Christmas Babies (2 page)

Seven-o’clock already? She was
late for the get-together at the bar. What did it matter? A few minutes or a
few hours would not make a difference. She showered and changed into an outfit
less severe than her daily uniform of business pantsuits and shirts. Maybe the
mini-dress her sister Roxanne had given her for her birthday and refused to
exchange for a more respectable outfit. Something frivolous that would make her
forget the tough decisions she’d have to face soon.

****

Sitting on a stool at the bar,
Nick finished his third scotch, moved his glass away, and motioned to the
barman for a refill. For the past hour, he’d chatted, joked, toasted, and
reveled in Madelyn’s promise to attend his little celebration. His gaze never
wavered from the mirror reflecting the entrance door and the huge Christmas
tree in the corner.

Eight-thirty and she wasn’t here
yet. He should have known that Dr. Ramsay would never give him the time of the
day. Even more so now that he’d stolen the position she wanted. He stirred the
ice in his glass and exhaled. She stood him up again. So what was new?

Why couldn’t he get her out of
his mind once and for all? Disgusted with himself for allowing her to get under
his skin, he raised his glass to gulp his drink. His hand froze midway and he stared
at the image in the mirror.

Madelyn
? No way on earth.
His jaw sagged. He blinked several times and spun toward the door. His eyes
rounded. And then he smiled at the incredible picture of Dr. Ramsay in a
skin-tight, little white thing that hugged her figure the way he’d love to hug
her. Bolting from his stool, he navigated his way toward the exquisite woman
standing at the door, scanning the crowd.

“Madelyn, thank…thank you for
coming.” He swallowed and hesitated as he reached her. His gaze caressed the
creamy expanse of flesh exposed by her strapless mini-dress. Would she jump
back if he tried to hug her?

She came forward, a bright smile
on her face, and wrapped her arms around him. “Congratulations again, Nick. I’m
so happy for you,” she said against his ear. Her perfume sensitized every nerve
ending in his body.

His instincts on alert after his
first shock, he pressed her against him for a few seconds, and released her
right away. This new Madelyn didn’t seem real. “I’m so glad you made it. Come,
let’s have a drink.” His hand light on her back, he led her to a table for two
and held a chair for her.

She sat and crossed her legs. He
forced himself not to stare at her perfect thighs and shifted his gaze to her
face.

“I’m sorry I came so late. I had
a few errands to run.”

“No problem at all.” Pulling a
chair, he settled across from her and admired the golden brown curls cascading
down her naked back. He was a sucker for long hair and hated the tight bun she
knotted in the back of her head at work.

Tonight she looked so different
with rows of silver chains hanging around her neck and a black pendant nestled in
her cleavage. Even her eyes seemed bigger, greener, stretched and highlighted
with makeup. Would this new Madelyn be more accessible? He would still tread
carefully around her, for fear she might disappear if he made a wrong move.

Their friends noticed her
presence and gathered around. Greg Hayes, his assistant, whistled. “Dear God,
Madelyn, why have you been hiding all this time?”

“Did I drink too much already?”
Sandra Morelli, the pediatric head nurse, leaned toward Nick’s new guest and
rubbed her forehead. “Is that you, my dear friend Madelyn, our serious Dr.
Ramsay?”

A few more colleagues joined them
with exclamations and giggles about Madelyn’s transformation.

“Stop it, you guys. Don’t make me
blush,” she said with a delicious pout he’d give a month’s salary to taste.
“Tonight is a special time for Nick.”

No kidding. A cough clogged his
throat. Greg hit his back while bursting into a big laugh. “Swallowing wrong,
my friend?”

Nick scowled at Greg and mouthed
a
go to hell
. “We need to toast. Waiter, over here please. What will you
have, Madelyn?”

“A light Michelob in a can.”

“And another round of drinks for
everyone.”

When they all had their drinks in
hands, Madelyn surprised him by raising her can. “To our new director. May our
hospital continue to prosper under Dr. Preston’s successful leadership.” She
clinked her can against his glass.

“Thank you.” He nodded, touched
by her wish. If she was any one else but the serious Dr. Ramsay, he would have
taken her in his arms and crushed her with a hug. Although, he’d often
visualized them sharing more erotic poses than he’d ever dare to confess.

They enjoyed a few more toasts.
The waiter came again with refills. Nick grabbed Madelyn’s can to push it aside
but she took it from him. “I had enough.”

He fixed a puzzled look on her
hand. The container was still almost full. “You haven’t had much?”

“I’m good,” she said, covering
her beer with her hand. He didn’t insist.

One by one, their friends wished him
the best with a hug or a clap on the back.

“Nicky, sweetheart.” More than
half-drunk, Dr. Kathy Raynes swayed toward him and glued her lips to his. Her
heavy perfume and the smell of beer nauseated him. He’d dated her in the past.
Now he cursed her public display and disentangled himself. Over her shoulder,
he met Madelyn’s gaze. Instead of the disapproving high eyebrows that had
previously condemned him without trial, she faced him with a sober look.

“Goodnight, Kathy. Goodnight
Greg.” He pushed them away, and whispered in his friend’s ear to make sure
Kathy arrived home safely. Greg nodded. They finally left and he breathed
better.

“Our friends are gone, but then
they came earlier than me.” Madelyn didn’t seem in a rush to leave. Nothing
could please him more than to stay and chat with her for hours. She considered
him for a moment and smiled. What a gorgeous smile. His heart somersaulted. He
covered her hand and immediately withdrew. Having received the cold shoulder
way too often, he waited for her to give him a lead on how to act around her
new persona.

“Another beer,” he asked and
could have punched himself at the stupidity of his question. She’d hardly
touched the first one.

“Nick, tonight we celebrate your
promotion,” she said with a resolute tone that got his full attention. “How
about going to Las Olas Boulevard? There’s music at the European Bar.”

Music
and
dancing. “Sure.
Let’s go,” he answered right away.

“We’ll continue our celebration
there.”

He pinched his side to make sure
he’d heard correctly. What exactly did she have in mind? He paid his bill.
“Ready?”

She pushed her chair and stood.
That little white dress could send a monk into damnation, and he’d never
competed for sainthood. She passed in front of him, heading for the door. His
gaze skated over her legs, elongated by high heeled sandals, and wandered to
her swaying backside. He shook his head and focused higher up on the light
brown curls he itched to wrap around his fingers.

They reached hisBMWand he opened
the door for her. She sat on the low bucket seat, buckled her seatbelt, and
pulled at the hiking hem of her dress. He averted his eyes and slipped into his
driver seat. To clear his mind, he put on some soft music.

She punched two other buttons on
the car radio until rock music blared. “Do you mind?”

“Not at all.” He grinned at her
cheerfulness, pleased he’d finally connected with her on a more personal level
than work.

She hummed with the radio and
tapped her fingers on the dashboard. He gave her a sideway glance, and scowled.

Something didn’t add up. He’d
known her for five years. They had worked in the delivery room side by side
every day, he delivering the mothers, she resuscitating babies. She’d always
been serious, reserved, poised, a bright doctor, but certainly not a fun-loving
person. He wasn’t vain enough to think she’d developed an interest in him
overnight and he couldn’t believe she’d put on this act just to celebrate his
promotion—a promotion she should resent.

And then it hit him. Yes, it was
an act to cover her disappointment. To make him believe she didn’t care about
the fact he’d snatched the position she had dreamed of. A tender feeling mixed
with guilt overwhelmed him. He promised himself he’d make it up to her.

“Having fun?” He asked as her
voice covered the radio.

“A lot. Although I’m sure I’m
spoiling the song.”

“Not at all. I don’t know the
words but I can do the
accompaniment.
”

She burst out laughing and he
whistled the tune. He’d never seen her so friendly or so comfortable while
wasting time. Not that he’d call having a good time with her a waste of time. Two
days ago she’d rebuked him with a frown when he joked with a technician at the
hospital. If she only knew why he flirted without discrimination, why at
thirty-six he couldn’t allow himself marriage or commitment.

Maybe he was wrong about her
putting up an act. Maybe she’d decided to change. Whatever. He’d stop analyzing
her and would enjoy every minute spent in her company.

He parked the car in a side
street behind the tourist area of Las Olas Boulevard. She slipped out of the
car. It would be hell to walk for several blocks with her high heels. He hooked
her arm to his, half-expecting her to protest and strut on her own, but she
smiled and said, “Thank you.”

Nicky, my boy. Tonight’s your
lucky night. Try to be smart and don’t break the spell
.

A festive air cloaked the busy
boulevard. Trees sparkled with colored bulbs and decorative garlands added to
the spirit of the holiday season. Madelyn stopped in front of the shop windows
and admired articles and novelties with enthusiastic exclamations. Her comments
made him frown and grin, and cross his fingers that her transformation would
last beyond the stroke of midnight.

Blaring music wafted toward them.
They entered the dimly lit restaurant-bar. The hostess sat them at a table for
two and gave them menus. “Good idea. I’m starved.” He studied the items and
looked at his companion. “What will you have, Madelyn?”

“Grilled salmon and a Caesar
salad. And a pink lemonade.”

“Make that two,” he told the waiter.
A soft drink would help him keep a cool head and avoid any wrong move,
especially now that his gorgeous guest had managed to confuse the hell out of
him.

“Do you often go to the Sea-Waves
Bar?” Madelyn asked while sipping her lemonade. This time she emptied half of
her drink.

“Once a month.” He abstained from
reminding her he copied her on his emails when sending the get-together notice.
She’d probably deleted his emails without even reading them.

“I think I may start going too.”

“Good.” So the change was real.
He blessed whatever had triggered it.

“What are your plans now that you’ve
reached your goal?”

“Ah…at the hospital?” Damn, she
was discussing work again.

“No.” She chuckled. “No hospital
talk on break. I mean in general. What do you plan to do with yourself?
Although I think you’re going to be busier than ever.”

He relaxed in his chair and
considered her. “True. But I will make time for fun once in a while.” He hoped
she’d agree to share the fun with him. “Actually, as of tomorrow I will be
looking for an apartment on the beach. This way, I can enjoy a quick swim when
I am not at the hospital.”

“Good idea.”

The waiter brought their plates.
Madelyn ate slowly, while he attacked his food heartily.

“Where do you live?” He couldn’t
believe he’d never asked her that question before, but then she’d always
blocked any attempt at personal conversation.

Her mouth curled into an adorable
smile. “In an apartment on the beach.”

“No kidding.” That would explain
her smooth tan, highlighted by her white dress. “Which building?”

“
The Blue Lagoon
.”

“Really? My real estate agent said
she’ll show me apartments in
the Blue Lagoon
and some other buildings next
week.” He lowered his head to his plate and tried to suppress a wicked grin. He
could fancy himself as a next door neighbor to Madelyn. Hmm, he’d call the
woman tomorrow and ask her to start the showing with
the Blue Lagoon
.

Madelyn shot him a quick glance
but didn’t comment. She also hadn’t eaten much, half of her salad and a few
bites of her fish, although she finished her second lemonade. “I’m full.” She
moved her plate aside.

He raised his eyebrows. “A
dessert now?”

“No thank you. But if you are
done too, we can dance.” She glanced at the dance floor where three couples
shook their hips, kicked their feet, twirled, and swung.

He pushed his chair and grabbed
her hand. Even if he hated hard rock music, he wouldn’t miss the opportunity to
hold her in his arms. Half an hour later they were still dancing, sweating, and
laughing while he twirled her and brought her against him.

The music slowed. His arm around
her waist, he held her hand, determined not to let her sit for the slow dance.
She hooked her fingers around his nape and laid her forehead against his cheek.
Her hair caressed his chin and her floral perfume wreathed around him. They
swayed, hardly moving their feet. “Heaven,” the singer repeated over and over.

“Heaven, I’m in heaven,” Nick
whispered in her ear. She didn’t react. When the song ended, he brushed a light
kiss on her temple.

She eased away and smiled. “I
have to go home. Tomorrow we have a long day.”

He paid their bill and they
walked hand in hand to his car. “Should I drop you home and we’ll collect your
car tomorrow.”

“No. Take me to the Sea-Waves’
parking lot. I live two minutes away.”