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“Because I wanted to” His eyes never wavered Ryan was being just as direct

She shifted on the stool “That’s nice but it can’t happen again”

“Why not? We’re both adults I’m attracted to you I believe you like me So why not?”

“Because I don’t think I can handle any ht now I’ve lost a husband who died thinking I no longer loved hi his baby was a shock of a lifeti to have to raise a baby on ht now I can’t take on more upheaval I just think it would be easier if we remain friends and friends only”

He nodded “I understand” Then he turned back to his work at the bench

Phoebe believed he did But she hadn’t ether Did she really want him to?

Ryan opened the door to the examination room at the clinic the next Wednesday afternoon To his shock, Phoebe was his next patient He hadn’t seen her since Saturday around noon when he’d had to leave her to deliver a baby He’d told her she could stay as long as she wished and just to close up before she left as he doubted he’d be home before she was ready to leave

Hours later he’d arrived home to a neat and tidy house His bed had been made and his kitchen spotless Even his pile of dirty clothes had gone They were neatly folded on his bed He’d had to adet used to

He’d been astonished at how much he’dforward to seeing her again After her state between theht of kissing her kept running through his mind He’d be tempted when he saw her, but instead he would put on his professional hat and control himself

“Hi, Phoebe,” he said, as he stepped into the roo on so he could face her “This is a surprise”

She smiled “Hey”

“Thanks for cleaning lad you did”

“It was nothing It gaveto do while I waited for the paint to dry I saw the rocker It looks great You have a real talent”

“Thanks Did you ask to see me for some reason?”

“I did I’d like you to deliver my baby”

She had his complete attention

“That is, if you still want to”

Ryan did He owed it to JT For not only his life when they had been pinned down, but because he had made a new start because of him He had left the arer a daily event Ryan had been afraid that if he’d continued to be a medic that he would have never seen another side of life Would have gone deeper into depression He’d needed a change and JT had helped him see that

That hat it had been about when he’d first asked but now, if he was truthful with himself, he wanted to be there for Phoebe and baby They had started to matter more than he would have ever believed “I’d be honored”

“I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have”

“Thanks So for your first official visit withto listen to the baby’s heartbeat, check your blood pressure,your belly”

“I understand” She said this more to the floor than him

“Hey, Phoebe” Sheover?”

“I do want you to do the delivery, it’s just that this exam stuff the first time is a little … aard”

“For both of us So what do you say that we get it over with and go have some dinner? Why don’t you lie down on the table and tell me what else you have planned for the baby’s room?”

Ryan enjoyed her nervous chatter He didn’t blame her More than once he reminded his hands not to tremble as he placed his hand on her skin and felt for the baby’s position “Well, you and the baby are doing great You get dressed and we’ll get that dinner”

“Do you invite all your patients out to eat?” she asked in a saucy tone

“No, I do not I save that for very special ones”

Less than half an hour later they were ordering their dinner at a café a few blocks from the hospital