Kasey Michaels - Maitland Maternity - Triplets, Quads and Quints

“NOT IF I see you first,” Bri muttered, horrified that he’d kissed her cheek in front of half the hospital. When she dared look at April, she found her friend staring. “That meant nothing,” she hurriedly said.

“He is such a sweet boy, isn’t he, Bri?” Grace said, still smiling.

Bri couldn’t think of what to say.

“Everyone likes him,” April offered. “I’ve only heard praise since he got here.” But she still kept her gaze on Bri, as if she expected Bri to make a major announcement at any moment.

“April, don’t pay any attention to anything he does. He’s intent on teasing me.”

“But he just met you,” April pointed out, a puzzled look on her face.

Bri felt she had to come up with something, some reason for his familiarity, or everyone was going to be convinced she and Dr. Callaghan had something going. Which was utterly ridiculous. “Uh, I met him once at a conference.”

“Really? Did you keep in touch?”

“Not exactly. We have mutual acquaintances. It’s nothing.” Definitely nothing. She hoped if she downplayed it, no one would try to figure out which conference. She’d gone to three different ones before the wing opened.

“Oh, I guess that explains it. But you might keep him in mind for, you know, later on, after the girls are born.”

“Exactly what I say,” Grace agreed enthusiastically.

“I can’t believe the two of you. Look at me! Do I look like I’d be thinking anything about romance? I’m like a beached whale at this point. And I don’t feel friendly toward the sex that got me this way!”

April grinned. “That will pass. I know you love your girls already.”

“Yes, and I’m concentrating on them and no one else right now.”

A FEW HOURS later, when Briana opened her condo’s front door and smelled lemon-fresh polish combined with the fragrant odor of a homemade dinner, her thoughts weren’t on her baby girls. She was thinking about Hunter and his trickery.

She was still angry with him, but the thought of a great meal and a clean place was nice.

“Alice?” she called.

The lady Grace had introduced her to several months ago came out of the kitchen. “Ms. McCallum. You’re home. I hope you’re hungry.”

“I’m starved, and something smells delicious. I hope coming so soon didn’t cause you any problems?”

“No, ma’am. Frankly, I was ready for some company.” The woman beamed at her.

“Why don’t you join me for dinner and we’ll talk? You might’ve had some trouble familiarizing yourself with my place.”

“Oh, I only fixed enough for one. You need to eat it all.”

Bri stepped into the kitchen and watched as Alice filled the table with food. She gulped, then said, “Al-ice, when I said I was starving, I didn’t mean I’d have this big an appetite. There will be plenty for both of us. In fact, I think you should eat dinner with me every evening before you go home. Unless you wouldn’t like it. But some conversation would be nice, and there’s no reason for you to cook twice.”

“I’d love it, if you don’t mind. I’ll pay for half the food,” Alice assured her, her eyes big.

Bri laughed. “As long as I don’t have to fix it, I’ll gladly pay for it.” She pulled out a chair and sat down.

Alice joined her. After a few questions about how Briana liked her laundry done, Alice began asking her questions about her job and life at the hospital.

Before Bri knew it, they’d finished the meal, and she was completely relaxed. “Alice, that was wonderful. I’m feeling more relaxed than I have in weeks. Thank you.”

“I’m glad you liked it. I enjoyed myself, too. Hearing about your job is like listening to a real live soap opera. Now, you go take your bath and get dressed for bed while I do the dishes. Then I can go home knowing that you’re all settled in for the night.”

Obviously, Alice had been taking lessons from Grace, but Bri didn’t complain. She only resisted when the orders came from Hunter. She had to resist the strong pull she felt from him. Being in his arms overpowered all her common sense.

“I could help with the dishes.”

“You’ve already worked all day. I’ll take care of these.”

Bri left the kitchen and went to soak in the tub. Afterward, she dressed in a long flannel gown. It was December, not cold, in Austin, but not warm, either. She pulled socks onto her feet and wandered back into the living room. One of her favorite shows was coming on. She settled among the cushions just as Alice brought her a cup of hot tea.

“Thank you, Alice. I love hot tea.”

“That’s what Grace said. This tea doesn’t have any caffeine, so you can sleep well tonight. I’m going on home now unless there’s anything else you want me to do.”

“Oh, no, you’ve been wonderful. If you only want to come every other day, I’ll be fine.”

“I’d like to come back tomorrow, if you don’t mind. I thought I’d bake some chicken for tomorrow’s dinner. It’s so nice to have someone to cook for.”

“Fine with me,” she agreed with a smile and bid the woman good-night. When Bri slid between clean sheets at ten o’clock, she sighed with pleasure. And Alice was coming every day. She sighed again.

She guessed she owed Hunter a thank-you for Alice, too, but she was getting tired of having to thank him all the time. Though she hadn’t really gotten around to thanking him today.

Oh, well, she’d thank him tomorrow. If he didn’t irritate her first.

THE HOSPITAL was abuzz the next morning. The first multiple births had occurred at 3:00 a.m. that morning. Twin boys were sleeping in the nursery, and most of the staff had taken time for a visit to look at the two small babies. They’d weighed in at 5 lbs. 9 oz. and 5 lbs. 4 oz.

As soon as Lisa told Bri about their arrival, Bri hurried to the first floor, where the nursery was located, to see them.

“Aren’t they darling?” she asked without even looking to see who had come up beside her.

“Yes, they are,” Maggie McCallum agreed, sadness in her voice.

“Maggie! I didn’t even realize that was you. How are you doing?” Bri knew her sister-in-law wanted a baby badly.

“The same as ever,” she said, offering a smile that wasn’t very sincere.

Bri hugged her. “Dr. Sheppard is very good at her job. I’m sure if you give it time, you’ll be all right.”

“She says we will…if Adam cooperates.”

Bri gave Maggie all her attention. “Is that brother of mine being difficult?” She knew Adam could be stubborn.

“He has to be tested and…you know how men are about that macho stuff.” Maggie’s cheeks turned pink. “I’ve tried to tell him it’s probably all my fault but—”

“Maggie McCallum, don’t you let him push you around. It’s not either of your faults. Neither of you would keep from having a baby on purpose. Let Dr. Sheppard help you and soon you’ll have one—or more—of your own.”

Maggie’s eyes filled with tears. “I hope so,” she whispered.

“Admiring our new residents?” Hunter asked as he stepped to Bri’s side.

“Yes, of course,” she said, hoping he wouldn’t notice Maggie’s distress.

He stuck his hand out and introduced himself.

Maggie took his hand and explained that she was Adam McCallum’s wife.

“I haven’t met Adam, yet, though I’ve had a couple of conversations with Caleb,” Hunter explained.

Bri turned to stare at him. “Oh, really? A couple? When were they?”

She knew she’d just discovered his source for Grace’s telephone number, but she didn’t know what his other conversation with Caleb had been about. And she wanted to know.

“Um, just, er, casual conversations. He’s a security consultant for the hospital, you know.” Hunter tried a smile, then he turned to Maggie. “Do you work here, too?”