it’s ironic. My daughter-in-law wants a baby more than anything, and here Bri is, unmarried, but having three.”
The waitress brought their steaks. Bri had such a nervous stomach, she didn’t think she could take a single bite.
Jackson cut his steak and put a piece in his mouth. After chewing, he added, “Caleb, my third child, I don’t think will ever marry. He keeps to himself.”
“Dad, I’m sure Dr. Callaghan isn’t interested in our family.”
“Nonsense, Bri. I find it fascinating,” Hunter assured her, a grin on his face.
“Then you should reciprocate. What kind of family do you have?” Bri hoped to irritate him, but he seemed pleased by her question.
“My mother passed away about three years ago. My dad is a retired doctor, my brother a corporate attorney. We all lived in Chicago until I moved.”
“Did the move upset your father?” Jackson asked.
“Somewhat, but my brother is married with a couple of kids. Dad wants to stay close to his grandchildren. But he’ll be coming to visit soon.”
“Let me know when he comes, Hunter, and we’ll have a family dinner. Two old bachelors can compare notes.” Jackson grinned, obviously looking forward to entertaining Hunter’s father.
“Great. I’ll do that. Dad would enjoy meeting—” he paused and looked at Bri.
She froze again. He wouldn’t! Surely he wouldn’t!
“—some of the people I work with, and another bachelor with grandchildren.”
Bri slumped back against the booth.
“Sweetheart, you haven’t eaten your steak. Don’t forget the good doctor said you need the protein.”
Without looking at either man, she took a bite of potato. Then she cut a small piece of steak and valiantly chewed it. She only hoped the lunch would end soon, before she lost everything she managed to get down.
WHEN BRI GOT BACK to the office, she made a few quick decisions. Then she loaded up her briefcase with other problems to solve and moved to Lisa’s desk. “Lisa, I’m a little stressed today, so I’m taking half a day of vacation and I’m going home. If anything comes up that can’t wait, call me at home. Otherwise I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Can you drive yourself home?” Lisa asked, standing, an anxious expression on her face.
“Lisa, I’m going home to put my feet up. Don’t worry about me.”
“Should I call Dr. Abby or Dr. Callaghan?”
“No!” Bri took a deep breath. “Just let me take the afternoon off without any complications, Lisa. That’s all I want.”
She hurried out of the office to get away from any more questions or suggestions. She appreciated everyone’s concern for her and her babies, but sometimes she wished she’d moved to a town where no one knew her.
Half an hour later, she was feeling much better. As soon as she got home, she’d stripped and filled the tub with warm water and bubble bath. She stretched out in the oversized tub and breathed deeply, trying to forget about the stressful lunch. It had lasted forever because neither man would leave until she’d finished every bite of her steak and potato.
She wanted to murder Hunter Callaghan. He’d known what he was doing with each teasing response. He’d even known she was upset. What a jerk!
“You should’ve known better. That was what you thought he was seven months ago. People don’t change.”
She shook her head. “And now I’m talking to myself. What am I going to do?”
She slid a little lower into the water, trying to clear her mind. She didn’t want to think about a future with Hunter Callaghan around.
The phone rang. She considered getting out of the tub, but with her bulky shape right now, she’d never get to the phone in time to answer it. Besides, she had her answering machine on.
She could vaguely hear a man’s voice, but not loud enough to recognize it. She’d check the message when she got out.
Ten minutes later, when her skin felt as though it was shriveling, she began the laborious task of getting out of the tub. Once she was upright, she wrapped her body in a big bath towel, thinking she looked like a house moving down the road. All she lacked was a tow truck.
The doorbell rang, and she frowned. No one should expect her to be home, so who could it be? She decided not to answer it and continued down the hall to her bedroom.
But she stopped because the caller abandoned the doorbell and began beating on the door itself, yelling her name. Afraid a neighbor might call the police, she rushed to the door. “Who is it?”
“Bri? Open the door!”
Recognizing the caller as Dr. Hunter Callaghan, Bri wasn’t inclined to follow his order. “What’s wrong?”
“I want to make sure you’re all right!”
“I’m fine. Go away!”
“I’m calling an ambulance and the police if you don’t open the door in one minute.”
“Why?”
“I have to check your blood pressure!” Then he began pounding the door again.
With a sigh, she opened the door. “Stop that! You’re going to upset my neighbors!”
Hunter stared at her, reminding her she was wrapped in a bath towel. She began shoving the door closed, but he stuck his foot in it.
“I’m coming in, Bri. I want to check your blood pressure,” Hunter insisted.
“Fine! I have to go get dressed.” She gave up the battle with the door and stomped out of her living room. She came back a few minutes later, wearing a muumuu she’d bought in Hawaii several years ago. It was the easiest thing to wear when she was relaxing.
Hunter was pacing the room, checking his watch every few seconds.
“Don’t let me keep you if you’ve got an appointment,” she said, her chin in the air.
He immediately opened his medical bag. “Sit down. I want to check your blood pressure. I noticed you were stressed at lunch.”
“Of course I was stressed!” Bri yelled at him. “You were upsetting me on purpose.”
“What?” Hunter responded, shock on his face. “I did not do that! I was visiting with your father, that’s all.”
She still stood, staring at him, when he reached out. “You’re weaving. Sit down before you fall down.”
She sank into the nearest chair and leaned back. “Look, just go back to the hospital and leave me alone. I’ll be fine if I get some time alone.”
Her
