with me. For Paulito.” He saw the look of desperation and love she threw in the direction of the crib and held his breath.

A knock on the door interrupted the brief silence. Marc stepped away from Holly and fumbled with a formula bottle.

“Come in,” Holly called.

The door opened. Jenna entered, her face brightening with a dazzling smile. “Dr. Suarez, I didn’t know you’d be here. I wanted to see if Dr. Collier needed me to take over with Paulito,” Jenna said without even looking at Holly.

“Stacey will be back soon. Maybe you can check with her later.” Holly’s voice was cooler than icicles.

Marc wished the redhead would stop bestowing come-hither smiles on him. He didn’t like the tempest gathering on Holly’s forehead.

“By the way, Dr. Suarez,” Jenna continued, oblivious to Holly’s scowl. “I’m totally at your disposal if you need my help for Paulito.”

“Thank you, Jenna. I haven’t made any decisions yet.”

“Any time, Dr. Suarez,” Jenna insisted. “I’ll be going now. Sorry for interrupting, Dr. Collier.” She threw a knowing glance at Holly and walked out.

“Wow,” Holly said when the door closed behind the redhead. “What do you do to these nurses to get so much adulation?”

How could he explain that Holly was the only one he wanted in his arms?

Remember your pledge
.

No romantic hints from now on. “Come on, Holly.” He shook his head to clear it of any lascivious thoughts. “You see why I need your help? Can you imagine me stuck with her? In my apartment? At night?”

“I guess it would be quite a show.”

“There’d be no show, because I’d throw her out the first night, and I’d be back at the starting point.” He stepped closer to her and touched her arm. “Holly, Paulito needs you. Say you’ll do it, please.”

“When will you take him home?” Holly asked, her gaze resting on the sleeping baby.

“Tomorrow, if I’m ready, and if it’s okay with you.”

She bit her finger, chewed on her nail and mumbled. “Fine.”

Marc exhaled as relief surged through him. “Thank you, Holly. Thank you for doing this for Paulito.”

“Of course, it’s for Paulito. But I have some conditions.”

“Anything you want.” He’d give her the moon if she asked for it.

She was one of a kind. A pure delight. He wanted to take her in his arms, prove his gratitude, shower her with kisses.

Remember your pledge
.

If only he could erase the rotten playboy impression she’d formed about him seven years ago. If only he could prove to her he was different from her father.

Would she start taking him seriously and give him a chance?

Dios
, if only he could keep her forever.

Forever? Had he say forever? He squirmed uncomfortably.

Let’s not rush things. We’ll cohabitate and then...
He smiled, delighted she’d agreed to come live with him.

Not with him. In his apartment.
There was a huge difference.

* * *

Holly shook her head as he left the room. Was she an idiot? Yes. A complete, absolute idiot, because only an idiot would have agreed to his insane request. As if she needed the stress of sharing a home with him.

It was for Paulito. The poor darling had no mother to love him. Marc had adopted him and pledged his devotion to his nephew, but Marc’s generous intentions would never transform him into a loving mother.  

Right now, both Marc and Paulito needed her.

It felt good to be needed
.

During the past four weeks, she’d done her best to keep the orphaned baby healthy and safe, and she felt like a mother to him.

Holly leaned on the rail of the crib and smiled, watching the sleeping baby who’d worked his way deep into her heart and had become an integral part of her life.

She’d move in with Marc and continue to care for the baby, because, honestly, she couldn’t imagine herself living without the little fellow.

It’s the right thing to do
. She loved this baby so much. And she wanted to help Marc. As a good friend would.