Her Greek Doctor's Proposal (16 page)

“Well, believe it or not, I’m in Delphi. But the hotel gave my room away, and there’s not another room to be had in the entire town.”

“You’re in Delphi?”

“Yep, I am.”

“And you need a place to stay.” He couldn’t imagine why she’d come back, but the way his heart had jerked in his chest when she’d first called was nothing to the gymnastics it was doing now.

“I’m afraid I do. There are a few hotels in Kastorini, aren’t there?”

“One’s full up for a wedding this weekend,
which I know because a patient talked to me about it for half an hour today. The other two usually take on overflow from Delphi, so I bet they’re booked too.”

“That’s what Spiros at my hotel told me.” She sighed in his ear. “Is there any way I can hole up in the clinic or something, just for one night while I check out nearby towns tomorrow? Or maybe even briefly stay with Taryn?”

“My house has three bedrooms. No reason to call Taryn tonight, you can just stay here.” The instant the words were out of his mouth, he pictured her here with him, sitting in his cozy living room, fascinating him with stories about the dig and about her life. Tousled and sleepy when he fixed her coffee in the morning. He wondered what she wore to bed, and a vision of something silky and skimpy came to mind, or, even better, her completely naked, glorious body. But even if she slept in an oversized T-shirt, she’d look sexy as hell.

That vision faded when he realized if anyone found out he had a woman staying in his house, the tongues would flap like crazy. And what were the odds no one would know? Pretty much zero out of a hundred. But he couldn’t worry about that when Laurel needed someplace to lay her head. “Cassie’s in bed, but she sleeps like a
rock. Won’t even blink if I put her in the car to come get you.”

“Thank you.” Her voice got softer, warmer. “But I rented another car. I’ll be there in about twenty minutes, if that’s okay.”

“I’ll be waiting.” And each minute of it would seem like two. At the moment, there was no way he’d get one thing out of the clinical information on his laptop, and he closed it, realizing the house could use some spiffing up. Cassie’s toys lying all around didn’t bother him, but probably making sure Laurel didn’t turn an ankle stepping on one would be a good idea.

His arms were full of the last of it—multicolored plastic blocks he was trying to find the box to dump into—when there was a soft knock on the door. It opened a few inches, and beautiful blue eyes met his through the crack. “Hi. It’s me. Didn’t want to wake Cassie by ringing the doorbell.”

“Nothing wakes that child up. Come on in.”

The sight of all of her, not just those amazing eyes, caught his breath. She was wearing that dress he loved so much that embraced every curve, and her hair—God, her hair was down, out of her usual ponytail, falling in a shimmering golden waterfall over her shoulders. He stood there staring like a fool, an armload of plastic stuff preventing him from pulling her into his
arms and kissing her until she was as breathless as he felt.

But maybe she didn’t want that. Yes, they’d made love after the stress of learning about John’s failing health, but that didn’t mean she wanted to go there again. And he wanted her to feel comfortable in his house, not worried he might jump on her any moment like a flea on a kitten.

On the other hand, he might not be imagining the way she was looking at him. A way that said she might not mind him jumping on her at all.

Where was that damned box? “You don’t happen to see a white box with pictures of blocks on it, do you?”

“Is this it?” She walked to the small door under the stairs where they stored Cassie’s stuff. He’d already stuck a few things in there, and she bent over to open the door wider. He got so fixated on her shapely rear in that dress, he hardly noticed she was pulling the elusive box out from behind a huge stuffed lion.

“How come I put things in there twice and didn’t see it?”

“I’m good at excavating, remember?” She held out the box, and he dumped the blocks inside. She turned and bent over again to shove the thing back behind the lion, and Andros gave up trying to keep his distance.

“You do realize you bending over in that sexy dress of yours is testing the limits of my gentlemanliness?”

“Is it?” She turned to him and took a step toward him, the amusement in her eyes mingling with the same heat he was trying to bank down. “Funny. Just looking at you in your T-shirt and jeans with your hair a little messy makes me want to test it even further.”

To his shock and delight, she closed the gap between them, tunneled her hands into his hair and kissed him.

He wrapped his arms around her, lost in the taste of her, the intoxicating flavor he’d thought he’d never get to taste again. Her silky hair slid over his hands, his forearms, as he pressed her even closer, loving the feel of her every soft curve pressed against his body.

Still clutching his head, she broke the kiss and stared into his eyes. “I kept hoping you’d come back to the hospital one more time. To say goodbye.”

“So you came to say goodbye?” He’d thought she’d already gone. So why did the thought of a goodbye now feel so bad?

“Not yet. Right now I’m saying hello.”

“I like hellos better than goodbyes,” he murmured against her lips before he kissed her again. The way she melted against him, gasping softly
into his mouth as their tongues leisurely danced, made him think maybe she’d missed him too. That maybe she’d thought of him as much as he had her the past few days.

But she had a life in the States and a PhD to finish and papers to write. Grants to get and new digs to work on. Thinking of him or not, why had she come back?

“How long are you in town? And why?”

She drew back a few inches. “Well, I have some unfinished business. Don’t know how long it might take, but—”

The shrill ring of his phone interrupted, and he nearly cursed it. He hated letting go of Laurel’s warm body, but it would seem pretty odd to dance her over to the side table to answer the damn thing. “Dr. Drakoulias.”

“Andros! It’s Yanni. Dora’s having the baby. Thinks it’s coming soon.”

“Do you think she’s able to get to the clinic?”

“Yes. I think so.”

“I’ll meet you there.”
Damn.
Timing being what it always was, Christina was in Athens for a few days. Not to mention that things just might have been leading somewhere very good with Laurel. “I’m sorry. Got to go deliver a baby that apparently is in a hurry to get here. Excuse me again.”

He dialed the nurse midwife in Levadia who
was on call for Christina. He huffed out an impatient breath when her husband said she’d gone to the grocery store. Didn’t on call mean on call? “I need to hear from her as soon as possible.”

“What’s wrong?” Laurel asked. “You worried about the mother?”

“No. She’s had a healthy pregnancy. But this is her fifth, and if she thinks it’s coming soon, I believe her. Christina’s not here, and the midwife on call isn’t home. And it’ll take her half an hour to get here anyway.”

“Let me help. I mean, you just need an assistant, right? I don’t need to be a nurse or anything?”

“Just need an assistant. Are you sure you’re up for that?”

“Sounds like it would be an experience, and, hey, I’m always up for an adventure.”

“Never thought of bringing a baby into the world as an adventure, but I guess it can be.” He’d already seen the woman didn’t back down from a challenge and had to smile. “It’ll be faster if Taryn brings Petros here. I’ll call her, then we can go.”

* * *

“Looks like they’re not here yet, which is good,” Andros said as he pulled the car up to the clinic. “You can help me get stuff set up.”

Nervous but excited too, Laurel followed Andros
back to the hospital wing. She couldn’t believe she was about to see a baby being born, maybe even be a part of bringing it into the world. Hadn’t thought she’d ever want to, but, now that it was about to happen, she knew it would probably be an amazing experience.

Andros wheeled over a small cart from a corner with what looked like maybe a heating unit above it, and put a tiny little oxygen mask in the corner of the little crib, hooking it up to something. He pulled other strange things out from the supply cupboard, laid them on a thick metal table next to the hospital bed, then grabbed more items in his arms.

“I don’t want to get in the way, but is there anything I can do?”

“I’m good right now, thanks.” He tossed her a couple of plastic bags with what looked like blue paper inside. “Can you go see if Yanni and Dora are outside and bring them in here? Then put on that gown. Gloves too, after you come back, because I’ll need you to handle the baby.”

Handle the baby? What if she dropped it on its head or something? Nerves jabbed into her belly at the thought, though she should have realized she might have to take care of the newborn while he took care of the mother.

As soon as she got to the front door, a car zoomed up the street and swerved in front of
the clinic, parking crooked. She rushed out of the door, hoping like heck the woman wasn’t already spitting out the baby right there in the car, but if she had to catch the newborn, then, darn it, she would. A man leaped out and practically flew around to the passenger door, looking a little wild-eyed.

“Do you need help? Dr. Drakoulias is inside—do you want me to get him?”

“
Ochi.
I can bring her.”

He swung the woman into his arms, and she wrapped her hands around his neck before burying her face in his chest. Her distressed cry was muffled, but Laurel’s gut tightened, hearing her sound of pain. She ran to hold open the door and led the way to the clinic.

“Follow me.”

Andros had already changed into scrubs and was busy putting towels next to the bed. He looked up and smiled. “Always in a hurry, Dora. Ever since we were in grade school.”

The woman looked up and gave him a wavering smile back. She spoke in Greek so Laurel didn’t know what she’d said in return, but apparently the woman still managed to have a sense of humor despite everything, as both men laughed.

Then just that fast, she apparently had another contraction, crying out as her face contorted. All humor was replaced by worry on her husband’s
face as he laid her on the bed, speaking to her soothingly. The sweetness and caring in his eyes tugged at Laurel’s heart, and she wished she’d talked to her parents about what it had been like the times their own brood had been born. Made her wonder, for the first time, why they’d even had four children when their careers had been such a huge priority. Had their family been more important to them than she’d realized?

“I’m going to speak English, as Laurel doesn’t speak Greek,” Andros said, “so she understands what she needs to do to help. Okay?”

Both nodded, and he turned to Laurel. “Help me get her clothes off and a gown on her, please.” Despite the strangeness of the situation, it felt oddly normal to work together with him, and they quickly had Dora ready. Laurel was surprised it didn’t also seem uncomfortable for the lower half of the woman to be completely naked, but maybe since it was obviously the last thing the woman was concerned about, it seemed like no big deal.

“This is an external probe, to monitor the baby’s heartbeat.” Andros attached a belt to her swollen belly, with some electronic gadget attached to it. “It’s not as accurate as an internal probe we sometimes attach to a baby’s head, but since your little one wants to come soon, I think
this is good, okay?”

Both nodded again, obviously having complete faith in Andros, and Laurel looked at his face. Calm, but completely in command, and she knew she’d have the same exact confidence in him no matter what the situation.

“Are you all right? Do you want pain relief, Dora?”

“
Ochi.
No time. The baby…is coming.”

He glanced at the monitor and his expression was neutral, but it seemed to Laurel it tensed a bit. “Baby’s heart rate is dropping a little, Dora. Called bradycardia. Could be just from contractions, but we need to keep an eye on it.”

“What do you mean?”

“If there’s sustained fetal bradycardia, we’ll need to get the baby out as fast as possible. Not to worry, though. And see? It’s already recovering a bit.”

Dora gave a sudden, extended cry, so agonized, Laurel winced for her. Yanni gripped her hand, looking nearly as distressed as his wife did. Laurel was so focused on the poor woman’s pain she didn’t notice Andros was leaning over the woman.

“You weren’t kidding about it coming soon, Dora! Baby’s on the way. The head is crowning. Time to push.”

Laurel stared in amazement when she saw the top of the baby’s head begin to emerge. She’d
wondered if it might be gross or icky to see, but it wasn’t at all. It was awe inspiring. Incredible.

“Oh, my gosh, it’s right there!” She hadn’t meant to exclaim that out loud and looked guiltily at Andros. He kept his attention on the baby and mother, but that surprise dimple poked into his cheek and she knew he was smiling.

“Yes. He or she will be here soon. Push again, Dora.”

The woman grunted and groaned and pushed as her husband murmured encouragingly to her, but the baby didn’t seem to move.

“Baby’s heart rate is dropping again, Dora. We need to get the baby out. Laurel, I need you to put fundal pressure on top of the uterus.”

“Fundal pressure?” Laurel’s heart beat harder. She hoped she was up to whatever task this was he needed her to do.

“Basically, I need you to put your hands on the top of her belly and push hard. Put your weight into it.”

“Um, okay.” She positioned herself next to the woman and spread her hands on Dora’s belly, feeling a little weird and a lot nervous. She pushed down, worried she might hurt her. “Like this?”

“Harder. As hard as you can.”

Holy crap.
“I’m afraid I’ll hurt her.”

“You won’t. And we need to get the baby out.”

Andros’s intense expression sent her heart pumping even harder, and she gritted her teeth and put everything she could into pushing on the surprisingly hard expanse of poor Dora’s belly. In the midst of the woman panting and pushing, and her husband speaking tensely in words that were probably supposed to be encouraging, Andros suddenly said, sharply, “Stop, Laurel. Stop pushing, Dora.”