The Baby Bonanza

“I have an idea.” Fortunately, a possibility had hit her. “I’ll share it on one condition.” She might as well benefit from this.

“Which is?”

“You stop nagging me about my personal choices, however stupid you may consider them.”

Lucky didn’t answer. Then, abruptly, he burst out laughing. “Sometimes I actually like you.”

“Why?” she asked suspiciously.

“Because you’re a tough little cookie. If only you would apply that quality to he-who-shall-remain-nameless.”

“That’s breaking the rules,” Zora retorted. “No nagging and no smart-aleck remarks, either. Well?”

“You’re draining all the fun out of our relationship.” Lucky raised his hands in mock surrender. “I agree. Now, what’s the suggestion?”

The sight of him leaning close, intent on her, sent a thrill across her nervous system. Must be the maternal hormones running amok. “Remember when Edmond gave that speech about trends in family law?”

Melissa’s husband served as a consultant for staff and patients on the legal aspects of fertility issues.

“Sure.” Another one-syllable response.

“Afterward, Vince approached him for advice.” Zora had heard the story from Melissa. Quickly, she added, “It was in a public place. No attorney-client privilege.”

“Advice about what?”

“About persuading Mrs. Adams to agree to in vitro.” If Vince produced even a small amount of sperm, it could be extracted and injected into an egg, bypassing the need to fix his blocked ducts. “She refuses to undergo in vitro, however.”

“He can afford to hire a surrogate,” Lucky pointed out.

“He objects to bringing in a stranger while his wife is presumably still fertile.” Although Zora detested Portia for Rod’s sake, she understood why a woman approaching forty wouldn’t be eager to undergo a process involving hormone shots as well as uncomfortable procedures to harvest her eggs and implant the embryos. There were also potential health risks from a pregnancy complicated by multiple babies.

“What does this have to do with us?” Lucky asked.

“Talking to Edmond renewed Vince’s enthusiasm for Safe Harbor.” According to Melissa, the hospital administrator had phoned later to congratulate Edmond on saving the day.

“Renewed his enthusiasm how?” Lucky persisted. “His wife still hasn’t agreed, as far as I know.”

“I’m not sure, but judging by what Rod says about him, he enjoys power trips,” Zora observed. “He hates to lose. If we figure out how he can win in this situation, it might keep him engaged with Safe Harbor.”

“Any suggestions?”

“Ask Edmond what he advised.”

Lucky considered this in silence. At close range, Zora noticed an end-of-day dark beard shadowing his rough cheeks. Although she preferred men with a smooth, sophisticated look, she had to admit there was something appealing about Lucky’s male hormones proclaiming themselves loud and clear.

What was wrong with her? At this stage of pregnancy, she ought to have zero interest in sex. Or men. Or sexy men. Or... Stop that.

“Any idea which days Edmond’s at the hospital?” Lucky asked.

“Afraid not.”

In the adjacent dining room, Karen rose after stowing a tray in the sideboard. “Monday mornings and Thursday afternoons. Why the interest in Edmond?”

“It’s private,” Zora and Lucky said simultaneously.

Descending the few steps to the living room, their landlady gathered the pile of chair covers. “That’s unusual, you guys being on the same page.”

They both returned her gaze wordlessly until she sighed and departed. Zora chuckled. That had been fun.

Lucky held out his hand. As her fingers brushed his, a quiver of pleasure ran through her. On her feet, she lingered close to him for a moment, enjoying the citrus smell of his cologne underscored by masculine pheromones. Then in the recesses of her mind, she remembered something he often said: it’s Andrew who should be helping you, not me.

Even without speaking, he projected criticism. Glowering, and ignoring Lucky’s puzzled reaction, Zora headed for the stair lift.

Chapter Four (#ub2072629-c39b-52c4-9a7c-13fa558b95bb)

On Monday mornings while Cole performed surgeries at the hospital, Lucky replenished supplies, scheduled follow-up appointments with patients and prepared for office procedures in the afternoon.

He’d hoped to slip out to talk to Edmond, but the attorney was fully booked and could only spare a few minutes at lunch. It would have to do. But the morning turned out to be busier than expected, due to a special request from the fertility program director, Dr. Owen Tartikoff. A new urologist, a specialist in men’s reconstructive surgery, would soon be joining the staff and Dr. Tartikoff needed someone to review the applications for his office nurse. Due to Lucky’s administrative degree, Cole had recommended him.

Pleased at the responsibility, Lucky sifted through digital résumés to select the best candidates. The final choice would be left to the new physician, since the relationship between a doctor and his nurse was crucial. The right person eased the doctor’s job, increased efficiency and decreased errors.

The wrong person could cause all sorts of unwanted drama. Hospital lore included a by-now-legendary clash between Keely Randolph and Dr. Tartikoff shortly after his arrival a few years ago. There’d been a spectacular scene when the abrasive Dr. T had dressed her down for an error and she’d blown up, calling him arrogant and egotistical before stalking out.

In view of her long history at Safe Harbor, she’d received a second chance with another obstetrician, Paige Brennan. Miraculously, the chemistry between them had proved stable rather than explosive. Keely spoke of her doctor in glowing terms, which in Lucky’s view was how a nurse should behave.

He smiled, remembering how Keely had stood up for Zora at the party, staving off Laird’s attempt to touch her. While his attentions hadn’t necessarily been sexual, Lucky wouldn’t put it past the man.

An image of Zora filled his mind as he recalled her unexpected offer to aid in his quest to expand the men’s program. Her teasing grin was irresistible, and who would have imagined a mother-to-be could radiate such sexy vibes? True, she’d been cute before she got pregnant, but Lucky had been too caught up in resenting her for Stacy’s and Cole’s sakes to take more than a passing notice.

Not that there was any risk of a romance developing between him and Zora. He would never fall for anyone who led such a messy life, and he didn’t appear to be her type, either. Judging by Andrew, she went for slick and manipulative, hardly adjectives that applied to a tattooed guy from a rough part of LA.

A guy who’d committed his share of mistakes and was determined not to repeat them, especially if a wife and children were at stake. If he were ever so blessed, Lucky vowed to be sure his family’s circumstances were as close to perfect as humanly possible. He’d give them a financial buffer. A protective circle of love, commitment and security. If he couldn’t be sure he could provide those things, he’d rather not risk marrying at all.

Lucky focused on the résumés on the computer screen. There were a number of nurses eager to work in such a prestigious environment with regular hours and benefits. He struggled to view them through the perspective of an employer instead of as a fellow nurse who’d spent a year on his own job search. More than ever, he appreciated Cole’s willingness to bring him on board.

Clicking open a new résumé, Lucky frowned in confusion. Was this a joke? Someone had inserted a slightly altered photo of Zora. Her face was narrower, but he’d recognize her anywhere.

Only the name on the file was Zady Moore. Zady, huh? He read on, prepared for humorous remarks, but the data seemed straightforward. This so-called Zady had grown up near Safe Harbor, just like Zora. Same age, too. In fact, same birth date.

She claimed to have a nursing degree and to work for a urologist in Santa Barbara, a couple of hours’ drive north of here. Switching to the internet, Lucky confirmed that there was indeed a Zady Moore listed in connection with that urologist’s office. If this was a hoax, someone had gone to great lengths.

The name Moore struck him as familiar. Oh, right. He’d seen mail addressed to Zora Moore Raditch.

Could Zora have a twin she’d never told him about? Or did she have a cousin with an eerily similar appearance and the same birth date?

The alarm on his watch shrilled, a reminder of his meeting with Edmond. Lucky set aside the résumé with several others marked for further consideration.

From the fourth floor, he took the stairs to the medical building lobby and strode out past the pharmacy into the late September sunshine. A salty breeze wafted from the ocean a mile to the south, while seagulls wheeled overhead.