SH Medical 08 - The Baby Dilemma Read Online Free Page B

teasing came naturally to him, but he hadn’t meant to offend Paige.
    Her frankness impressed him. She was smart and assertive, and interesting to talk to. He also liked that, while she was obviously capable of taking care of herself, she’d shown a sweet, vulnerable side when she mentioned her family’s lack of encouragement.
    Contrary to the impression he’d apparently given, he didn’t consider her simply a sex object. Mike had no interest in shallow relationships. On the other hand, he had no interest in falling in love and getting his comfortable life torn to shreds, either.
    The fact that he genuinely liked Paige made this dangerous territory. If anyone could tempt his emotions to venture too far, it might be her. But what fun was life without a little risk? As for her feelings, he intended to lay his cards on the table, so there’d be no misunderstandings.
    They were both grown-ups. And neither of them could deny the attraction that had flared from the moment they met. Now Mike understood why his occasional overtures since then hadn’t lit any fires. He’d gone about this the wrong way.
    Thank goodness she’d set him on the right track. Now he just had to figure out how to persuade her—in a friendly, respectful manner—to let him move into her house. And become her lover.
    He really did need a place to live. As he finished his toast and watched Lock and Erica entwine arms to sip champagne, Mike had to admit he’d be glad to move out, and the sooner the better. Wedding gifts covered the pool table and crowded the kitchen counter. Baby gear filled the living room and made it hard to have his buddies over to watch TV. As for the refrigerator, he had a hard time finding space.
    The meal and the toasts flew by, and across the room the band began warming up. Soon the leader was calling for the bridal couple to kick off the first dance.
    “You should have practiced,” Mike told Lock.
    “I know how to dance.” His brother sprang to his feet and helped Erica up.
    “You never—” Mike broke off. His brother had avoided dancing in high school, but they hadn’t seen much of each other in the intervening years until Lock moved back from Arizona the previous summer. He wasn’t sure why he’d assumed the guy still didn’t dance. After all, most people figured Mike didn’t, either.
    “Never what?” Lock demanded.
    “Never mind,” he said, and was rewarded by a chuckle from his brother.
    “Just watch my toes.” The petite nurse took her husband’s arm. “These shoes are fragile. Not to mention my feet.” She’d obviously noticed that Lock tended to make up in energy what he lacked in grace.
    “I’ll be careful.”
    A guy who was five feet ten could get away with winging it on the dance floor, Mike mused as he watched them make their way between tables. When you towered over people, everyone noticed your stumbles. Mike had taken ballroom lessons because he hated making a fool of himself. He was glad now. While he might be a little rusty, he remembered most of the moves.
    The guests called out appreciatively as the tiny bride and her muscular husband swept around the floor in a waltz. Soon the senior Aarons joined them. Mike’s father, Joe, held himself tall and straight and gazed lovingly down at his wife, clearly still enraptured.
    What was it like to spend thirty-five years together, raising two children of your own along with foster kids who numbered well into the double digits? Hadn’t his father ever longed for peace and quiet after a hard day drilling teeth and filling cavities? Mike wondered. And as a kindergarten teacher, his mother ought to have had her fill of kids at school. Yet they’d welcomed each new child with enthusiasm.
    When Mike came home from the office, he liked having his pick of activities. A game of pool, a session on his treadmill, an evening with the guys. Still, there was something he’d like to add to the list. It involved a stunning redhead with a smart mouth and a