Emergency Baby by Alison Roberts

Author:Alison Roberts
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-11-27T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

‘IT’S TRUE, SAM.’ Phil’s arm tightened around his sister. ‘I reckon it hurt to look at you because you were the spitting image of Mum. Dad never got over her death but he’s a lonely man now.’

‘He’s a hero. Heroes don’t get lonely.’

‘He’s sixty-five next year and he’s going to retire. What’s he going to have then? A big old empty house and a bunch of children who are too busy following in his footsteps to visit very often.’ Phil’s face brightened as he let go of Sam. ‘What he needs is a grandchild. That’ll take the pressure off the rest of us to settle down and reproduce. This is a brilliant idea of yours, Sam.’

Alex groaned inwardly.

‘Do you really think he’d be pleased?’ Sam sounded dubious.

‘It would give him something to love. Something he didn’t have to shut away with all the stuff that reminds him of what he lost. It would be a new start and I think he’d be thrilled. He might even be useful.’

‘Useful?’ Sam appeared to be soaking up her brother’s words.

‘Think of all the time he’d have available to babysit when he retires.’

‘He won’t be too thrilled if I don’t produce a husband to go along with the baby.’

‘I dunno. This way you get to carry on the family name as well. Now…’ Phil’s smile lightened the atmosphere instantly ‘…do you have anyone in mind yet?’

‘I was thinking of using a sperm bank and making it anonymous. Less complicated all round.’

Phil wrinkled his nose. ‘Bad idea.’ He looked up to include Alex in the conversation. ‘Don’t you think, Alex?’

‘Yeah.’ Alex wasn’t averse to throwing a bit of cold water on Sam’s grand scheme. ‘Who knows what you’re going to get in the way of genes?’

‘Or how many relatives they might have out there. What if they ended up marrying a sibling and you got a grandchild with three arms?’

That strange stirring in Alex’s gut returned when Sam finally smiled again, only this time it was pleasant rather than reminiscent of indigestion. Or was that pleasant feeling coming from the glimpses of Sam’s breasts that he couldn’t help catching repeatedly, thanks to the holes in that peculiar top she was wearing?

‘You work with dozens of blokes,’ Phil continued. ‘There must be someone you know who wouldn’t mind helping out?’

‘Too complicated,’ Sam said hurriedly. The glance Alex received was unreadable. Was she referring to him being so shocked at her initial suggestion that day in the ED?

Funny, but it didn’t seem nearly so shocking now that he’d had time to get used to the whole idea. And why was Sam grinning at Phil like it was some kind of a joke? Was she serious about this or not?

‘You know what you and the boys have always said,’ Sam reminded her brother. ‘“No fishing from the company pier.”’

Phil laughed. ‘I thought it was “Don’t screw the crew.”’

‘Whatever. It would be a bad idea. I need someone I don’t have to work with. One of your mates might fit the bill.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.