Kasey Michaels - Maitland Maternity - Triplets, Quads and Quints

DR. HUNTER CALLAGHAN, recently of Chicago, stared down at Briana McCallum, who’d just wilted onto the floor. Same beautiful hazel eyes, he’d noted before she’d closed them. Same silky light-brown hair framing her beautiful face. Same peaches-and-cream complexion, until all the blood had drained out of her face.

But there was a big difference between this Briana and the Briana he’d left sleeping in a hotel-room bed in New York City seven months ago.

This Briana was very definitely pregnant. Almost full-term, if he was any judge. So she’d been pregnant with another man’s baby when he’d met her. She’d said she had no boyfriend, hadn’t she? That she was alone? That was the impression he remembered. Obviously she was not only a wealthy woman, but a liar, too.

Dr. Abby Maitland McDermott, who was chief ob-gyn at Maitland Maternity and who had accompanied her brother R.J. and Hunter, bent over and took Bri’s pulse as she chastised Lisa. “I told you to keep her from rushing around, Lisa. Having triplets carries enough pressure without adding to it.”

Hunter stiffened. “She’s having triplets?”

“Yeah, we’re all excited that one of our first customers is our own administrator,” Abby told him with a grin.

“How far along is she?” Hunter asked, a slight tremble in his voice that he hoped no one noticed.

“Help me lift her to the sofa. Everyone stand back and give her some room to breathe,” Abby ordered.

Hunter stepped forward and put his hands on Briana. Lifting her shoulders, he slid his arm under her and lifted. Her head rolled over against his chest. As it had in the deli. Gently, he placed her on the sofa.

“She’s seven months along and doing well. I don’t know what caused today’s fainting episode, but we’ll check her out. Lisa, call and tell my staff I want a room for Bri.”

“Oh, Doctor, she won’t like that. Can’t you wait until she comes to and ask her?” the assistant pleaded.

“No, I’m her doctor. I get to decide what kind of treatment she receives. Get a bed.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Lisa said.

“Don’t get me a bed, Lisa,” a faint voice Hunter had never forgotten spoke up. “I’m fine, Abby. You’re right. I rushed because your brother is such a bear when he’s kept waiting.” Bri accompanied her words with a weak smile.

Hunter watched her, waiting to see if she remembered being introduced to him.

“I apologize for all the trouble, Dr. Callaghan. Not a particularly graceful way to welcome you to the McCallum Wing,” she said in her soft voice, but Hunter noted she didn’t look at him.

Swinging her feet off the sofa, she looked at R. J. Maitland. “I wanted to know if you want the reception set up for now, or leave it at two o’clock?”

“It can stay at two,” the director said.

“But I’d really like to check you out, Bri,” Abby said. “At twenty-eight weeks, you’re doing well, but I’d like you to carry the girls a little longer.”

“I intend to, Abby,” she assured her, her smile sassier this time. “Now, I have a list of problems to deal with before the reception this afternoon, so if you and our new head of obstetrics will excuse me, I’ll get busy.” She smiled at the rest of the group, several other members of the Maitland family, and stood.

They all began to leave the office. Hunter, however, stood his ground. Finally, R. J. Maitland said, “Hunter, you coming?”

“I need a word with my new administrator,” he said. A hazel-eyed gaze collided with his.

Abby stepped forward once again. “I’d rather Bri not deal with much right now. In fact, though she said she was going to deal with problems, I’m ordering her back on the couch to rest.” She smiled at Bri, and Hunter was filled with jealousy when Bri smiled back. Bri hadn’t smiled at him that way.

“I just wanted to set up a time for a meeting with her,” Hunter explained.

“Oh, Lisa? Does Bri have a time cleared to meet with Dr. Callaghan?” R.J. asked.

“She set aside some time tomorrow morning. She thought he might be too busy with the welcome until then.”

“I knew Bri would have,” R.J. said with a sigh. “She’s so damned efficient it wears you out just thinking about it.”

“Fine. I’ll see you then, Ms. McCallum.” Hunter said, trying to sound impersonal. But it wasn’t easy. His mind was all ajumble. She could be carrying his child—children! He could go from bachelor to father of three in the space of a few weeks—if her babies were his.

He walked out of the office with R.J. “So she’s having three girls? Fraternal?” He hoped R.J. would believe the huskiness of his voice was excitement about the new job.

“No, identical.”

“Is her husband pleased?” He held his breath for Maitland’s response. “She’s not married.”

“But surely the babies’ father is participating in the pregnancy,” he pressed.

“She’s never named anyone as father. Refuses to do so. Says these are her babies.” R.J. changed the subject to the medical equipment available, and Hunter could do nothing but go along with him. Otherwise, it would’ve appeared odd.

But he hadn’t seen the last of Briana McCallum today. And he suspected she knew it, too.

ONCE THE DOOR had closed behind her visitors, Briana slid back down to sit on the sofa before she fell on her face. Her knees were so wobbly, she knew she couldn’t walk.

“Bri?” her assistant demanded, alarm in her voice. “Are you really sick? Do you need the hospital bed Dr. Abby asked for?”

“No, Lisa. But I could use a bottle of apple juice.” She kept juice and nutrition bars in the small kitchen area beside her office. Lisa scurried away at once and returned with the apple juice.

“Are the girls all right?” she asked as she handed the juice to Briana.

“The girls are fine. Where is the file on Dr. Callaghan? I meant to read it before he arrived, and his early arrival has thrown me off.” She hoped that excuse made sense to Lisa. “Could you bring it to me so I can review it while I’m catching my breath?”

Lisa scurried off to Bri’s office to find the file on her desk and bring it back to her. Then, clutching the file and her juice, Bri stood. “I’m going to get into my rocker and study the file.”

Lisa escorted her to the rocker in her office overlooking a spectacular view of Austin, and saw her settled. Then she asked if Bri needed anything else and assured her she should just call if she didn’t feel well.

Gently, Bri smiled. “I know, Lisa. Thanks for taking such good care of me, but I’m fine.” Now that I’ve recovered from seeing the girls’ daddy come through the door. What a shock.

She’d actually thought she’d never see Hunter again. Some nights she’d prayed she’d never see him again. Others she’d prayed the opposite. The memory of their one time together still promised it would be heaven to be with him again. The anger and pain of his dismissal of her contradicted that thought.

What did he think? With any luck, he wouldn’t realize he was the father. But Abby had been pretty specific about the length of her pregnancy. Maybe she could convince Hunter she’d gotten off the plane and been met by an old lover who’d begged her forgiveness. She examined that thought from several angles. How could he dispute it?

That’s what she’d tell him. As long as she denied his involvement, he’d leave her alone. And that’s what she wanted, she assured herself staunchly. To be left alone.

In the seven months since she’d left the hotel in New York, she’d adjusted to the changes in her life. She was prepared for the birth of her children, three precious little girls. Her family was supportive, though Caleb still wanted to go beat up the father, whoever he was.