Two in Winter Read Online Free

brown-haired, blue-eyed sex-on-a-stick she’d danced with just three weeks before. A nurse trailed in behind him.
    “I told you a nickname was necessary for survival.” If it was possible, she blushed even more as she said it.
    “Getty?” His voice was incredulous. “What on earth are you doing here?”
    She swallowed. “I’m sure any information you need is in my chart.”
    “Yeah. I’m sure it is.” He nearly spit the words out as he shut the door. The nurse gave him a questioning look. “Forgive me. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were a patient here. Would you like me to ask one of the other docs on rotation today to do your insemination?” Blue eyes met hers, full of questions. She didn’t owe him any answers.
    She shook her head. “No, you can do it.” She turned to the nurse. “Dr. Freyr and I are acquainted socially.” She wasn’t embarrassed. She wanted a baby. She didn’t have—or want, she reminded herself—a man in her life. This was how single women got pregnant without sex. He of all people should understand that.
    He sat on the stool, brought the paperwork over. She was vaguely aware he was sitting between her legs as he handed her the pen and the chart.
    “This signature line is for your consent to the IUI procedure. The one below is your acknowledgment that we are using anonymous donor sperm.” His voice was cold and professional, but her response to it wasn’t. It brought back memories of the dance floor and she felt her breasts harden under the hospital gown, her nipples tingling.
    She quickly signed the forms and handed them back. She lay back down as the nurse prepared the catheter and Eric—Dr. Freyr—put on the gloves. Some twisted little imp in her brain wanted to tell him to leave them off and she stifled a giggle. Hysterics. She was on the edge of hysterics. She closed her eyes tightly and counted to three, trying to quiet her nerves.
    “Getty, I’m going to insert the speculum now, it will be easier if you relax.” She looked down to where his face was framed between her knees, and she let out the breath she didn’t realize she was holding. His expression had softened. He gave her a half smile as he held up the metal instrument.
    She took another deep breath and looked back at the ceiling, trying not to think about what he was doing, though the feel of his sleeves brushing her thighs and his gloved hands on her skin broke through the little barrier she’d tried to throw up in her brain.
    “And the catheter—this might feel odd, almost like a pinching feeling as it goes through the cervix.” He warned.
    She winced. It didn’t hurt, but here she lay, her legs spread, his hands inside her, and it was the most coldly clinical moment of her life. Certainly not how she’d ever imagined conceiving a baby. She swallowed against the tide of emotions rolling over her as she felt first the catheter, then the speculum being removed. Eric freed her feet from the stirrups, gently lowering them.
    “Just lay here and relax for a bit, okay?” His voice was quiet and soothing. “You did great. I’m going to ask to have a couple of minutes of office time added to your visit today—you won’t be charged for it—I’d like to talk to you.”
    “I really don’t think that’s necessary, Dr. Freyr.” She kept her voice cold. Who did he think he was to want to “talk” to her about her life decisions? He was just a guy she danced with, a guy she let kiss her in a moment of weakness. He wasn’t even her doctor.
    “Getty…”
    “No.” She closed her eyes.
    “Fine. Just stay here and relax for a few minutes before you leave, okay? There’s no hard proof that it helps, but it certainly can’t hurt. Two weeks from today, if you haven’t started menstruating, you should take a pregnancy test. If it’s positive, call us and we’ll get you in same-day for a blood draw.”
    She nodded, eyes still closed, heart pounding in her chest.
    “Getty.” Something in his voice,