Wanted: Parents for a Baby! (6 page)

Finding Victoria and his unborn son dead
from an accidental overdose had broken something deep inside him. A portion of his heart that he didn't have a clue how to fix.

As much as he adored children, he wasn't ready for a relationship. Not now.

Maybe not ever.

* * *

Cassie glanced over her shoulder, watching covertly as Ryan walked away. That had been the most personal conversation they'd ever had and she couldn't imagine why she'd told him about her ex. And then he'd shocked her further when he'd jumped to her defense with the case worker from Child Protective Services. Maybe he had reservations about her idea of applying to be a foster parent for Emma, but that hadn't stopped him from offering to give her a reference.

She knew she shouldn't read too much into his actions, although at the same time she was certain she hadn't imagined the spark of attraction that had sizzled between them.

The very idea that he might be as attracted to her as she was to him made her face go hot. And she couldn't deny a tiny sense of panic. How could she go out with someone as amazing as Ryan? Her ex had been a handsome pharmacist, with women throwing themselves
at him, and she hadn't been enough to satisfy him. Plus, Ryan didn't know the truth about her miscarriages, either.

She took deep breaths to calm herself down. Most likely Ryan was just being nice. He obviously cared about Emma's fate. And she was exhausted from her restless night. Maybe she'd imagined the awareness between them. Imagined the husky way he'd said her full name.

Cassandra
.

Her knees went weak and she dropped into the seat near Emma's computer. What was wrong with her? This wasn't the time or place to think about the attraction she felt for Ryan. She needed to keep her mind focused on important matters, like giving Emma her first tube feeding and placing eye protection on Barton prior to placing him beneath the bili lights.

But as she cared for little Barton, Ryan's voice lingered in her mind. When the baby's parents came in to give him his noon feeding, she was grateful to head over to spend more time with Emma.

The baby's seizure precautions were still in place, despite the fact that there hadn't been any documented seizure activity since the
first one shortly after her admission. Still, Cassie knew they needed to be careful not to overstimulate Emma. Too much stimulation could actually cause the seizures to return. So after giving Emma her second feeding Cassie settled behind the computer to look up information on being a foster parent.

The amount of paperwork was overwhelming, but she refused to let that stop her. She printed out the application and the instructions, tucking them in her purse so she could review the information on her break.

Her shift dragged by slowly, no doubt because she was anxious to get to city hall. The fact that Ryan had gone home, leaving Dr. Matthew as the neonatal intensivist in charge, had nothing to do with it.

At least, that's what she tried to tell herself. Not very convincingly either.

To keep Ryan from crowding her thoughts, she focused on getting all her work finished. By two forty-five, Cassie was ready to go. She went over one last time to Emma's warmer, realizing that as she was off on Saturday, she wouldn't get to see the baby until her shift started on Sunday at three o'clock in the afternoon.

“You're doing so well, sweetpea,” Cassie
murmured, stroking the baby's downy cheek. “I'm sorry I won't see you for a day and a half, but I'll be thinking of you.”

She gently checked Emma's IV in her arm and stroked the tip of her finger down her forearm to her hand. The baby caught her off guard by grabbing hold of her index finger in a surprisingly tight grip.

“That's my girl,” Cassie said, tears pricking her eyelids. “You're getting stronger already, aren't you?”

Emma clung to her finger for a long minute before letting go and Cassie found herself wishing Ryan were here to share the thrilling moment. With babies you had to measure success in small increments. Emma had kept down the two bolus feedings and had grasped her finger. Huge accomplishments for a three-day-old baby born addicted to narcotics.

Sheri, the second shift nurse, came over at ten minutes after three and Cassie quickly went through Emma's orders with her. They double-checked Emma's IV site and the pump settings together before crossing over to Barton's bassinet. Sheri was familiar with Barton's care as he'd been with them for a week already, so going through his orders didn't take long.

Since Sheri had everything under control with Emma and Barton, Cassie swiped out of work fifteen minutes early, anxious to head straight out to her car. She was so focused on her mission that she didn't hear her friend Gloria, who was leaving at the same time, call out to her.

“Cass? Wait up a minute,” Gloria said in a loud voice, sounding a tad annoyed.

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude,” Cassie apologized. “I'm just in a hurry.” Cassie slowed down so Gloria could catch up. She tried not to glance at her watch, which would only broadcast her impatience.

“Ooh, does that mean you have a hot date?” Gloria teased.

Ryan's face involuntarily flashed in her mind, even as she let out a sigh. “Don't be silly, of course not.”

“Listen, Cass, I know your ex was a jerk, betraying you in the worst way possible, but locking yourself away from all men isn't the answer. James was upset that you turned down his offer to take you out for dinner, but I'm sure he'd give you a second chance.”

Oh, boy. She
so
did not want to have this conversation, especially now. Obviously Gloria was trying to help, but there was no way
Cassie was going to confess feelings for Ryan that she didn't even understand herself. Dating anyone else was out of the question.

“Listen, Gloria, I'm not locking myself away from men. I can't help the fact I'm not the least bit attracted to James. Please, don't try to set me up with anyone else, either. I'll find someone on my own when the time is right for me. Besides, I'm really running late, so let's chat later, okay?” Without waiting for Gloria to respond, she quickened her step, using her key fob to unlock her car.

“Call me,” Gloria shouted as she slid behind the wheel.

Cassie quickly started her car and opened the windows to let the stuffy air out. “I will,” she called back, before putting the vehicle in Reverse and backing out of the parking space.

Cassie had to stop at her apartment to pick up a copy of her birth certificate and social security card. Since she was there, she decided to change out of her scrubs, donning a flowery skirt and short-sleeved top. Slipping her feet into comfy sandals, she headed back outside.

From her apartment, the drive to city hall didn't take long. Cedar Bluff was crowded with tourists in the summer, but even then
there wasn't normally a rush-hour traffic problem.

She climbed out of her car and approached the building with all the paperwork clutched in her hand, struck by a feeling of trepidation. What if they immediately turned her down because she was single? What if they thought her apartment was too small to be an appropriate home for Emma? She planned on buying a small house, but needed to save some more money first.

“Cassandra, is something wrong?”

She jerked her head around at the sound of Ryan's voice. For a moment she blinked, wondering if she was losing it. But, no, there he was, sexier than ever, wearing casual jeans and a well-worn ocean-blue T-shirt that brightened his already mesmerizing blue eyes. And she was suddenly relieved she'd changed out of her scrubs.

Had he really come there just for her?

“Um, no. Of course not.” She smiled, shoving her irrational doubts away. “But I'm surprised to see you. Is there something you need? Did I forget to document something in Emma's chart?”

The corner of his mouth kicked up in a wry smile. “No, you didn't forget anything. I'm
thrilled she's doing so well.” He hesitated and then shrugged. “It's always better if I keep busy the day after I'm on call, otherwise I'm not able to sleep at night. I thought I'd meet you here in case you needed help.”

She was humbled by the idea that Ryan had come there for nothing more than to offer his support. Was it possible that little Emma had captured his heart, the same way she'd captured hers? She'd assumed that he didn't date because he didn't want a family. But after seeing the way he'd been with Emma, she knew that couldn't be right. “That's so nice of you.”

For a moment their gazes clung and the air sizzled with tension, but then he turned his head and gestured to the paperwork in her hand. “Do you need to finish up any of that paperwork before we go inside?”

It took her a minute for the synapses in her brain to fire on all cylinders. “Oh, no, I have it completed,” she assured him, pushing aside the temptation to have him go through everything as a double check. “But thanks.”

“No problem.”

The low timbre of his voice sent shivers down her spine, causing her to blush. Again. Seriously, she really needed to stop feeling
like a young teenager around him. She'd been married, for heavens' sake. And divorced.

The memory was sobering. Could she really trust another man not to hurt her the way Evan had? Her stomach clenched. A handsome, aloof doctor was not the best candidate.

But somehow Ryan didn't seem as aloof around her.

“Are you ready?” Ryan asked, interrupting her tumultuous thoughts by placing his hand beneath her elbow.

“Of course.” She pulled herself together with an effort, taking the necessary steps to reach the front door of the building. Before she could open the door, Ryan was reaching around her to open it for her.

If anything, her blush deepened. “Thanks,” she said, entering the building and hoping the blessedly cool air-conditioning would help make the redness fade from her skin.

There were a couple of people ahead of her, so she took her place in line to wait her turn. Ryan stood right beside her, making her more conscious of his intimidating height and the breadth of his shoulders. Did he work out in a gym in his spare time? Feeling insecure, she
sucked in her stomach, making a mental note to go for a run later that evening.

When it was her turn, she walked up to the counter and spread out her application, along with the documents she'd brought from home, for the woman to review.

But she was disappointed when the clerk simply gathered them together into a pile, without reading a word. “Thanks. We'll get this processed and be in touch.”

Crestfallen, Cassie turned away, but Ryan didn't.

“Good afternoon. I'm Dr. Ryan Murphy from Cedar Bluff Hospital and Cassie needs to know if there is anything she can do to speed up the process of becoming a foster parent. There's a baby in my care that needs to be placed with her as soon as possible.”

The woman's eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Um, I'm sorry, but I can't help you. I'm just a clerk. I take the paperwork and file it as instructed.”

Cassie leaned forward, determined to stand up for herself, too. “Who is the person in charge, then? I need to talk to whoever that is.”

“Mr. Davies is in charge of the Child
Protective Services department, but I'm afraid you'll need an appointment.”

“Fine. Will you please give me his contact information?” Cassie asked.

The flustered clerk took out a card and scribbled Mr. Davies's name and number on the back. “Here you go. He's probably already gone today, but I believe he'll be back in the office on Monday.”

Cassie took the card and nodded. “Thank you.” She turned and headed back outside, feeling foolish for having built her hopes up over nothing.

“Well, that was a bit anticlimactic,” Cassie said with a wry smile. “But thanks for coming anyway, Dr.—er…Ryan.”

Ryan's smile made her tummy flip-flop again. “Spending time with you is never anticlimactic,” he assured her in his deep voice. “I want you to let me know if Mr. Davies doesn't get back to you. I'm willing to put on the heat if needed.”

“Thanks, but I'll get through to him.” Cassie was determined to get this accomplished on her own, even though it was nice to have Ryan cheering her on.

She was heading toward the parking
lot when she caught a glimpse of the cane woman.

Her hand shot out to grasp Ryan's arm. “Do you see that woman with the gray hair, walking with a cane? The one wearing white slacks and a green blouse?”

“Yes, why?” Ryan asked with a frown.

“This is the third time I've seen her in the last two days,” Cassie said, keeping her voice low so no one else could hear. “The first time I caught her peering in through the window of the neonatal unit.”

“That's odd,” Ryan agreed.

“It can't be a coincidence,” Cassie murmured. “Although what is she doing here at city hall? She couldn't possibly have known I was coming. I only made that decision earlier today.”

“I hope she's not following you,” Ryan said with a scowl.

Cassie couldn't deny the thought of this woman following her was creepy. “Ryan, I think she knows something about Emma. I bet she knows Emma's mother. In fact, she might even be related to the baby in some way.”

“There's only one way to find out,” Ryan said. “We need to talk to her.”

Cassie nodded. “I agree.”

But when they skirted the parked cars to head over to the sidewalk, the woman wasn't anywhere in sight.

R
YAN COULDN
'
T BELIEVE
the woman Cassie had pointed out to him had managed to disappear so quickly. “She must have gotten into a car and driven off,” he muttered in disgust. “There's no way she could have walked that fast with a cane.”

“You're right,” Cassie agreed with a frown. “Too bad we didn't get a glimpse of the car, either.”