A PREGNANCY...WITH COMPLICATIONS

Solemn rancher Alex Connor was looking for a good woman. To be more precise, he was looking for a surrogate to bear his babies. He had it all figured out: he’d be a single dad completely devoted to his children. But after his first meeting with obstetrician Dr. Selena Ramirez, all his carefully made plans flew out the window.

Selena knew she’d be able to help Alex, though not in the way he might imagine. Common sense told her to run when the sexy green-eyed cowboy admitted he wanted her. What kind of crazy fate had brought a man yearning for offspring to a woman who couldn’t have any? What kind of crazy girl would gamble on a man whose heart was already taken?

What if she did the unthinkable?

What if she fell head over heels in love with a man whose heart would always belong to another woman?

Selena knew firsthand how badly a situation like that would turn out. But the possibility of heartbreak in the future didn’t seem to matter right now.

She couldn’t let Alex walk away tonight without giving him a chance to prove her wrong. So she lowered her guard and chose to ignore her apprehension.

By the time they reached her house, her heartbeat was soaring in anticipation. Just how far would they go tonight?

As far as he was willing, she decided.

Dear Reader,

I love autumn because it’s a season of change. The leaves begin to fade into shades of red and gold. And the summer breeze turns crisp and cool. With the upcoming holidays on the horizon, it’s a cozy time of the year.

On days and evenings like this, it’s fun to light a fire in the hearth, put a pot of soup on the stove and a batch of muffins in the oven. It’s also a good time to curl up with a book—or for those more tech-minded readers, an ereader.

I’m so glad you chose The Cowboy’s Family Plan as your autumn escape. In this story, you’ll return to Brighton Valley, where you’ll meet rancher Alex Connor, who is determined to hire a surrogate to carry the babies he and his late wife had planned to raise together. You’ll also meet Dr. Selena Ramirez, an obstetrician who has just learned that she’ll never be able to get pregnant. But when a little chemistry, romance and modern science kick in, miracles can happen.

Happy reading!

Judy

The Cowboy’s Family Plan

Judy Duarte

www.millsandboon.co.uk

JUDY DUARTE

always knew there was a book inside her, but since English was her least favorite subject in school, she never considered herself a writer. An avid reader who enjoys a happy ending, Judy couldn’t shake the dream of creating a book of her own.

Her dream became a reality in March 2002, when Silhouette Special Edition released her first book, Cowboy Courage. Since then she has published more than twenty novels. Her stories have touched the hearts of readers around the world. And in July 2005 Judy won a prestigious Readers’ Choice Award for The Rich Man’s Son.

Judy makes her home near the beach in Southern California. When she’s not cooped up in her writing cave, she’s spending time with her somewhat enormous but delightfully close family.

To Bob and Betty Astleford,

whose family plan included me. Thank you

for all your love and support through the years. I love you!

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

Excerpt

Chapter One

As Alex Connor reached the door of the community education room at the Brighton Valley Wellness Center, a shudder of apprehension shot through him, and he froze momentarily.

Once he stepped inside, he was going to feel as out of place as a circus clown on a wild bronc, but he wasn’t going to wallow in it. He owed it to Mary, his late wife, to learn all he could about surrogacy. So he shook off his uneasiness, swallowed his pride and entered the classroom, his limp a bit more pronounced than it had been when he woke up this morning.

The room wasn’t full, although there were plenty of people already seated, most of them couples, whose expressions ran the gamut from hopeful to uneasy to I’d-rather-be-anywhere-but-here-tonight. And Alex knew how every one of them felt, especially the ones who looked as if it wouldn’t take much for them to bolt.

A few of those in attendance were women on their own, with no husband or partner in sight. Alex did his best not to look at them, not to think about Mary, who’d had to research in vitro fertilization on her own four years ago.

Now here he was, learning what he should have learned with her back then.

Alex wasn’t the only man in the room this evening, but he was the only one who’d arrived by himself. Shaking off his uneasiness, he chose a seat in the front row and placed his Stetson on the empty chair next to him. Then he waited for the class to begin.

It had been nearly three years since he’d lost Mary, along with the baby she carried. And now that he’d dealt with the grief, he was determined to do everything he could to make sure his and Mary’s remaining two babies, just frozen embryos now, had a chance to live. Unfortunately, Mary had been the one who’d had any real understanding of the whole in vitro process. She’d merely showed him the papers he needed to sign and told him how much to pay, where to be and what to do. So he found himself at a bit of a loss now—and a bit guilty at not being more involved during the whole clinical part of the process.

He would have made an appointment to talk to Dr. Avery, Mary’s obstetrician, if the guy hadn’t retired a while back and sold his practice to a Dr. Ramirez.

Alex had planned to talk to the new doctor, but as luck would have it, the guy was giving a series of three lectures on fertility options on Tuesday nights.

Luck, huh? Alex might have been fortunate to chance upon that flyer, but his reason for being at the wellness center in the first place had been the result of a preventable accident and an order for physical therapy.

Nearly six months ago, he’d walked behind his prize stallion, Blazing Thunder, and gotten kicked, which had been a dumb move on his part. As a result, he’d suffered a broken kneecap, which had sidelined him for months. He’d needed orthopedic surgery, and after the bones had healed, he’d been sent to physical therapy.

Last week, while working with Maria, his therapist at the wellness center, he’d spotted that poster. Because one of the topics dealt with finding and hiring a surrogate, he’d signed up to take the classes, which were being taught by none other than Dr. Ramirez.

So call it luck or fate or chance, here he was.

He’d planned to sit through this first lecture, then afterward, catch the doctor alone and pick his brain.

Mary had thought the world of Dr. Avery. Alex just hoped that Dr. Ramirez, whoever he was, would be just as competent.

So what was keeping him?

Alex glanced at his wristwatch, noting it was almost seven. The doctor ought to be here by now.

Moments later, he heard the sound of the door swinging open at the back of the room.

Footsteps clicked upon the tile floor, drawing closer.

Alex turned and glanced to the right, just as an attractive brunette wearing a white lab coat over a green dress strode toward the lectern.

Alex wasn’t sure why he’d assumed that the obstetrician would be a man. It’s not as though he had any qualms about a female physician; it’s just that this one appeared to be too...young...too petite...too attractive.

But she certainly had an air of confidence about her.

He slowly turned to the front and waited for her to step behind the podium.

As she did so, she offered the audience a pretty yet professional smile and said, “Good evening, everyone. I’m Dr. Ramirez.”

Her voice held a slight Spanish accent, although just barely, and he listened as she began covering the basic causes of infertility. Alex wasn’t all that interested in that particular topic, though. And as he tried to focus on what she had to say, he couldn’t seem to think about anything other than the fact that none of his doctors had ever looked like her. And was he ever grateful for that.

If the lovely Dr. Ramirez would have walked into an exam room while he’d been seated on the table, she would have had to treat him for an excessive heart rate and high blood pressure.

For that reason, he’d better rein in his thoughts and listen to what she was saying.

While he did his best to concentrate on her words, he was struck by her mannerisms: the way she cocked her head slightly to the side, the way she gripped the side of the lectern and leaned forward to make a point, the way she lifted her left hand—which wasn’t wearing a ring.

Several times during the talk, he could have sworn he’d caught her looking right at him, her cheeks slightly flushed. And when she turned away to scan the audience, she cleared her throat and took a moment to skim over her notes.

Maybe public speaking made her nervous.

Or maybe she found a lone male sitting in the front row to be a little unnerving.

On the other hand, it might have been something about Alex that had caught her eye.

Nah, it couldn’t be that. He’d probably just imagined her interest in him. Sleeping solo in a king-size bed for the past three years did crazy things to a man, he supposed, made him think that it was time to start looking for another woman to share his life once again.

And right now, that’s the last thing Alex needed to think about. He had a surrogate to hire. Then, God willing, both remaining embryos would be implanted and he’d have two babies to raise.

As the audience broke into applause, Alex clapped, too, realizing the lecture was over and that he’d missed almost everything Dr. Ramirez said.

When she asked if there were any questions, he kept his arms crossed over his chest and let the others raise their hands instead. He had plenty of questions, of course, but most of them had to do with surrogacy, which she was supposed to discuss during the last class.

Finally, his classmates began to file out of the room, providing him with the opportunity he’d wanted—to quiz the doctor in private.

So he remained in his seat, while she gathered her notes and folded them back in the file on the podium. Then he rose and made his way to her, his Stetson in hand.

When she noticed his approach, her movements froze and her lips parted.

Her brown eyes, which were almost hazel, widened. Her thick dark lashes, natural and unenhanced by mascara, fluttered once, twice. Then she licked her bottom lip and cleared her throat.

Clearly he’d caught her off guard, so he offered her a friendly grin and said, “I wondered if I could have a few minutes of your time.”

Selena Ramirez hadn’t expected the handsome cowboy who’d been sitting in the front row to come up to her after her class. In fact, his presence had caused her to lose her train of thought several times during the lecture.

Who was he?

What was he doing here?

Where was his wife or partner?

And why was he coming to speak to her now?

He must have read the questions in her eyes because he added, “I’d like to pick your brain, if I may.”

Goodness, right now, he could “pick” just about anything he wanted. But she shook off the inappropriate thoughts. She’d certainly provided time for questions and answers, but maybe he was too embarrassed or shy to speak in front of people. So she asked, “What did you want to know, Mr....”

“Connor. Alex. My late wife was a patient of Dr. Avery.”

Selena wasn’t sure what had stunned her the most, the fact that he was a widower or that he’d come to the lecture on infertility by himself.

“I’m not sure I understand,” she said.

“I’d like to ask you a couple of questions that I didn’t want to bring up in front of everyone else.”

She could understand that, but she wasn’t able to talk to him here and now. “There’s a board meeting scheduled at eight, so we’ll need to clear the room.”

Disappointment swept across his brow, revealing an intensity she hadn’t expected, an emotion she couldn’t quite peg.

She glanced at her watch, a silver bangle style, then looked up at him and smiled. “But I have a little time. We can talk out in the lobby.”

“Why don’t we go to the cafeteria?” he asked. “I’ll buy you a cup of coffee, latte or whatever.”

The suggestion took her by surprise. And so did the boyish grin that set off an impish glimmer in his blue eyes.

“Please?” he asked.

She was certainly tempted. She also had a few questions she’d like to ask him. From the first moment she’d scanned the audience and spotted him sitting front and center, his hat lying on the chair next to him, she’d wondered about him. So what would it hurt to spend a few minutes with him in the cafeteria?

“All right. Coffee actually sounds good.”

His smile broadened, lighting up those eyes like a Texas summer sky and knocking her completely off stride.

How was that possible? She’d never been into cowboys. Not that there was anything wrong with them. It’s just that she’d always dated professional men.

Dated? Now that was a joke. When was the last time she’d had a date? Not since settling in Brighton Valley, that was for sure.

She noticed that he seemed to favor his left leg.

A new injury? she wondered. Or an old one?

Either way, she found herself heading to the cafeteria with a man who wanted to “pick her brain.”

* * *

The cafeteria in the wellness center was actually a small counter area just off the lobby called The Health Nut, where they sold coffee and tea, as well as various waters, energy drinks, fruit juices and smoothies. They also provided nutritious snacks for people on the run.

While Dr. Ramirez carried her cup of coffee to one of several tables set out for those people who had more time on their hands, Alex paid with a twenty, then joined her.

“Thanks for giving me a few minutes of your time,” he said as he took a seat next to hers.

“No problem.”

“You’re probably wondering why I signed up for your class,” Alex said, his hands braced around the disposable cup.

“When I first spotted you sitting alone in the front row, I thought you might be a reporter,” she said.

“I’m afraid not. I actually came to learn more about the topic you’ll address during week three.”

“Surrogacy?”

He nodded, then lifted his cup and took a sip. “My late wife and I had planned to have children through in vitro fertilization. We’d gotten through the fertilization process. And after the first attempt at implantation failed, we finally managed to get pregnant, but...” He paused for a moment, then glanced down at the coffee in his cup, while he relived the phone call he’d received from the sheriff’s office, telling him that Mary had been involved in a car accident, that she was being rushed to the Brighton Valley Medical Center E.R., that she...might not make it.

“But...?” the doctor prodded.

Alex sucked it up, the memory, the grief, the guilt, the promise he was determined to keep. “My wife died when she was twenty weeks pregnant.”

“I’m sorry.” The softness in the doctor’s voice, the light cadence of her accent, provided an unexpected balm to feelings that were still raw at times.

It seemed surreal now, like a bad dream. But he gave a half shrug, as if that was all there was to it, when, in truth, it was all too complicated to explain.

“So how can I help?” she asked, the sincerity in her tone, the sympathy in her eyes making him wonder if she just might hold the key to everything.

So he took a deep breath, then slowly let it out. “I still have two embryos left, and I want to hire a surrogate to carry them. But I need to learn more about the process—the pitfalls, that sort of thing. I’ll be looking for someone healthy and of sound mind. I also want to feel completely assured that whoever I choose won’t have a change of heart after the implantation. You know what I mean?”

“Absolutely. Your concerns are all valid, and you’re wise to learn all you can before making any decisions.”

“So how do I go about finding the right surrogate?”

“What you’re actually looking for is a gestational carrier because you don’t need a woman to donate any of her eggs. Of course, with only two remaining embryos, you’ll have only one shot at implanting them.”

“If it doesn’t work, I’ll deal with it.” He wasn’t interested in going through the whole process again, unless he needed to down the line. But then again, the first go-round had been way too clinical for him to ever want to go through it again.

The doctor nodded, as if she understood.

“So where do I start?” he asked.

“You can, of course, try to find someone on your own. Oftentimes a friend or a family member will help. But there are also several reputable agencies, most of which are based in Houston, that can help you. I’d planned to give a list of them to the class during the third week, but if you’ll be here next Tuesday, I can give you one then.”

“That would be great.” He tossed her a warm, appreciative grin, glad he’d come tonight, glad he’d asked her to have coffee with him. “I’ll definitely be back next week and would like that list, so thank you.”

“I’m sure you’ve invested a lot in the process already, but you’re looking at another big investment.”

Alex knew that, but he could afford it. And even if he couldn’t, he hadn’t touched any of the insurance money he’d received after Mary’s death yet.

Still, he wanted to be sure he’d been given the right scoop. “I’ve heard it can cost up to a hundred grand, plus medical expenses.”

“That sounds about right, although it varies with each agency. And with each carrier. Those with a proven track record will cost more.” Dr. Ramirez lifted her cup and took a drink.

It was weird, Alex thought. Here he was, sitting across from a beautiful woman, having coffee as if they were friends, yet he didn’t even know her first name.

He wouldn’t ask—at least, not now.

“You must have loved your wife a lot,” she said. “The whole surrogacy/implantation process can be daunting at times, especially when someone has to go through it alone.”

To be honest, Alex hadn’t been very receptive to the idea when Mary had first mentioned in vitro. He’d thought it sounded too cold, too unnatural. But rather than admit to Dr. Ramirez that he’d been less than enthusiastic at the start of the whole process, he said, “Mary was a good wife and would have made a great mother.”

A shadow of emotion crossed the doctor’s face—sympathy, Alex supposed—but she didn’t comment. And he was glad that she hadn’t.

What was there to say? Mary would’ve been a wonderful mother, and Alex was sorry she’d never had the chance. All she’d ever wanted in life was to have kids and create a happy home. So when she’d learned that she wasn’t able to get pregnant, she’d been devastated by the news. But she’d rallied by researching all the options available to her, and before long, she’d become obsessed with having a baby—their baby.

Alex had wanted to start a family, too, and had suggested they consider adoption. But Mary had refused to even think about it until they’d exhausted all their chances of having their own biological child.

He’d finally agreed, and after the second implantation had been successful, resulting in a positive pregnancy test, he’d been as excited as Mary to think that they’d finally have a little one around the house. A baby. Imagine that.

But they hadn’t even had time to think about decorating and stocking a nursery when Mary had the accident.

The afternoon Alex had received the call from the sheriff’s office, telling him that his wife had been critically injured and wasn’t expected to live, he’d raced to the Brighton Valley Medical Center E.R., just in time to have a few last words with her. Important words.

She’d known that the baby she carried at the time wouldn’t make it. But Alex still had the other embryos. And Mary had begged him to make sure they had a chance to live.

“How did your wife die?” Dr. Ramirez asked, drawing him from his somber musing.

“In a car accident.”

“I’m sorry,” she said again.

“Yeah.” Alex cleared his throat. “Me, too.”

He’d grieved Mary’s death, of course, but he blamed himself for it, too. She’d asked him to pick up a list of groceries while he’d been in town, but he’d gotten so caught up talking to a couple of friends at the feed store that the errand she’d asked him to run had completely slipped his mind, and he’d gone home before a predicted summer rain hit.

Now I’ll just have to go get them myself, Mary had told him.

And Alex had let her go out to her car that rainy day—a decision he’d felt sorry about the moment he’d realized how dark and ugly the sky had turned, a regret he’d have until his own dying day.

Why hadn’t he made a note for himself? Why hadn’t he picked up the items she’d needed before stopping to talk to Dan Walker and Ray Mendez?

Now Mary was gone, leaving him with the last two embryos to think about, to protect and nurture.

No, he told himself. Not embryos. Babies. His and Mary’s babies.

But he didn’t want to open old wounds any more than he already had this evening. So after he finished off the last of his coffee, he said, “Thank you for talking to me, Doctor.”

“Please,” she said. “Call me Selena.”

Selena. It was a pretty name, and one that fit her, if you left “Doctor” out of the equation.

“All right, Selena.” Her name rolled right off the tip of his tongue as if it was the easiest word in the world to say. And as he came to that realization, a smile formed from somewhere deep inside of him.

Were they becoming friends? If so, he was okay with it.

Was she?

* * *

Selena wasn’t sure why she’d suggested that Mr. Connor—or rather, Alex—call her by her first name. Maybe it was because they’d somehow bonded over the time it took to drink a cup of coffee.

Or maybe they were kindred spirits because his plight was similar to her own. He couldn’t have his wife’s babies without the help of someone willing to carry them. And Selena couldn’t have a child unless a birth mother was willing to give up a baby she couldn’t keep or didn’t want to raise.

Eighteen months ago, following a routine exam, Selena had learned that she’d never be able to get pregnant or carry a baby to term. The news had been heartbreaking for a woman who’d always dreamed of being a mother.

She’d hoped that with time, she would adjust to the reality and deal with it, but knowing that she’d never be able to experience the miracle of conception or go through the birth process had really begun to niggle at her lately.

Okay, she admitted. It was way more than a niggle. She’d been so dismayed, so crushed by the situation that doing her job had become more and more difficult with each passing day. Every time she thought of the miracle of conception, heard the cries of a newborn or spotted the happy tears of a new mommy holding her baby for the very first time, her disappointment grew.

At one time, she’d thought she had the perfect career. She loved delivering babies. But ever since the surgery and learning that she’d never be able to experience the miracle of childbirth herself, she’d found it getting tougher to go to the office each day.

But she shook off the melancholic thought, picked up her empty, heat-resistant paper cup and got to her feet. “Thanks for the coffee.”

“You’re more than welcome.” Alex pushed back his seat and stood. “Thank you for agreeing to teach the class. You’re providing a great service to people who are struggling with fertility issues.”

She probably ought to respond and say something about being happy to offer those couples various options, but the truth was, she’d been seriously considering a career change of some kind and had almost refused to give the lecture series at all.

“Can I walk you to your car?” he asked.

For a moment, she wondered if his interest in her had been more romantic in nature than merely polite and appreciative, but she dismissed that thought as quickly as it had come to her. Alex Connor had loved his wife so much that he was determined to bring their children into the world and raise them without her.

She glanced at the handsome cowboy beside her, deciding that his offer had been a gallant gesture. “Thanks, but I’m parked in a safe place.”

“All right.” He lobbed another smile her way, sending her heart on a scavenger hunt for miracles that didn’t exist.

“Good night, Selena.”

She clung to the sound of her name on his lips, to the sincerity in those green eyes. But she cleared her voice and took a step back. “Good night, Alex.”

“I’ll see you next week.”

Yes, she supposed he would. As she turned and strode toward the exit, she couldn’t help thinking that Alex Connor was an attractive and appealing man. But she’d never dated the cowboy types—and didn’t plan to in the future.

Yet even more than that, he was still devoted to his late-wife’s memory. So Selena would do her best to shake any inappropriate thoughts about him.

She knew how it felt to fall for a man who’d never gotten over his first true love. And she knew just how painful a broken heart could be.

As a result, she’d vowed never to play second fiddle again.

Still, as she stepped into the parking lot, she couldn’t help being a little envious of the late Mary Connor.

Chapter Two

Late Thursday afternoon, when her last patient had left and she’d closed up the office, Selena had driven to the new Brighton Valley Wellness Center.

A few days after it had opened for business, Selena had taken a tour with several of her colleagues. She’d been amazed at all the facility had to offer the community, including a rehab unit, a state-of-the-art gym, physical trainers on hand to answer questions or provide private lessons, an indoor pool, a variety of classes. But more than that, it also catered to the disabled and elderly because of its close connection to the medical center.

In fact, Selena had been so impressed with the center that she’d signed up before leaving that day, telling herself it wasn’t just about becoming more physically fit. After all, she watched her diet and jogged daily. But joining the BVWC would also fit nicely into her get-out-into-the-real-world-and-start-living-again campaign.

Now all she had to do was find the time to work out, because she usually kept busy with her ever-growing practice. However, on the days she had another doctor covering for her, she slipped on a pair of shorts, a T-shirt and a pair of sneakers, just as she’d done today.

Now here she was, jogging on the treadmill and working up a sweat. With each stride she made, she pondered her options and considered the other medical specialties that had always interested her. The problem was, without going back to school and racking up more student loans, she’d have to settle on general or family medicine.

But not in Brighton Valley. In spite of the respect she’d earned in the medical community, she was giving some serious thought to selling her practice and moving back to Houston, where she’d change her specialty to one that didn’t revolve around pregnancy and newborns.

That was her secret, though. That and the fact that there were way too many nights she’d found her small condominium overlooking the playground at the city park to be painfully quiet, nights when she’d cry herself to sleep.

She’d loved that complex and the two-bedroom condo. But after learning she’d never get pregnant, she’d listed it for sale. And just six months ago, after selling her first home to a couple of newlyweds, she’d moved to a quiet, older neighborhood in town.

When her time on the treadmill came to an end and she began the cool-down process, she scanned the gym and spotted a man who looked a lot like Alex Connor. In fact, it was Alex, only minus his Stetson and boots. Today he wore a Texas Aggies T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants, rather than the cowboy garb he’d had on Tuesday night.

He was talking to one of the female fitness instructors—a tall, lean blonde with a healthy glow.

What was he doing here? Not that it mattered, she supposed. It’s just that she’d been a little surprised when he hadn’t blinked about the cost of hiring a gestational carrier to bare his children.

At the time, she’d suspected that he might own a ranch. But why was he working out at a gym in town? Wouldn’t he get enough exercise from riding and roping and doing whatever else was required of him?

So who was Alex Connor?

Ever since she’d shared a cup of coffee with him, she’d found herself thinking about him, wondering about him. She’d chalked it up to her interest in the relationship he must have had with his late wife, but the man himself intrigued her.

She shut off the treadmill, then stepped onto the floor, her knees a little wobbly from the exertion. Then she started for the women’s locker room, where she would shower and change into her street clothes.

Before she could get ten steps—or tear her gaze from Alex and the female trainer—he glanced across the room and noticed her. He waved, then moments later, he left the blonde’s side and made his way to Selena.

“Hey, fancy meeting you here,” he said.

She could say the same thing. Instead, she smiled. “It’s my day off, and I thought I’d get a little exercise in.”

“Do you like it here?” he asked.

“Yes, I do. It’s a great facility.” Her curiosity mounted until she asked, “Are you thinking about joining?”

“I would if I lived in town.”

Where did he live? And why was he here?

She couldn’t very well come out and pummel him with all of her questions, so she tossed out an easy one, hoping to get a little more information.

“So why are you dressed as if you’re thinking about joining?” she asked, prodding him again.

“I’m here for a couple of other reasons, one of which is business.”

At that, she couldn’t help but cock a brow. And he chuckled.

“Jim Ragsdale, who’s on the wellness center board of directors, wanted to meet with me today. They’re interested in providing hippotherapy for adults and children with physical and emotional difficulties, and he wanted to run a couple of ideas past me.”

She didn’t know all that much about the program that used horseback riding as therapy for the disabled, other than those who’d taken part often showed improved balance, coordination, speech and mobility.

“It’s interesting that they’re thinking of adding that to their wellness program,” she said.

He nodded. “I was intrigued when Jim first mentioned it, too, so I agreed to meet with him while I was in town today.”

“Why the gym clothes?” she finally asked, unable to avoid a more direct approach.

“Yeah, well...” He sighed and gave a little shrug. “I messed up my knee a while back, and my orthopedic surgeon sent me to physical therapy, which I get here.”

“How did you get hurt?” she asked.

“I...uh... Well, it was pretty stupid.”

“Most accidents are.”

Alex chuffed. “I thought I was immune to that sort of thing, but that’s what I get for taking shortcuts and not keeping my mind on my work.”

He still hadn’t told her what he’d done, but she refrained from pushing any further. After all, his injury really wasn’t any of her business.

“So what are you doing now?” he asked.

“I’m going to head home and get a bite to eat.”

“Oh, yeah? Me, too. Why don’t you let me buy you dinner? There’s a little café a couple of blocks from here.”

She wondered if he had more questions this time around—or if he just wanted to spend some quiet time with her. As appealing as the latter seemed to be, she shook off the feminine thoughts. “You don’t need to buy my dinner.”

“All right. Then we’ll ask for separate checks.”

As she pondered the invitation, shaking off the urge to agree too quickly, he added, “You probably spend way too much time around the hospital and this place anyway.”

He was right. And she had made up her mind to spend a little more time getting out into the world... So she said, “Sounds good to me. Do you mind if I take a quick shower and put on my street clothes? I won’t take long.”

“I’ll wait for you in the lobby area.”

“All right.”

True to her word, she returned within ten minutes. “Sorry I took so long.”

“You didn’t.” He got to his feet, and they made their way to the entrance. He opened the door and waited for her to exit first.

How about that? The handsome cowboy was well-mannered as well. She’d have to make a note of that.

Oh, for Pete’s sake. Alex Connor wasn’t the kind of man she’d ever allow herself to crush on—and for several reasons, the biggest of which was the fact that he still seemed to be in love with his late-wife.

In college, Selena had fallen for a graduate student in the biotech program. They’d had something special, or so Selena had thought. She’d even started daydreaming about June weddings.

Then, when he went home for Christmas break, he met up with his first love, and their high school romance had blossomed again.

Selena, of course, had been heartbroken and had vowed never to get involved with a man who still pined over a lost lover—and that would certainly include late wives.

Of course, sharing a cup of coffee and killing an hour or so before bedtime wasn’t even close to having a date or “getting involved.”

“It’s a nice evening for walking,” Alex said, as they made their way across the parking lot and to the street.

Selena looked up at a nearly full moon and an array of bright, twinkling stars. “You’re right.”

When was the last time she’d taken time to gaze at the evening sky, let alone noticed the natural beauty in nature?

She couldn’t remember. She’d been so caught up in her practice that she’d spent her days and nights either holed up at the medical center or at home. But she was trying to change that—first with the membership at the wellness center and maybe even with her agreement to walk to the coffee shop this evening with Alex Connor.

As they stepped onto the sidewalk and turned to the right on a side street that ran along the busier county road, she realized that Alex walked with a limp.

“Maybe we should have driven,” she said.

“It’s only a couple of blocks.”

They continued in silence until Alex asked, “What made you want to be a doctor?”

“I don’t know. I’ve always had an interest in medicine. And science and math were my favorite subjects when I was in high school, so it seemed like a natural career choice to make.”

Her efforts had also pleased her parents, something that was important to a girl who was the middle child in a family with seven siblings. And those same efforts had proven to be invaluable because she’d been offered a full-ride scholarship at almost every college to which she’d applied.

“Why did you choose obstetrics?” Alex asked.

Because she’d loved babies ever since the time her mother had first laid her newborn brother in her chubby little arms. But because she’d always thought her reason for choosing obstetrics wasn’t all that impressive, she gave him her standard response when people asked the same question. “I found the birth process fascinating.”

At least she’d found it fascinating when she’d envisioned experiencing it herself once or twice.

But enough about her. The conversation and the questions were getting way too personal for comfort, and she was ready for a change in subject.

She was tempted to start by turning his original question right back on him and ask, What made you want to be a cowboy?

But maybe she’d been wrong about him. Maybe there was more to Alex than a Stetson and boots.

The Aggie T-shirt he was wearing suggested he might have attended college. And he hadn’t blinked about the cost of having a woman carry those embryos for him.

Maybe she’d been right. Maybe he was a rancher. After all, he’d mentioned that he lived outside of town.

Either way, if Jim Ragsdale had approached him about the hippotherapy program, his background with horses had to be pretty impressive. So he was more than the average cowboy.

Before she could ask what line of work he was in, he pointed to the red-and-white-striped awning over the entrance of the coffee shop he’d been talking about. “There it is. Katie’s Country Café.”

Even though the diner was located within sight of those who traveled along the nearby county road, it didn’t appear to be too busy this evening.

As they neared the entry, a pregnant brunette who’d parked her weathered sedan in one of several spaces in front opened the rear passenger door and removed a preschool-age girl from her car seat. Then she waited for an older boy to climb from the car.

The mother and children walked into the diner, just in front of Selena and Alex. The boy, who was about seven or eight, spotted the refrigerator display case that held a variety of pies and cakes.

“Look,” the boy said to his sister as he pointed to the goodies. “Maybe we can have dessert, Kimmie.”

“Grandma will have cookies for us when we get to her house,” the pregnant woman said. “So we’ll just grab a quick bite to eat here.”

As they all waited to be seated, a waitress serving slices of chocolate cake to an elderly couple in one of the booths in back said, “Y’all can choose any table you like.”

The mother reached for her daughter’s hand, then gasped and looked down at her feet, where her amniotic fluid had formed a puddle. “Uh-oh.”

The little girl pointed to the wet spot and asked, “Mommy, did you potty in your pants?”

“No, sweetie. I...” The woman, her cheeks flushed, her eyes wide, glanced at Selena, her embarrassment and apprehension obvious. “My water broke.”

It certainly had. And she just stood there, clearly perplexed.

“Can I call someone for you?” Selena asked, thinking the woman’s husband ought to be notified.

“My mother, but that’s not going to do me much good now.”

“Why not?”

“Because she doesn’t drive at night. The kids and I were on our way to pick her up and take her back home with us so she could help out when the baby came, but...”

“But what?” Selena prodded.

The woman paled and bit down on her bottom lip. “This wasn’t supposed to happen. I’m not due for another five or six weeks.”

Selena turned to Alex, who’d taken a step back and was watching the drama unfold with an expression that said he was out of his league when it came to this sort of thing.

About that time, the waitress made her way to the front of the diner with a mop. “Here, sweetie. I’ll get this cleaned up for you.”

The pregnant woman blew out a ragged sigh. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Who’s your doctor?” Selena asked, reaching into her purse to pull out her cell phone.

“Martin Staley, but he’s not from around here. He’s in Houston. And my mom...” The woman reached for her lower belly and groaned as another pain gripped her.

Apparently, her contractions weren’t going to waste any time in starting up. She was clearly going into labor—and before term.

As the pain subsided, Selena studied the woman. If the boy and girl with her were her natural-born children, she’d given birth before. So if that was the case, her labor could go more quickly than that of a first-time mother.

“Oh, no,” the woman said, raking a hand through her head. “What do I do? Who do I call?”

Selena placed a hand on her back, trying to relieve her fear. “I’m a doctor, so you’re not alone. How long was your last labor?”

“Two and a half hours. It went so fast, I almost didn’t make it to the hospital in time. In fact, that’s why Dr. Staley told me to stick close to home when I got within a month of my due date. But...” She glanced at Selena. “I thought I still had plenty of time. And because my husband left me, I’m going to need help when the baby comes. That’s why I decided to get my mother tonight and take her home with us.”

“Where does she live?”

“In Oakville, which is more than two hours away. I should have kept driving, but the kids were hungry. So when I saw the restaurant sign, I decided to stop and get them something to eat.”

“It’s a good thing you stopped when you did,” Selena said. “Otherwise you would have been on the road when this happened. And Brighton Valley has a medical center a couple of miles from here.”

The woman groaned and reached for her belly again. “Here comes another one. Why are they starting out so close together?”

Because this baby might come faster than her other two, which meant they couldn’t very well stand here and time her contractions. Besides, there were also a lot of complications that could arise during a preterm labor and delivery, so it was best if she got medical attention as soon as possible.

Selena turned to Alex. “I’m going to have to drive her to the hospital. Would you mind coming to get me in a little while?”

Although he still appeared to be a bit stunned by all of this, he straightened and said, “No, not at all. And because the kids are hungry, why don’t I order them something to go? I can bring it with me when I come to pick you up.”

“That’s a great idea. Thanks, Alex.”

The woman reached for her purse, which had a safety pin holding one of the straps to the bag. “Here, let me get you some money.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Alex said. “I’ll get it. You’d better get to the hospital.”

“If you’ll give me your keys,” Selena told the woman, “I’ll take you and the kids there in your car. It’s only a five- or ten-minute drive.”

“I hate to put you out.”

“It’s either that or we call an ambulance,” Selena told her.

The woman reached into her purse and handed over her keys. Then she told the kids to get back in the car.

“But we’re hungry,” the little girl said.

“This nice man is going to bring dinner to us.” The woman stroked her belly, resigned to the inevitable.

“Don’t worry,” Alex said. “I’ll be right behind you guys.”

Selena sure hoped so. One of the obstetrical residents would be the one to deliver the woman’s baby. So there was no reason for her to hang out once they arrived.

But then again, someone was going to have to watch the children and figure out a way to get them to grandma’s house. And she wasn’t sure if Alex would be up for a task like that.

Once they were in the car and on the road, they exchanged names. “I’m Shannon Bedford, and these are my kids, Tommy and Kimberly.”

“I’m Selena Ramirez. I’m going to need your mother’s name and number.”

“Speaking of my mom, I’d better call her. Then I’ll give you her contact information.”

Eight minutes and three painful contractions later, Selena drove the old Ford sedan up to the E.R. entrance and honked her horn to let the staff know she was going to need some help. Within seconds, an orderly had come out to assess the situation.

“This is Shannon Bedford,” Selena told the man. “She’s going to need a ride up to Obstetrics.”

“Is she your patient, Dr. Ramirez?” the orderly asked.

“No, her doctor is in Houston. But she’ll need to be admitted. Her water broke, and she’s in active labor.”

He nodded, then headed back inside for a wheelchair.

Selena placed her hand on Shannon’s shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. “Brighton Valley Medical Center has a top-notch obstetrics ward. You’ll be in great hands, so relax.”

When the orderly returned with the wheelchair, Shannon took a seat as another pain gripped her.

They’d explained to the children what was happening while they’d been in the car, but little Kimberly was still worried. “Where’s he going to take my mommy?”

“Upstairs to have the new baby,” Selena said. “But don’t worry, honey. I’ll stay with you and Tommy until the baby is born. And then I’ll make sure you get to your grandma’s house.”

Selena and the children followed Shannon through the E.R., into an elevator and on to the O.B. floor. They stopped when they reached the waiting room.

“I’m sure my friend Alex will be arriving with your dinner soon,” Selena said.

They’d no more than settled into chairs near the television when Alex—thank goodness for reinforcements!—popped his head into the room. “I hope you guys like grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken tenders.”

“We do,” Tommy said, getting up from his chair. “Thanks.”

“I also brought milk to drink and cookies for dessert,” Alex added, as he placed the bags on a nearby coffee table.

Selena couldn’t help but grin. The cowboy was proving to be both thoughtful and generous.

After setting out the food and watching the children take seats on the floor around the coffee table, Alex nodded for Selena to step off to the side. As she did so, he lowered his voice. “How’s their mother doing?”

“She’s already been admitted and is being examined now.”

“Is everything going to be okay?”

“I called her doctor in Houston and let him know what was happening. He said the baby was breech at her last appointment. Unless it’s turned, the delivery will be more complicated. She’s also nearly six weeks early, but Dr. Chin, the resident in charge, is competent. So I’m sure everything will be okay.”

“What about the kids?” he asked. “What are you going to do with them?”

“I’ll wait here until Shannon is out of delivery. Then I’ll drive them to Oakville to stay with their grandmother.”

“Are you taking her car?”

“No, it was making some weird noises on the way here, so I’d rather take my own. I’ll have to transfer the car seat, though.” The minutes the words were out of her mouth, she realized she’d have to ask Alex to give her a ride back to the wellness center.

“Okay,” he said. “I’ll just hang out here until you’re ready to go back.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I know.” His gaze locked on hers, and for a moment, she felt as though they were a team.

Selena couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt like she had someone on her side—a friend, a lover...

Oh, for Pete’s sake. They might be developing a friendship, but they’d never become lovers.

Before she could tear her gaze from his and get her mind back on track, Ella Wilkins poked her head into the doorway. “Dr. Ramirez?”

Selena’s gaze moved from the handsome cowboy who was proving to have a protective streak to the obstetrics nurse who’d just arrived. “Yes, Ella?”

“Dr. Chin has decided on a C-section and wanted to know if you’d assist.”

Selena stiffened. “Of course. I’ll be right there.”

“He’s also put out a call for Dr. Parnell,” Ella added.

Roger Parnell was a neonatologist, who’d be in charge of the baby when it was born. It was standard procedure in a C-section, but had something unexpected happened?

Why was Darren Chin asking her to assist?

Selena turned to Alex, who was no longer smiling.

“What can I do to help?” he asked.

“Watch the kids. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

She just hoped she wouldn’t have to bear bad news to Shannon’s children when she returned.

Chapter Three

Alex didn’t have any idea what was going on beyond the double doors that led to the obstetrics unit, but he was glad Selena was in there with the kids’ mother.

He’d always been uneasy in hospital settings, and even more so after Mary’s accident. In fact, when he’d entered the main lobby of the medical center tonight, carrying the takeout food, his gut had clenched and his steps had slowed. The memory of that rainy afternoon he’d rushed to the E.R. to be with his dying wife had slammed into him, knocking him off stride.

He’d shaken it off the best he could, telling himself he had a job to do, kids to feed. So he’d bypassed the hospital volunteers who guarded the lobby entrance and went right for the elevator. All the while, his heart had pounded like a son of a gun, but he’d pressed on.

Selena had told him she’d be in the waiting room just outside the maternity ward. And that’s right where he’d found her.

Once he’d entered the small room and seen Selena and the children seated together and watching some animal show on television, his pulse rate had slowed to a normal pace and the painful memory had faded away.

Selena had looked up and blessed him with a smile that had gone a long way in chasing off the bad memories and promising to create a new one. But before either of them could speak or move, a nurse in scrubs entered the room.

As soon as Alex heard her say “C-section” and watched Selena’s expression turn somber, all those dark memories he’d held at bay came flooding back.

Most people came to hospitals to get well, to heal. But some, like Mary, weren’t that lucky. And Alex couldn’t seem to shake the feeling that things weren’t going as expected in delivery.

Thank God Selena was in there now.

It was weird, though. He had no personal knowledge of Selena’s medical skill, yet just knowing she was with the pregnant mother provided him with an inexplicable sense of relief. For some reason, he was convinced the mother and her newborn were in good hands.

When it came time for his babies to be born, he hoped the doctor delivering them was a lot like Selena.

Alex glanced at the clock on the wall. How long did this sort of thing take? When would Selena come back?

He wasn’t sure how he’d gotten involved in all of this in the first place. He’d just been at the wrong place at the wrong time, he supposed.

Either way, he’d do his part by looking after the pregnant woman’s children. Only trouble was, he didn’t have a clue what to do with them, other than to feed them and let them watch television. So he’d just have to wing it.

At least they seemed to be good kids—quiet, obedient. But what did he know? They were probably scared, just like he was.

For a guy who was determined to be a father, he sure didn’t know much about raising children. Was he going to have to take some parenting classes, too?

Probably, although he had no idea where something like that would be offered. He’d have to ask Selena about it.

Again he looked at the clock. What was keeping her?

“Hey, look, Kimmie.” The boy pointed to the television screen, where a commercial for kitty litter filled the screen. “Doesn’t that cat look a lot like Whiskers?”

The girl looked up and nodded. “Only Whiskers has more white on his paws.”

Alex made his way to the oak coffee table, where he’d spread out the grilled cheese sandwich and the chicken fingers he’d purchased at the café. He spotted the bag that still held the coffee he’d brought back for him and Selena to drink.

Would she still want it? It would probably be cold by the time she returned.

He’d sure feel a lot better if she were here with him now. He reached into the sack, removed one of the heat-resistant cups and took a seat near the children.

So far, so good, he thought. But they’d be finished eating soon. Then what was he going to do with them?

God only knew. In the meantime he tried to focus on the television screen, rather than the slow-moving clock on the wall.

Hopefully, Selena would be back before word got out that he was completely out of his element when it came to dealing with kids.

* * *

At 9:47 that evening, Michael Allan Bedford entered the world, red-faced and squalling. Even at four pounds two ounces, the little guy seemed to be a fighter, which was a good sign that he’d have little trouble while in the new neonatal intensive care unit.

Selena had assisted the delivery which had been fairly uneventful, then she’d followed Shannon’s gurney into the recovery room, where she took note of the grandmother’s name, address and phone number.

“As soon as you’re taken to your room, you can give your mom a call,” she told Shannon. “But in the meantime, I’ll let her know that everything is okay—and that I’ll be taking the kids to her within the next hour or so.”

“I don’t know how to thank you for all you’ve done for me, for all you’re doing.” Shannon’s eyes filled with tears.

“I’m glad I was there when you needed me,” Selena said.

“Me, too. You’ve been a real godsend, Dr. Ramirez.”

Selena had just done what most women or doctors would have done in her place. But she thanked Shannon just the same and said, “I’ll stop by to check on you tomorrow.”

Then she went to find Alex and the kids.

When she reached the doorway to the waiting room, she spotted little Kimberly stretched out on the small love seat in the corner, sound asleep. Tommy and Alex were sitting on the floor in front of the coffee table, a coloring book and crayons spread out before them.

So Alex truly was daddy material. A smile stretched across her face, and she remained in the doorway for a moment longer, taking it all in.

As if sensing her presence, Alex glanced up. His gaze immediately sought hers, seeking an answer to the question he hadn’t needed to ask.

She nodded and offered him a weary smile, letting him know that the mother and baby were both doing fine.

“Hey, Tommy,” Selena said, as she made her way into the room. “Your mom wanted me to tell you that your baby brother has been born.”

“Cool.” The boy scrambled to his feet and hurried to Selena. “Can I see them?”

“Not yet. Your mom will be in recovery for another hour or so, and the doctors are still examining the baby. But he looks good. They both do.”

If all went well, the pediatrician might even release little Michael within the next week, although the jury was still out on that.

She wondered if it would be difficult for Shannon to leave her newborn in the hospital of a strange town and go to her mother’s house, which was more than an hour away. Probably. Most new mothers wanted to keep their babies close. But there wasn’t anything Selena could do about that. Right now, she had a promise to keep—to see that the children were delivered to their grandmother.

“I’m going to need that ride back to my car at the wellness center,” Selena told Alex. “I have to drive the kids to Oakville.”

“Do you have an address?” he asked.

“Yes, I do.”

“Good. We can take my car. I’ll drop you off at the wellness center when we get back.”

“You want to go with me?”

He flashed a smile at her that lit up every raw spot in her heart, exposing every pain and disappointment she’d ever had—at least, in her own mind.

Torn between the wisdom of traveling with him and the desire to have him come along for the ride, she asked, “Are you sure? You didn’t sign on for all of this.”

“Neither did you. Besides, it’s getting late. There’s no reason for you to go all that way alone.” His gaze sought hers, creating a connection she could almost feel, she could almost...trust.

She pondered his offer, but only for a moment. Why insist that she could handle the drive on her own when she had someone willing to go with her? And not just anyone, but a handsome cowboy who threatened to turn her heart every which way but loose.

“Okay,” she said. “I’ll take you up on that.”

“Good.”

Was it? She certainly hoped so.

“Tommy,” Alex said, “if you’ll put those crayons and coloring books back where we found them, I’ll pick up your sister and carry her to my truck.”

“Will we all fit?” Selena asked.

“It’s a dual-wheel Dodge with a king cab. So we’ll be fine, although we’ll need to transfer that car seat.”

As Alex tenderly scooped a sleeping Kimberly up in his arms, triggering visions of home and heart and family, he said, “Let’s not keep Grandma waiting.”

For the briefest of moments, Selena wondered what it would be like to have a family, but she brushed off the thought as quickly as it had sparked.

The cowboy had a family plan already in place, and it didn’t include her.

* * *

In spite of the late hour and a minimal amount of cars on the road, the drive to Oakville took nearly two hours, so Alex and Selena would be pulling an all-nighter before getting back to Brighton Valley. But Alex didn’t mind. He liked having the pretty doctor ride shotgun with him, sharing her company as well as a smile or two.

On the way to Oakville they hadn’t done much talking. When they did speak, they kept their voices down so they wouldn’t risk waking the children who slept in the backseat.

Once they’d reached the small tract home on Blue Ridge Court, Ruth Morgan had welcomed them inside and showed them to the spare bedroom, where the coverlets on two twin beds had already been turned down, awaiting her grandchildren.

After Alex had carried the kids from the car and they’d been tucked in, Ruth had thanked them again for making sure her daughter got to the hospital and for bringing the kids all the way to Oakville.

“I would have jumped in the car and met you in Brighton Valley,” she said, “but I’m having some vision problems, and the doctor won’t allow me to drive at night.”

“I’m glad we were there when Shannon needed us,” Selena said. “Maybe after you talk to her in the morning, the two of you can figure out a way to pick up her car. She’ll also need a ride home from the hospital in a couple of days. In fact, because she had surgery, she won’t be allowed to drive either—at least for a few weeks.”

“I’ll call my church first thing in the morning,” Ruth said. “I’m sure I’ll find someone who can help out.”

Alex was glad to know the woman had options. And because it appeared their job was through, he said, “We’d better hit the road.”

“All right,” Ruth said. “But wait here for a moment. I fixed you a snack to take with you—oatmeal cookies. And I prepared a thermos of coffee. It’ll help keep you awake on the way home.”

She’d been right. The caffeine and sweets had helped. So had a late-night radio station that played classic country music.

By the time Alex spotted a sign that claimed Brighton Valley was twenty miles away, the sun had begun to rise, painting streaks of orange and purple in the east Texas sky.

“Do you have to work today?” Selena asked.

“There’s always work to be done on a ranch, but I might find time for a nap. We’ll see.” Alex shot a glance across the seat at his lovely passenger. “How about you?”

“I have patients coming in from nine to five, so a nap’s out of the question. But at least I’m not on call today. One of my associates is going to have hospital duty, so I can turn in early this evening and catch up on my sleep.”

It was becoming clear to Alex that Selena was a good doctor—and that she had a great bedside manner.

For a moment, his sleep-deprived mind veered far away from hospital beds and gowns and medicinal smells. Instead, he wondered just what kind of bedside attention a man like him might get from a woman like her, what kind of silky sleepwear she might choose, what kind of tempting perfume. But he shook off the inappropriate thoughts and scolded himself for getting so far off base.

“Mary used to think the world of Dr. Avery,” Alex said. “So I was a little disappointed to learn that he’d retired. I didn’t know him very well, but I’d hoped his replacement was just as good.”

Selena turned to him, her expression suggesting that she was waiting for his assessment of her.

He tossed her a smile. “I was impressed with you tonight, Selena. You’re going to make a fine replacement for Doc Avery.”

A slow smile stretched across her face, lighting her eyes. “Thank you.”

He returned his gaze to the road, although he wished he could keep his mind on track just as easily. But it was hard to do when he couldn’t help thinking that Selena was an amazing woman. She’d stepped right in to help a laboring woman who wasn’t her patient, when she could have called in paramedics. Then she’d stuck around after the surgery and had lost a night’s sleep to see that Tommy and Kimmie were delivered safely to their grandmother’s house.

As something warm and tingly spread through the cab of his truck, he reached for a safe topic to tackle. One that wouldn’t have him tripping all over himself to sing her praises.

“Where did you go to college?” he asked.

“Baylor University. How about you?” She pointed at the shirt he wore. “Is it safe to assume you’re a Texas A&M alum?”

“Yes, I am.”

“So the cowboy hat, jeans and boots you were wearing last Tuesday night was just a prop?” she asked.

“Not at all. I’m a cowboy through and through.”

“Oh, yeah?”

His dad, if he’d still been alive, would have had the same reaction. But then again, his uncle had been more an of influence on Alex.

“So you grew up on a ranch?” she asked.

“Actually, I spent the first ten years of my life in Dallas. I never even rode a horse until after I moved to Brighton Valley.”

“How did you end up there?”

“When my dad died unexpectedly of a heart attack, my mom sold the house in the city and moved in with her brother. She’d been raised in the country and wanted me to have the same experience.”

“So the city kid morphed into a rancher?”

“That’s pretty much how it happened. It didn’t take long either. My mother always said I’d been born with a cowboy’s heart. And she’s probably right. I can’t imagine what my life would have been like had I remained in Dallas. It seems as if I was meant to be a rancher.”

In fact, he hadn’t even wanted to leave the Rocking B to attend college, but the details of his father’s trust had not only provided for an education, but had pretty much locked him into one, whether he wanted one or not. So while his dad—if he’d still been alive—might have insisted he attend law school or get an MBA, Alex had chosen to go to Texas A&M, where he got a degree in animal science, something practical he could use back on his uncle’s ranch.

They continued to drive in silence, and he wondered if they were both thinking the same thing. How had such a chance meeting turned into...well, whatever this was? A friendship, he supposed.

But just being with Selena this evening made him realize that he’d been living on the periphery of life ever since Mary’s death. And that maybe it was time to cross over to the real world again.

When they reached the turnoff to the wellness center, the sun had begun its slow rise. Alex followed the driveway into the parking lot, where Selena’s white Lexus was the only one left.

He pulled into the space next to hers, then shut off the ignition. It wasn’t necessary, he supposed, but he got out of the car anyway. He told himself it was to make sure that she got into her vehicle okay, that it started right up. That she wasn’t stranded in a parking lot while he was driving off to his ranch.

Who was he kidding? He wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye. At least, not from inside his truck.

“I see you’re chivalrous, too,” she said.

“Too?” Had she been keeping a list of his qualities?

She flushed, then glanced down. “I’m sorry. Just a little slip of the tongue.”

He knew she was talking about her choice of words, yet the thought of tongues slipping set his imagination soaring.

There he went again, veering dangerously off course.

“I guess the lack of sleep makes you say and think all kinds of things,” he said.

“You’ve got that right.” She reached into her purse, then pulled out a set of keys. “Oops. These are Shannon’s. I should have left them with Ruth.”

“Since her car is still parked in front of the hospital, we probably ought to give them to Shane Hollister,” Alex said.

“The sheriff?”

“Wouldn’t you hate to see Shannon get a parking ticket?”

Selena nodded. “Poor thing. She’s really got her hands full. That’s the last thing in the world she needs right now.”

Alex didn’t respond.

He didn’t move either. He just stood there, watching as Selena fumbled around in her purse again.

After a moment, she broke into a beautiful smile and removed her hand, dangling another set of keys. “Good news. I found mine.”

For the life of him, he couldn’t manage to agree. That it was good that she’d found her keys. That it was time to say goodbye.

How could he? He wasn’t quite ready to see her drive away and end a most unusual—and surreal—day.

So how in blazes did he go about prolonging it when they were both tired, when they both needed to go home and get ready to face a new day?

In spite of his better judgment, in spite of the fact that sleep deprivation led to accidents, he placed his hand on her cheek. “It was an interesting evening—and so much better than watching TV. I’m glad I spent it with you.”

Then he did something he’d probably live to regret—or, after getting some shuteye, he’d wake to regret.

He lowered his mouth, intending to brush a kiss on her cheek, yet finding her lips instead.

* * *

The last thing in the world Selena had expected from Alex had been a goodnight kiss, but she’d been too surprised by the move to stop it.

As his mouth met hers and she caught his musky scent, she held not only her breath, but every thought and whisper and dream she’d ever had.

Who was this man?

And what was he doing to her?

As the kiss deepened, as their lips parted and tongues touched, she thought she might swoon. So she gripped the fabric of his T-shirt and held on for dear life.

The kiss was amazing. What began soft and sweet evolved into the kind that could make a woman lose her head. Her mind spun out of control as she tried to make sense of it all—the allure of his kiss and the effect it had on her—but it was over before she knew it, leaving her stunned and speechless.

And yearning for more.

Alex straightened and blessed her with a boyish grin. “I meant to aim for your cheek.”

“You missed.”

“Yeah.” His grin deepened to a full-on smile. “Sorry about that.”

Was he? Because she darn sure wasn’t.

And shouldn’t she be?

“Drive carefully,” he said.

Yeah. Right. Her cue to leave and to segue from the awkward to the familiar. She needed to get into her car and drive away. Yet something held her here. Lack of sleep, she suspected. And maybe the easy camaraderie they’d shared on the trip back from Oakville. Yet there was something else going on, too.

Selena hadn’t been that unbalanced by a kiss in a long, long time—if ever. But she did her best to steady herself, to get back on track and pretend that they’d reached that level of friendship where an affectionate parting was the norm.

Eager to escape the confusion, she reached for the door handle, using the keyless entry, and slid behind the wheel. “Thanks for riding with me and helping with the kids.”

“My pleasure.”

“Have a good day,” she said as she reached to pull her door shut.

“You, too.”

She didn’t know about that. Her day was already off to a surreal start. How was she going to keep her mind on her work and on her patients when she’d be reliving that kiss for the rest of her waking hours?

Then there’d be those bedtime hours, when it was sure to come back and haunt her dreams.

After shutting the car door, she pressed the button to start the engine. Then she slowly backed out of the parking space, trying to put a little distance between her and the man who’d set her off course.

Once she reached the exit and prepared to pull out on to the street, she glanced in the rearview mirror and spotted Alex still standing by his truck.

But she feared that neither of them was in the same place they’d been before they’d started out last night.

That unexpected kiss had linked them in a way she hadn’t anticipated and set off a slew of romantic thoughts and yearnings, which was too bad.

The last thing in the world she needed to do was to imagine herself playing house with a handsome cowboy who was still in love with his late wife.

Chapter Four

After leaving the wellness center, Selena arrived at her new two-bedroom digs on Hawthorne Lane, one of the older neighborhoods in Brighton Valley. She checked her voice mail, took a quick shower and dressed for the day. While tempted to grab something she could eat on the run, she took time for a good breakfast—a veggie omelet, a fruit cup and a blueberry muffin—to fuel her body and keep her going until noon.

It was almost seven-thirty when she made the fifteen-minute drive to the medical center, which was just a few blocks down the street from her office.

Because she still had an hour before her first patient would arrive, she decided to swing by the hospital so she could check on Shannon and her baby.

Her first stop was at the neonatal intensive care unit, where little Michael slept in a heated isolette. He wasn’t the tiniest baby in the NICU, but at just over four pounds, he was still smaller than a full-term newborn.

Last night, while Shannon had been in labor, his heart rate had dropped, indicating he was in distress, so Dr. Chin had decided upon an immediate C-section. His initial Apgar score had been a little low, but Roger Parnell, the neonatologist at the delivery, hadn’t been too concerned. And thank goodness Michael’s subsequent scores had improved.

His color looked good today, Selena decided, as she studied the sleeping newborn. Her medical assessment soon took a maternal shift, and she found herself taking note of his little fingers and toes. He was a beautiful baby, with dark tufts of hair.... And look at that sweet little grimace on his face.

“Good morning, Dr. Ramirez.”

Tearing her gaze from the newborn, Selena turned to Margie Kaufman, the charge nurse, and offered her a smile. “Good morning, Margie. I stopped by to check on Baby Bedford before visiting his mother. How’s he doing?”

“So far, so good. He doesn’t seem to have any major issues, although we’re watching him closely. We’ll probably bring his mom in to visit later this morning.”

“I’ll let her know. I’m sure she’s eager to see him.” Still, Selena made no immediate move to leave. Instead, she continued to watch little Michael and to imagine having a baby like him someday. But longing for something that wasn’t meant to be wasn’t doing her any good, so she forced herself to leave the NICU and head for the maternity floor. When she reached the nurses’ station, she learned that Shannon Bedford was in room 407.

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