To Have the Doctor's Baby by Teresa Southwick

room’s twelve-foot ceiling and crown molding.
    â€œThat’s not what I meant. I just didn’t think you were in such a rush.”
    â€œAnd whose fault is that?” The glance she slid him was full of irony. “Your financial logic was flawless. There’s no reason to wait. Might as well buy something. Get out of your hair. Get settled. In case…”
    In case she was pregnant. Thinking about her pregnant made him remember trying to get her that way. That made him want her now which seemed weird. Although anything and nothing made him want her—anytime, anywhere. He pushed the feeling away. No point in borrowing another complication when he had so many to choose from already.
    â€œWhat do you think of this house?” she asked.
    The two-story was about twenty-six hundred square feet with four bedrooms and three baths. Lots of granite in the kitchen, wood floors. It was functional and charming.
    â€œThere’s no security system,” he pointed out.
    â€œNot a deal breaker.”
    â€œIt is in my opinion.” Because he felt protective of her. Always had and probably always would.
    â€œIt’s pre-wired for a system and I could have one installed. If I loved everything about the place.”
    â€œDo you?” he asked.
    â€œI’m not sure. Although the high ceilings are nice and that molding is wonderful.”
    Nick glanced up. “Too high. That will make the place harder to heat and air condition. The energy bills will be, pardon the pun, through the roof.”
    Her merry laugh burrowed inside him and brightened the dark corners of his soul. “That’s a good point. Let’s go see the next one.”
    They left the house and Shelley took care of putting the key back in the lock box. She looked to be somewhere in her forties, a trim, blue-eyed blonde with shoulder-length hair.
    She got in the driver’s seat and glanced at Ryleigh beside her in the front, then back at him. “What did you think?”
    â€œIt’s nice,” Ryleigh said. “But I didn’t love it.”
    â€œI could tell.” Shelley started the car. “The next one isn’t far from The District and Green Valley Ranch Resort. That makes movies, shopping and really good restaurants close.”
    During the drive they were quiet, just taking in the greenbelts and walkways through the family-centered neighborhood. Right off Valle Verde Parkway she stopped in front of another two-story house with a small front yard landscaped with desert plants and decorative rock.
    Shelley looked at the information sheet. “This is supposed to be in nice condition, lots of extras. It’s a little over the price range you gave me.”
    Nick released his seat belt and leaned forward. “Not a problem if she likes it.”
    Ryleigh gave him an independent look that was new and very hot, as in sexy hot. “If I like it, I’ll handle the cost.”
    â€œEverything is negotiable,” Shelley told them. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
    The owners weren’t home, so the same routine applied. When the agent left them, Nick stood beside her in the kitchen/family room combination. This property had five bedrooms, including one on the first floor with its own bath.
    â€œWhat do you think?” she asked.
    â€œThe carpet is pretty worn.”
    â€œShelley said the sellers are motivated and offering an allowance. They’ll even let the buyer pick out something and have it installed before move-in.”
    â€œThe floor plan is a little choppy,” he added, studying the backyard. “It has a pool.”
    â€œI know.” She grabbed his arm in her excitement. “Isn’t that great?”
    â€œThere’s no fence.” Her hand was still warm as itgripped his long-sleeved shirt, but he felt the enthusiasm drain out of her. Explaining his motivation for the comment would probably be good. “A small child could