Babies in the Bargain (13 page)

Still, sharing an apartment with him sounded uncomfortable, even overwhelming. She’d have to list her conditions and make sure he agreed to every single one.

At three-thirty, Marc returned to her room. “Ready? We have some serious shopping to do. You’ll have a cheerful room, Paulito.” He bent to pick up the baby. “Ew.” Marc scrunched his nose, holding the baby at arms’ length. “It smells yucky.”

“Babies poop, you know.” Holly couldn’t stifle an ironic smile.

“Here. All yours.” Marc tried to hand her the baby, but she shrugged without taking him. “You should learn to change your son before moving him to your place.”

“Hey. It’s not that difficult to put on a diaper.”

“Glad to hear it. Here’s a clean one, and wipes, and cream.”

“But it’s a poop, and a big one.” He sniffed and then grimaced in disgust. “Fine, I’ll do it.” Marc deposited Paulito in his crib and unsnapped his overalls. A pair of chubby legs escaped and wriggled against the sheets.

“Careful when you remove the front of the diaper,” Holly coached. “Cover him with this towel. Paulito is already famous for his aim if you’re not quick enough.”

Marc exhibited a proud smile. “So small and so smart. Already a true Suarez.”

“Pfff, I hope you’ll find other things to be proud of with him.”

Marc rolled the soiled diaper and discarded it in the diaper pail, then finished cleaning and dressing the baby. “Now, you’re all clean, my boy.”

“Not yet. His undershirt got dirty. It needs to be changed.”

“Dirty? Where?”

She pointed at the spot and bit her lips on a laugh.

“Oh, this.” He frowned. “Are you sure it’s from...” He brought the material to his nose and jerked back. “Okay, where are the clean shirts?” He undressed the baby and discarded overall and undershirt.

She handed him the two items and let him struggle to slide the shirt over Paulito’s head. The baby shrieked. Holly bit a smile. “Easy. You’re suffocating him. And don’t pull on his arms.”

“Okay. I’m trying to do it gently. Here, almost done, buddy.” Marc didn’t ask for help as he finished dressing his son. He picked up the baby and straightened. “Dr. Collier, did I pass the test?”

She smiled her approval. “With an A+.”

Marc’s gaze met her eyes, scanned her face, and rested on her mouth. He took a step toward her and then averted his gaze. She lost her smile as she heard him groan.

“It’s too hot in here,” he mumbled. “Are you ready? Can we go?”

“I’m waiting for Stacey to babysit.”

“Let’s take Paulito with us. You have a stroller. I’ve borrowed Halsdale’s SUV. I’ll put the car seat in it. Leave a note on the door for Stacey,” he said gruffly as he held the baby against his chest like a shield.

* * *

With Marc at her side pushing the stroller and Paulito sleeping like an angel, Holly couldn’t remember a time when she’d enjoyed shopping as much as she had this evening. They toured the mall, Holly buying things for the baby like an eager momma.

At
All For Babies
, the sales clerk had them check a baby shower list with the items they wanted and directed them to the right area. Reading Marc’s name from the sheet of paper, the saleswoman advised, “Mrs. Suarez, in addition to a crib, you may want a bassinet to put in your bedroom. That way you can pick up the baby without having to get out of bed.”

Talk about an awkward moment. Holly’s cheeks turned beet-red. “It’s not Mrs—”

“Good idea,” Marc hastened to agree, while wrapping an arm around Holly’s shoulders.

“What’s wrong with you?” She disengaged herself and hissed when the woman walked away. “It’s not funny.”

She suddenly resented Marc’s eternally good mood. He’d joked about playing a role that was her secret dream while she struggled to ignore the smoldering effect he was having on her senses.

“Is it so horrible to be mistaken for my wife?” His murmur reached her like a caress. Hot, sultry fire burned in his eyes.

Holly averted her gaze. She didn’t want to be consumed. Never again. Not when he didn’t believe in commitment, and the word
wife
sounded like an amusing joke for him.

“I’ve had enough. I’m going back.” She pushed the stroller toward the entrance.

Marc caught up with her. He grabbed the handle and stopped the stroller. His blazing gaze scorched her face, but a sober expression replaced the previously amused grin. He touched her arm gently.

Her heart gave a jolt, an inferno raging inside her.

“Holly, I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.” He seemed sincerely contrite. “Please, forgive me.”

Fingering the strap of her purse, Holly tried to tame her racing pulse. Why mess up their outing with useless self-pity? She nodded, preferring to avoid a discussion that might go in the wrong direction. “Okay, forget it.”

“Believe me, Holly, I’ll do everything in my power to make this arrangement easy on you.” He captured her gaze and she could swear there was...tenderness in the chocolate brown depths.

How was she going to survive in the confines of his apartment when her belly churned with simmering emotions every time he looked at her?

 “While we’re here, let’s have dinner at the
Macaroni House
,” Marc suddenly suggested. “It’s six o’clock, and we haven’t eaten anything. We can finish our shopping after we eat.”

They walked back to the parking lot. Marc stowed the boxes in the back of the SUV. “In a couple of days, I’ll go look for a Jeep. My Porsche definitely doesn’t suit a baby’s clutter.”

“Imagine if he poops in your precious Porsche.” She burst out laughing at Marc’s sour expression.

It’d be so easy to build crazy dreams and assume they’d formed a happy family. Crazy was the word. Unreal and dangerous. She’d already suffered and cried from such dreams long ago. Would she ever learn to hold her emotions in check?

They strolled back to the mall and settled in the restaurant at a corner table. As soon as they placed their orders, Paulito grunted, squirmed, throwing his chubby legs in all directions, and finally let out a shriek that had the old couple at the next table scowling at them.

Marc picked him up. “He must be famished. A bottle, please.”

Ten minutes later, the baby dozed while sucking the last drops of his milk. “Good boy. Right on time,” Marc said, as the waitress placed their plates on the table, and a delicious smell of garlic and tomato sauce stirred a growling in Holly’s stomach.

She tilted her head and smiled at the former carefree bachelor practicing fatherhood. “You’re not done yet. He needs to burp, then we can eat in peace.”

Marc followed her instructions like a zealous student preparing for an exam. The baby released a loud noise without opening his eyes. “Atta boy! Off to bed now.” Marc laid him in his stroller and turned toward Holly with a big smile. “Not too bad for my first time. He’s easy to care for.”

Yes, the baby was adorable.

And the uncle even more so, his eyes gleaming with unconcealed pride.

Holly relaxed against her chair. She had done the right thing by not handing them both to Jenna on a silver platter. Holly could well imagine Jenna playing her best, seductive performance for Marc’s benefit in the romantic setting of his condo.

“Earth to Holly. You’re not eating and the food is getting cold. Why the scowl? I thought I passed my first tests?”

Holly sighed and reached for her fork. “You did great. Honestly.” She forced herself to swallow a bite. “About our arrangement, I have a list of conditions.”

“Shoot.”

“I don’t want the news all over the hospital.” She could just imagine the grapevine rattling with juicy assumptions. “People may assume...may imagine things.” She knew Chris would jump all over her if he heard she’d be living with Marc. Of course, it was none of his business, but still, as a good friend, he’d voice his opinion loud and clear.

Concern wrinkled Marc’s forehead. “I’m certainly not going to advertise it, but realistically, we won’t be able to hide our arrangement for long. Does it bother you that much?”

She thought about it for a moment while gazing into his eyes. Little twinkles sparkled in their depths, sending rays of warmth to her heart. She decided she didn’t give a hoot about people’s opinion—not even Chris’s— and shook her head. “Nope.”

 “I promise I’ll behave like a perfect roommate. Like a gentleman. Huh...like a bro...brother.”

He chocked on the last word as if it scratched his throat.

“Oh, I’m convinced of that.” She stifled a chuckle.

“I’ll make sure the administrator doesn’t put us on the same team. We can stick our schedule on the fridge door.”

“Condition number two. I don’t want interference in my life.”

What life?

Her social activities consisted of an outing here and there with the hospital gang. Other than that?

Nothing.
Nada
.

“Absolutely no interference in each other’s lives.” Marc raised a hand in pledge.

That didn’t mean she’d allow him to bring girlfriends when she was around or to leave alone at home babysitting while he was out on a date. No way. She needed to clarify this in a tactful way.

“I’ll babysit Paulito only when you’re at work.” To hell with tact. She preferred a direct, crystal clear approach to the subject.

His lips twitched. “I hear you. Agreed.” Did it mean he’d eliminate dating from his schedule? She swallowed, not daring to insist he spell out what he’d agreed to.

“What else?” he asked as he relaxed against the back of his chair.

“I don’t have time to waste. Who’s going to buy the groceries and household needs? Handle the housecleaning?”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of that.”

“Are you sure you have enough space? I mean for the baby and me? I mean...” Her face burned as the words caught in her throat.

Marc continued to eat while she fiddled with her fork. “The condo has three bedrooms and two and half baths. You’ll have your own bedroom and bathroom. And I’ll prepare the third room for Paulito.”

Discussing the sleeping arrangement was more than she could stomach. She deposited her fork on the side of her plate and sipped her wine, hoping he wouldn’t notice the red spots she felt creeping on her cheeks, then she bristled and quickly added, “I want you to know I’m doing this for Paulito. I want him to be well taken care of. Happy.”

Marc fixed his gaze on her luminous eyes and read the depth of her emotion.

Bless you, Holly
. She really loved the baby.

Even if she seemed determined to keep him at arm’s length. He reached out and squeezed her hand. “Paulito will be fine. I promise. As you can see, I’m doing my best for him. And you’ll be here to check,” he added with a smile.

“I don’t doubt your dedication.”

“I’m taking a day off tomorrow to prepare his room. Are you on call tomorrow night?”

“Nope. I’ve done a lot of nightshifts in the last month to justify my staying in the on-call room.”

“Then, we can move him in the evening. You’ll be able to check if something is missing.”

He saw a gleam of uncertainty in her eyes.

Mierda
. She was hesitating. Still upset by his stupid comment at
All For
Babies
?

“Yeah...but...” She averted her eyes and gnawed on her lip.

“But what?”

“I haven’t studied much in the last few weeks.” Frustration creased her forehead as she exhaled loudly.

“Oh.”
Her board exam
.

Damn it, but he’d been a selfish jerk and hadn’t even thought about her exam until now. How could he make up to her for the time she’d generously given up to Paulito when he was away?

“I’m sorry, Holly. I’m deeply sorry.” Since he’d been back to WCH, he’d apologized more than during the last twenty years of his life. Was there no end to his sins? “I promise I’ll help you study for your boards. You’ll pass with flying colors.”

“Thank you for your faith in me. But passing doesn’t happen without studying. And studying requires quiet time for concentration.” She shrugged and repressed a sarcastic smile. “Our eminent doctor should know that better than a mere fellow.”

“You’re not just a mere fellow. You’re a brilliant doctor with a promising career. Starting tomorrow, we’ll make sure you have your own time without interruption.”

“Right, you’re going to work a little magic and create time.”

A little magic. Exactly.

He knew how he was going to thank her for taking care of Paulito, how he’d help her pass her board exam.
The Medical Board Exam Review in ten CDs
.

He suppressed a smile, delighted with the idea that had popped into his mind. She needed to make up for the lost time. He’d provide her with the means to do it efficiently. He should have thought about it earlier. “Just trust me.” He squeezed her hand again. “Please.”

Don’t change your mind, Holly. Give me until tomorrow and you’ll see
.

She shrugged. “I’ll have Paulito ready by three.”