Authors: Sophia Knightly
And yet she couldn't deny the mind-drugging attraction she felt toward Marcos. Deep down, she wanted to believe that he preferred her to Nicole, but that was one thing he'd have to prove to her.
She stripped and got into a warm shower, allowing the water to beat down on her body. Every cell ached for Marcos' touch as she relived his kisses. Despite the mist and the gray, choppy ocean, the beach had never been so alluring as when she'd been in his arms, breathing the salt air mixed with his heady masculine scent. Her sensitized skin still felt the thrilling imprint of his strong hands caressing her.
Sheltered in his embrace, she had experienced a torrent of passion alien to the lukewarm interest inspired by most of the men she'd dated. She hadn't
really
wanted to push Marcos away the second time he'd kissed her. But if she hadn't called upon every reserve of strength to end his kiss, she would have given in to the craving to be loved by him. Alone with her fantasies, she closed her eyes and imagined him making love to her, his big hands holding her breasts and taking her nipples in his mouth.
A frisson of excitement made every nerve tingle as she came to a daunting decision.
Caution be damned
. She would set out to lure Marcos away from Nicole. There, she'd said it and it didn't seem as impossible once she admitted her feelings. Now was the best time to get started. Her whole being was bombarded with images and sensations stirred by his deep, sensual kisses and the way his hand on her bottom had kept her firmly anchored against the hard bulge of his arousal.
Another shiver of lust nearly buckled her knees as she turned her face to the shower and moaned.
Later, Gabriela put in more effort than usual getting ready for work. She separated her damp, moussed hair into what Joelly had called goddess curls and then she made up her face, trying to emulate the tips the Dior makeup artist had taught her. Once she was satisfied with the results, she donned the royal blue, wrap-style wool dress Marcos had bought her at Saks.
She remembered that Marcos had said, "You have the smallest waist... it's a real turn on" and she resolutely tightened the dress sash. She wouldn't worry that it drew attention to her curves above and below, especially since he seemed fond of her curves.
Gabriela slid her feet into black high-heeled pumps, a far cry from the comfortable, low-heeled shoes she normally wore to work. With a quick glance in the full-length mirror behind her bedroom door, she gave herself a nod of approval. Marcos would definitely notice her new look and attitude today.
She suddenly felt foolish for running away from him earlier. Maybe she should have tempted fate by staying and seeing what happened. Her rational side warned her to tread carefully because Marcos was a renowned wolf.
She'd have to keep that in mind or she'd end up devoured as a snack by the sinfully charming and too handsome predator.
* * *
Gabriela entered Christy's hospital room and found her in bed, nursing her newborn infant. With her short-cropped dark hair and small figure, Christy appeared too young to be a mother. Her thin arms looked fragile as she held her baby. She had only gained eighteen pounds in her pregnancy and most of it had gone to the baby. Even though he had been born three weeks early, he'd weighed in at seven pounds, eight ounces, a big size for such a meager weight gain in the mother.
Gabriela smiled as she approached her side. "How are you feeling?"
"Achy and sore."
"All that should go away soon. Do you have the room all to yourself?" Gabriela said, glancing at the other empty bed.
Christy nodded. "The girl who had a C-section a couple of days ago just left with her husband and family," she said wistfully.
Gabriela took a seat beside her and watched Christy breastfeed her baby. She looked so vulnerable and childlike. "What did you name him?"
"Santi, after my uncle who brought me here. He's the only one who has called to check on me, other than Mami."
"What about your father?"
Christy's soulful eyes filled with tears. "He still wants me to put Santi up for adoption. Mami said he's been drinking too much. He's mad and depressed because he's still out of work. He won't listen to anything about his new grandson."
"Maybe he'll come around when he realizes how much he misses you," Gabriela said, trying to put encouragement in her words.
Glancing down at her son's dark, little head, Christy said, "I hope so. Sometimes I wonder if I made the wrong decision. Maybe I should have put him up for adoption."
Gabriela wasn't surprised to hear it. "It's understandable you'd feel that way, Christy. You're very young to take on such a huge responsibility. It's not too late to change your mind," she said, filled with compassion as she watched Christy's quivering chin and the way she bit her lower lip not to cry.
"That's just the problem. How can I give Santi up? I love him too much already." She gazed into her baby's eyes and smiled at him. "His skin is as soft as rose petals and he smells so sweet, I just want to hold him in my arms forever." She glanced up with eyes that looked huge in her thin, wan face. "I guess I'm being selfish."
"You're not being selfish. Santi has the best start possible because you love him so much."
"I just wish he had a father to hold him, someone to tell him that he's proud of him and loves him more than anything in the world." Her words ended in a broken sob.
"Try not to get upset, sweetie, especially while you're breast-feeding. You need to relax so your milk will let down." Christy nodded and hugged Santi closer as she continued to nurse him. "You're young and you have many years ahead of you. Anything's possible. Maybe someday you'll marry a wonderful boy who'll love Santi as his own son, because he loves
you
so much."
"What boy my age would want to get stuck with me and a kid?"
Gabriela smiled. "I don't mean now, I'm talking about the future. Right now you have enough on your hands with finishing high school and caring for your son. Even if you don't get married, it's not the end of the world. Santi is a very lucky baby to have a mother like you."
For the first time that morning, Gabriela's words coaxed a smile out of Christy. "Do you really think so?"
"Yes!" Gabriela said with heartfelt conviction. "I never had a dad when I was growing up. He stayed in Colombia and my mom raised me here by herself. It was a struggle at times, but we survived just fine. And I always knew how much she loved me."
Christy kissed the top of Santi's head. "That's good to hear because I really want to keep him."
"You've made a brave decision, Christy, but you don't have to do it alone. Look how well you've adapted to nursing your baby. I can tell you had that meeting yesterday with the La Leche League representative. Talking with an experienced mother has helped you bond with your baby. I've contacted a few other support groups to work with you, and there's a mentoring program at the Fresh Start Center, where you'll be living with Santi."
"Are you sure we can go to the Fresh Start Center?" Christy fretted, surprising Gabriela.
"Absolutely. Why do you ask?"
"I heard rumors that it might be closing down."
"Don't listen to rumors," Gabriela said, wondering where Christy had heard them. "Your room is waiting for you there and so is your mentor. Her name is Angela and she really is an angel."
"Oh good," Christy said.
"Try to rest up when he naps," Gabriela said, stroking Christy's hair. "I'm starting a two-week vacation tomorrow, but I'll still be around. Don't hesitate to call me if you need anything. If for some reason you can't reach me, I'll give you my colleague's number who will be covering for me. Her name is Sabrina Munson."
Christy's eyes misted as she disengaged her nipple from the baby's mouth. She adjusted her nightgown to cover her breast, then lifted him on her shoulder to burp him. "Thank you for the diaper bag and the cute outfits you bought Santi. I don't know what I would have done without you."
"My pleasure," Gabriela said.
They both turned at the slight knock on the open hospital door. "Ms. Morales is right, Christy," Marcos said, walking into the hospital room.
Gabriela's stomach fluttered wildly at the compelling sight of Marcos in his white medical coat and black trousers.
"Oh... hi, Dr. Calderon," Christy said shyly.
"Hello, Christy." He smiled at her, then glanced at Gabriela and nodded in her direction. "Ms. Morales."
Gabriela nodded back and stiffened at his formal manner. She wasn't his pretend fiancée anymore.
"How are you feeling, Christy?" Marcos asked, studying her tear-stained face.
Christy shrugged. "Kind of blue, even though I'm happy that Santi is healthy and adorable," she said, leaning her cheek against her baby's dark head.
"It's normal to feel a little depressed. It's called postpartum depression," he said.
"I know." Christy glanced at Gabriela. "I've read all the books Ms. Morales gave me about childbirth and raising a baby."
"These next few weeks will be challenging as you get adjusted, but I'm sure you'll be a good mother to him," Marcos said.
"You won't be alone, Christy," Gabriela said, fishing into her purse for her wallet. She pulled out a business card and scribbled her cell phone number next to the pager number. "Call me if you need anything. I've jotted down Mrs. Munson's number, too."
"Thanks," Christy said, sniffling.
"Here, let me hold your son while you blow your nose," Marcos said kindly.
While Gabriela handed Christy a box of tissues, she watched Marcos lift Santi. Her chest ached at the sight of Marcos' powerful hands gently cradling the tiny infant he'd delivered just last night.
"Hey, little guy," Marcos crooned, looking into the infant's eyes. "You have your mamá's eyes."
Christy's face brightened. "I'm glad he looks like my side of the family."
"He's adorable and he
does
look like you, Christy," Gabriela said, realizing that the rapist was the last person Christy would want to be reminded of when she gazed at her baby. She turned to glance at Marcos and loved how at ease he appeared, holding the newborn in his strong, confident hands. It was obvious he loved babies and Gabriela could only imagine how he doted on Marisol's twins.
She often wondered why Marcos had chosen obstetrics over any other specialty. Her heart yearned to make amends with him as she watched him with Santi. Why did he have to take her breath away so easily?
To stop from privately drooling over him, Gabriela glanced at her watch. "It's noon already. Will Christy be discharged today?"
Marcos handed Santi back to Christy. "I'll be back shortly and see to your release, Christy." Inclining his head toward Gabriela, he said, "Please step outside for a minute."
"Sure," she said, wondering at his formal tone and the odd expression on his face. "Christy, after Dr. Calderon releases you, we'll go over the final details. Okay?"
"Sure." Christy made a face. "But first I have to change Santi's diaper."
"Do you need help?" Gabriela asked.
Christy giggled. "No, I've already gotten the hang of it. The staff here has been babying me, along with Santi."
"Good," Gabriela said, glad that Christy was being well cared for. She stepped into the hall and closed the door behind her to join Marcos a few feet away, where he waited for her. She suddenly felt awkward remembering how she'd bolted from him earlier.
Gabriela smoothed her skirt and squared her shoulders. As she approached him, she smiled. "Thanks for the kind gesture."
Marcos intently studied her from beneath furrowed brows. "What do you mean?"
"Christy said the staff has been babying her."
He smiled. "When I heard that none of her family had been in to see her, I asked the head nurse to give her a little extra TLC. It's no big deal."
He didn't fool her for a second.
It pleased her immeasurable that Marcos had felt compelled to look out for Christy. "What did you want to say to me?"
"I heard a lot of what you said to Christy before I joined you in the room," he said without a hint of remorse.
She tilted her head to one side and scrutinized his pensive expression. "How much did you hear?"
"Enough to be a little worried about you. You're getting too emotionally involved in Christy's plight."
She drew herself up and looked him square in the eye. "The only person you need to concern yourself with is your patient, Christy."
"I'm only calling this to your attention because I've seen it happen before. You can't take on your patients' problems as your own, Gabriela, or you won't survive as a social worker."
"Don't worry about me surviving; I know what I'm doing. Anyway, look who's talking. You ordered special attention to be given to Christy by the nurses,
and
I don't recall ever seeing an obstetrician lift an infant in his arms when checking on the mother's progress," she said, tapping him on his solid chest.
He lifted an amused brow as he looked at the finger she'd used to poke his chest to make her point. "That's different. She was obviously upset. You're getting too personally involved with Christy's problems."
A sting of defensiveness decimated all the wonderful things she'd thought about him in the room. "I don't tell you how to deliver babies, so don't tell me how to do my job," she fumed, her body stiffening as she observed the gentle smile playing at his lips. "I've been at this long enough not to need your advice, so butt out."
He shook his head. "Why so defensive? Does Christy remind you of yourself at her age?" he asked, shocking her by how succinctly he'd summed up the truth.
Gabriela sucked in her breath. "In many ways, she
does
remind me of myself at her age, but I was never pregnant at seventeen. I didn't get into social work thinking that it would be a nine-to-five job. Christy's family has practically abandoned her, and her dad refuses to see his grandson, let alone hear about him. I'm extending a hand because she's chosen the hard route and she's going to need all the help she can get. I can make a difference in how well she handles this crisis."