Once Upon a Baby... by Karen Rose Smith

Author:Karen Rose Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

From the piercing look in Simon’s eyes, Risa knew he wanted the truth from her. And she wanted the truth from him. “It would be great if you’d drive me to the doctor’s and take me home. But…I don’t want you doing it out of some sense of duty.”

He took his Stetson from a hat peg on the wall and plunked it onto his head. “It’s more than duty. The kiss between us the other night had nothing to do with duty. There’s fire between us, Risa, and maybe we’re going to get burned, but it’s too hot to ignore and I’d like to find out what it’s all about.”

“I don’t know if I’m ready for any of it,” she said quietly.

“That’s fair. Why don’t we just take this one step at a time and see where it gets us?”

The suggestion sounded so simple, yet she knew it wasn’t. After ten steps into this, she could get hurt, and so could he. Yet if she didn’t try, she’d be letting her marriage to Todd and everything that happened in it control her. She couldn’t let her marriage to Todd shadow the rest of her life. She’d have to show Simon that she wasn’t afraid to take a risk.

“One step at a time,” she agreed.

A half hour later, Simon had borrowed a car seat from one of his deputies and anchored it in the back of the Sheriff’s SUV. After Risa showed him how the stroller collapsed, Simon drove her and Francie to their appointment. He’d seen the looks Anson and Dave had thrown at each other, the knowing smiles between Myra and Nancy. Maybe he’d be the butt of gossip for a day or so, but it just didn’t matter right now. He felt a bond with Risa he’d never felt with another woman. Maybe it was because of her daughter…maybe it wasn’t.

After they’d arrived at the old house turned into a pediatrics clinic, Simon helped Risa out and unhitched Francie from the back. He was getting more sure of picking her up now, and it seemed as if she’d grown already.

“Want me to carry her inside?” he asked.

“You can if you’d like.”

He found that he’d like that very much.

In the waiting room, Risa went to the receptionist’s window while Simon settled in a chair with Francie. He heard the receptionist tell Risa, “Dr. Gracy had an emergency and is tied up at the hospital, but Dr. Winslow will see Francie today if that’s all right with you.”

After Risa came to sit beside him, he studied her. “Do you know Dr. Winslow?”

“I’ve never met him, but I studied his credentials before I chose this pediatrics practice to take care of Francie. Most group practices rotate doctors now anyway. It will be good for me to meet him.”

Risa had taken to parenthood so easily. She seemed tired but not exhausted, and she certainly didn’t seem stressed out. Maybe it was easier for some women than others. Maybe women like his mother had just never wanted kids to begin with.

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