Bosom Buddies (2 page)

Satisfied that she’d settled both her impromptu charges, Allie picked up a stack of paperwork and carried it to the table. Pushing a couple of piles of stuff farther back, she cleared a space and settled in until her guests woke.

“Where’s Ryane?” were the first words out of Ian’s mouth two hours later.

“Shh,” Allie warned him. “She’s still sleeping. That was one tired little girl.”

“What time is it?” He sat and stretched his neck. His position on the couch hadn’t looked all that comfortable, but Allie had been afraid to try and move him.

“It’s about four. Hungry?” She put her glasses on top of her paperwork and turned just in time to watch Ian stretch. Her mouth went dry. He was too nicely formed for someone who wore a suit every day. Much too nicely.

“Ah,” she stuttered. “I, ah, put some soup on. There’s plenty.”

“You’ve already fed Ryane, you don’t need to feed me as well,” he said with a hint of what could be annoyance in his voice.

Allie chose to ignore it. “It’s no problem. Really.” She headed for the kitchen. It was safer there than watching Ian go through the process of waking up. She’d seen him coming and going for the last three months and never felt the merest flutter of desire. He was just one more yuppie and he was obviously taken. Two huge strikes against him.

But now, watching him sleep, watching him wake, well, it was just too intimate and he didn’t look suitish at all. He wasn’t what she’d expected. She might overlook the yuppie thing, but she couldn’t ignore the taken part. She’d found playing the other woman was a role she was definitely not suited for.

“Do you mind if I call the hospital?” he called from the living room.

“Help yourself.” If she were a better person, she would have turned on some music to give him some privacy. Instead she silently cut huge slices of rye bread to go with the vegetable soup.

“ICU.” There was a pause while his call was routed. “This is Ian Ryan. I was wondering if you could give me an update on Anne Paulson. Yes. When? Yeah, I’ll be there. Can you tell her? Thanks.”

Allie chose that moment to come in with the soup, hoping he wouldn’t know she’d eavesdropped. She gave her pile of paperwork a push and made some room for their dinner.

“Here’s the soup. Oh, I brought the bread but forgot the crackers,” she stuttered.

“It’s okay. Don’t go to any trouble.” He looked chagrined. “Well, don’t go to any more trouble than we’ve already put you through.”

“Ah, yes, it was so much trouble to rock that baby and listen to you snore.” She laughed. As Ian had drifted deeper into sleep, his snoring had risen in volume and tempo. It had been an impressive sound.

He scowled. “I don’t snore.”

“Well, if that’s what Anne’s told you, she fibs, because you could rank as a champion snorer.” Allie wasn’t sure why she was baiting him, but she did know she was enjoying watching him sputter and bluster.

“I don’t snore,” he finally muttered as he took a spoonful of soup.

“Well, it wasn’t Ryane.” He glared at her as he shoveled in another bite, and Allie just chuckled and then helped herself to a bite. It was quite good, she congratulated herself. This was a new variation. She bit into one of the chickpeas. Yes, they added just enough oomph to the broth. She’d make sure she included them in her next batch.

“Good soup,” Ian said between bites.

“I was just thinking that myself,” she admitted.

“Modest, eh?” Ian asked in between bites.

“Honest. When you know me better, you’ll learn I’m very, very honest.” She took another bite, then said, “But do ask Anne when you talk to her, she’ll tell you how bad your snoring is.”

He laughed too for a second, and then said, “Speaking of Anne.”

“That’s who you called, right? How is she?”

“They’re moving her out of ICU tonight.”

Allie smiled. “That’s great. Why don’t you go over and help her get settled in? I can keep Ryane.”

Ian looked uncomfortable. “That’s not necessary. I’ve already imposed enough today.”

“Hey, it’s no imposition. I love babies. That’s why I do what I do. And if I was a dangerous character, you probably would have noticed the bodies in the trash by now.” She thought she saw another hint of a smile and liked what it did to his face.

She slammed that train of thought off. He was a yuppie with a capital
Y
, and more importantly, he was taken. She didn’t know why Anne and Ryane didn’t live with him, or he with them, but there was obviously a connection. And, no matter what anyone thought, Allie didn’t make it a habit of breaking up relationships.

Allie could see he was still hesitant. She smiled the smile she used to reassure the most nervous new parents. “Listen, if you go now, when you come back I’ll give you an official how-to-finger-feed-a-baby lesson.”

“You’re sure?”

She could see him wavering.

“I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t mean it. Remember, honesty? If you and Ryane become a pain in my butt, I’ll let you know. Until then, you can safely assume if I offer you a hand,” she paused a second and added, “or a finger, I mean it.”

She reached across the table and laid her hand over his. “I know how difficult it can be trying to divide your time between two people when both of them need you. I see it at the hospital every day. Mothers who have kids at home and a preemie in NICU. Or mothers who have to be hospitalized and have kids at home. There’s so much worry and guilt when you’re torn like that. Let me be a real neighbor and give you a hand when I can. You ask, and if I can, I’ll do it. If not, I’ll let you know.”

“Why?” he asked.

That question nearly broke Allie’s heart. Hadn’t anyone ever done something nice for this man without expecting anything in return? “Let’s just say, what goes around, comes around. Karma if you like.”

There it was, that tentative grin that occasionally wanted to break through. “Karma, huh?” he asked.

“You wouldn’t want to deny me the opportunity to bring some good karma my way, would you?”

“Well, when you put it like that, how can I refuse?”

“How indeed? Now, go upstairs, bring me down the formula, some diapers, and a sleeper. When you get back from the hospital, I’ll see to it you have a clean, fed, contented baby waiting for you.”

Ian squeezed her hand. Allie avoided snatching it away, but was tempted. If an electric burst of awareness bombarded her system at just a mere touch, what would it be like to—

She cut off the thought. Ian was a neighbor, nothing more, nothing less.

“Okay,” he said, pulling her from her fantasy. He picked up the bowl and drained the rest of the soup. “I guess this is where I say thanks for the place to crash, for finding a way to feed Ryane, and—”

“Nope,” she interrupted. “This is where you run upstairs and get me Ryane’s things and then take off for the hospital.”

“Can I at least tell you that you make fantastic soup?” he asked as he rose. That hesitant smile. If he ever managed a full-fledged one, Allie had a feeling he would be beautiful. She had a feeling that Ian wouldn’t appreciate being called beautiful, but then, she wasn’t going to tell him.

“Well, since I take great pride in my soups, I suppose that could be allowed.”

“Thanks.”

She nodded an acknowledgment and scolded, “Now, shoo.”

He shooed.

There was a whimper from the bedroom. “Well, sleepyhead, how are you feeling now?”

Ryane gave a little coo.

“I have a feeling you know when you’ve got it good.” Allie laughed. She loved babies, absolutely adored them, and they seemed to sense it. “Let’s have a look-see. Eww, what did you do?”

Ryane looked extremely pleased with herself. “So, you think just because your belly’s full and you’ve had a little nap, that all’s right in the world?”

She heard the door open and close. “Looks like your diapers have arrived. Just in time, Daddy-O,” she called. “We’re in dire need of a diaper.”

“Are we now?” He leaned over, as if he was expecting to change the baby.

“Not you,” she said. “This is a ladies-only party.”

Ian leaned over and kissed the baby’s cheek. “Oh, and what do you two ladies plan on doing while I’m gone?”

“Oh, we have big plans. We’re going to start out with a bubble bath. Someone, and I’m not mentioning any names,” she said in a stage whisper, pointing at the baby, “smells worse than some of the meals I’ve smelled you cooking.”

He scowled, but there was no real menace in it. “You’re not saying I can’t cook because I’m a man, are you?”

It almost appeared that Ian was joking, though Allie couldn’t be sure since he wore an unreadable expression, but she decided to go on the assumption that he was. “That would be sexist. I’m simply saying that you can’t cook. Male or female, wouldn’t matter, you still can’t cook, if the smells are any indication.”

“Maybe I just like smelly food,” Ian tried.

He was joking, Allie was sure he was. It was obvious he was trying not to laugh, and Allie was delighted.

“Maybe. That’s your prerogative. But for me, I like my food to smell good and my girlfriends to smell good too. So, a bubble bath is in order.” She grinned, feeling as if she’d achieved some major accomplishment by making Ian Ryan joke.

“Then what are your plans?” he asked.

“Oh, a few drinks and maybe a good movie while we cuddle up on the couch. You know, a girls’ night in.” She picked up the baby and smiled at him. “Now, you’re in our way, so why don’t you leave. Girls need their space.”

“Are you sure?” Ian asked again.

“Listen, it’s okay to let your neighbors lend a hand. Everybody needs some help sometimes.”

“Not me.” The joking Ian had retreated. There was something in his eyes, in his stance that seemed so lonely. Allie want to touch him, to let him know that he was wrong, people did need others, and that was okay.

“Ian, everybody needs some help. Everybody. Even the big, strong Ian Ryan. And right now, Anne needs you at the hospital as much as you need me to stay with Ryane.”

He sighed. “I just want to . . .”

“If you thank me again, I’ll scream,” she warned.

“You wouldn’t,” he said with absolute certainty.

Oh, this man didn’t know her well at all. “I never lie and I always take a dare.”

“Thank you anyway.”

She gave a soft, shrill scream. “I would have gone full force, but I didn’t want to scare Ryane. I owe you one.”

As if trying to figure out a complex puzzle, Ian eyed her suspiciously. “You’re different from other women.”

She fluttered her eyelashes and put on her best swoonish look. “Oh, you flatterer, you. Compliments like that aren’t going to turn my head.”

“How do guys handle you?” he asked, bemused.

“They don’t. I’m not something to be handled.”

No sense of humor tinged his voice when he murmured, “All women need to be handled.”

She juggled the baby in her left hand and reached for the sneaker on her end table and lobbed it at him.

“I think you’d better get before you’ve dug a hole you’ll never get out of.” She reached for the other shoe.

“I should only be a couple hours.” He headed for the door and turned around and looked at her. “And, Allie?”

“Hmm?”

“Thanks.” He ducked out the door and slammed it as she threw the other shoe at him.

She was pretty sure she heard him laughing.

CHAPTER TWO

“You left her with a stranger?” Anne asked, her voice still painfully weak. Seeing her like this caused an almost physical ache in the pit of Ian’s stomach.

“Not a stranger, a neighbor.” He stroked her hand and tried to look past her bruised and battered face. “Allie is a maternity nurse. She works with breastfeeding babies all the time and is the one who figured out how to get Ryane to eat.”

“Ryane wouldn’t eat?”

He could see the panic in her eyes. Wrong thing. Why was it that the only things that came out of his mouth these days were the wrong things? “Honey, Ryane’s a smart girl, she knows what she likes, and that’s you. I tried every bottle I could think of, tried everything, and couldn’t get her to take a drop.”

Tears glittered on the edge of Anne’s eye. “Hey, don’t worry. Allie heard our little girl shouting her annoyance and came to the rescue. She had this bottle thing that moms are supposed to use when they don’t have enough milk. They tape the tubes by their nipples.” He could feel the heat rise to his face, but he continued. “And I thought she was thinking of taping them to mine.”

Anne’s tears cleared, just as he’d intended. He had to admit the mental picture of him with tubes taped to his chest was more than a little funny.

“You didn’t?” Anne asked, through her laughter.

“No, but I was afraid that’s what Allie had planned. She has a warped sense of humor. What she did is tape that tubing to her finger and she had Ryane eating like an old pro in minutes.”

“Ah, what does this Allie look like?” Anne asked. Speculation joined the pain in her eyes.

“Hey, I’m worried about you, not trying to pick up women,” Ian scolded.

Anne laughed, even as she flinched from the pain. “Honey, the day you stop looking at women is the day I start to worry.”

Ian knew Anne thought he was woman crazy. He’d had a lot of women walk through his life, but none had lasted long, except for Anne, always Anne, not that Anne counted as a real woman. She waited for his description.

“Fine. Black hair, real black, not some really dark brown, and blue eyes. Her eyes wouldn’t be so noticeable if it weren’t for that hair.” Ian caught himself. What was he saying? It almost sounded like he was interested. Hurriedly he finished, “She’s cute, in a wild sort of way, but I’m not interested. Okay?”

“I don’t know, is it? I mean, she’s been living down there for how long?” Anne licked her chapped lips. “Could you get me a drink?”

Ian grabbed a glass from the stand and held it to her lips. “Three months. She moved in three months ago.”

Anne took a small sip and sank back against the pillow. Her right leg, the one in traction, jiggled, and she winced. Her voice was softer. “Three months and you haven’t mentioned her except in passing, and now I’m hearing she’s got dark hair and beautiful eyes, and she’s sort of cute in a wild sort of way. How okay is it?”

“You just moved out of ICU—you’re supposed to be resting, not speculating about women who are just neighbors,” Ian said. Anne just continued to look at him, clearly expecting an answer. “She’s not my type.”

“I’ve seen the type you’ve dated, and let me assure you, they’re not your type. Maybe you’re overdue for a change.” She scooted around on the bed, trying to find a comfortable position, but with her leg in traction it obviously wasn’t easy.

Ian saw her grimace and it tore through him. “Should I call a nurse?”

She shook her head. “There’s not much anyone can do. They’re going to do the surgery on my leg Monday, and I should be home a week or so after that.” Her face puckered and she squeezed her eyes shut, but Ian could see the tears leak through. He felt inadequate as he patted her hand. “Honey, is it Ryane? You know she’ll be fine with me until you’re back on your feet.”

Her eyes opened, tears still filling them as she cried, “She’ll forget me. She’s so little and . . .”

“Right now we have to get you out of here.”

“And then what? How am I going to take care of a baby? The doctor said I’ll be on crutches for months, and what about work?”

“You’ll come home with me,” Ian assured her.

Anne scoffed. “You live up a flight of stairs, I’d be stuck up there, and I don’t think I could stand the thought of that.”

Ian remembered Anne’s fear of confinement and knew that his apartment would feel like a cage if she couldn’t walk out at will. “We’ll figure something out. I don’t want you to worry.” Ian was good at figuring things out. He’d move if he had to.

Anne slumped back against the pillow. “That’s what you always say. Every time social service tried to split us up, you’d say, we’ll figure something out.”

“And we always did.” Ian looked at the woman who, if not by blood, was the sister of his heart. “And we’ll work things out this time as well. Just the two of us.”

She winced again. “You know, I never thought I was vain, but there’s going to be a huge scar on my leg.”

“Good thing for you that you’ve got another one,” Ian said. Anyone else wouldn’t have heard the humor in his serious voice, but Anne knew him and recognized his dry wit.

“Dork.”

“Crybaby.”

“About Ryane . . .”

“You worry about Anne and I’ll worry about Ryane,” Ian said.

Her eyes were getting heavy. Ian could see her fighting to keep them open. “How ’bout the guy in the other car?” she asked, her voice soft and slurred with sleep.

“Drunk. He’s not worth worrying about.” The anger, the red-hot rage, flowed through Ian all over again. He’d almost lost her. That was the thought that had haunted him since he’d gotten that phone call informing him of the accident.

Her voice faint, she said, “He might have a family that doesn’t think so.”

Tenderly he brushed the hair off her face, then took her hand in his. “Too softhearted, that’s always been your problem.”

“And you are just as soft, you just hide it better. Just check, okay?” she whispered.

He left his hand on hers. He needed to assure himself that she was there, that she was okay. Anne was the only family he had. “Softhearted? Do you know what they do to women who insult the men in their lives?”

“What?” she asked, no fear in her sleepy eyes.

“This.” Ian planted her a wet kiss on her cheek.

“Ew, gross, boy germs.” Her hand came up and wiped at the spot.

“You’re going to be just fine and so will Ryane.” He tried to sound positive and firm.

“Speaking of Ryane, you’d better get back to her.”

Ian looked at his watch. “You’re right. Allie is great, but I don’t want to take advantage. You and me, we’re a team, and we’ll be okay.”

Her eyes were closed as she murmured, “I don’t know, this time I think we might need more than just the two of us.”

Just the two of them.

That’s the way it had always been, and that’s the way it was going to stay, Ian firmly reminded himself as he trudged down the hall.

Allie? He didn’t understand her. In his experience, people didn’t just pitch in and help like that, not unless they wanted to get something out of it.

Just what was Allie looking for?

He was sure that there was something, and whatever it was, he’d have to try to oblige. One of the reasons Ian Ryan hated owing anyone anything was that he always tried to repay his debts.

He just hoped that whatever it took to pay this debt wouldn’t be too high a price.

“Well, sweetie, you smell better and you look a lot happier than when we met this morning.” Allie nuzzled the baby’s tummy. “Now, how about we go for a little walk and get you some fresh air, that way maybe you’ll sleep a little better tonight.”

The baby gurgled. “I know, I know, I’m not your mama, but she’ll be back soon.” Leaving Ryane in the middle of the bed, Allie crawled under the bed, searching for her sneakers. She had to do something about her apartment. Patrick, her friend Julie’s husband, had said the shelves would finally be ready this weekend.

That should help. She’d finally have somewhere to put all her books, and once that was done, she’d have room to move the rest of her stuff. The walls were painted, though it made little impact in the cluttered room, where boxes still were the central focus of her decorating.

“Well, starting this weekend that will change,” she told Ryane from under the bed.

“What will change?”

Startled, she jumped, but not far since there was a bed on top of her. Allie yelped as she knocked her head. “Ryane, honey, what a deep voice you have,” she muttered, moving backward.

“And Allie, honey, what a pretty picture you make.”

She shimmied out from under the bed, shoes in hand. “I didn’t hear you knock,” she said by way of an apology.

“Possibly because your head was under a bed.”

She grinned. “Possibly.” She sat on the edge of the bed next to Ryane and put her shoes on. “Us girls were just thinking about taking a walk, so maybe one of us would sleep for you tonight.”

“It’s not what I generally hope my women do when they’re with me, but in this case I’ll make an exception.”

He was being humorous again, something Allie suspected he might be frequently if you knew what to look for. His familiarity made her bold. “You and Ryane’s mom aren’t together anymore?”

“Sure we’re together. Anne and I are a team.”

“And you still see other women?” He might wear a suit, but he was slimy, she thought sadly. Her brothers didn’t seem to understand a suit didn’t necessarily mean a gentleman.

Understanding dawned on his face. “You think Anne and I . . .”

“Wrong?” A glimmer of hope lit within her.

“Wrong. Anne and I are . . .”

Allie watched him search for a definition of his relationship with Ryane’s mother.

“Never mind, your relationship with your daughter’s mother isn’t any of my business.”

“I’m not Ryane’s father,” he protested.

“Oh.” Allie’s world tilted. Anne and Ian weren’t, well, they weren’t an item, and Ian wasn’t Ryane’s father.

“Anne and I do have a relationship, but it’s never been that type of relationship. We’re friends, but more than that, we’re almost brother and sister. Other than not sharing the same parents, we are. I’ve always thought of her as my sister.”

“Oh.” Allie felt a little flutter in her chest, but she ignored it.

She stopped tying her shoes. “Well, Ryane shouldn’t be ready to eat for almost another hour. How about the three of us go for a walk and then come back for a feeding lesson.”

“What are the chances that she’ll be using a bottle soon?”

“Oh, I’m sure she’ll learn. She’s just picky and it might take a little while.”

She picked up the baby. “I saw a stroller sitting upstairs, why don’t you run up and get it and join us. You look like you could use some fresh air.”

“Is that your way of telling me I need a shower?”

“Well, let’s just say, after our walk and feeding lesson, a quick date with your shower might not be out of order. Maybe you could try a threesome?”

Ian raised his eyebrow.

Allie started laughing. “I meant with fresh air, shower, and a shave.”

He just looked at her, as if he didn’t know what to make of her.

“You know what my brothers used to tell me when I looked like that?”

“No. Do I want to?” he asked.

“Probably not, but I’ll tell you anyway. They used to tell me my face would freeze like that. And if your face froze with that expression, it would be a shame, Ian Ryan.”

“Why?”

“Because when it’s not scowling, it’s a very nice face.”

“Thank you,” he said, and then after a moment’s hesitation, he added, “I think.”

“You’re welcome,” Allie said merrily. He wasn’t Ryane’s father—the thought cheered her immeasurably, not that she was interested in him as more than a neighbor and a potential friend. Pulling her mind away from Ian, the unattached male, and back to the task at hand, she said, “Now, about that walk. You get the stroller and meet us at the front door. Did you know there’s an ice cream store around the corner?”

“Is that a hint?” Ian asked.

“No, that’s a warning. I’m addicted to ice cream and they make a mean chocolate-dipped-in-cherry cone.”

“My treat,” Ian said.

“That’s not what I meant,” she protested.

“I know, but it’s the least I can do.”

Allie sighed. “Ian, you just don’t get it. You don’t have to repay me.”

He shook his head. “You’re right, I just don’t get it.” He looked at the woman with the witchy black hair and brilliant blue eyes that reflected sadness as she stared back at him. No, he didn’t get it at all.

The trip to the store was made in relative silence.

“Chocolate dipped in cherry,” Allie told the girl behind the glass window.

“That can’t be good,” Ian said, making a face.

“You’ve heard of chocolate-covered cherries, right? Well, this is the same sort of thing.”

“Vanilla,” Ian told the girl.

“Just plain old vanilla?” Allie laughed. “I pictured you as more daring than that. I mean, vanilla? No sprinkles, no dips, just plain old anemic vanilla?”

“I like vanilla,” Ian said, giving the girl a nod that sent her scampering.

“It’s so ordinary,” Allie said. She didn’t know why she felt the need to tease Ian. Maybe it was his serious countenance. The small smiles she’d caught sight of made her want more. She wanted to see Ian smiling and laughing.

“Some of us enjoy being plain and ordinary.”

“I didn’t mean you were ordinary.” Allie gave him an appraising look. “No, I don’t think ordinary is a word anyone would use to describe you.”

“Should I say thank you or throw down the gauntlet?” Ian asked.

“You should turn around and take our ice cream cones from the girl.”

Ian did as he was told and handed Allie hers. Wheeling the baby with one hand, eating her ice cream with the other, Allie smiled at Ian. “Want a bite?” she asked, thrusting her cone at him.

“I don’t think so.” His nose crinkled as he grimaced.

Not the least insulted, Allie shrugged. “So, how was Anne?”

“Fine. Sleepy.”

“That’s to be expected. They’re probably giving her some strong pain meds.”

“I guess.”

She could hear the frustration in his voice and wanted nothing more than to soothe it away. “She’ll be fine,” she offered lamely.